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June 18, 2026 COUNTY NEWS Planning for Drought: Lessons from Washington Communities On
June 18, 2026
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COUNTY NEWS
Planning for Drought: Lessons from Washington Communities
On April 8, 2026, the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) declared a statewide drought emergency. It is the fourth year in a row that part or all of Washington has been
in drought, and the fourth statewide emergency since 2015. As Ecology director Casey Sixkiller said to the Washington State Standard, "Drought is becoming the pattern, our new normal."
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COUNTY CONNECTION PODCAST
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Inside the Public Works Board: How Washington Funds Local Infrastructure
In the latest episode of the County Connection podcast, we ask,"What does it take to fund roads, water systems, and broadband across Washington?" In this episode, we break down the Public
Works Board; how it works, where the money comes from, and why it’s such a critical (and sometimes controversial) tool for local governments. From low-interest loans to legislative
fund transfers, our guests unpack the challenges counties face in accessing funding and the future of infrastructure finance in our state. If you’ve ever wondered how projects actually
get built, or delayed, this conversation is for you.
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WSAC SERVICES
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WSAC Proudly Launches Fleet And Equipment Through New WSAC Services Program
WSAC Fleet & Equipment, driven by Unified Fleet Services, is part of our newly launched WSAC Services Program, focused on delivering even greater cost savings and benefits to counties
and local government partners across Washington.
WSAC Fleet & Equipment offers fleet leasing and management services that reduce costs, simplify procurement, and keep your county’s vehicles and equipment newer and more reliable.
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COUNTY NEWS
Chelan County Reports Progress in Restoring Systems After May Disruption
Chelan County officials say they have made significant progress restoring county operations following a systemwide disruption that began May 24, with key services including telephones,
employee computers and email now back online.
In a countywide update released June 15, officials said county offices remain open to the public and employees are working to catch up on tasks that were temporarily put on hold during
the outage. Several county websites, however, remain unavailable.
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WSAC NEWS
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Highlight Your County’s Biggest Impact!
WSAC is now accepting nominations for its County Impact Awards, recognizing innovative county programs across Washington. These awards celebrate projects that improve services, strengthen
communities, and enhance residents’ quality of life. Submit your project to gain statewide recognition and showcase the difference your county is making.
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COUNTY NEWS
Snohomish County Launching Jail Efficiency Study
The first steps are underway for a study that will evaluate the efficiency of the Snohomish County jail. On Monday, the Snohomish County Council approved a motion to issue a request
for proposals (RFP) for a comprehensive study aimed at ensuring the jail is running efficiently, both financially and operationally.
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COUNTY NEWS
The 2026 County Engineer of the Year!
CRAB is pleased to announce Aaron Simmons, PE of Douglas County has been named the 2026 County Engineer of the Year. Since 1967, the agency has presented the award annually to recognize
outstanding performance in engineering expertise, leadership, community engagement and industry involvement.
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COUNTY NEWS
Eastern Washington Wildfires Erupt
Firefighters were scrambling to fight fires across Benton and Franklin counties and the western edge of Walla Walla County over the weekend, with the start of summer still a week away.
One fire east of Benton City was forcing some residents to be evacuated as it burned near the Old Inland Empire Highway just north of Interstate 82. The blaze also knocked out power
in Prosser.
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CRAB NEWS
CRAB Seeks County Input for Next Strategic Plan
The County Road Administration Board is asking for county feedback to help shape its next five-year strategic plan. After implementing priorities identified in 2021, staff are reflecting
on progress and identifying future needs. Candid input is critical to improving services and supporting county road departments statewide, so please take a few minutes to complete the
survey by July 3rd. Help guide the agency’s next chapter!
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WSAC NEWS
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Represent Counties on a Statewide Board or Commission!
Apply today to represent counties in these important arenas! For full details and links to board websites, please visit the application link below. Before applying, please ensure that
you are able to accommodate the meeting schedule of the board or commission.
* State Council on Aging
* Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board (Elected) - Seat 5
* Forensic Investigations Council (FIC) -7
* Citizens Advisory Committee on Pipeline Safety
* Public Works Board - West (Elected)
* Transportation Improvement Board (Elected) - Pop 125K or less
APPLY NOW <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/98c808ff-dd41-4420-8904-df19d30647e4/15>
NACo NEWS
Get Equiped With Practical Leadership Skills
The NACo High Performance Leadership Academy is a virtual 10-week program with proven outcomes equipping frontline county professionals with practical leadership skills. The NACo HPLA
training, led by our partners at the Professional Development Academy, prepares county leaders for success. The next cohort launches July 13, so register today!
LEARN MORE <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/98c808ff-dd41-4420-8904-df19d30647e4/16>
<https://unlayer-hqpnbzmtervc8.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/%2F1705611441075-425944.png> Upcoming Events
WED
24
JUNE 24 @ 12:00PM
Lunch & Learn: Meet Your New Fleet & Equipment Procurement Partners! <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/98c808ff-dd41-4420-8904-df19d30647e4/17>
Webinar | Free
FRI
17
JULY 17-20
2026 NACo Annual Conference & Exposition <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/98c808ff-dd41-4420-8904-df19d30647e4/18>
New Orleans | $775
VIEW ALL UPCOMING EVENTS <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/98c808ff-dd41-4420-8904-df19d30647e4/19>
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NEW WSAC MEMBER?
Sign into The Hub for county resources & more ways to connect!
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<https://wsac.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/WSAC_Legislative_Icons_2021-Social.png> LATEST Job Openings
YAKIMA COUNTY
Yakima Health District Executive Director <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/98c808ff-dd41-4420-8904-df19d30647e4/21>
$198,000 - $279,000/Yr
CLARK COUNTY
Weed Control Technician – Public Works <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/98c808ff-dd41-4420-8904-df19d30647e4/22>
$21.87 – $28.42/Hr
VIEW ALL COUNTY JOBS <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/98c808ff-dd41-4420-8904-df19d30647e4/23>
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WSAC Fleet & Equipment offers fleet leasing and management services that reduce costs, simplify procurement, and keep your county’s vehicles and equipment newer and more reliable.
Through WSAC Fleet & Equipment, Washington counties and affiliate agencies get access to:
* Government pricing with no dealership markups or hidden fees
* Flexible lease terms with stated payoffs and no prepayment penalties
* Full-service management — ordering, upfitting, delivery, and trade-in handled for you
* Specialty upfitting for sheriff’s offices, fire and EMS, public works, and more
* Free fleet analysis to show exactly where your county or agency stands and what leasing would save
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