Julie L. Driscoll, the Chief Health & Human Services Officer for Washington County Health & Human Services issued the following Call to Action: Due to the current federal government shutdown, FoodShare (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP) benefits will not be accessible to recipients beginning November 1, 2025. In Washington County, this means over 7,000 of our friends, neighbors, and families will face serious challenges putting food on the table.

Washington County, in partnership with American Companies, is proud to announce the grand opening of Regal Place Condominiums, a Next Generation Housing Initiative development. The ceremony will take place on Monday, November 17, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and will celebrate the latest step toward expanding attainable homeownership opportunities for local residents and workers.

Washington County residents and businesses impacted by the August flooding can receive in-person guidance on the application process and available resources at a joint Disaster Recovery Center. Please note the new schedule: The center will be open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 333 E Washington St, West Bend in the Public Agency Center- Lower Level (parking available in the lower level lot off of Indiana Ave.)

Washington County has officially launched the Conservation & Heritage Grant Program. The program is designed to find a healthy balance between suburban/exurban development, open space preservation, and natural resource conservation including surface water and groundwater quality protection.

In response to mounting concerns from Druid Lake property owners, Washington County is taking a strong stance against Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulations that could drastically impact the future of dozens of homes and families in the Town of Erin. County Executive Josh Schoemann and County Board Chair Jeff Schleif held a resolution signing yesterday with property owners.

Washington County residents and businesses impacted by the August flooding can receive in-person guidance on the application process and available resources at a joint Disaster Recovery Center which will open Thursday, September 18.

President Donald Trump announced a presidential disaster declaration for Wisconsin, approving $29.8 million in federal aid to help recover from the severe storms and flooding in August.

Washington and Ozaukee Counties to Implement Fatality Review Teams Addressing rising rates of suicide and overdoses in our communities

County Executive Josh Schoemann welcomed the FEMA team to Washington County this morning as they began their damage assessments. Schoemann spoke with residents at some of the affected homes and said, “My heart goes out to all those affected by the flood. It’s nice to see the city, county, state and Feds all working together to help. We appreciate the community’s patience as we get through this necessary step toward a determination for federal aid.”

County Executive Josh Schoemann and City of West Bend Mayor Joel Ongert will co-host a public update and Q&A on Thursday, August 14 on the recent recommendations forwarded by the University Campus Task Force Committee regarding the former UWM-Washington County Campus. The task force forwarded their report and proposals received to the county executive after six months of committee deliberations. The Campus Update/Q&A session will provide the opportunity for public comment.

Washington County Clerk Ashley Reichert was reappointed to two committees with the National Association of Counties (NACo) by the association’s president, JD Clark, for the 2025-2026 term. County Clerk Reichert will serve as Vice Chair of the Finance, Pensions and Intergovernmental Affairs Steering Committee and Vice Chair of the Veterans and Military Services Committee.

WEST BEND, WI – Wisconsin Counties Association President Mark O’Connell will present County Executive Josh Schoemann with his second Emmy award before the Silver Lining Amphitheater main stage performance on Saturday night at the Washington County Fair.

Yesterday morning at 9:37 a.m., Washington County Dispatch received multiple calls for a train derailment at 250 Constitution Avenue in Hartford. Incident Commander Fire Chief Tony Burgard immediately initiated a MABAS status (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System for surrounding departments to assist) and Fire Departments from Hartford, Richfield, St. Lawrence, West Bend, Allenton and Slinger and Lifestar responded to the 19-car 3-engine derailment. Multiple other agencies responded to backfill those agencies.

Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann will host a ribbon cutting of the newly improved kayak access point at Goeden County Park which will provide kayakers and canoers with easier access to the Milwaukee River to enjoy the scenic route through West Bend.

Washington County, in partnership with Economic Development Washington County (EDWC), the Village of Kewaskum, American Companies, and Regal Ware is hosting a groundbreaking ceremony for Regal Place on Monday, June 9 at 3:00-3:30 p.m. as part of the Next Generation Housing Initiative, providing attainable homeownership opportunities to area residents and workers.

Washington County is announcing a new initiative aimed at water education and featuring a new website hub. The education campaign is part of the county’s Water Health Initiatives which were named a strategic priority last year centering around balancing development with conservation. The county re-envisioned the vintage ‘water drop’ character that will be used throughout the campaign.

This month, the Washington County Board approved an expansion plan concept for the Washington County Golf Course (WCGC) as part of its Capital Improvement Planning. The project includes clubhouse remodeling and an addition to house golf simulators and will now head to a final design phase. The final scope of the project has not yet been finalized. WCGC will host a community engagement workshop on Tuesday, June 10 at 7 p.m. seeking feedback from its golf community on the plan.

Washington County approved the installation of a new kayak launch at Goeden County Park and shoreline improvements along 275 feet of river frontage. The project includes removing invasive vegetation; creating a new kayak access with a ScourStop walkway – a transition mat that protects against erosion allowing for easy access to the river; shoreline stabilizing, native plantings, and installing a new camera system to add Goeden County Park access to the County’s annual and daily park membership program in 2026.

On Thursday, May 8, 2025, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service (NWS) will conduct Severe Weather Safety & Spotter Training at the Germantown Community Library located at N112 W16957 Mequon Rd. in Germantown. Two identical sessions will be held - an afternoon session from 1-3 PM and an evening session from 5:30-7:30 PM.

Moody’s Investors Service again assigned Washington County a AAA bond rating, the best a local government can achieve. This rating provides the lowest interest options to the county, an advantage when borrowing funds as it holds down interest costs on long-lived assets that are debt funded. Proceeds from the notes will finance remodeling of county buildings and road projects.

County Executive Josh Schoemann created a University Campus Task Force to review the county’s interest in repurposing the UW-Milwaukee at Washington County (UWM-WC) college campus in the best interest of taxpayers.