The Washington County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday, July 28 at the Government Center in Stillwater. Included with board business was approval of the installation of an all-way stop at the intersection of County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 20 (Jamaica Avenue South) and Ravine Parkway in Cottage Grove July 28.
The intersection currently operates as a side-street stop, with the Ravine Parkway approaches required to stop. This area is entering a period of significant growth, and traffic forecasts show a full traffic signal will eventually be needed at the intersection.
The Lochridge and McHattie developments are being built out on both sides of CSAH 20. Ravine Parkway is being extended west to form a fourth leg. A future city park will also open in the southwest quadrant of the intersection. Together, these will increase both vehicle and pedestrian activity at this crossing.
Establishing a permanent all-way stop now avoids the need for interim turn lanes during development construction, reduces traffic disruption, and allows the permanent turn lanes and eventual signal to be built once, as part of a 2028 project.
Also from July 28, the Board approved a resolution July 28 declaring August 11, 2026, as National Poll Worker Recruitment Day in the county.
In 2024, National Poll Worker Recruitment Day was established to encourage individuals across the United States to become poll workers and to recognize the essential contributions of those who serve their communities through election administration.
Washington County elections are supported by thousands of dedicated election judges, absentee ballot board members, early voting staff, election office employees, and community volunteers. Together, they work before, during, and after Election Day to ensure elections are conducted in accordance with Minnesota law and the highest standards of accuracy, transparency, and professionalism.
The resolution passed by the board honors the dedication of election judges, election workers, and volunteers whose service strengthens democracy and protects the rights of Washington County voters.
The County Board encourages eligible residents to participate in the democratic process by considering service as an election judge and supporting the continued administration of secure, accurate, and accessible elections.
To learn more about becoming an election judge, visit WashingtonCountyMN.gov/WaysToServe.
Also in election related news, The Board agreed Washington County will provide election services to Baytown Township after the Board of Commissioners approved Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) July 28.
This agreement will start for the Statewide Primary and General Election in 2026. The township currently anticipates only using the county’s JPA election services for the 2026 elections. The termination provision in the agreement provides flexibility for both the township and the county, allowing the agreement to be extended by mutual consent or terminated if future circumstances or service needs change.
The county currently has JPAs with 15 other cities.
Fees for election services are defined in the Countywide Fee Schedule and are reviewed each year.
In legal service news meanwhile, the Washington County Law Library is installing a Legal Kiosk to provide access to online legal aid services for community members without internet access or other technology.
The Minnesota Legal Services Coalition (MLSC) created the Legal Kiosk Project to address barriers to accessing legal resources across Minnesota. A Legal Kiosk is a computer workstation with internet access and videoconferencing tools. It is intuitive and easy to use to access legal aid services and legal resources, such as:
• Applying for legal aid services
• Accessing court forms
• Uploading legal documents
• Attending remote court hearings
The County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS), southern Minnesota’s MLSC member, July 28 to install the Legal Kiosk in one of the library’s private study rooms. Visitors to the Law Library will be able to use the Kiosk to access many legal aid services on their own, providing greater privacy and allowing Law Librarians time to focus on more complex legal reference assistance.
Shifting to environmental related items, the Board approved a Land and Water Legacy Program (LWLP) conservation easement in partnership with the Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) July 28 to protect 27 acres along 1,700 feet of St. Croix River shoreline in Marine on St. Croix.
The county will contribute $900,000 and the MLT will contribute $1,030,000 towards the purchase of the conservation easement.
The property, located at 18037 St. Croix Trail N., is currently owned by the Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM). It is the site of the historic James Taylor Dunn Pine Needles Cabin, where the SMM holds the Artist at Pine Needles Residency of the Pine Needles Cabin.
The cabin and its surrounding area will be included in the easement through a building envelope. This envelope will allow continued use and programming of the cabin by the Science Museum.
The 27-acre parcel is located 300 feet from William O’Brien State Park and is within the LWLP’s St. Croix Buffer Zone Top 10 Priority Conservation Area. It ranks “Very High” according to LWLP criteria and “Very High” for habitat quality. Rare species in the area include Blanding’s turtles, blue sucker fish, bog bluegrass, red-shouldered hawks, rusty patched bumble bees, and stemless tick trefoil.
In November 2006, Washington County voters approved a $20 million land and water protection referendum, creating the county’s Land and Water Legacy Program. The LWLP works with willing landowners to purchase land for the county’s regional parks and place conservation easements on land to permanently protect natural resources.
Since its establishment, the LWLP has invested $19 million in county funds and leveraged $34 million in partnership funds in 53 projects that have protected over 1,900 acres across the county.
This November, voters will have the chance to approve a new 20-year, $40 million bond referendum to continue funding the Land and Water Legacy Program. The County Board voted to add the referendum to the November ballot at its June 2 meeting. To learn more about the program, visit WashingtonCountyMN.gov/LWLP.
As for donations, the Board accepted $7,700.25 in donations and gifts for the second quarter of 2026 at its July 28 meeting.
The following departments received cash donations:
• $1,250.00 to the Crisis Response Unit in the Community Services Department.
• $697.78 to the Library Department.
• $926.47 to the Public Works Parks Division in support of the Parks and Trails Fund, Historic Courthouse Restoration Fund, Living Forest Fund, Milkweed for Monarchs Fund, and programs fund.
• $3,100.00 to the Sheriff’s Office in support of the Sheriff’s Office Employee Appreciation Event and Explorer Nationals.
Two departments received in-kind donations. Community Services staff collected $926.00 in food items and kindness/mental health kits for community members. The Sheriff’s Office received $800.00 in photography services.
Closing with a budget update, the Board began its review of the county’s recommended 2027 budget in a livestreamed and recorded workshop July 28.
The board’s review of the 2027 budget will take place from July 28 through Sept. 1.
At the July 28 workshop, the County Board reviewed the recommended 2027 Washington County Community Development Agency (CDA) budget. The CDA proposed a property tax levy of $7,283,446, a 2.88% increase from 2026. Levy funds account for roughly 17% of the CDA’s annual revenue. The proposed levy increase places the CDA far below the maximum allowable levy amount of over $10 million.
The CDA is a separate but related governmental entity to Washington County. Its core programs include property management of senior, workforce, public, and transitional housing; housing assistance; community development; and economic development.
The board will review the recommended 2027 countywide budget on Aug. 4.
The board will hear recommended budget presentations from county departments on the following dates:
• Aug. 4: Internal Services – Accounting and Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Commissioners, and the Office of Administration.
• Aug. 11: Public Works, Capital Projects, Metro Transit Gold Line, and the Regional Rail Authority.
• Aug. 18: Community Corrections, Community Services, and Public Health and Environment/the University of Minnesota Extension.
• Aug. 25: Property Records and Taxpayer Services, Library, and Law Library.
• Sept. 1: Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office.
After the department budget presentations, the board will follow a budget process from September through early December, which will include:
• Sept. 22: Setting a preliminary levy.
• Dec. 1: Conducting a public meeting on the proposed 2027 budget and levy.
• Dec. 15: Adopting a budget and property tax levy for 2027, and the capital improvement plan.
All budget presentations will be found on the county website. Archived livestreamed meetings may be found on the county website at WashingtonCountyMN.gov/CountyBoard. Budget documents presented at the workshops may be found at WashingtonCountyMN.gov/Budget.