east metro

The Washington County Board has donated $50,000 to the Washington County Historical Society to help buy a building in Stillwater to house and display collections.

The society found a building at 1862 S. Greeley St. in Stillwater. It would lease the building to the Minnesota Department of Transportation for a field office during reconstruction of nearby Hwy. 36 and the construction of a new St. Croix River bridge. With the potential for lease income for the building, the society wants to buy the building within a month and remodel it as a history center after the bridge opens.

The commissioners on Tuesday approved the donation by a 4-1 vote, with Autumn Lehrke dissenting. “I just don’t think it’s the county’s role to participate in the funding,” said Lehrke, arguing that although the Historical Society brings benefits to Washington County, it isn’t a core service of government.

Commissioners Fran Miron and Gary Kriesel responded that historical preservation is important to the county’s mission and said county records could be stored in the new building.

The Historical Society currently houses collections in about 1,800 square feet of space in a carriage house behind the Warden’s House Museum in Stillwater.

The county will pay for the donation with non-levy revenue from contingency funds.

woodbury

County participates in ‘Passport Day’

Washington County will join the U.S. State Department in celebrating “Passport Day in the USA,” a national passport acceptance and outreach event, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sat., March 9 at the Woodbury Service Center.

The service center is at 2150 Radio Drive. Regular Saturday hours will be extended to provide passport information, take passport photos and accept passport applications.

State issued, certified birth certificates are required when the application is made and must be purchased in advance. Birth records are available at the Washington County Government Center at 14949 62nd St. N. in Stillwater, at the Washington County Service Center at 13000 Ravine Parkway S. in Cottage Grove, and at the Washington County Service Center at 19955 Forest Road N. in Forest Lake. Hours at each location are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For additional information, call 651-430-6175.

Birth records are not available at the Woodbury Service Center. Both parents must be present with children younger than 16. More information on the cost and how to apply for a passport is available at travel.state.gov or at the Washington County website at www.co.washington.mn.us.

Washington county

Bance, Cram named to Library Board

Alyssa Bance, of Oakdale, and Katherine Cram, of Woodbury, were appointed to the Washington County Library Board by the County Board last week.

Bance will represent Commissioner District 2 and will fill an unexpired term to Dec. 31, 2014. Cram will represent Commissioner District 5 in a term expiring Dec. 31, 2015.