In the latest slew of civic maneuvers within Washington County, the Board of Commissioners has been busy, appointing new members, setting public hearings, embracing environmental initiatives, and stewarding community resources with a meticulous hand. According to
official reports
, Michael French will now serve on the Mental Health Advisory Council, starting the role November 13th, with his term slated to extend into the advent of 2027.
Citizen engagement remains a cornerstone of the county board’s ethos, as evident in the wave of reappointments for 2025 to diverse committees: from Community Corrections, through to the Workforce Development Board. Tucked amid these updates, a tantalizing prospect looms for the county’s cannabis advocates. The board has slated December 3rd for a public hearing on the freshly minted Washington County Cannabis Ordinance #219, proposing to regulate retail registrations for cannabis and hemp businesses, an initiative shaped by state statutes and public health considerations.
Renewal and conservation also find their places in the board’s recent judgements. Over $100,000 in grant funds are marked for tree planting within county parks, a step toward nurturing climate resilience. Meanwhile, the County Board has endorsed a cooperative endeavor with Great River Greening to enhance habitat across 12 acres in Lake Elmo Park Reserve — a project dense with educational and community engagement promises. However, the commitment extends beyond flora as the board approved a donation for a park bench in the Big Marine Park Reserve, promising a haven for park-goers and a memorial for a community member.
Metrics measuring community health followed suit, revealing a county immersed in self-evaluation and a quest for optimization — the county’s annual performance measurements report noted progress on various fronts, spanning public safety to human service costs. In a stride toward green spaces and environmental stewardship, the board approved leveraging $251,000 for a conservation easement abutting La Lake’s shoreline, in a concerted effort with local and state actors, a compact pledging a reprieve of the untamed amid the urbanity.
Lastly, the county’s visions of safeguarded natural splendor extend to a significant easement on a 39.83-acre parcel in Afton. Located precariously close to the St. Croix River, the easement emerges as a bulwark against urban encroachment, ensuring the land’s ecological integrity hovers steadfast over time.
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