County Board makes appointment to Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee
The Washington County Board of Commissioners appointed Nicholas Stephens to a partial term on the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee as a Private Sector Representative March 11.
The partial term begins March 12 and expires Dec. 31, 2027.
Contact: Megan Carlson, Administrative Assistant, 651-430-6001
County Board approves liquor license renewals
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved two renewal liquor licenses Feb. 18.
The County Board approved the renewal of an on-sale and Sunday liquor license for VR US Holdings, DBA Afton Alps, in Denmark Township, and The Keystone Weddings and Events LLC 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
County Board approves contract for additional construction engineering and inspection resources
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a contract with Sambatek construction engineering and inspection services to support the county’s road and bridge construction program March 11.
The $1,195,262 contract will supplement the county’s resources and staff administering the 2025 construction projects.
The 2025 construction program will include 19 projects valued at over $30 million. Due to the projected construction workload for 2025, additional personnel, resources, and expertise will be necessary to successfully administer these projects.
Sambatek personnel will be assigned to the following projects:
- County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 5- Phase III.
- CSAH 2 - Concrete Pavement Rehabilitation.
- CSAH 13 - CSAH 10 to CSAH 6 Pavement Preservation.
- CSAH 15 - Trunk Highway 36 to 80th St Pavement Preservation.
- CSAH 25 Pavement Preservation.
- CSAH 96 Guardrail Improvements.
- CSAH 14 at High Pointe Drive Signal and ADA Improvements.
- Several miscellaneous road and parks projects.
The consultant staff will be integrated with Washington County staff under the direction of the Construction Engineer, which has proven to be a successful model in recent years.
A request for proposal was conducted and three proposals were received for this work. The proposals were reviewed and Sambatek was selected to complete the work based on their experience with bridge construction.
Contact: Allan Brandt, Construction Engineer, 651-430-4348
Patriot Airboat Corp. to build two new Sheriff’s Office airboats
Patriot Airboat Corp. will design and build two new airboats for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office after the County Board approved the contract March 11.
The Sheriff's Office has identified the need for the acquisition of two airboats for the Water, Parks & Trails Division. The purchase, totaling $249,000, will be funded by a federal grant award from the Bureau of Justice Assistance FY 2024 Byrne Discretionary Community Project Funding/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. Three bids were received for the project with Patriot Airboat Corp. as the lowest bidder.
With 251 lakes in Washington County, the waterways patrolled by the Sheriff's Office vary in both terrain and accessibility. Using airboats, rescuers are provided with a secure and stable platform to navigate through unstable ice and wetland areas, granting access to remote locations. These boats allow responders to safely navigate and transition from solid ground, swamp, ice, or open water with enhanced response times and reliability to perform essential lifesaving operations.
Contact: Commander Tim Harris, Sheriff’s Office Operations Support Division, 651-430-7802
County to restore nearly 25 acres of prairie in Big Marine Park Reserve
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a grant agreement March 11 that will fund the restoration of 24.75 acres of prairie in Big Marine Park Reserve.
The $50,950 grant agreement is from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Habitat Enhancement Landscape program. The grant will help pay for native seed, native plants, and contracted services to help establish the prairie in four project areas at the intersection of County Road 4 (170th St.) and May Ave. in May Township. Restoration work is expected to begin this fall.
The grant requires a match of 10%, which will be met through in-kind staff and volunteer time. The County Board approved two license agreements March 11 with community partners, the Pollinator Friendly Alliance and Pheasants Forever, to facilitate and document the work associated with this grant. Their labor will count toward the match required for the grant.
The Pollinator Friendly Alliance is a volunteer organization based in Washington County whose mission is "to protect and restore pollinators to improve the environment and sustain our food supply." Pheasants Forever is a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization, whose mission is to conserve pheasants, quail, and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public access, education, and conservation advocacy. Both groups regularly assist the county to establish and maintain habitat in all Washington County parks.
Contact: Dan MacSwain, Natural Resource Coordinator, 651-430-4323