The Washington County Board of Commissioners recognized the 2026 Provider of the Year Jenny Knutson of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, at its May 12 meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater.
Each year, Washington County recognizes outstanding family child care providers. Community families nominate providers, and a committee selects the honoree.
Knutson has been a licensed child care provider in Washington County since 2003. Before starting her child care career, she earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and worked as a software developer. She became licensed so she could stay home with her two oldest children and later chose to continue in the profession because of her passion for working with children and the strong relationships she has built with families over the years.
Knutson is Parent Aware rated and completes additional training annually to stay current with best practices in early childhood education. She thoughtfully designs activities tailored to each child’s age, interests, and developmental needs. Under her guidance, children develop foundational skills such as recognizing letters and numbers and learning to write their names.
Knutson fosters a supportive and inclusive environment where children feel valued and capable. She encourages the development of life skills by involving children in daily responsibilities, such as setting the table and cleaning up after meals. She also promotes diversity and inclusion through culturally representative books and toys that reflect a variety of backgrounds.
Outdoor play is an integral part of Knutson’s program. Children spend time outside daily, engaging with a variety of play options, including themed sensory tables.
Nominations for next year’s provider of the year are now being accepted. Providers can be nominated by using the online nomination form on the county’s Child Care Licensing webpage.
Also from May 12 county board were several road agreements.
Among them, the board approved a cooperative agreement with the City of Cottage Grove for the city-led 80th Street rehabilitation project May 12.
The City of Cottage Grove is constructing a pavement rehabilitation project on 80th Street South in 2026. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) partnered with the city to expand the project scope to include interchange improvements at Trunk Highway (TH) 61 — encompassing traffic signal modifications, approach panel replacement, pavement resurfacing, and signing and striping.
Washington County is a required cost participant in this project because County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 39 (80th Street South) constitutes the western leg of the 80th Street/southbound TH 61 ramp intersection. Participating alongside partner agencies allows the county to complete necessary upgrades to county infrastructure in coordination with planned construction, avoiding future standalone project costs.
This is the second cost-share agreement approved by the board for the project. This agreement covers county cost participation for project work within the CSAH 39 corridor performed by the city’s contractor. The county’s obligation is $628,121.15 and is based on bids received in March of 2026.
The first cost agreement for the project between the county, MnDOT, and the City of Cottage Grove was approved by the board on March 24, 2026. This agreement defines cost-participation terms and maintenance responsibilities for the TH 61 interchange improvements and MnDOT state-furnished materials. The county’s obligation under this agreement was $50,275.80.
Continuing road news, the county board approved a $4,108,932.23 construction contract with Meyer Contracting Inc. and project agreements with the City of Cottage Grove and 3M Chemical Operations LLC for the County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 19 (Keats Avenue South) and 80th Street South intersection project May 12.
The intersection improvement project is located in Cottage Grove along the Central Greenway Regional Trail Corridor. It includes roundabout construction, stormwater management, lighting upgrades, replacement of signs and pavement markings, and widening of the Central Greenway Regional Trail from 80th Street South to 85th Street South.
Traffic growth and ongoing residential and commercial development in southern Washington County have significantly increased demand at this intersection. The existing all-way stop configuration no longer adequately serves current or projected traffic volumes and creates operational inefficiencies and safety concerns. Converting to a modern roundabout addresses capacity, safety, and long-term operational costs.
Construction bids were opened April 17, and the county received one bid from Meyer Contracting Inc. Staff recommended moving forward with awarding the contract to Meyer Contracting Inc. due to the company’s competitive bid below the engineer’s estimate and its past work on county projects with similar work scopes.
In addition to the construction contract, the board approved three project agreements:
• A construction cost agreement with the City of Cottage Grove defining design and construction responsibilities and allocating costs between the county and city consistent with the county cost participation policy.
• A maintenance agreement with the City of Cottage Grove defining long-term maintenance responsibilities between agencies following project completion.
• An agreement with 3M Chemical Operations LLC defining design and construction responsibilities for work within the project area affecting 3M infrastructure, to be performed by the county's contractor.
Also road related but further north, the county board approved a $2,457,844.91 contract May 12 with Park Construction Company for the County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 4 (170th Street) roadway improvement project in May Township.
The project will repave CSAH 4 from CSAH 15 (Manning Trail) to CSAH 3 (Olinda Trail) in May Township. In addition to pavement resurfacing, the project includes drainage and ditch improvements, a new right-turn lane at CSAH 3 (Norell Avenue), replacement of aging highway signs, and updated pavement striping.
The current roadway pavement condition index (PCI) is 34, placing it in the red zone and indicating significant deterioration. The roadway was originally constructed in 1961, with pavement improvements completed in 1992 and 2004. Given its age and condition, the pavement is overdue for investment. Drainage improvements have also been analyzed as part of this project scope.
Bids were opened on April 28, 2026, with three contractors submitting proposals. The low bid was submitted by Park Construction Company. Construction will begin in May.
Shifting from road news to oak savanna restoration, the county board approved a $329,590 grant agreement May 12 through the Metro Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program for a 70-acre oak savanna restoration project at Lake Elmo Park Reserve.
Grant funds will support contracted services, including prescribed burning, site preparation, seeding, mowing, invasive shrub and tree removal, and the purchase of native seed and plants. The project will convert cool-season-dominated grasslands to diverse native prairie and restore oak savanna and aspen glade through targeted invasive removal — restoring 70 acres to ecologically functional, self-sustaining habitat.
The Metro Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program is administered through the Outdoor Heritage Fund under the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, which directs resources toward restoring, protecting, and enhancing Minnesota's wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish and wildlife habitat.
The grant requires a 10 percent match, which will be provided through in-kind staff time. This includes Parks staff hours dedicated to project coordination, contractor oversight and field inspection, restoration monitoring, and grant compliance and reporting — work that is integral to project success and already embedded in the department's stewardship responsibilities.
This award builds on previous restoration and enhancement projects in the park and advances the native plant community priorities identified in the Lake Elmo Park Reserve Long Range Plan.
As for the American Rescue Plan Act, commissioners received an update.
As of last month, Washington County has fully expended its American Rescue Plan Act funds. This marks the completion of all projects funded through the ARPA.
Washington County was a direct recipient of $50,975,893 in ARPA funds to address the expenses and impacts of COVID-19 and offset revenue shortfalls related to the pandemic. The funds were obligated in December of 2024 and have been spent on the following areas:
• County Infrastructure Improvements: $9,526,847
• Investments in Water, Sewer, and Broadband: $2,750,620
• Supporting the Public Health Needs of County Residents and Staff: $37,464,101
• Supporting Workers, Residents, Businesses, and Others Negatively Impacted by the Pandemic: $1,234,325
The projects included replacing election equipment, replacing the county’s telephone system, installing broadband internet infrastructure in underserved communities, making building modifications, and funding construction of the Emergency Housing Services Building and Bluestem Apartments, among others. To learn more about the county’s ARPA-funded projects, visit WashingtonCountyMN.gov/ARPA.
Closing out the county board update are liquor license renewal and off-site gambling applications, both approved May 12.
As for the first item, the county board approved the renewal application for an on-sale and Sunday liquor license from Cenco Farms Inc, Afton Apple Orchard, located at 14421 90th St. N. in Denmark Township.
The county processes all liquor licenses for the townships in the county. The county reviews the liability insurance, and the Sheriff's Office, the County Attorney's Office, and the Public Health & Environment Department complete compliance/verification checks.
Those requirements have all been completed for the application. The applicant’s license fees pay for the administrative costs of the county's administration, compliance, and verification checks.
As for the second, the county board approved an application from Afton Bayport Lakeland Lions Club to conduct excluded bingo and an application from the Bayport American Legion Post 491 to conduct off-site gambling, pull tab activities, during the Washington County Fair. The fair is from July 29, 2026, through August 2, 2026, at the Washington County Fairgrounds, 12300 40th St. N. in Baytown Township.
Minnesota state law requires County Board approval by resolution of permits for organizations to conduct off-site gambling within townships. The County Auditor reviewed the applications and applicants meet the requirements to conduct pull tab activities. The approved applications will now be sent to the State Gambling Board for consideration.