Booze and bingo are on tap this summer at the Washington County Fairgrounds, thanks to the green light from local officials. The Washington County Board of Commissioners gave the thumbs-up to temporary liquor licenses and an off-site gambling application at their meeting on Feb. 27, as found in the county's official announcement. The Afton Bayport Lakeland Lions Club plans to host bingo from July 31 to Aug. 4, a staple at the annual county fair.
Taking proactive steps, the county has also slapped down some cash to pre-order metal for traffic signals, shelling out $211,936 to Millerbernd Manufacturing Company. These poles and arms, runners in the race against supply chain hiccups, will line up at the starting block for the County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 12 improvement project slated for summer.
The long arm of the law is stretching further in Washington County, with the Sheriff’s Office bulking up its force. Three new deputy sheriffs will strut their stuff across Hugo, Lake Elmo, and a quartet of other cities, all in the name of upholding public safety. As county officials stated, these positions, funded by the cities under contract, were approved on the same day, signaling to communities that law and order remain top of mind.
Meanwhile, construction chatter at the Washington County North Environmental Center speaks volumes as commissioners rubber-stamped change orders and amendments totaling a hefty sum. The construction crew, hard hats bobbing to the rhythm of progress, are tasked with sticking to both schedule and budget as they lay the groundwork for safer waste handling. Joe Welter, a key player overseeing the project, stands at the helm, ensuring that all is shipshape for the facility's fall 2024 completion.
And in a throwaway twist, out with the old and in with the new—Washington County's aging salt storage shed is hitting the demolition dustbin come summer. They're following the playbook to the letter, with Greystone Construction taking the reins on erecting a shiny new salt shed. Slated to commence destruction in May, they'll muscle in with the new construction by July, aiming to wrap it all up with interior asphalt paving come August, according to the county's info dispatch.
