Local news- Press Release
Washington County Minnesota - News from the Jan 2 Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting 02 January 2024 ( news )
Washington County , state Minnesota ( By Press Release office)
Jan 02,2024
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The following actions were taken at the Jan . 2 , 2024 , Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater , Minnesota .
County Board elects board leadership , sets meeting dates for 2024
The Washington County Board of Commissioners elected Commissioner Stan Karwoski , District 2 , to serve as board chair for 2024 , and elected Commissioner Fran Miron , District 1 , to serve as board vice chair for the year .
The board made the appointments at its Jan . 2 meeting .
Karwoski was first elected to the County Board in a special election in November 2016 to serve District 2 , and was reelected in 2022 and 2018 . Karwoski served four terms on the Oakdale City Council and was elected mayor in 2014 , prior to his service on the County Board .
Karwoski is active in many civic organizations , such as the Oakdale , Woodbury , and St . Paul Chambers , and the St . Paul Winter Carnival . He is a retired 38 - year employee of Graco , Inc . , where he was a principal designer . He holds nine invention patents .
The board also set its meeting dates for 2024 . Information can be found on the county website at
www . co . washington . mn . us
.
County Board makes appointments to advisory groups
The Washington County Board of Commissioners made appointments to county advisory groups Jan . 2 .
The appointments are:
Karen Keller was appointed to the Community Corrections Advisory Board as a District 1 representative to a first term beginning Jan . 1 and expiring Dec . 31 , 2026 .
Faith Myers was appointed to the Mental Health Local Advisory Committee as a consumer representative to a third term beginning Jan . 1 and expiring Dec . 31 , 2026 .
County will receive grant for response sustainability
Washington County will receive a Response Sustainability Grant from the Minnesota Department of Health for $211 , 637 annually , starting in January to be used through June 30 , 2027 .
The County Board accepted the grant Jan . 2 .
In 2023 , the Minnesota Legislature passed $8 . 4 million in funding for local public health preparedness work , to be administered through local Public Health Emergency Preparedness programs . Grant awards are allocated to local public health agencies with a funding formula based on funding for all community health boards at $75 , 000 , as well as consideration for population , a multi - county addition , and social vulnerability consideration .
The funding is to support a robust response to public health emergencies at the local level .
The county will use the funding to support and expand existing Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response capacity , specifically through increased communications and community engagement work .
The initial award is $211 , 637 , which will run through 2027 , and then annual funding letters will be received prior to the start of each funding year . There is no local funding match requirement .
County will receive grant for Child and Teen Checkup program administration
The Washington County Board of Commissioners accepted a $387 , 244 grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services Jan . 2 to pay for Child and Teen Checkup Administration .
The grant is to pay for the work from Jan . 1 , 2024 , through Dec . 31 , 2026 .
Under the Child and Teen Checkup program , the county provides outreach to the medical assistance eligible population , ages birth to 21 years . Outreach focuses on ensuring that those eligible receive comprehensive and routine well - child care through primary medical and dental providers . Outreach is also provided to the medical providers to ensure they understand and provide comprehensive well child care and that they seek reimbursement from the state Department of Human Services through designated billing processes .
County will continue to work with Washington Conservation District
Washington County will continue to work with the Washington Conservation District to provide technical assistance and educational services to promote and apply soil and water conservation practices throughout the county .
The County Board approved a $291 , 200 contract with the agency Jan . 2 to pay for services for 2024 .
Funding is for the organization ' s administrative activities and services in the areas of local water management , land and water treatment , and public education . The cost of the 2024 contract reflects a 4% increase over the 2023 contract amount to cover inflationary costs .
County will purchase land to add to Big Marine Park Reserve
Washington County started a process Jan . 2 that will add 685 acres to the county’s Big Marine Park Reserve .
Because of the size of the purchase , the county will purchase the land over three years to assure funding is available to the complete purchase . The County Board set out the plan in October to acquire the 685 acres from the Kelley Land and Cattle Co . in three phases . The first phase , which the board approved Jan . 2 , will allow the purchase of approximately 240 acres of vacant land in the southeast quadrant of 170th Street and Manning Avenue in May Township for inclusion into the park reserve .
An offer of $3 . 6 million was made to the property owner based on the appraisal for the first phase , and was accepted . The sale is anticipated to close in January .
The purchase of the property is consistent with the Big Marine Park Reserve Master Plan adopted in January 1989 and updated in 2010 . Twenty - five percent of the acquisition will be funded by the county’s Land and Water Legacy Program funds , and the remaining 75% will be funded through a request to the Metropolitan Council for regional park acquisition funds .
County Board updates agreements to continue with yard waste site
The Washington County Board of Commissioners made amendments Jan . 2 to agreements that govern the use of a county yard waste collection site in the City of Hugo .
In 2019 , Washington County took over the City of Hugo ' s operation of its yard waste collection site as an interim collection site in the northern portion of Washington County . This is part of a larger initiative to have county - owned and operated yard waste and household hazardous waste services in the northern portion of the county .
In taking over the city ' s site , the county needed to expand it to accommodate the needs of the broader community . Washington County entered into a three - year Land Lease Agreement with the adjacent landowner to expand the site in 2019 , for a total cost of $12 , 836 . The lease agreement was extended through 2023 for $4 , 500 for the year .
Since taking over the yard waste collection site , Washington County has secured a new location that will accommodate both the yard waste collection site and the household hazardous waste facility . Construction has begun on the new site , and it is expected to be completed by fall 2024 .
With the new site not available until fall 2024 , the lease needed an extension to keep the current yard waste services available until the new site is ready , which the landowner agreed to . The county will pay $4 , 500 for Jan . 1 through June 30 , and then pay rent on a monthly basis through the end of 2024 . The monthly rent amount will be $1 , 000 per month , although it is not anticipated that the county will rent the site through the end of the year . If the county is no longer using the land , it will terminate the lease .
The County Board also approved a cooperative agreement with the City of Hugo to be allowed to use the site for yard waste collection .
Sheriff’s Office will receive donation to support water recovery activities
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will receive a $1 , 500 donation from the Derrick Companies in New Richmond , Wis . , after the County Board accepted the donation Jan . 2 .
The donation is to support Washington County ' s water recovery activities . The company wanted to thank the Sheriff ' s Office for its time and effort regarding a mutual aid assist on Cedar Lake in Star Prairie , Wis . The donation will be used to purchase dive suits and gear for the water recovery team .
County Board approves tentative labor agreements with employees
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved tentative wage and benefit agreements for groups of the county’s employees Jan . 2 .
The groups that have ratified agreements that the board approved are:
The AFSCME Non - exempt Unit , which has 537 employees .
The AFSCME Exempt Unit , which has 337 employees .
The Supervisors Association , which has 138 employees .
The board also approved wage and benefit increases for non - represented employees , which are in the confidential , confidential supervisors , deputy directors , and department heads employee groups .
The pattern for the wage and benefit changes are:
3 . 75% general wage adjustment in 2024 and 2025 .
3 . 5% range movement in 2024 and 2025 on anniversary date , with wages not to exceed the maximum of the salary range .
On Jan . 1 , 2024 , only , a 3 . 5% market adjustment will occur to salary minimum and maximums of salary ranges .
For 2024 only , an additional 1% range movement will occur on the employee’s anniversary date .
The agreements also provide updates to the county’s contribution to health insurance premiums .
County Board adopts 2024 legislative platform
The Washington County Board of Commissioners adopted the county’s 2024 legislative platform Jan . 2 , which will guide the county’s work at the state Capitol during the next legislative session .
Each year , the County Board adopts position statements on state funding requests and legislative issues specific to Washington County . The issues that the board will present to the Legislature in 2024 are:
A request for $3 million in state funds for the design of the Highway 36 and Highway 120 , or Century Avenue , grade separation intersection project on the border of Washington and Ramsey counties .
A request for $12 . 5 million in state funds to construct the County Road 19A and 100th Street Realignment Project in Cottage Grove .
A request for $3 million in state funds to construct a trailhead and trail connections from County State Aid Highway ( CSAH ) 5 to the Brown’s Creek State Trail .
A request for $1 million in state funds for land acquisition , design , and construction to close a one - mile gap in the Hardwood Creek Regional Trail in the City of Hugo .
A request for $2 million in state funds for trail lighting in Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park .
A request for $10 million in state funds for the design and construction of a Washington County Public Works South Shop and Environmental Campus in Woodbury .
Along with Ramsey County , a request for $30 million in state funds for a public - private partnership to design , construct , and operate an anaerobic digestion facility .
Along with the other six metropolitan counties , a request to increase the number of beds in the Housing Support Demonstration Project from 226 to 500 .
A request for $5 million in state funds to construct an emergency housing services building .
The Minnesota Legislature will convene Feb . 12 . Before then , the county will work with its legislative liaison to work with bill authors on bill language to be prepared for the session .
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