The Washington County Board of Commissioners recognized county staff April for exemplary performance with the county’s annual Employee Recognition Awards at the April 14 board meeting in Stillwater.
The awards recognize employees in the categories of customer service; diversity, equity, and inclusion; employee engagement; innovation; teamwork; and excellence in county government. Employees are nominated by their peers, and nominations are reviewed by an employee review committee. Final recipients are approved by the County Board’s Personnel Committee.
The employees recognized, and their category of recognition, are:
Customer Service Award – Alex Calero, Community Health Worker, Community Services and Public Health and Environment
Community Health Worker Alex Calero is on the Community Engagement Team that works with both Community Services and Public Health and Environment. He has played a key role in establishing community trust.
Alex uses his bilingual and multicultural skills to work with diverse and underserved communities, especially the Spanish-speaking population in the City of Landfall, Cimarron, and 833 South Washington School District.
Alex is committed to meeting people where they are at. He organized the Back2School event at Landfall, bringing valuable resources to the community, including blood pressure, dental, and vision screenings.
Alex serves his community with passion, dedication, and commitment. He has helped advance equity at Washington County and goes above and beyond in his level of service.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award – Women’s Empowerment Employee Resource Group
The Women’s Empowerment Employment Resource Group goes beyond serving employees. The group has led projects that positively impact the Washington County community.
Women’s Empowerment has four priority areas: Women’s Health, Outreach and Events, Family Support, and Policy and Practice. Through the Family Support initiative, Women’s Empowerment partnered with Building Services to install designated parking stalls at the Government Center for visitors who are pregnant or have small children. This project emerged from Women’s Empowerment members’ lived experiences. The parking stall signs are labeled with clear language and icons, so visitors with limited English proficiency can understand.
Under the Women’s Health priority, Women’s Empowerment organized a feminine hygiene product donation drive. Employees provided products that were then donated to Brittany’s Place, an organization supporting female survivors of sex trafficking. Women’s Empowerment extended the county’s culture of care beyond its walls into the broader community.
Women’s Empowerment’s initiatives promote equitable access, foster inclusive workplace engagement, and strengthen community partnerships. They are committed to building an inclusive culture where employees feel seen, valued, and inspired.
Employee Engagement Award – Jeff Hudson, Learning and Organizational Development Coordinator, Human Resources
As the Learning and Organizational Development Coordinator, Jeff Hudson consistently creates a climate of cooperation, trust, and mutual respect across Washington County. He approaches learning and organizational development with positivity, inclusivity, and a genuine belief in people’s potential. Jeff’s facilitation style encourages open dialogue, diverse perspectives, and shared problem-solving, which strengthens relationships.
Supervisors consistently report that Jeff’s coaching has helped them support and engage with their teams.
Jeff has also been pivotal to the success of the Emerging Leaders Academy. He created a strong business case to request funding for the program, which was launched in 2024 with 100 applicants. Jeff brought current supervisors into each session to provide practical, real-world perspectives. Participants received hands-on experience through mock interviews and a dedicated job-coaching session.
Jeff is committed to continuous improvement and ensuring employee voices matter. He frequently requests and implements feedback to further improve programs. Jeff’s expertise, dedication, and passion have transformed leadership development in Washington County.
Innovation Awards - Jerry Klebsch, Senior Social Worker, Community Services
Family Resource Connections Coordinator Jerry Klebsch has actively built partnerships and strengthened community connections to advance the Family Resource Center’s development. He plays a key role in outreach events, raising public awareness, and initiating services.
Jerry approaches his role with care and compassion, striving to ensure equitable access to resources for families who face barriers. He holds a clear vision for what the Family Resource Center can become and how it can adapt to evolving community needs and budget changes.
To establish the priorities of the Family Resource Center, Jerry created and recruited a Family Advisory Board to empower the voices of community members. Jerry leveraged strategic partnerships and braided funding streams to extend a grant’s impact beyond its original scope.
When new challenges arise, Jerry actively seeks information, assesses situations, and develops thoughtful plans to provide support. His humility allows others to shine while he quietly drives meaningful progress.
Jerry’s efforts create a strong foundation for a sustainable, community-driven Family Resource Center that will have a long-lasting impact on Washington County.
Traci Thompson, Clinical Social Services Supervisor, Community Services
Clinical Social Services Supervisor Traci Thompson has played a critical role in building and managing three mental health programs in Washington County: the Critical Response Unit, the Jail Social Work Team, and the Co-Response Team.
The Crisis Response Unit is a team of social workers who are available 24/7 to respond to mental health crisis situations by phone or in person. This team has maximized efficiency and reduced government spending by having social workers, who are trained mental health professionals, respond to crisis situations.
The Jail Social Work Team was developed to support the mental health of people in Washington County Jail custody. The team offers essential life preservation support, safety plans, intense therapeutic interventions, and other individual and group work. People in custody build their mental health coping skills and receive resources that can help them be successful after they leave Washington County Jail.
The Co-Response Team partners with law enforcement to assist with mental health calls. Social workers work closely with individuals, allowing law enforcement to focus on community safety. The Co-Response Social Workers help individuals navigate legal and mental health systems through case management, referrals, and support.
Traci was instrumental in researching, connecting with stakeholders, and applying for funding for these programs. Each of these initiatives removes stress from teams across Washington County and provides higher-quality services to the community.
Teamwork Award – IT and PRTS teams that worked on the Aumentum Platform Tax System upgrade and the OnBase Homestead Application project
The IT Department and Property Records & Taxpayer Services (PRTS) Department collaborated to create a new online homestead application. The Assessment Support Division of PRTS processes an average of 7,200 homestead applications each year. In 2023, the electronic application began to experience challenges. In response, PRTS and IT collaborated for nearly two years to design and successfully launch a new homestead application system.
The IT and PRTS teams worked closely to navigate changing requirements and unexpected challenges from the vendor, including increased costs and extended timelines. Assessment Support staff played a critical role with hands-on testing and by providing feedback that led to refinement.
The new online homestead application improves user experience by making it easier and faster to apply online. IT reduced the initial costs by taking on more development and testing work internally. Now, records are easier to organize, retain, and retrieve — particularly for audits.
Another team receiving this award is the PRTS Team that worked tirelessly to implement a major upgrade to the county’s property tax system. Each member contributed their expertise to ensure the new system would meet operational needs, comply with statutory requirements, and support accurate and timely delivery service to community members.
The team’s ability to collaborate, share knowledge, and adapt to evolving challenges was key to the project’s success.
The upgrade required numerous rounds of testing and refinement. Through repeated testing, the team produced a final product that simplified processes, enhanced documentation, and cross-trained staff. Team members stepped outside of their usual responsibilities to assist one another, demonstrating their willingness to collaborate, share knowledge, and adapt to evolving challenges.
The project led to an improved system and reflects the county’s commitment to accessible and responsive service.
Excellence in County Government Awards
Emily Robb, Senior Program Manager of Public Health Nursing, Public Health and Environment
Emily Robb has dedicated 25 years of service to the Public Health and Environment Department. In her current role as senior program manager of public health nursing, Emily leads a team of supervisors to implement various programs.
At the root of Emily’s work is employee engagement. Emily finds the right balance of providing direction and allowing supervisors to independently lead. She is practical, reliable, and fair as she approaches challenging situations.
Emily foremost values people and leads through a relationship-based practice. She is an expert at developing and earning trust, which is perhaps her greatest leadership skill. Emily approaches each staff member with honesty, openness, and a genuine desire to create an exceptional work environment.
Dave Wilwert, Senior Accountant, Accounting and Finance
Since joining the county in 2011 as an Accountant II in Payroll, Dave has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication and reliability in managing the county’s biweekly payroll process.
Payroll is a critical function requiring precision, timeliness, and accountability. Dave approaches this responsibility with great care to ensure every employee is paid accurately and on schedule. His commitment is evident in the way he plans his own time away around the payroll cycle to maintain continuity of this essential service.
In 2015, Dave earned the Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation through the American Payroll Association, completing a four-hour exam on advanced payroll knowledge and management skills. In 2019, his position was reclassified to Accountant Senior, where he served as payroll lead for the human resource information system (HRIS) implementation. That project earned the Washington County Teamwork Award, recognizing outstanding cross-department collaboration and service innovation.
Dave continues to go above and beyond by proactively staying informed about complex federal regulatory changes. Dave is also a valued partner with Human Resources and the Information Technology departments, contributing to key initiatives such as Minnesota Paid Leave preparation and participating in the HRIS software systems evaluations.
Throughout all this work, Dave maintains a positive, steady, and solutions-focused attitude that keeps important projects moving forward. His reliability, professionalism, and dedication to serving county employees truly exemplify excellence in county government.
Also from April 14 meanwhile, the County Board declared two proclamations, one for National Crime Victim’s Week April 19 to 25, and another for Work Zone Awareness Week April 20-24.
The County Attorney's Office requested the passage of a resolution on National Crime Victims’ Week to remind residents that every April, the United States Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, helps lead communities throughout the country in an annual observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by promoting victims’ rights and honoring crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf.
This year's theme is “Listen. Act. Advocate. Protect victims, Serve communities.” This theme emphasizes hearing survivor stories, taking action to bridge service gaps, and advocating for victims’ rights to foster healing and community safety.
With the resolution, the County Board reaffirmed the county’s commitment to creating a victim service and criminal justice response that assists all victims of crime during Crime Victims’ Rights Week and throughout the year. The board also expressed its sincere gratitude and appreciation for community members, victim service providers, and criminal justice professionals who are committed to improving our response to all victims of crime so that they may find relevant assistance, support, justice, and peace.
Following the proclamation of National Crime Victim’s Week, April 20-24 was recognized as Work Zone Awareness Week in Washington County.
National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is an annual spring campaign at the start of the construction season to encourage drivers to use extra caution in work zones. The Washington County Board of Commissioners recognized the week at its April 14 meeting.
NWZAW takes place across the United States, with partnerships between state departments of transportation, national road safety organizations, government agencies, private companies, and individuals.
NWZAW is a time to show support for the roadway safety industry, especially to the families of victims who have lost their lives in work zones. On Go Orange Day, Wednesday, April 22, roadway safety professionals across the country are encouraged to wear orange to show their support for work zone safety.
Safe work zones are not only the responsibility of those working within them but also the thousands of drivers who travel through these areas daily.
Washington County recognizes the importance of Work Zone Safety and leads by example in working with stakeholders across the county to educate and strive for the safest work zones possible for staff and the driving public.
Washington County actively participates in the Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths coalition, which aims to reduce traffic crashes, injuries, and deaths on Minnesota roads. The county conducts public outreach at events, such as the Washington County Fair and the Stillwater Fire Department open house. It also uses a device called a seat belt convincer that simulates a 5 MPH crash to demonstrate the importance of seatbelt safety. Additionally, the county participates in quarterly Minnesota Toward Zero Death meetings with key players in the traffic safety arena for Washington County.
In road construction news, the County Board approved an $857,728 contract with SRF Consulting, Inc. April 14 for final design of the County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 32 Pedestrian and Safety Improvement Project.
CSAH 32 (11th Avenue Southwest) is an important east-west route in Forest Lake connecting CSAH 33 (Everton Avenue) to Trunk Highway (TH) 61 via the newer overpass over Interstate-35 (I-35), making this corridor a regionally important route. The pavement along this corridor from I-35 to TH 61 (Lake Street) is in poor condition, and the road is experiencing growing traffic volumes, resulting in the need for improvements.
Preliminary design, along with a robust public engagement plan, has been completed, and a final scope of work has been determined. This project will reconstruct CSAH 32 from I-35 to Trunk Highway 61 and will include a new pedestrian trail, additional turn lanes, a new traffic signal at 12th Street SW, a new roundabout at 4th Street SW, and realignment of Forest Road to the west to connect to the new roundabout at 4th Street SW. A new stormwater management plan will be created and constructed to improve runoff to Clear Lake.
SRF Consulting Inc. provided the preliminary design services for the project. In February 2026, the Washington County Public Works Department issued a request for proposals (RFP) to provide final design services. Due to extensive project history and good performance, SRF Consulting, Inc. was selected to continue to provide engineering services.
Project construction is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2027.
Also in road news, the County Board approved a construction contract and two cooperative agreements for the County State Aid Highway (CSAH ) 5 (Olive Street) Improvement Project April 14.
The board approved a $2,643,705 construction contract with A-1 Excavating, LLC. for the project on County State CSAH 5 from Pine Tree Trail to Owens Street in Stillwater. This project will replace the existing storm sewer system and roadway, add a new sidewalk on the north side of Olive Street, and repair segments of aging city utilities (sanitary sewer and water lines). Bids for the project were opened on March 17, 2026, with A-1 Excavating, LLC. coming in as the lowest bidder.
In addition to the construction contract approval, the board approved two agreements for this project: a construction cost agreement and a maintenance agreement with the City of Stillwater. The cost agreement defines design and construction responsibilities and splits costs according to the county's cost participation policy. The maintenance agreement defines maintenance responsibilities. The City of Stillwater has already reviewed, agreed, and signed these cooperative agreements.
Construction will begin in May and is anticipated to be completed in the spring of 2027.
Closing out the update from April 14, the County Board sitting as the Washington County Regional Rail Authority (WCRRA), adopted WCRRA Property Management Ordinance #222.
The board’s action converts the former WCRRA Property Management Plan, adopted in 2002, into an ordinance. Using an ordinance to manage property owned by the WCRRA is the same process the county uses to manage county-owned right-of-way.
Besides converting the structure of the document from a plan to an ordinance, the other changes include:
• Updated WCRRA-owned property descriptions to be consistent
• Expanded definition section
• Added language to provide flexibility in permit fee, if desired
• Clarified roles and responsibilities between staff, WCRRA Board, and permit holder
• Updated references to current county policies and ordinances, including:
• Acceptable Use at County Facilities
• Washington County and Hugo 2025 Memorandum of Understanding for Trunk Highway 61
The County Board held a public hearing on Ordinance #222 March 31. No comments were received at the hearing or the weeks that followed.