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The original item was published from 2/17/2026 2:12:00 PM to 2/23/2026 12:00:01 AM.

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County News and Events

Posted on: February 17, 2026

[ARCHIVED] News from the Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting, Feb. 17

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The following actions were taken at the Feb. 17, 2026, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota.

County Board approves advisory board, watershed board appointments

The Washington County Board of Commissioners made appointments to the Mental Health Local Advisory Council and the Brown’s Creek Watershed District Feb. 17.

The County Board appointed Linda Lundstrom to a first term as the District 4 Representative on the Mental Health Local Advisory Council. The term begins February 18, 2026, and expires December 31, 2028.

The County Board appointed Luke Mattson of Lake Elmo to a partial term as Manager on the Brown's Creek Watershed District. The term begins February 18, 2026, and expires October 21, 2028.

Contact: Megan Carlson, Office of Administration Administrative Assistant, 651-430-6001

County receives $25,000 from Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation

Washington County received a $25,000 donation from the Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation to support the county’s work delivering emergency rental assistance.

The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved the donation Feb. 17.

The donation will support the work of Trusted Messenger agencies that are helping community partners distribute emergency rental assistance.

Washington County community partners have received funding to provide emergency rental assistance to residents in need. The Anderson Foundation’s donation will enhance this effort by funding communication and navigation support for households seeking assistance. This work will be carried out by organizations contracted with Washington County as Trusted Messenger agencies.

Trusted Messenger agencies were selected through a competitive RFP process to expand departmental capacity for community engagement; build relationships with community organizations and cultural communities; develop culturally relevant messaging about county programs; and provide low-barrier opportunities to support community well-being.

Contact: Sarah Tripple, Community Services Division Manager, 651-430-6480

County Board approves liquor license renewal applications

The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved three liquor license renewal applications Feb. 17.

The board approved an application for renewal of an on-sale and Sunday liquor license for the Disabled Veteran's Rest Camp Association and an on-sale and Sunday liquor license for Keystone Weddings and Events LLC located in May Township.

The board also approved an application for renewal of an on-sale, off-sale, and Sunday liquor license for the Stoneridge Golf Club Inc. located in West Lakeland 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 application. The applicant’s license fees pay for the administrative costs of the county’s administration, compliance, and verification checks.

Contact: Amy Stenftenagel, Property Records and Taxpayer Services Director, 651-430-6182

County enters cooperative agreements with Scandia for County Road 52 pedestrian tunnel

The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved two cooperative agreements with the City of Scandia Feb. 17 for the construction of the County Road 52 (Oakhill Road North) pedestrian tunnel.

The tunnel is part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Gateway Trail extension project. The board approved a cooperative cost agreement with Scandia for the city-led construction of the tunnel under County Road 52. The board also approved a cooperative maintenance agreement for maintenance of County Road 52 and permanent infrastructure within the county’s right-of-way.

Contact: Andrew Giesen, Public Works Engineer III, 651-430-4336

County Board approves construction contracts for Park Grove Library project

The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved 13 construction contracts for the Park Grove Library project Feb. 17.

The Park Grove Library Improvements project is a major facility renovation. The existing Park Grove Library has reached the end of its functional life and requires significant redesign to meet today’s expectations for energy efficiency, sustainability, community space, and modern library programming. As currently configured, the building lacks the flexibility needed to support evolving service models and future program growth.

The redesign addresses these deficiencies by improving site access, visibility, and parking, and by creating a more welcoming and functional public environment. The interior layout has been re-envisioned to maximize flexibility while providing a range of dedicated spaces, including multiple small meeting rooms, a teen gaming area, a quiet study hub, a large community room, and more efficient staff support areas. These improvements reflect community input gathered during both the 2018 engagement process and the recent design phase.

Public bidding for construction was advertised on November 19, 2025, and competitive bids were opened on December 23, 2025. A total of 158 bids were received across 24 work scopes. Thirteen contracts required County Board approval. The lowest responsible bids received are as follows:

Work Scope

Lowest Responsible Bidder

Contract Amount

Demolition

Ramsey Companies

$300,000

Concrete and Masonry

B&D Associates, LLC

$824,100

Structural Steel

Noble X Welding and Fabrication

$279,900

Carpentry

Gustav & Rudy Contractors, Inc.

$262,541

Metal Panels and Roofing

Berwald Roofing Company, Inc.

$1,637,070

Glass and Glazing

Artic Glass Company

$366,954

Drywall

Pinnacle Wall Systems, Inc.

$527,900

Ceiling and Acoustical

Sonus Interiors, Inc.

$496,100

Plumbing

Wenzel-Plymouth Plumbing, LLC

$371,000

HVAC

Thelen Heating & Roofing, Inc.

$1,450,300

Electrical

Bloomington Electric Company

$888,000

Site and Earthwork

Kamish Excavating, Inc.

$628,000

Landscaping

Windsor Companies

$236,755


Eleven additional contracts were awarded according to county procurement policy and signed by the Public Works Director.

Work Scope

Lowest Responsible Bidder

Contract Amount

Final Cleaning

Elite Maid Solutions

$10,170

Steel Erection

Top Line Steel Corporation

$169,500

Architectural Millwork

Reiling Construction, Inc.

$102,862

Doors and Hardware

Bredemus Hardware Co., Inc.

$108,964

Tile

Commercial Flooring Services, LLC

$55,555

Flooring

Multiple Concepts Interiors

$154,802

Painting & Wall Covering

Mulcahy Nickolaus, LLC

$81,450

Fire Suppression

Nasseff Mechanical Contractors

$129,000

Temperature Controls

St. Cloud Refrigeration

$164,900

Asphalt Paving

Northwest Total Site

$89,900

Fence

Keller Fence, Inc.

$64,740

 

Park Grove Library will remain open through February 28, 2026. Temporary library services will be available at the Washington County Cottage Grove Service Center starting March 2, 2026. Construction will run through February 2027.

Contact: Erik Jalowitz, Building Services Capital Projects Manager, 651-430-6227

County Board Agendas and Minutes
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