County Board approves contracts for construction site services The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved contracts April 27 for construction site services.

The summer’s road construction work will include 12 projects valued at more than $35 million, including the Highway 36/Manning Avenue interchange, reconstructing Woodbury Drive from Dale Road to Bailey Road, and the Highway 36 frontage road realignment at Osgood Avenue in Oak Park Heights.

The contracts are:

• with WSB & Associates Inc. for $355,000 for construction surveying and staking services;

• with WSB & Associates Inc. for $356,300 for construction inspection services, which will provide additional personnel and resources to administer, inspect, and survey several of the construction projects; and

• with Alliant Engineering Inc. for $124,110 for environmental inspection services for the construction projects.

Contact: Gerritt Bangma, Construction Engineer, 651-430-4317 County Board approves proclamations for law enforcement officers The Washington County Board of Commissioners proclaimed dates in May honoring law enforcements officers April 27.

The commissioners adopted a resolution proclaiming May 2-8 as Correctional Officers Week, May 9-15 as National Law Enforcement Week, and May 15 as Law Enforcement Memorial Day. Washington County extends its appreciation and thanks to the dedicated law enforcement community for the vital contribution it makes to the public safety and well-being of residents.

The resolution honoring the law enforcement officers state that they work devotedly and selflessly on behalf of the people of the nation, regardless of the peril or hazard to themselves; and that they safeguard the lives and property of all Americans.

Contact: Sheriff Dan Starry, 651430-7601 County Board expresses support for National Arbor Day, National Arbor Month The Washington County Board of Commissioners extended its support for National Arbor Day April 30 and National Arbor Month in May.

Recognizing the day and month helps to bring awareness to the value and benefits that trees provide to communities.

The resolution the board approved April 27 noted that the emerald ash borer is becoming more established in Minnesota, and will ultimately eliminate many green and white ash trees, which are abundant in parks, boulevards, residential yards, and natural areas; and that reforestation efforts are critical to help replace the benefits that these trees provide. The resolution encourages local communities and residents to take proactive steps to increase the diversity of native trees in these areas before canopies are lost; and to take steps recommended, including conducting tree inventories of boulevards and parks, setting ash tree removal and replacement goals, and planning for increased wood waste as emerald ash borer becomes more established.

The board received information on the impact of the emerald ash borer on the county, and especially in the county’s Lake Elmo Park Reserve and Square Lake Park. The borer has spread through the county from 2018 to today.

Contact: Dan MacSwain, Natural Resources Coordinator, 651-430-