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Government

The city of Washington is proud of its progressive attitude and array of useful services and resources available to its residents. Operated under a Council-Administrator form of government, the city is overseen by a mayor, a six-member city council and a city administrator. The current courthouse, originally built in 1887, continues to be a haven for justice in the county.

Public safety is ensured through the Washington Police Department, which is comprised of 10 sworn officers, one part-time officer, a K-9 officer and one administrative assistant. The city police are on-hand night and day in order to protect and serve the community at-large. Washington is also served by the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, which boasts 16 officers and a K-9 Unit.

With four full-time members, supplemented with more than 30 volunteers, Washington’s Fire Department is available for a variety of services 24/7. For further aid during a crisis, Washington offers the volunteer-based First Responders who are on-call 24 hours to assist in area emergencies. Additionally, Washington is equipped with a local paramedic level ambulance service.

Construction on the area’s new jail has finished, with prisoners being housed in the modern facility since January of 2008. New features in the jail include: a Live Scan fingerprint system that allows jailers to send individual fingerprints electronically to the state; isolation cells built on its own ventilation system for medically ill isolation inmates; no bars; a keyless system permitting jailers to control a number of aspects within the jail; new technology through the Iowa Vine System, which informs crime victims of the release of the offender; and expanded male and female work release.

Washington continuously sustains its earliest town motto, “The Cleanest City in Iowa,” through a score of initiatives throughout the year. Year-round curbside recycling has been in effect since 1989, with the county recycling center operating all year to dispose of appliances and large items. Each fall, Washington operates a leaf vacuum throughout the city, along with providing a yard waste removal program year-round. Washington also sponsors bi-annual clean-up days, which offers free removal of most items brought curbside for trash pick-up.