The Washington County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday, Jan. 13 at the Government Center in Stillwater, conducting much business. Included in board actions from Jan. 13 were a draft letter to express opposition to a proposed detention center, setting of the 2026 state legislative priorities, approval of two licenses for household hazardous waste collection, and reappointment of Temmy Olasimbo as Washington County Community Development Agency representative in District 5.
Starting with the letter draft, the County Board held a workshop Jan. 13 to draft a letter to several of the county’s congressional representatives regarding reports of a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Woodbury.
The board is seeking additional information about the proposed facility, rumored to be located in a vacant warehouse at 11435 Hudson Rd., Woodbury. It also aims to make clear the board’s opposition to this facility or any detention center in the county.
Staff will finalize the draft letter based on the County Board’s feedback in the workshop and present the letter for approval at an upcoming board meeting.
Also from Jan. 13, the Washington County Board of Commissioners set the county’s 2026 legislative priorities in January and shared them with local lawmakers.
Each year, the County Board outlines key issues and funding requests that are important to Washington County. For 2026, they are asking the Legislature for:
• $4 million for land and equipment to process wood waste and diseased trees.
• $1.1 million for conducting an updated biomonitoring of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the East Metro.
• $2 million to design and construct intersection improvements at County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 10, CSAH 17, and County Road 17B in Lake Elmo.
• $500,000 for intersection improvements at CSAH 18 (Bailey Road) and CSAH 19 (Woodbury Drive) in Woodbury.
• $22.5 million to build the County Road 19A and 100th Street Realignment Project in Cottage Grove.
• $3 million for a trailhead and trail connection from CSAH 5 to the Brown’s Creek State Trail in Stillwater.
• $3 million for trail lighting at Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park.
• State bonding funds for capital projects in the Metropolitan Regional Park System.
• Legislation protecting the current formula for distributing Transportation Advancement Account funds and Regional Transportation Sales Tax.
For more details on the county’s legislative priorities or specific projects, visit WashingtonCountyMN.gov/LegislativePriorities. The adopted 2025 Legislative Platform will be shared with the county’s legislative delegation.
In environmental news, the Washington County Board approved two licenses for household hazardous waste collection events planned for weekends in 2026 in Washington County.
The collection events have been planned as follows:
•Saturday, April 25, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at Mahtomedi Middle School Ball Fields Lot, 8100 75th St. N., Mahtomedi, MN 55115.
• Saturday, May 16, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Lily Lake Ice Arena 1208 S. Greeley St., Stillwater, MN 55082.
Satellite collections bring the services offered at the Washington County Environmental Centers, located in both Forest Lake and Woodbury, closer to residents throughout the county. Events make it more convenient and practical for all residents to recycle electronics and dispose of household hazardous waste properly.
In addition to the satellite collection events, dates have been set for confidential paper shredding at Washington County Environmental Centers. All events are from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The events at the North Environmental Center will be Thursday, May 14, July 23, and Nov. 5. The events at the South Environmental Center will be Wednesday, April 22, June 24, and Sep. 9.
The Washington County Environmental Centers accept Household Hazardous Waste and electronics year-round. Find more information about the county’s household hazardous waste collection and recycling options at WashCoRecycles.com/EnviroCenter.
Closing out the Jan. 13 county board update, the Washington County Board reappointed Temmy Olasimbo to a second full term on the Washington County Community Development Agency as a District 5 Representative.
The term begins Jan. 14, 2026, and expires Dec. 31, 2026.