Committee approves PSAP grant pursuit, mobile field‑force gear and emergency debris/onboarding funds

At the August Washington County Public Safety Committee meeting members approved three funding and authorization items for public‑safety operations.

The committee voted to authorize the sheriff’s office to pursue the PSAP grant program for fiscal year 2026. Captain Stacer said the grant opportunity has funded prior consolidation and that this year’s application would focus on “cleanup” items such as ergonomics, training capacity, and expanded break/food storage in the dispatch center. The grant program can provide up to $750,000; Captain Stacer said final bids were not yet received and that the county would use previously allocated Hartford and Germantown funds to cover the 10% local share if needed. The motion to authorize pursuit of the PSAP grant was made by Supervisor Berg and seconded by Supervisor Newman and the motion carried.

Separately, the committee approved $56,750 from strategic priorities funds to purchase equipment for the county’s mobile field force (multi‑jurisdictional crowd control team). The sheriff described the existing team as 26 members representing multiple departments (14 sheriff’s office personnel, five from West Bend, five from Germantown, two from Hartford and one from Slinger), quarterly training, and a leader request for additional equipment. Supervisor Newman moved the funding request with a second from Supervisor Burke; the motion carried.

Finally, the committee approved use of up to $15,000 of strategic priorities funding for immediate emergency purposes related to the recent flooding. Chief Public Safety Officer Dave Sager explained the amount would be used to onboard a limited‑term employee (former emergency manager Rob Schmidt, who agreed to return) to support the county while FEMA conducts preliminary damage assessments, and to provide residents a place to take flood‑damaged debris. Supervisor Berg moved that request and Supervisor Krieger Gundrum seconded; the motion carried.

Votes at a glance: • PSAP grant authorization — motion by Supervisor Berg; second Supervisor Newman; outcome: approved (vote recorded as voice vote; no roll‑call tally given). Description: authorization to pursue fiscal year 2026 PSAP grant (up to $750,000 grant program; local match from prior Hartford/Germantown allocations if required). • Mobile field force equipment — motion by Supervisor Newman; second Supervisor Burke; outcome: approved (voice vote). Amount: $56,750 from strategic priorities funds. • Emergency uses (flood response onboarding/debris) — motion by Supervisor Berg; second Supervisor Krieger Gundrum; outcome: approved (voice vote). Amount: up to $15,000 from strategic priorities funds.

Ending: Committee approval authorizes staff to proceed with grant application, equipment purchases, and immediate emergency spending; specific procurement details and bid amounts were not finalized at the meeting.