The Washington County Board of Commissioners has been busy appointing and reappointing officials to various advisory boards and commissions, in moves that aim to steady the administrative ship and ensure experienced hands are on deck, during a May 14 meeting, several pieces on the county's political chessboard were repositioned with Erin Kampa securing a first full term on the Workforce Development Board and Paul Richert snagging a third term on the Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District Board of Managers; Fred Rozumalski and Thomas (Pat) Gleason also joined the ranks as first-term managers on the same watershed board, reports indicated on the county's official website.
The game of funding within the county also saw major plays, as the board accepted a substantial $715,016 grant for the important battle against family homelessness—cash flow aimed at preventing folks from losing their roofs and getting those living without a home sweet home set up with one, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Solid Ground and Valley Outreach are the agencies named in the grant agreement given by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, though details of the specific allocation have yet to unfold; Sarah Tripple, Community Services Division Manager, provides an official contact for those itching for more insight.
Washington County also made sure the local apple orchard and a Yellow Ribbon event get to keep spirits high and liquid courage flowing, approving a liquor license renewal application for Cenco Farms Inc., at Afton Apple Orchard and snapping up a temporary license for Bayport American Legion Post 491 for their patriotic gig, end of summer; with the licenses put through the ringer of legal and health checks, per Christine Piskura, the Taxpayer Services and Election Division Manager, everything's on the up and up so these local joints can keep the drinks coming and the good times rolling.
With an eye on the future, the commissioners also stamped approval on issuing bonds, raking in up to cereal box-topping $30 million that's geared toward civil upgrade sweet spots like a service center and a park improvement in Woodbury, with S&P and Moody's getting chatty over the county's bond ratings this May before money bags open in July; let's not forget the commission's nod to Minnesota Paving & Materials for a cool $2,137,733 street makeover, because smooth roads sure make for smooth driving.
Not just about what's in the coffers or under the tires, the board took a solemn moment to recognize the men and women who don the badge, acknowledging National Law Enforcement Week, they've even set up an homage in Stillwater and awarded road safety warrior Traffic Engineer Joe Gustafson for preventing real-life bumper cars, marking another chapter in the county's continual march toward orderly governance and safer streets.
