Washington County: Lake Elmo plan to open library on hold -- for now

After "some very productive discussions," the city of Lake Elmo formally delayed its decision to secede from Washington County's library program and start its own city library, said Bruce Messelt, the city administrator.

The city had feared that the county would close the Rosalie E. Wahl branch library, but the county's 2011 preliminary budget includes Lake Elmo, Messelt said.

The Lake Elmo library was one of three small Washington County libraries reduced to 20 hours a week in January 2009, when diminishing library resources were shifted to larger, busier libraries, Patricia Conley, the county's head librarian, said earlier this summer.

Messelt said that next year's county budget remains the "watch point" because possible state cutbacks in county funding could force Lake Elmo to revisit the idea of opening its own library.

County commissioners recently extended the lease for the space the library occupies to Dec. 31, 2011.

Chief deputy retires, Starry replaces himChief Deputy Mike Johnson, who has worked 34 years in the Washington County Sheriff's Office, will retire Oct. 1.

"His heart and soul have been in this organization every day," said Sheriff Bill Hutton. "He's done and seen it all."

"He gets it," Hutton said of Starry, 39, who as chief deputy will oversee all the divisions of the Sheriff's Office and report directly to Hutton. Starry has wide experience in the department over his 17-year career there, working in areas as diverse as K-9, crime prevention, patrol, narcotics and Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.).

Starry is a native of Austin, Minn.

"I'm not looking to replace him by any means, but to fill his shoes adequately," Starry said of Johnson.

Historical society seeks board membersGot a passion for history?

The Washington County Historical Society (WCHS) is seeking people interested in serving on the organization's board of directors. Duties include helping to establish policy, monitor finances and update short- and long-term plans.

For more information, contact Stev Stegner at 651-464-5334 or by e-mail at stevstegner@aol.com

Foreclosure prevention workshops continueThe Washington County Library and the Washington County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) are offering free foreclosure counseling and information workshops to anyone wanting advice from trained counselors.

Anyone who is behind on a mortgage, worried about keeping up with mortgage payments or needing to know more about how foreclosure works can attend.

The workshops are open houses with no pre-registration required. Participants should bring any communication received from a lender or loan servicer, proof of income and a copy of a mortgage statement.

Workshops are set for:

• 1-2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, Oakdale Library;

• 4-5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, Forest Lake Hardwood Creek Library;

• 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, Woodbury R.H. Stafford Library;

• 1-2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, Oakdale Library;

• 4-5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, Forest Lake Hardwood Creek Library.

For more information or to speak with a foreclosure prevention counselor immediately, call the county HRA's foreclosure intake line at 651-458-0936 ext. 542 or go to www.wchra.com

County contracts for jail pharmaceuticalsThe county board recently approved an agreement with Contract Pharmacy Services Inc. to provide medicine for jail inmates.

Under state law, the county is required to provide those medical services. The county's Department of Public Health and Environment administers the services through an agreement with the Sheriff's Office, which oversees the jail.

After reviewing proposals, the department recommended a contract with Contract Pharmacy Services, a company that provides pharmaceuticals to correctional facilities across the country. The $150,000 contract, which began Wednesday, will provide a 12 percent discount on brand-name drugs and a 60 percent discount on generic drugs, based on average wholesale prices, the county said.

There are no dispensing fees, and any unused medicine can be returned for credit, the county said.