County Board makes appointment to Community Development Block Grant Citizen Advisory Committee
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved the appointment of Savannah Mans-Vail to the Community Development Block Grant Citizen Advisory at its Feb. 20 meeting. The appointment is for a partial term expiring June 30, 2024.
Contact: Holly Hess, Administrative Assistant, 651-430-6015.
County Board approves liquor license applications
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved two renewal applications for on-sale and Sunday liquor licenses Feb. 20.
The applications are for VR US Holdings DBA Afton Alps, located in Denmark Township and the Disabled Veteran’s Rest Camp Association, located in May 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 applications. The applicants’ license fees pay for the administrative cost of the county's administration, compliance, and verification checks.
Contact: Christine Piskura, Taxpayer Services and Election Division Manager, 651-430-8272.
Washington County Sheriff’s Office, BCA to form Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
The Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) will form a multi-agency task force called the Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The Washington County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution authorizing the Sheriff’s Office to enter a joint powers agreement with the State of Minnesota, acting through its commissioner of Public Safety on behalf of the BCA, at its Feb. 20 meeting.
The task force will investigate and prosecute crimes against children and the criminal exploitation of children that are committed and/or facilitated by or using computers. The task force also aims to disrupt and dismantle organizations engaging in such activity. The BCA will receive federal funding to assist law enforcement in investigating and combating the exploitation of children using computers. The BCA will provide funding for equipment, training, and expenses, including travel and overtime, which are incurred by the Washington County Sheriff's Office during such investigations. The term of this agreement is five years.
Contact: Laura Perkins, Law Enforcement Public Information Officer, 651-430-7994.
County Board amends plan for use of ARPA funds
The Washington County Board of Commissioners reviewed and updated the projects paid for with the county’s American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funds Feb. 20.
An updated recovery plan is due to the U.S. Department of Treasury by July 31, 2024.
Washington County received almost $51 million from the act signed into law March 11, 2021, designed to assist state, local, and Tribal governments to recover from the economic shock of the COVID-19 pandemic.
These funds are allocated to address continued response to ongoing pandemic needs, focusing on the recovery to those most impacted by the public health emergency, addressing longstanding gaps in the economy that prevent equitable economic recovery, and shoring up government services to ensure ongoing capacity and assurance for the future to continue to serve the needs of the community.
The updated plan reallocates funds from several current projects to projects that aim to create a safer working environment at Big Marine Park Reserve and replace election equipment.
The updated plan also allocates funds for one new project to improve equipment for the Water, Parks, and Trails River Patrol in the Sheriff’s Office.
Contact: Jill Zenzola, Accounting Manager, 651-430-6048.
County, Union Pacific Railroad to reconstruct Baytown Township railroad crossing
Washington County will complete road construction at the intersection of County State Aid Highways (CSAH) 14 and 24 in Baytown Township after the county and Union Pacific Railroad reached an agreement to allow the reconstruction of the CSAH 14 railroad crossing located 100 feet south of the intersection.
The agreement was approved by the Washington County Board of Commissioners Feb 20.
The original project scope for the intersection included the addition of a traffic signal, reconstruction of the railroad crossing, dedicated turn lanes, and resurfacing of the roadway. A significant amount of the work was completed in 2023. However, no work was allowed to be done in the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way because an updated agreement was not able to be reached between the railroad and the county.
Washington County and the railroad entered into an original agreement in 1957, which covered the construction, use, maintenance, and repair of the at-grade public road crossing over the railroad’s tracks. The right of way granted by the railroad to Washington County under the terms of the original agreement was not sufficient to allow for the reconstruction and widening of the roadway.
Under the new agreement, the railroad grants additional rights to Washington County to facilitate the reconstruction and widening of the roadway. Washington County has requested the railroad’s cooperation in connection with replacing grade crossing protection devices and installing the necessary relays and other materials required to interconnect and coordinate the operation of the railroad grade crossing protection devices with the operation of the county’s new traffic signal. Total payment to the railroad for permanent easements, temporary easements, construction costs, and maintenance fees are estimated to be $743,494 and will be paid through County State Aid Highway funds.
Contact: Andrew Giesen, Engineer III, 651-430-4336.
WSB, Inc. will do design for Highway 61 and CSAH 8 improvements
Washington County is entering into a consulting contract with WSB, Inc. for the preliminary and final design of Trunk Highway 61 and County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 8. The contract totaling $298,943 was approved by the Washington County Board of Commissioners Feb. 20 and will be paid through County State Aid Highway funds.
Washington County applied for and was awarded a Minnesota Department of Transportation 2025 Metro Local Partnership Program grant of $985,000 for construction improvements along Trunk Highway 61 between the CSAH 8 segments that include extended left turn lanes, pedestrian upgrades, signal improvements, and culvert replacements. The county’s goal is to complete the final design in the fall of 2024. These improvements must be constructed in 2025 and are identified in the Washington County Capital Improvement Plan as project RB-2805.
The County issued a Request for Proposals in November 2023 and WSB, Inc. was selected from a group of nine qualified consultants that submitted proposals. The scope of work for the consulting contract includes survey, public outreach, preliminary design, final design, and construction support.
Contact: Ryan Hoefs, Engineer II, 651-430-4336.
Stantec Consulting Services Inc. will do restoration, enhancement work on county conservation easements
Washington County will contract with Stantec Consulting Services Inc. to complete restoration and enhancement of three Land and Water Legacy Program (LWLP) conservation easements in Woodbury using Lessard Sams Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund grant funds.
The contract, for an amount not to exceed $519,000, was approved by the Washington County Board of Commissioners Feb. 20.
In 2022, the Lessard Sam’s Outdoor Heritage Council awarded $4.288 million to Washington County and the Minnesota Land Trust for LWLP projects in the county. From the grant funds, $619,000 is allocated for the restoration and enhancement of protected properties within Washington County, with a minimum requirement of 150 acres enhanced and 30 acres restored.
The county released a Request for Proposals in November 2023 seeking a consultant to conduct restoration and enhancement project management and facilitation on three LWLP conservation easements in Woodbury using these LSOHC grant funds. Stantec Consulting Services Inc. was their preferred consultant from a group of three qualified consultants that submitted proposals.
Contact: Emily Jorgensen, Planning Manager, 651-430-6011.