Briefs: Washington County asks for more grant money for Gateway Corridor

Washington County will increase its request to the County Transit Improvement Board (CTIB) for the Gateway Corridor work to $720,000.

The County Board approved the request, along with the $40,000 county match, at its meeting Nov. 4.

The original request was for $540,000. Washington County submitted the original grant application to CTIB in September to complete all pre-project development.

Gateway is a proposed bus rapid transit line that would run 12 miles in its own lane between the Union Depot in downtown St. Paul and Woodbury next to Interstate 94 and Hudson Road. Buses would run all day, stop at 12 stations and include connections to other transit routes.

Gateway could open for service by 2022.

The work is led by the Gateway Corridor Commission, which is comprised of local elected officials, business, and community leaders.

Saint Therese, a faith-based senior care and housing organization, held an Oct. 30 groundbreaking ceremony for the Saint Therese of Woodbury housing campus that will be built southwest of Bailey Road and Radio Drive.

The campus will include one- and two-bedroom independent living apartments as well as assisted living and memory care apartments. Private skilled nursing care suites for long-term, memory and transitional care will accommodate residents in small neighborhoods.

A town center, connecting the living units, will include a chapel, movie theater, cafe, beauty/barber shop and wellness and rehab center.

Saint Therese is a nonprofit Catholic organization serving residents of all faiths. The organization has other campuses in New Hope, Brooklyn Park and Shoreview. To learn more, visit sttheresemn.org.

The Washington County Board approved a joint powers agreement Oct. 28 with the city of Stillwater to continue developing an optic fiber data network in the city.

The city and county have an agreement that established an existing optical fiber data network connection from the Stillwater Public Library through City Hall to the Washington County Government Center. The new agreement adds the city's Public Works department and allows for the ability to someday add additional connections.

The county encouraged the Met Council to do more study on the use of the parks by underserved populations. It requested more information on park design comments, and asked that the council provide funding sources for programs as well as for capital needs.

Washington County also requested that trail development be given priority in the region, and that trails such as the Brown's Creek State Trail and the Central Greenway Regional Trail be given priority in the plan.

The county asked that comments in the letter be taken under consideration before the Met Council adopts the parks plan.

Registration will open Nov. 15 for the St. Croix River Association summer paddle.

The journey will follow the Namekagon River, narrow and wild in some reaches, more populated in others. The six-day, 92-mile journey will lead to where the Namekagon merges with the St. Croix River.

For the 24th year in a row, Cottage Grove has received a certificate for excellence in financial reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA).

The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving about 17,500 government finance professionals throughout North America.

Attention, anyone willing to serve others, lend a hand and share skills: the Oakdale City Council is seeking nominations to recognize volunteers in the city.

A nomination form is available at www.ci.oakdale.mn. Entries must be received by Nov. 15.