Board Meeting Guide

County Board Meetings

The public is invited to attend and participate in County Board meetings, which are most Tuesdays at 9 a.m.

Watching the Meeting

  • All regular Board Meetings are streamed live on Washington County's digital platforms. Recorded versions are available shortly after the live meeting adjourns.
  • You can also watch Board Meetings on local cable access channels. Please check your local cable channels for specific broadbast schedules.
    • TruLens Community Media (formerly known as South Washington County Cable, and in the central and southern parts of Washington County): HD Channel 799, and SD Channel 16.
    • Valley Access Channels (in the Stillwater area): Channel 16.
    • Lakes Area Community Television (in the northern part of Washington County).

Agendas and Minutes

Meeting agendas and minutes are available online following each meeting.

Meeting Format

During Board meetings, the commissioners develop policy, make decisions, and make or amend laws for governing the county. The agenda of upcoming meetings may be viewed online in advance. The order of events is:

  1. Roll Call of Board Members.
  2. Pledge of Allegiance.
  3. Comments from the Public.
    The Board Chair invites residents in the audience to share their concerns about subjects not on the meeting agenda. The board may ask the county administrator to prepare a response to any questions or concerns raised. Residents who wish to speak need to fill out a comment card before the meeting and give it to a county staff person.
  4. Approval of the Agenda.
  5. Consent Calendar.
    The Consent Calendar covers routine administrative subjects. These items are reviewed by the commissioners and the county administrator prior to each meeting. An item may be pulled by a commissioner for discussion at a later time.
  6. Departmental or Program Items.
    County departments and community organizations report items to the board, present awards, or ask for board approval or direction on a county action.
  7. General Administration.
    The county administrator presents general information about county business to the board.
  8. Commissioner Reports.
    Each commissioner reports on his or her recent activities and asks questions of county staff. Any resulting required action is scheduled for a future board meeting.
  9. Adjournment.
    Following the meeting, a workshop may be scheduled for the board, county staff, and others to discuss pending projects and programs and to receive updates.

Public Hearings

Public hearings, which are separate items of business on the agenda, give residents the opportunity to express their opinions and solutions to the board on county issues. Notice of the public hearings is published in the official county newspaper at least 10 days before the public hearing.

Public Hearing procedures are as follows:

  • County staff introduces the public hearing subject
  • Board Chair opens the hearing to the public
  • Speakers from the public make presentations
  • Board Chair closes public hearing
  • Commissioners discuss the public hearing subject
  • Commissioners take action or schedule a public hearing continuation date; the date and time is or published in the county's legal newspaper

Executive Sessions

Executive sessions are meetings that are closed to the public. State law allows such meetings on a limited range of subjects, such as actual or threatened litigation or labor negotiation strategy. A report on any action taken is made at the next regular board meeting.

Respectful Behavior

Everyone attending a Board Meeting and/or presenting must be respectful. Name-calling, profanity and use of abusive language is not allowed. If someone is disrespectful, they may be asked to leave. The Board Chair might limit comments if they become argumentative or keep repeating the same things.