At the latest meeting of the Washington County Board of Commissioners on September 3, a slew of decisions were made, ranging from funding for disability services to emergency preparedness. Among these, the Board approved a contract with Redeemer Services, Inc. to provide case management to over 1,500 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with the agreement not exceeding $30,000 through December 31, 2025. Information about the services was detailed on Washington County's official website.
In a significant move, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a generous $963,000 funding package from the Department of Justice; this will go toward acquiring two airboats that will vastly improve mobility on the county's numerous waterways and implementing a cloud-hosted digital evidence management system, the latter of which is meant to enhance public safety operations efficiency. As noted in the release, the digital system's introduction is seen as crucial, considering the current process "is limited by space, functionality, and performance constraints", according to Doug Anschutz, Chief Deputy Sheriff. Both will support the diverse terrain rescuers face and the vast amount of digital evidence involved in today’s criminal investigations.
On the cultural front, the county is celebrating Library Card Sign-up Month all of September, an initiative that dates back to 1987, aimed at reminding residents of the rich resources available with a library card; the campaign received a special proclamation at the commission's meeting. Aubrey Fonfara, Senior Communications Specialist, highlighted the Washington County Library's initiatives to promote the benefits of library membership, advocating such access as beneficial not only to students and lifelong learners but also to job seekers and small business owners.
Additionally, the topic of sustainable and charitable community contributions was brought to the table, with two contracts awarded to Kids Around the World, Inc. for the removal of outdated playground equipment from Lake Elmo Park Reserve and St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park; the organization specializes in refurbishing such equipment for use in countries across the globe, representing a continuation of Washington County's partnership with the not-for-profit corporation since a similar exchange occurred in 2019 "even exchange" sale with Kids Around the World in 2019, as stated by engineer Erin Clarkowski.
Emphasizing the importance of being prepared for unforeseen events, the Board also designated September as National Preparedness Month. This federal initiative, overseen by FEMA since 2004, seeks to encourage residents to ready their homes, businesses, and communities for potential emergencies, says Emergency Services Manager Doug Berglund, who stressed the importance of participation at the local level for bolstering resilience against disasters.
The Board's busy session also included a workshop on the 2025 budget; this review process is part of a comprehensive budget examination that spans several months. The proposed budget, as outlined by the Office of Administration, envisages a 5.9% levy increase, which translates to a modest tax hike for the median-valued home. The County Board's commitment to fiscal responsibility was underscored by comparing Washington County's tax rate and levy per capita, which rank among the lowest in the metro area. Through a series of workshops, public hearings, and further deliberations scheduled into early December, transparency and community input are integral to the financial planning process, as highlighted by links to archived county materials offered by Tina Elam, Communications Manager.
