Our Mission:  Providing quality services through responsible leadership, innovation and
the cooperation of dedicated people

Date:	Oct. 1, 2019
Contact:	Yvonne Klinnert, Public Information Manager
Phone:	651-430-6026, after hours 952-807-3723
E-mail:	yvonne.klinnert@co.washington.mn.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The following actions were taken at the Oct. 1, 2019, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota

County Board recognizes 100th anniversary of Farm Bureau
The Washington County Board of Commissioners recognized the 100th anniversary of the Washington/Ramsey Farm Bureau Oct. 1.
The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation is made up of 78 county or regional Farm Bureau organizations. The Minnesota Farm Bureau states that its purpose is working for Minnesota's farmers, strengthening rural communities, investing in Minnesota's future, and promoting quality health care.  
The Washington/Ramsey County Farm Bureau will be celebrating 100 years at its annual meeting Oct. 10.
The Minnesota Farm Bureau membership is nearly 30,000 families. The Washington/Ramsey County Farm Bureau has played an important role in agriculture throughout both counties by advocating for and developing public policy, focusing on youth development and leadership, and sharing the importance of the agricultural industry with the public. It has also served as the sponsoring organization for Minnesota Extension as it began providing services within the two counties and continues to be very active in supporting Minnesota Extension programs and activities, the Future Farmers of America program and its youth development activities, and 4-H clubs and programs.
Contact: Yvonne Klinnert, Public Information Manager, 651-430-6026

County receives Met Council grant to pay for Big Marine park land
The Washington County Board of Commissioners accepted a grant from the Metropolitan Council Oct. 1 to help pay for 82 acres in May Township that will be added to Big Marine Park Reserve.
The land is at 12096 170th St. in May Township. The purchase was initiated by the property owners who advised the county of their interest in selling their property. An appraisal was completed and reviewed by the County Board, which determined that the property is appropriate for inclusion into Big Marine Park Reserve.
The purchase was approved by the County Board in February, for $1.08 million. The Metropolitan Council grant reimburses 75 percent of the purchase price, up to $813,048, and the county pays the remaining 25 percent from the county’s Land and Water Legacy Program (LWLP).
The grant requires the county enter into restrictive covenant agreements on the acquired property, which are standard and have been included in past acquisition grants.
Contact: Sharon Price, Right-of-Way Specialist-Property Manager, 651-430-4391

Metropolitan Mechanical Contractors, Inc., will maintain county systems
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a $150,000 contract with Metropolitan Mechanical Contractors, Inc., Oct. 1 for maintenance of building mechanical systems.
The service contract provides for the routine and preventative maintenance of building mechanical systems in facilities throughout the county.
Metropolitan Mechanical Contractors will provide a dedicated Journeyman Pipefitter, Journeyman Sheet metal worker, Journeyman Plumber, Project Manager, and Controls technician on an as-needed basis with the ability to dispatch several more of each discipline in an emergency.
The contract is for a one-year term with the ability to automatically renew for up to four additional one-year terms.
Contact: Tim Stich, Building Services Operations/Maintenance Manager, 651-430-6233

County Board recognizes October as Cybersecurity Month
The Washington County Board of Commissioners recognized October as Cybersecurity Month Oct. 1.
The Federal Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance have sponsored October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month since 2004. Cybersecurity Awareness Month is designed to educate public and private sector partners with the goal to raise awareness about risks and issues surrounding information security.
Washington County works diligently to ensure the protection of its data systems and information. In 2019, all county staff were required to complete the KnowBe4 security awareness training courses that are designed to address the most common cybersecurity risks.
The board’s resolution noted that Washington County recognizes that it has a role in identifying and protecting its citizens from, and responding to, cyber threats that may have a significant impact on individual and collective security and privacy; and that business and governments are increasingly reliant on information systems and technology to support financial services, energy, telecommunications, transportation, utilities, health care, and emergency response systems.
Contact: Renee Heinbuch, Information Technology Director, 651-430-6421

County Board recognizes Customer Service Week in county
Oct. 7 through 11 was named Customer Service week in Washington County Oct. 1, by the County Board, which approved the resolution recognizing the county’s Property Records and Taxpayer Services Department.
In 1992, the first full week in October was proclaimed National Customer Service week by the U.S. Congress to recognize the work of customer service professionals throughout the year and the importance of that work in a wide range of businesses, including government. 
The employees in Property Records and Taxpayer Services serve county residents on a daily face-to-face basis at a number of locations throughout the county, and their high quality service is recognized and appreciated. To celebrate that commitment to service, Oct. 7-11, 2019, was declared Customer Service Week in Washington County.
Contact: Jennifer Wagenius, Property Records and Taxpayer Services Director, 651-430-6182

County Board honors George Kuprian at his retirement
The Washington County Board of Commissioners honored attorney George Kuprian Oct. 1 for 33 years of service to the county, upon his retirement this week. Kuprian has served as the board’s counsel, attending meetings to assure proper procedure, and providing legal opinions on bonding, election, filling board vacancies, and managing joint powers agreements. Kuprian was honored with the county’s Excellent in County Government award for his work on the Resource Recovery Project, which is a two-county Joint Powers Board with Ramsey County. The work included comprehensive analysis of financial information, scientific evaluation of potential alternative technologies, legal analysis of local, state, and federal waste management regulations. Kuprian is a resident of Stillwater. He is shown with an award from the board with board members Fran Miron, Wayne Johnson, Stan Karwoski, and Gary Kriesel.





A great place to live, work and play…today and tomorrow

Government Center  •  14949 62nd Street North — P.O. Box 6, Stillwater, Minnesota 55082-0006
Phone:  651-430-6001  •  Fax:  651-430-6017  •  TTY:  651-430-6246
www.co.washington.mn.us
Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action