Washington County — Transcript
Monday, August 24, 2026
Free and Fair Elections & Election Security
Workforce Development and Economic Growth
Environmental Conservation and Public Health
Transportation Infrastructure and Planning
Emergency Preparedness and Public Safety
Local Government Services and Community Engagement
Votes (8)
Resolution Proclaiming September 2026 as Library Card Sign-up Month
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Cox [00:30:04] · Seconded by Commissioner Miron [00:30:09]
Library Director Jackie Kramer presented a resolution proclaiming September 2026 as Library Card Sign-up Month, highlighting the value of library resources for all ages and alignment with strategic goals. The initiative promotes access to books, cultural events, and learning tools. The board also recognized the winners of the first community library card design contest, showcasing the creativity of local patrons.
Approval of Contract Number 18557 with Alliant Engineering Incorporated for County Highway 96 Improvement Project
Dissent: Commissioner Clausen opposed, questioning the value proposition of turnbacks, unknown operations and maintenance costs, and equitable project distribution across districts.
Moved by Commissioner Miron [00:42:47] · Seconded by Commissioner Cox [00:43:03]
Public Works presented a contract for design services for the County Highway 96 improvement project, spanning nine miles from Trunk Highway 244 to Trunk Highway 95. The project aims to address short-term needs like resurfacing, guardrail replacement, drainage, turn lanes, and lighting, leveraging funds from a 2023 MnDOT turnback. The selection of Alliant Engineering was based on their qualifications and prior involvement in the corridor study. Commissioner Clausen expressed concerns about the rationale for turnbacks and equitable project selection.
Resolution Recognizing September 2026 as National Preparedness Month
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Karwoski [00:50:52] · Seconded by Commissioner Miron [00:50:57]
The Sheriff's Office presented a resolution to proclaim September 2026 as National Preparedness Month, emphasizing the importance of proactive planning for emergencies and disasters. Senior Planner Lee Dine explained the annual observance's goal of strengthening individual and community readiness through awareness and partnership between the sheriff's office and citizens.
Resolution to Approve State Grant Agreement with DNR for Outdoor Heritage Funding for the Land and Water Legacy Program
Dissent: Commissioner Clausen opposed, citing concerns about funding projects on already protected parkland, a perceived lack of equitable resource distribution for regional parks in her district, and overall budget allocation.
Moved by Commissioner Karwoski [01:00:03] · Seconded by Commissioner Cox [01:00:19]
Planner Serena Rath presented a resolution to approve a state grant agreement for Phase Two of the Land and Water Legacy Program, funded by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. The grant, totaling $2.8 million, will continue habitat stewardship in Woodbury parks, support conservation easement acquisition in partnership with the Minnesota Land Trust, and fund one full-time natural resource land steward position. Discussion included the competitiveness of the grant and the adjusted scope based on funding received.
Approval of Contract Number 18549 with WSB LLC for the 2050 Comprehensive Plan
Dissent: Commissioner Clausen opposed, arguing against the repeated use of the same vendor (WSB) and that the selection was not primarily based on cost, seeking greater diversity in consulting perspectives.
Moved by Commissioner Miron [01:14:27] · Seconded by Commissioner Cox [01:14:38]
Planner Macklin Hutchinson presented a contract with WSB LLC for consulting services to develop the Washington County 2050 Comprehensive Plan. This mandated document will guide growth, land use, transportation, and other topics for the next two decades, aligning with Met Council's Imagine 2050 Regional Development Guide. WSB was selected for its extensive experience and technical knowledge. Commissioner Clausen voiced opposition, citing concerns about repeatedly using the same vendor and the absence of cost as a primary selection factor.
Cancellation of December 22nd, 2026 Board Meeting
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Miron [01:23:46] · Seconded by Unknown [01:23:50]
County Administrator Kevin Corbid proposed canceling the December 22nd, 2026 board meeting, confirming that all year-end administrative tasks, including budget adoption, CIP, salaries, and fee schedule approvals, could be completed by the December 15th meeting. This would allow the board to adjust its schedule without compromising necessary year-end actions.
2027 Proposed Washington County Attorney's Office Budget Presentation
Dissent: None (Budget presentation only, no vote)
Moved by None · Seconded by None
County Attorney Magnuson presented the 2027 proposed budget, emphasizing investment in staff (people), technology, and the future. The budget primarily focuses on covering baseline costs like personnel, internal charges, and inflationary adjustments. Key initiatives highlighted include an employee wellness program, a unique leader mentor program for attorney professional development, and continued technological innovation with systems like LENS, Axon Justice, and Axon Investigate. The budget includes a new non-levy funded legal assistant position.
2027 Proposed Washington County Sheriff's Office Budget Presentation
Dissent: None (Budget presentation only, partial transcript)
Moved by None · Seconded by None
Sheriff Dan Starry delivered his final budget presentation, reflecting on his tenure and thanking the board for its support. He highlighted the office's mission, the legal foundation provided by Minnesota State Chapter 387, and key budget impacts. These include a high volume of 'persons in crisis' and substance use calls requiring significant resources and inter-agency collaboration, rapidly evolving technology used in crime and enforcement, and substantial personnel costs (76% of the budget).
Notable Quotes (19)
I heard a quote recently, and I don't know if it's real or not from someone famous, but they said that libraries were like the living rooms of our community. And I just think that that's such a true statement.
libraries are great for those that are young and old. It kind of dawned on me more just in thinking about today. It's probably one of the services that we provide that truly does the whole spectrum of age, and that's what's great about the library. Equally popular and welcoming to anyone of any age.
a lot of this would not be possible had not been for the turnback that occurred and the planning that went into the dollar amount there that you identified. And certainly, we've got well over $11 million left to ultimately provide improvements to this road, which likely would not have occurred under state jurisdiction.
this is a real challenge. There's some great tree cover. There's some real narrow shoulders. It gives you the feeling that you're on a country road when you're driving it, which feels great, but sometimes is really dangerous considering the amount of traffic that now is on this road
I often wondered why we're doing turnbacks. I continue to ask the question why, and I'm still not seeing the actual plan for the reasons for turnbacks to happen. The OM cost of these is unknown.
I do really like the message here that our county sheriff... Really, citizens can really help our sheriff's office tremendously, because the more citizens engage yourself, whether it's a business or a resident, in preparing their home, their property.
The emergency management plan for the county is one of those plans that, as I said, unfortunately, gets used regularly. It's not gathering dust. But we need to be prepared, and we've recognized the value in that in the past.
phase one actually helped purchase 104 acres of conservation easements in two parks in Woodbury. That's important. And this phase two, there's other aspects to the grant of $2.8 million, but we're partnering with Woodbury to make conservation improvements, enhancements, partnering with the City of Woodbury on Prairie Ridge Park, Valley Creek Park, and Law Lake Park.
This is incredibly competitive. The opportunity for the county to receive 40% of the ask, I think is incredible that we can add a staff member in our parks department, keep you where you are. These are all just really great things for the environment and, not just here in Washington County, but in the larger community.
A lot of these projects have already been completed... I don't understand the difference between the conservation and the land because it's already protected. But again, I appreciate the presentation.
And obviously, significant investment, as Commissioner Karwoski pointed out, the number of acres in Woodbury, a very developed city, that we've been able to secure property there and provide conservation easements within that community in the past, and now an opportunity to really enhance some of that work.
WSB, as a firm, I know represents a number of the municipalities within the county. I know there's particularly an interest on housing growth expectations in some of the communities that differ from what the comprehensive plan is, and I think WSB is going to be a firm that will work through some of those issues to come together with a plan that the Met Council will be able to ultimately approve.
WSB is always been selected, and I would like us to try and get out from using the same vendor... We don't have a variety of perspectives when we only use one business.
I would just add that the last comp plan we did, our consultant that we hired was SRF. It was not WSB. Also, I would note that the WSB group that works on their planning side is the same company but separate people than we usually will see on a road project.
I would think it's going to be very important that we coordinate our comp plan with the comp plans of our cities throughout the county. Is that a key element?
Our people remain our most important resource, and this proposed budget primarily invests in them. The world in which we do this work is changing rapidly.
I'm happy to see the additional legal assistant, because as your attorneys' caseloads go up, that means that your paralegal legal assistants' cases go up, and the victim witness caseloads continue to go up.
I know you put a lot of this work in the wellness program, and one of the slides shows some leadership and mentoring where we talk about that. And the innovation, you were here with some camera work. Axon, I think, was the... investment.
Although I do so this year with a sense of reflection, as this will be my final budget presentation as Washington County Sheriff... The success of the sheriff's office is a direct reflection of the great people who make up this organization and the amazing things that they do each day.
Ordinances & Resolutions (31)
Referenced by public speakers and Commissioners regarding election integrity and official oaths.
Referenced by public speakers regarding election administration safeguards.
A pledge requested by public speakers for elected officials to sign, committing to uphold election integrity.
Official proclamation to encourage library card registration.
Agreement with Alliant Engineering Incorporated for the County Highway 96 improvement project design services.
Infrastructure project from Trunk Highway 244 to Trunk Highway 95, focusing on resurfacing, guardrail, drainage, turn lanes, and lighting.
Precursor study for the County Highway 96 improvement project to evaluate existing conditions and identify needs.
County-wide plan referenced in relation to the County Highway 96 project objectives.
Process used to select a consultant for the County Highway 96 design services.
Official proclamation to promote awareness and planning for emergencies.
National initiative encouraging emergency preparedness, referenced in the Preparedness Month resolution.
Agreement for Phase Two of Washington County's Habitat Protection Enhancement Partnership, utilizing Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council funds.
Legislative body that provides funding recommendations for Outdoor Heritage Funds.
Constitutional amendment that created the Outdoor Heritage Fund.
County program receiving Outdoor Heritage funding for conservation and stewardship.
Proposal for phase two of the grant program, seeking funding for stewardship and easements.
Agreement with WSB LLC for consulting services to develop the 2050 comprehensive plan.
Mandated long-range policy document guiding growth, land use, transportation, and other topics for the next 20 years.
Regional guide that directs local comprehensive plans.
Current county comprehensive plan, to be superseded by the 2050 plan.
Planned section of the 2050 comprehensive plan to outline tracking measures for implementation.
Statute referenced for privacy of employee performance evaluation data.
Statute allowing closed sessions for performance evaluations.
Document outlining the proposed expenditures and revenues for the attorney's office.
Agreement related to child support services, a source of non-levy revenue for the attorney's office.
Area of work for the attorney's office, with associated reimbursements from the Department of Corrections.
Case management system used by the attorney's office.
Evidence discovery capability being upgraded by the attorney's office.
Forensic video analysis and courtroom preparation application used by the attorney's office.
Document outlining the proposed expenditures and revenues for the sheriff's office.
State statute providing the legal foundation for the office of county sheriff.