The Washington County Board of Supervisors approved participation in a countywide fire and EMS shared-services program, a Next Generation 911 grant resolution and a 2027 budget reconciliation. Supervisors discussed tax treatment, public-safety funding and county employee compensation.
Discussion Points
•A meeting participant said the grant supported ongoing operations and maintenance after previous grant versions funded data buildout and updates.
•Arendall reviewed EMS, anti-crime, staffing, health, highway, legal, wage and library adjustments, including the sources and amounts described in the article.
•A supervisor asked when Next Generation 911 would be fully implemented across the county.
•A supervisor praised the biennial budget process and said it avoided collecting taxes early for second-year expenditures.
•Supervisor Brightmore said the plan felt like a temporary fix and raised concern about future tax increases.
•Supervisor Conrath raised public questions about whether the program could be separately itemized on tax bills; the treasurer said it could not be separated because the county had not taken the matter to referendum.
•Supervisors questioned the wage adjustment's allocation, peer-county compensation approaches, sales-tax timing and future recruitment and retention analysis.
•Supervisor Stewart supported the program's cooperative and locally controlled structure and said its SMART goals were not enforceable.
Decisions
•Resolution 32 passed unanimously.
•Resolution 33 passed 20-1 after the chair said it required a two-thirds majority.
•Resolution 34 was approved 20-1.
Directions
•Arendall said county staff would begin gathering comparator wage information in January and would examine retention and total compensation.
•Municipalities were told that service agreements should be signed by Dec. 31.
The Hartford Police & Fire Commission is scheduled to consider multiple police and fire department eligibility lists and appointments, and to hold a closed session for firefighter interviews at its November 11, 2026 meeting.
Discussion Points
•Approval of Detective Sergeant eligibility list containing named applicants and confirmation of appointments.
•Closed‑session interviews for Firefighter/EMT candidates and review of process scores.
•Confirmation of a Patrol Officer appointment contingent on pre‑hire requirements.
•Establishment of eligibility lists for multiple ranks and confirmation of Chief Burgard’s appointments.
The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council met to approve a new CJCC website, preview behavioral-health recommendations, and hear a presentation from Judge Kennett about the statewide judicial needs assessment and the prospect of adding a fifth circuit-court judgeship for Washington County; members asked stakeholders to prepare cost/impact information for December.
Discussion Points
•Attorney Stern to circulate documents to council
•Communications subcommittee presented website updates and attachments
•Council needs standardized packet with fiscal and operational impact studies
•County must consider cost of finishing branch five shell and staffing/security implications
•Deadline tied to Office of Court Operations' February window
•Members requested time to read and digest materials
•Office of Court Operations uses three criteria: judicial need, capacity/space and county support
•Stakeholders to include sheriff, DA, public defender, clerk of courts, facilities, finance
•Subcommittee preparing a 14-page overview and two–five proposals
•Suggested temporary governance: bring substantive updates to council until communications plan adopted
•Survey feedback prompted minor spelling and strategic-priority description edits
•Washington County's workload per judicial official is 1.26 (includes judges and court commissioners)
Decisions
•Council to reconvene in December and January and aim for county-board input before February deadline
•No formal resolution at this meeting; council agreed to request stakeholder analyses and to discuss in December/January with a view to county-board action by February
•No immediate vote; item deferred for December review
•Website approved by voice vote
Directions
•Attorney Stern to coordinate materials for December/January meetings
•Attorney Stern to coordinate stakeholder inputs and circulate packet
•Item included on December agenda
•Solicit fiscal/operational analyses from sheriff, DA, public defender, clerk of courts and facilities
•Stakeholders to present cost estimates at December and January meetings
•Subcommittee to circulate any substantive changes to council for approval until communications plan adoption
•Subcommittee to send packet to Attorney Stern for distribution
The City of Hartford Finance & Personnel Committee met November 10, 2026, to consider ratification of a four-year police union contract with the WPPA and the proposed sale of former Well No. 9 at 1031 Hall Road. Staff presented recommended actions, financial notes and a formal $35,000 bid for the property.
Discussion Points
•A formal bid of $35,000 from Aaron Johnston (Oct. 24, 2026) meets the acceptable price approved by Public Works and Council, per the packet.
•Planning staff recommended sale with the condition that the City Attorney successfully negotiate and approve terms.
•Site history: well built 1952, abandoned 1999 after VOC contamination traced to municipal landfill; well reportedly filled with neat cement grout and groundwater monitoring continues.
•The agreement would remove longevity pay for 10‑ and 15‑year employees and add step increases in 2027 and 2030.
•The tentative agreement would remove post‑retirement health benefits for hires after Jan. 1, 2027.
•Wage adjustments are to be distributed in six‑month increments per the contract language.
The City of Hartford Common Council packet for its Nov. 10, 2026 meeting included a 2027 budget hearing and tax levy items, a staff recommendation to ratify a four-year police union contract, proposed new residential garbage utility fees, sales of surplus city-owned lots (including former Well No. 9), contract approvals for library roof and boiler work and pool chair lifts, and proposed amendments to the Mid‑Moraine Municipal Court agreement.
Discussion Points
•A formal bid of $35,000 for 1031 Hall Road was included; staff said the bid met the committee’s acceptable price.
•Chair lifts part of 2027 CIP; Hartford Rotary donated $1,000 toward replacement.
•Executive summary lists major contract provisions and staff recommendation to ratify.
•IC Construction low bid $3,760,300 (with alternates) reported to be $183,700 under revised budget.
•Library south deck replacement (not to exceed $65,570.96) intended to stop water intrusion; boiler replacement (not to exceed $41,461.50) due to recurring failures.
•Staff described site history (VOC contamination; well grouted in accordance with DNR) and recommended conditional sale.
•Staff presented certified school levy amounts by district and recommended the Common Council direct the City Clerk to place them on the 2027 tax roll.
•Staff proposed reallocation of borrowed funds by not replacing Fire Engine 1660, freeing $830,000 to be applied to soft costs; packet computes $1,013,700 available and $906,925.29 of soft costs to be purchased under that amount.
•Staff recommended a $10.66/month per household fee to cover contracted garbage and recycling services and remove $424,000 from the levy.
•Summary states fiscal impact unknown at this time and ties some provisions to citywide insurance contribution changes.
The Hartford City Plan Commission was scheduled to consider multiple land-use and property items on Nov. 9, 2026, including a rezoning request for 1668 W. State Street, certified survey maps, a city water utility property sale, and termination of a conditional use permit for a makers space.
Discussion Points
•Certified survey map for 1500 W. State Street
•Extraterritorial CSM review for 5853 County Highway E (Town of Hartford)
•Proposed sale of City water utility parcel (former Well No. 9) at 1031 Hall Road
•Proposed termination of conditional use permit for makers space at 2770 E. Sumner Street
•Rezoning of 1668 W. State Street from A-1 to M-1 and R-2
The Washington County Board of Canvas met Nov. 9 to certify returns from the Nov. 3, 2026 election, noting several local tabulation and absentee issues (rejected absentee for incorrect residence reported to the DA, ballot jams, missed ballots later added, and several voters given incorrect ballot styles).
Discussion Points
•Board discussed scheduling an audit of top races.
•Duplicate poll/badger number issued (317 duplicated) required note.
•Hartford reported seven voters who received incorrect ballot styles; other municipalities reported similar but smaller mismatches.
•How the challenge process was pursued and that the voter admitted nonresidence.
•Machine jam left one ballot not tallied by machine.
•Proposed audit week of Dec. 7; some members unavailable that week and preferred Dec. 15–17.
•Staff read precinct tapes and totals; multiple precinct discrepancies were recorded.
•Staff requested a short minutes entry of 'challenged ballot'.
•Staff to coordinate with parties and confirm the schedule.
•Those ballots were opened and manually added to totals; municipal board certified winners after adding them.
•Two overseas ballots were missed in initial municipal counts because of envelope color.
Decisions
•Audit dates deferred pending staff confirmation.
•Board adjourned after canvass; no formal motion to reopen minutes recorded in transcript.
Directions
•Record a brief 'challenged ballot' note in the minutes.
•Record the errors in the minutes and include documentation for audit.
•Staff to confirm audit dates/room availability and email availability by end of week.
•Staff to email confirmed dates and secure room availability by end of the week.
•Staff to request voter participation log from WAC to reconcile counts.
•Staff will preserve documentation and note corrections for audit.
Regular Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission
The Hartford Parks and Recreation Commission is scheduled to meet Nov. 4, 2026, to hear staff reports and consider a recommendation to replace the VMAC sand play area, review seasonal program schedules and fees, and receive updates on parks and aquatics operations.
The Hartford Common Council is scheduled to consider a set of development, public‑works and licensing items on Oct. 27, 2026, including a developer agreement tied to Tax Incremental District No. 13, bids and funding for Fire Station No. 2, a municipal airport hangar lease, roadway resurfacing, and two ordinance changes.
Discussion Points
•Funding source and account balance were included in the packet.
•Packet lists a total anticipated project cost including contingency and FFE and recommends authority to proceed with identified alternates.
•Packet proposes definitions, inspection consent, safety and supervision conditions and a small fee schedule to support administration.
•Plan Commission gave a positive recommendation at its Oct. 12, 2026 meeting.
•Q3 revenues at 76.34% vs. six‑year average of 80.87%; expenses at 71.75% vs. six‑year average 70.36%.
The city is $638,895.54 ahead in Revenues vs. Expenses at Q3, an improvement from Q2.
•Rezoning steps and recordation of easements are required prior to development permits.
•Staff: CSM meets zoning district standards and recommended Plan Commission positive action; utility and engineering had no comments.
•Staff described lease terms including $0.10/sq ft annual rent, 20‑year term, five‑year rent reexamination, and construction and insurance requirements.
•Staff estimated modest fiscal impact ($3,000) to the City Clerk’s office for implementation.
•Staff framed the rewrite as necessary to update antiquated language, align with NFPA and International Fire Code requirements and to better address modern hazards such as solar and battery storage.
•Staff framed the work as a temporary measure to reduce winter maintenance and extend service life until DOT reconstruction; work would be done at night with full road closure and detour.
•Staff highlighted fire access requirements per NFPA 1, utility easements and compliance with city land division ordinances.
•Staff reminded council that the adopted budget included an $800k deficit and recommended continued monitoring.
•The agreement ties Pay‑go payments to available tax increment after debt service and administrative allocations and includes a minimum valuation guarantee and shortfall payment provisions.
•The draft establishes inspection, permitting and fee authorities and creates a Division of Fire Prevention to administer the code.
•Wendel urged award to IC Construction to avoid rebid risks and cost escalation; staff outlined proposed use of already‑borrowed funds to defer replacing a fire engine in order to equip the new station.
The City of Hartford Public Works Committee packet for Oct. 27, 2026, includes informational memos on snowplowing and the 2027 garbage/recycling brochure and three decision items: accepting a low bid for Fire Station #2, reallocating borrowed funds to cover soft costs for that station, and approving a Payne & Dolan resurfacing contract for the STH 60/Main Street intersection. The meeting is scheduled for Oct. 27, 2026, 6:30 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers.
Discussion Points
•Fees for appliance pickup, trailer rental, and freon appliances
•Funding sources: $3.0M borrowed funds, $144,000 Washington County grant, $800,000 state grant
•Mailing 7,215 copies with utility bills to reduce printing costs
•Pre-wetting salt to improve effectiveness and reduce waste
•Prioritization of state trunk highways, industrial areas and school routes
•Recommendation to accept IC Construction low bid including alternates #1 and #2 ($3,760,300)
•Risks of rebidding and potential schedule delays/increased costs
The City of Hartford Finance & Personnel Committee is scheduled to consider a developer's agreement with RMC Homes VIII LLC for a 127,460-square-foot assisted-living campus in TID No. 13 that would provide up to $3.2 million in pay-go TIF assistance and requires a $35 million minimum valuation by June 30, 2028.
Washington County Executive Committee reviewed and approved the 2027 budget reconciliation, including funding changes to an anti‑crime plan, a new EMS shared‑services levy structure, and adjustments to the library levy; the committee also discussed a proposed new Health & Human Services building and approved applying for a state NG9‑1‑1 grant before moving into closed session on pending litigation.
Discussion Points
•A committee member asked for the spreadsheets behind the numbers.
•Building committee recommended new construction based on 30‑year cost comparisons and space needs.
•Committee praised administration's efforts to limit tax increases.
•County attorney requested closed session to update committee on litigation against SEWRPC and negotiation matters.
•Dahl explained anti‑crime plan revenue revision; committee asked about health insurance burden on employees; members discussed levy splits for EMS.
•Mr. Damcutt explained the noncompetitive grant and new permissive uses for maintenance and existing staff.
•Staff described revenue split for EMS shared services (EMS levy, general levy, sales tax).
•Staff explained contract terms driving the library levy adjustment (circulation reimbursement rates, outreach percentage, automation fees).
•Supervisors asked about legality and assumptions behind using general levy funds for parts of the package.
•Supervisors asked about orthophotography costs and procurement approaches.
•Supervisors moved and seconded the motion to enter closed session.
Decisions
•Approved the 2027 budget reconciliation resolution by voice vote.
•Committee approved applying for the NG9‑1‑1 GIS grant by voice vote.
•Committee approved motion to go into closed session by voice vote.
•Committee recommended proceeding with new construction option to take forward for board consideration.
•EMS funding structure incorporated into approved budget reconciliation.
•Reduce the 2027 library levy estimate by $68,000 as part of the budget reconciliation.
Directions
•Administration to document municipal distribution and volunteer incentive assumptions (Slinger example) and legal rationale for revenue allocation.
•Administration to provide detailed health insurance premium/co‑pay breakdown if requested.
•Building committee may meet between now and December to refine options.
•Proceed to closed session as requested by county attorney.
•Staff to coordinate with Regional Planning Commission or procurement routes for orthophotography.
•Staff to present to the health and human services committee in November and return in December to the county board with borrowing requests if recommended.
•Staff to provide detailed library contract figures and spreadsheets to committee members.
•Staff to submit application and, if awarded, incorporate maintenance into future budgets.
County committee heard a UW Extension needs-assessment briefing, received a Washington County Fair report from the Agricultural Industrial Society, approved USDA wildlife crop prices and a related 2027 pass‑through budget, authorized endowment funding for a Heritage Trails master plan, approved mountain-bike funding and a revised nonresident daily-fee policy for Heritage Trails, and approved parks venue pricing changes. A closed session was announced to discuss an easement negotiation with We Energies.
Discussion Points
•AIS credited renovations, concerts and carnival growth for increased attendance and revenue.
•AIS highlighted the livestock auction and vendor/camping revenue for youth benefit.
•Allocation contingent on updated MOU and attorney review to define allowable uses.
•Budget includes federal breakdown and DNR breakdown; funds described as pass‑through from DNR license fees.
•Chair cited statute to authorize closed session for bargaining/easement negotiations with We Energies relating to a Hartford Jackson interconnect project at the fair park.
•Committee members discussed priorities including aging population, workforce development, 4‑H and roads.
•Endowment committee and potential sponsors have signaled interest in contributing; staff recommended integrating existing trail plans rather than redoing previous work.
•Option 3 keeps voluntary annual rider pass and focuses enforcement on nonresident daily fees to improve compliance.
•Plan phases include current conditions, infrastructure feasibility, site brainstorming, site selection with cost estimates, and implementation phasing; estimated timeline 6–7 months.
•Prices are long averages and can be adjusted; December 1 harvest cutoff recommended to discourage late harvesting for claims.
•Project account contains rider fees plus a $10,000 naming agreement; final booked balance expected ~ $27–28k.
•Some program lines (deer donation processing, permanent fence) flagged as $0 due to lack of processor participation or no new fences planned.
•Staff noted resident share of daily visitors about 14%; many nonresident visitors come from Green Bay, Madison and Milwaukee regions.
•Staff proposed modest increases at less‑booked sites and a larger increase at Glacier Hills, plus package options to enhance per‑booking revenue.
•UW Extension will send a follow‑up email and anonymous Google survey to solicit county input by Oct. 25.
•Venue rentals constitute a major enterprise revenue source; staff proposed a ~12% target increase to reach $475,000.
Decisions
•Committee adopted Option 3 (hybrid approach) with unanimous voice vote.
•Committee approved intent to allocate funds to Metro Mountain Bikers, subject to legal and MOU conditions.
•Committee approved the 2027 budget for the wildlife damage abatement program.
•Committee approved the 2028 pricing schedule unanimously.
•Committee approved the crop prices and retained the December 1 90% harvest date.
•Committee authorized endowment funding and county backfill for the Heritage Trails master plan.
•Committee moved to convene closed session (motion and second recorded).
Directions
•Accept endowment funds and backfill remaining cost from park enterprise budget; staff to develop scope and timeline.
•AIS to present a proposal to its AIS board and then forward recommendations to the county committee.
•Carroll to send the survey to committee members and Washington County leadership; staff to collate responses.
•Implement pricing schedule for 2028 and return with revenue impact analysis.
•Proceed to closed session; county counsel to handle negotiations as appropriate.
•Staff to update MOU and coordinate with county attorney before releasing funds.
•Staff to work with app developer and camera vendor to determine address/plate matching and payment/notice workflows.
Washington County Public Works Committee met October 9, 2026 to receive transit ridership and shared-ride taxi briefings and to review a recommendation to build a new Health & Human Services facility, with timing and borrowing to be decided later this winter.
Discussion Points
•Building committee recommended new construction rather than PAC remodel based on 30‑year comparison and repurposing potential.
•Charlie agreed to provide a graph by rider type and a separate map of origins/destinations and to include live dashboard capability for future meetings.
•Design alternates (structural roof, morgue) may be bid as options; excluding them could save roughly $1,200,000.
•Example cross‑county surcharge cited: adult trip over 20 miles to Ozaukee would be $33.
•Fares are roughly $388,000; a $200,000 gap cannot be closed by modest fare increases alone without risk to ridership.
•Fleet inventory: 30 vehicles made up of minivans, minibuses, transit vans and non‑ADA vans.
•Members discussed raising adult or agency fares while protecting seniors and disabled riders.
•Menu of levers includes fleet size, vehicle type, contracted hours, service days/hours, fare tiers, eligibility verification, agency fares and advertising.
•Minibuses are being phased out; transit vans are the budgeted replacement for flexibility and wheelchair accommodation.
•Ozaukee fare matrix provided as a comparator for policy analysis.
•Projected 2028 funding gap due to depletion of short‑term funds and trust fund reductions.
•Schedule: executive committee review in October; request for $1,000,000 architectural funds in November; county board borrowing in early 2027; occupancy targeted Q1 2029.
•Supervisors asked for rider‑type breakdowns by hour and origin/destination to understand peaks (notably 2 p.m.) and low‑demand windows (notably 8 a.m.).
•Typical peak vehicles on road ~15–17; contracted hours were reduced from 58,000 to 53,000.
Directions
•Building committee to decide on alternates and whether to include morgue as an alternate bid.
•Staff to add an hourly rider‑type chart and an origin/destination graph to next meeting materials.
•Staff to compile neighboring counties' full fare matrices and model revenue/ ridership impacts for modest fare adjustments and agency fare increases.
•Staff to confirm which look‑back period applies to the 10% service‑change threshold with the state compliance manager.
•Staff to model combinations of levers and provide spreadsheets showing revenue, ridership sensitivity and triggers for public hearing requirements.
•Staff to prepare scenario modeling tied to those data for recommended levers.
•Staff to provide clarifying cost breakdowns and refined estimates to executive committee and building committee.
•Staff to provide utilization breakdowns by vehicle type and model cost/dispatching impacts of reducing vehicles or shifting vehicle types.
Washington County Board of Supervisors met Oct. 9, 2026; members approved a countywide shared EMS grant program after extended discussion, voted on several grants and staffing items, heard an extended county executive presentation on an AI initiative, and moved into closed session over ongoing litigation with SEWRPC.
Discussion Points
•Calls for guardrails protecting HIPAA and open records; proposal to draft a human-centered advisory resolution informed by an encyclical were raised.
•Clarified how 1.25 FTE is calculated (two colocated staff delivering 50 hours/week equals 1.25 FTE).
•Debate over pilot nomenclature and long-term funding; staff proposed opioid-settlement support for three years of continued pilot funding.
•Distribution mechanics of sales-tax growth (baseline vs. growth) and the 75/25 split were explained by staff.
•Judge granted a restraining order restoring county membership rights; further proceedings scheduled Oct. 23.
•MIT training and international context for AI competition; data centers and energy needs discussed.
•Proposals for internal pilot programs, super-user groups, and training for staff and residents.
•SMART goals intended to cap growth rather than force absolute cuts; oversight by Public Safety Committee and annual dashboards mentioned.
•Stern said SewerPack had withheld services and removed county transportation projects from regional plans, prompting the suit.
•Volunteer incentive design debated: retirement-style payout vs immediate recruitment incentive.
Decisions
•Board accepted presentation and asked for further proposals; no formal action taken at this meeting.
•Closed session approved; restraining order in place pending further court proceedings.
•Ordinance 5 adopted.
•Resolution 28 approved (18–2).
•Resolution 29 approved; staff proceed with application.
•Resolution 30 approved (18–2).
Directions
•Clerk to publish ordinance changes per standard process.
•Enter closed session for litigation strategy; county attorney to advise next steps after Oct. 23 hearing.
•Initiate listening sessions and partner with technical colleges; staff to return with pilot program proposals and governance language.
•Public Safety Committee to monitor program implementation and dashboards annually.
•Staff to continue pilot, report outcomes and budget implications, and engage West Bend about potential cost-sharing for subsequent years.
•Staff to finalize contract language and present budget allocations in November.
The Hartford Plan Commission recommended approval of the Partridge Hollow Phase 5 final plat and a certified survey map for 1668 West State Street. Members also approved the prior meeting minutes and reviewed a proposed 2027 meeting calendar.
Discussion Points
•Jacob Maas presented the proposed 2027 Plan Commission meeting calendar and asked members to provide feedback to staff.
•Regan asked whether the survey map would precede the zoning change; Maas confirmed it would, to ensure the public hearing notice had a proper legal description.
•Staff presented the proposed two-lot map and proposed future zoning classifications.
•Staff reviewed the subdivision history, lot totals and fire, utility, engineering and planning comments.
Decisions
•No vote on the proposed 2027 calendar is recorded.
•No zoning change was approved at this meeting.
•The commission approved the September 14 minutes and carried a motion to adjourn.
•The commission carried a motion recommending approval of the certified survey map to the Common Council.
•The commission carried a motion recommending approval of the final plat with staff comments; the transcript does not record final City Council approval.
Directions
•Members were asked to provide staff with feedback about possible changes to the proposed calendar.
October 07, 2026, Regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission. Minutes
Hartford Parks and Recreation Commission met Oct. 7, 2026, and approved purchase of two replacement chair lifts for the Indoor Family Aquatic Center to restore ADA access, discussed short- and long-term options for the sand area at Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center (with a $600,000 splash pad planned in 2031), reviewed aquatics attendance and revenue, and received updates on parks projects.
Discussion Points
•Centennial Park access path requested by mayor to improve accessibility; planned before year end.
•Commissioner Carroll proposed sod as a stop-gap to remove sand and increase green space.
•Eagle Scout completed dog-park features including tunnel, ramp and wind breaks.
•Funding would come from remaining 2026 CIP/GO Debt funds and $1,050 Hartford Rotary donation.
•Golf simulator returned to service after software update and new screen installation.
•List of upcoming programs and events for fall and winter.
•Minutes do not provide roll-call vote tallies or recorded abstentions.
•Motions were recorded in the minutes with outcomes 'MOTION CARRIED'.
•Open swim down ~1,900; night swim down ~300; AM lap/walk and toddler swims increased; lesson enrollments up.
•Approved purchase of two chair lifts (motion carried).
•No formal action taken at this meeting.
•No formal action taken on programming changes.
Directions
•Clerks/Staff to implement approvals and record procurement actions.
•Staff to complete contracted work and implement Centennial access path as scheduled.
•Staff to consider programming adjustments such as night water walking and earlier morning walk sessions potentially staffed by trained regulars or volunteers.
•Staff to proceed with procurement and use indicated funding sources.
•Staff to promote events and manage registrations.
•Staff to research interim surfacing options and donor opportunities; do not remove play equipment without meeting fall-surface standards.
The Washington County Building Committee recommended forwarding a plan to construct a new Health and Human Services building on the east side of the county campus to the executive committee; members discussed three options (remodel PAC, new building, public-private partnership), reviewed timelines and 30-year cost comparisons, and voted to recommend the new building with one abstention.
Discussion Points
•Architect said remodeling included ~10% contingency but no asbestos-abatement dollars.
•Bidding documents and award timing (April - June 2027).
•Construction start roughly July 2027 and occupancy target early 2029.
•Demolishing PAC could free land for NextGen housing and return tax revenue to multiple taxing authorities.
•Fair Park School land is owned by the school district and deed restricted.
•Fair Park School site may require deed-restriction removal and negotiation with the school district, potentially delaying schedule.
•Phase 2 plans completion target (March 2027).
•Remodeling estimate ~$48M over 30 years; new-build packet number $40M.
•Removing deed restrictions may require court action and add schedule risk.
•Three options compared: remodel PAC, build new HHS building, or pursue public-private partnership (Scott presented 30-year cost windows).
•Utility cost discrepancy noted and corrected in spreadsheet (Advisor Mikulik/Scott).
Decisions
•Committee recommended constructing a new Health and Human Services building on the east side of the county campus; recommendation to be forwarded to the executive committee.
Directions
•Flag deed-restriction and negotiation risk in executive-committee materials.
•Forward recommendation for the new east-side building to the executive committee.
•Include this schedule in materials for executive committee review.
•Refine cost breakout and include asbestos/remediation estimates if discovered; present corrected spreadsheet to executive committee.
•Staff to prepare materials for executive and county board review, including 30-year cost comparisons and borrowing/resolution options.
Washington County Human Services Committee received reports on veteran services, approved a resolution to add 1.25 crisis-intervention FTEs to continue a Westbend co-responder pilot using opioid-settlement funds, and reviewed options and costs for a new Health & Human Services building including a potential public-private partnership and use of the Fair Park school site.
Discussion Points
•Announcement of a veteran mental-health support program starting Oct. 5 at American Legion Post 36.
•Application submitted to Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs for a transportation grant with Interfaith Caregivers.
•Civil War monument dedications scheduled for Sept. 27 (Dynesville) and Oct. 4 (Peace United Church of Christ).
•Fair Park school site could host both human services and housing but deed restrictions and land-purchase terms require negotiation.
•Funding proposal to use opioid-settlement dollars for a three-year pilot continuation and evaluation.
•Military Day at the fair provided outreach opportunities; guitar program engaged veterans and families.
•Need for predictable scheduling and staff continuity to assess outcomes reliably.
•Need for staffing continuity rather than rotating crisis workers; program matured from one day/week to multiple rotating 10-hour shifts.
•Pilot strengthened operational collaboration and integration of crisis workers into police briefings.
•PPP letters of interest received; one respondent engaged with the county to model mixed-use options.
•Proposed site at Ralston & Highway 33 and schematic emphasizing single-floor client access and security.
•Three financing alternatives compared over a 20-year window with different maintenance and tax-revenue implications.
Decisions
•Resolution 2026 approved to fund 1.25 FTEs; motion carried by voice vote.
Directions
•Continue annual veteran outreach programs and update on grant status.
•Finalize memorandum of understanding with Westbend PD.
•Finalize MOU and funding plan using opioid-settlement funds for three years.
•Provide a 30-year cost comparison to the building committee on Oct. 6 and continue review through public works and executive committee.
•Publicize dedication dates and logistics; county staff to coordinate parking and ceremony details.
•Report evaluation metrics to committee.
•Staff to assess demand for alternate meeting times (evenings/weekends) and report back.
•Staff to refine PPP lease and cost estimates and present a 30-year financial comparison to the building committee on Oct. 6.
•Use opioid-settlement funds to staff 1.25 FTE and report back with evaluation metrics.
Washington County Executive Committee reviewed a set of tax-deed properties and moved to take several properties while excluding certain parcels owned by Northern Capital Investments LLC; it also set minimum bids at appraised values following a recent state statute change, approved Brownfields testing funding for the former Prefke Bakes bridal site, and voted to convene a closed session to discuss security measures for relocated county offices.
Discussion Points
•Chair read statutory basis for closed session and specified security review purpose
•Clerk explained tax-deed timeline and color-coded spreadsheet showing parcels to take vs. exclude
•Committee discussed previous Phase I assessment and the need for Phase II and redevelopment planning
•Committee moved and approved a roll-call vote to convene closed session
•Members asked clarifying questions about specific parcels and structures (homes, duplexes, vacant land)
•Presenter requested $12,475 for testing and noted the county fund balance is $90,195
•Questions asked about whether older minimum bids were listed (they had not been) and how long properties are posted for sale
•Recent state statute change requires appraisals; packet includes appraised values
Decisions
•Approved Brownfields testing funding
•Approved setting minimum bids at appraised (Jewel) value opinions
•Approved taking the listed tax-deed parcels excluding Northern Capital Investments LLC parcels
•Closed session convened
Directions
•Approve testing funds and continue remediation planning; coordinate with city match and EPA grant timeline
•County to exclude Northern Capital Investments LLC tax-key numbers from the take motion and continue monitoring those parcels
•Proceed to closed session per statute
•Set minimum bids at appraised values and list on Wisconsin Surplus for typical sale period
