Washington County board approves tax‑deed return, terminates radio‑tower lease, OKs $10 million notes and several shared‑service agreements

Washington County’s board of supervisors passed multiple ordinances and resolutions at its meeting and approved issuance of $10 million in general‑obligation promissory notes.

Key votes at a glance

- Tax‑deeded property (partial P1‑0174008): The board approved returning a property in the town of Addison to its former owner after the owner paid back taxes and fees that the deputy county attorney said totaled a little over $10,000. Motion: Supervisor Mary; second: Supervisor Toma. Vote: unanimous.

- Ordinance on display of flags on county property: Introduced by Supervisor Kraus and seconded by Supervisor Kelly; passed unanimously.

- Resolution 53 — rescinding funding and authorizing termination of the radio tower lease with American Tower Corporation (town of Erin): Motion by Supervisor Schwab; second by Supervisor Vassar. The board’s action notifies the landlord (American Tower Corporation) that the county will not fund the lease as part of the upcoming budget process and begins the 180‑day notification timeline the deputy indicated is required. Vote: unanimous.

- Resolution 64 — continuation of funding for the Next Generation Housing Program (sunset clause extension): Moved by Supervisor Schulteis; second not specified in the record. Vote: 20 in favor, 1 opposed. The deputy said the resolution is a routine sunset extension to maintain grant eligibility.

- Resolution 65 — authorize Washington County Information Technology Department to provide IT services to the town of Farmington (shared‑revenue program): Motion and second not specified. County staff said IT will onboard the town and then pause adding new municipalities to maintain service levels; the board approved. Vote: 20 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention.

- Resolution 66 — authorize Washington County Information Technology Department to provide IT services to the town of Piawassen (shared‑revenue program): Motion by Supervisor Schwab; second by Supervisor Toma. Vote: 20 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention.

- Resolution 67 — authorize Washington County Geographic Information Systems Department to provide GIS services to College Trenton as part of the shared‑revenue grant program: Motion by Supervisor Boxer; second by Supervisor Bailey. Passed unanimously.

- Resolution 68 — authorize annual return of seized money (top‑demand funds) from the county treasurer to the sheriff’s office: The sheriff explained the difference between handling money as evidence versus disposing of property and said the funds are modest; Supervisor Krebs objected on conflict‑of‑interest grounds and said the funds should return to the general fund. The motion passed, 18 in favor, 3 opposed.

- Resolution 69 — grant application to the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs (PSAT grant): Passed unanimously; the deputy said the application was in the meeting packet.

- Resolution 70 — extend Washington County Park and Open Space Plan to 2035: The board approved an extension to meet state grant requirements; two park entries were removed from the document before the vote. Passed unanimously.

- Resolution 71 — award sale and issuance of $10,000,000 general‑obligation promissory notes: The board approved issuance of $10,000,000 in general obligation promissory notes after a competitive sale. County financial staff and PMA Securities presented the sale results: competitive bids produced a true interest cost of about 3.34 percent; the issue is structured as a 10‑year, non‑callable debt with principal maturities 2026–2035, first principal payment March 1, 2026, and a three‑week closing projected by staff (estimated funds received about April 2, 2025). PMA said the sale generated roughly $650,000 in bid premium that is being applied toward debt service; total interest over the life of the issue was presented as about $2.7 million. Vote: unanimous.

What this means

The board’s actions preserve the county’s ability to pursue state grants (park and housing items), expand shared IT and GIS services to municipalities, and move forward with a planned capital financing plan by issuing $10 million in notes. The termination of the American Tower lease begins a budget‑driven de‑funding process and starts the required notice period. The resolution on returning seized money to the sheriff’s asset account drew the most recorded opposition and discussion; one supervisor argued those funds should flow to the general fund to avoid even the appearance of a conflict.

Votes and records in this summary are drawn from the meeting transcript and vote announcements. Where motion second or mover was not explicitly stated in the transcript, the field is marked “not specified.”