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We are a city of approximately 12,000 and we offer amenities and activities for residents and visitors of all ages. Situated in scenic rural Daviess County, we love to call this our home. With the North-South I-69 that runs through our City and the 4-lane East-West US 50 just south of the City, access is a special advantage.

Whether you already live here or are considering moving to the area, thinking of expanding your business here, seeking a great place to raise a family, or are getting ready to retire, I believe you will find Washington a great place to live, work and play.

Mayor | David Rhoads

Executive Assistant | Debbie Neukam 

City Council Members

Click for Live Stream or Recordings of City Meetings

The City of Washington Animal Control & Adoption Facility opened May 1993 to serve the residents of the City of Washington and Daviess County.

The shelter houses stray and unwanted pets in a modern and up to date facility. Animals are available for adoptions to qualified applicants.

The Animal Control Department picks up stray and unwanted animals, traps nuisance cats, rescues animals, removes dead animals from the streets and other properties, gives programs to various groups when requested to do so.

Welcome to Washington City Building Commission!

The City of Washington Building Commission is here to provide planning and zoning services, as well as permitting, inspections and enforcement of City Ordinances. Our goal is to maintain a clean, safe and attractive city.

The Clerk-Treasurer is the Chief Financial Officer for the municipal government.

This office is responsible for all financial aspects of the city including record keeping budgets, payroll, tax reports, insurance and accounts payable. The Clerk-Treasurer is secretary to the Council and is custodian of municipal records. Minutes of the Common Council and Board of Public Works are open records and can be viewed during working hours. City parking tickets are payable at the Clerk-Treasurer’s Office.

• SBOA Audit Reports Search 

Public power means more to us than lines and poles.

Public power is about people, the people who use our service and people who provide that service. Every one of our customers is an owner of our utility and has a say in the way we provide power. As a municipally owned and operated utility, we provide our customers with an efficient, reliable power supply at a reasonable cost.

Washington Power & Light is a municipally owned utility which means we have a simple focus. Our mission is to deliver an excellent utility value to the residents, businesses and industries in Washington, Indiana and the surrounding area. Washington Power & Light has a one hundred year history of providing our customers with reliable electrical energy at affordable rates and this commitment will never change.

With the deregulation of the electric industry on the horizon, we believe WP&L, Washington Power & Light, will continue to thrive. WP&L will sustain this pattern by doing what we have been doing for over a century listening to the needs of our customers and responding with policies and products and/or services to meet their needs. We believe being smaller and closer to our customers will give our community and our utility a competitive advantage.

After Hour Emergencies: (812) 254-4410

• Electric Line Superintendent - Randall Ennis
• Electric Line Asst. Superintendent - Jeff Lemon
• Office Manager - Stacie Anderson
  
  

The Washington Engineering Department provides Professional Engineering and Land Surveying services to all City Departments for Preliminary Civil Engineering reports, designs and cost estimates, prepares final construction plans and specifications, topographic mapping, construction and boundary surveying, Certificates of Survey, Surveyor's Reports and Plats of Survey for property and easement descriptions, and general consulting as needed by the various departments.

The Washington Engineering Department provides Professional Engineering services to the City Building Commissioner and Plan Commission for the review of plans and specifications for proposed subdivision, commercial and industrial developments, and review and approval of proposed storm water runoff control calculations and designs for these developments.

Indiana Professional License Registration:
Ed Barnett, P.E. P.L.S.
Indiana Professional Engineer - 15615
Indiana Land Surveyor - S0230

Fire Station #1 200 Harned Ave.	Fire Station #2 1002 West Walnut St.

The Mission of the Washington Fire Department is to protect life, environment and to save personal property for the community of Washington. As well as, provide Public Education, Emergency Medical Responses and Fire Prevention to the public, schools, and businesses while maximizing firefighter safety.

The Washington Fire Department is the only career fire department in Daviess County. The department is made up of sixteen firefighters, which man two fire stations and one fire chief.

The department operates two shifts that are staffed twenty-four hours per day, 365 days per year. The stations contain one ladder truck and three engines as first alarm vehicles. The Department also has an EMS Squad, Rope Rescue, Confine Space trailer, and a chief's command vehicle.

City of Washington Legal Department

Mission

Our mission at the City of Washington Parks & Recreation Department is to

• Enrich the community and the lives of Washington residents.
• Provide and/or facilitate quality recreational and leisure opportunities.
• Enhance visitor experiences by providing safe, clean, well-maintained park facilities for the community use and enjoyment.

Vision

• We strive to provide the community of Washington with healthy, fun, and memorable parks and recreation experiences and activities. 

Parks & Recreation Staff

• Kip Kelley -Parks and Recreation Superintendent
• Eddie Cornelius - Assistant Superintendent
• Steve Lamb - Heavy Equipment Operator
• Logan Lankford - Laborer
• Chris Conger - Laborer
• Todd Miller - Laborer

The Parks and Recreation Superintendent is appointed by the mayor and is under the guidance of a 6-Member Park Board.

Welcome to the City of Washington Police Department 

The Washington Police Department (WPD) stands as a dedicated force comprised of twenty-one sworn officers and two administrative assistants. Complementing this professional team, the department boasts a dynamic reserve officer program consisting of community volunteers. These volunteers actively contribute to the community, participating in parades, festivals, athletic events, and routine patrols.

With an unwavering commitment to the citizens of Washington, Indiana (population approximately 12,000), the WPD offers a diverse range of services. These services include complimentary Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) checks, golf cart inspections for those seeking legal registration for city street travel (Local Registration Fees Apply), and fingerprinting services for a nominal $5.00 fee. Additionally, residents within the corporate limits of the City of Washington can avail themselves of background checks for handgun applications.

Operating around the clock, 365 days a year, the Washington Police Department is at the forefront of responding to an array of service calls and investigating a broad spectrum of criminal cases.

Beyond its essential role in ensuring the protection of life and property, the WPD places a strong emphasis on community policing. Officers actively engage with the public through various initiatives, including Safety Night Out events, captivating K-9 demonstrations, enlightening bicycle safety talks, child safety programs, neighborhood safety discussions, informative business security and safety presentations, Emergency Response Team (ERT) training demonstrations, and serving as a Safe Stop for trick-or-treaters during Halloween festivities. The Washington Police Department is not just a law enforcement agency; it's a vital part of the community fabric, dedicated to fostering safety and building strong connections with the residents it serves.

Mission

As leaders within the community, we steadfastly commit to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in executing our duties. With an unwavering dedication to the principles of fairness and profound respect for every citizen, our allegiance is dual-fold—to the core of our mission and the community we serve with diligence.

In safeguarding the rights of all residents, we approach our responsibilities with an unwavering commitment to dignity, honor, and compassion. Endowed with the courage to champion righteousness and confront wrongdoing, we navigate the complexities of law enforcement with a resolute application of judicious common sense.

Our mission is to protect and serve the community with the utmost dedication, fostering an environment of safety, trust, and collaboration. Through rigorous adherence to professional standards, we aspire to be a beacon of exemplary law enforcement, ensuring the welfare and well-being of the residents we are privileged to serve in the great city of Washington.

Welcome to the Storm Water Department! 

The Common Council of the City of Washington created the Department of Storm Water Management to operate and maintain the storm water system, which is part of the city’s infrastructure.

The Storm Water System is made up of roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels and storm sewers. The storm water system is designed to carry runoff water (from rain and melting snow) quickly off the streets, and discharge it without treatment into the White River. The storm water/storm sewer system should be separate from the city’s sanitary sewer system. The sanitary sewer system transports all household wastewater (from toilets, showers, and sinks) to the Washington Wastewater Treatment Facility, where it is treated before being discharged into the White River.

However, part of Washington’s storm water system is also combined with the city’s sanitary sewer system. During a heavy rain event, this combined sewer system is often overwhelmed by an enormous volume of runoff water in a short amount of time, resulting in what is known as a Combined Sewage Overflow, or CSO. During a CSO, untreated sewage can be carried into the White River by the storm water runoff flowing through the system. To help prevent this, the City of Washington has constructed a large retention pond and tank to hold the runoff water until it can be released in a controlled manner to an innovative wetland treatment channel, completely bypassing the Wastewater Treatment Facility.

The Department of Storm Water Management is funded by monthly user fees, based on the amount of impervious surface area located on each user’s property. 

Stormwater Rates & Charges

Welcome to the Street Department 

Mission Statement

The Washington Street Department is committed to providing the highest quality service while maintaining streets, public right of ways, city-owned property and during trash collection. We strive to provide the safest, cleanest and most attractive community in Southern Indiana.

Services provided:

• Recycling Center
• Trash Collection
  
• Limb Pick Up
  
• Municipal Ordinance related nuisance abatement of trash, tall grass, and weeds.
  
• Stump Grinding of trees cut down by The City of Washington
  
• Seasonal leaf collection
  
• Street Maintenance (crack sealing, liquid road application, potholes, drainage, markings etc...)
• Alley Maintenance
  
• Street Paving
• Street Repairs
  
• Curb, Cross Walk and ADA Parking Space Painting
  
• Crack Seal
• Street Cut Repair
• Street Sign Installation/Maintenance
  
• Bush Hog, Mowing and General Maintenance Right of Ways
  
• Right of Way trimming
  
• Yard Waste (Bin located at the Street Department)
  
• Mosquito Abatement (Adulticiding and Larvaciding)
  
• Snow and Ice Management

Our team of 23 is our most valuable asset. When you see signs, cones, flashing lights or yellow vests, please slow down for the safety of our team members.

The City of Washington Information Technology Department is responsible for planning, directing, and/or coordinating activities related to electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

The department is responsible for managing backup, security, disaster recovery, and user help systems. The department also manages the City's web site. Involvement in the strategic development of the City's digital infrastructure consists of the on-going evaluation of the City's use of technology and recommending improvements, such as hardware and software upgrades.

A major goal of this department's activities is to build the infrastructure that attracts new businesses and jobs, and that will provide our citizens with the best services possible. 

City of Washington Public Transportation

Operated by: Ride Solutions

Public Transportation is handled by Ride Solutions.  Its services are funded through resources made available by the City of Washington, the Federal Transit Administration, the Indiana Department of Transportation, and passenger fares. Ride Solutions provides public transportation; services are available to everyone that complies with “System Rules” and “Passenger Conduct” standards (see below). Washington Public Transportation operated by Ride Solutions does not discriminate based on race, creed, religion, sex, origin, age, or disability in its services.

Washington's Public Transportation operates over a designated route within the corporate limits of the City of Washington and to and from Wal-Mart Super Center outside the corporate limits. Washington Transit operates on a “deviated fixed route” allowing the driver to deviate from the fixed route up to ¾ of a mile for pickups and drop offs. Each round trip covers sixty (60) minutes. Layover time, if needed to meet scheduled route time points, is taken at Jamestown Apartments. Information on Ride Solutions Public Transportation service is available by calling (812) 254-3225.

Link to Ride Solutions Website:

Ride Solutions

The Utility Office for the City of Washington consists of Billing and Collections, Bookkeeping, and Customer Service.

It is our responsibility to read and repair electric and water meters, bill customers, accept payments, respond to questions or problems, and to monitor and report on the financial status of the Utility Departments.

For After Hour Emergencies: Telephone (812) 254-4410

• Stacie Anderson- Office Manager

The City of Washington runs a Major Municipal Wastewater treatment plant located at 169 South 200 West Washington, Indiana.

The City of Washington’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) is Permit No. IN0025658. The permittee currently operates a Class III, 4.2 MOD treatment facility consisting of an oxidation ditch treatment facility (old plant) and a Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR) treatment facility (new plant). The oxidation ditch facility consists of screening, pre-aeration, primary clarification, roughing trickling filters, an aeration basin, secondary clarification and post aeration. The SBR facility consists of screening, SBRs, ultraviolet light disinfection, and post aeration. The effluent from the oxidation ditch facility and the SBR facility combines prior to ultraviolet light disinfection before discharging via Outfall 001. Biosolids are handled with aerobic digester units, a centrifuge and drying beds.

The collection system is comprised of combined sanitary and storm sewers with five Combined Sewer Overflow(s) identified and permitted with provisions in Attachment A of this permit. The mass limitations for CBOD5, TSS and ammonia-nitrogen have been based upon the facility’s average design peak flow rate of 5.7 MOD in accordance with this Office’s CSO policy to maximize flows through the treatment facility.

The Wastewater Dept. consists of one Superintendent that is over Plant Operations Unit and Collection or Maintenance Unit. The Operations Unit has seven Employees consisting of one Head Operator, Day shift Operator, Second Shift Operator, Third Shift Operator and a Swing Shift Operator and a Utility Clerk. We have our own Wastewater Lab that is staffed by a Lab Tech so we can run all of the water quality tests in house. The Asst. Superintendent, six Heavy Equipment Maintenance Operators, one Heavy Equipment Operator- Maintenance Mechanic run the Sewer Collection Maintenance Unit.

The Washington Water Department was established in 1915.  The first treatment plant was built in 1950 and was used till 1999.  In 1999 a new treatment plant was built to meet customer demand.  The existing treatment plant has a capacity of 10 million gallons a day.  The treatment plant is supplied by two well fields, 6 wells located on Old Highway 50, 6 wells located on W 150 N.

Steps of our Water Treatment

1. Pre-chlorinate: To aid in the aeration process.
2. Aeration: This process is applied in which water is brought into contact with air for the purpose of changing the concentration of a volatile substance contained it the water, which is useful in the oxidation of iron, manganese, and to limited extent organic matter.
3. Filtration: Iron and manganese removal.
4. Disinfection: A small amount of chlorine is added to kill any harmful bacteria or microorganisms that may be in the water.
5. Fluoridation: Fluoride is added to a recommended optimum concentration of 0.7 mg/l for the prevention of dental decay.
6. Storage: Fire protection and peak demand.

The Water Treatment staff monitor the treated water supply as it leaves the treatment plant and at water taps throughout the distribution system.  Chemical test on samples is run daily to allow appropriate adjustment to the treatment process when needed.  Bacteriological tests are run periodically to ensure that the water is safe for consumption.  All monitoring is done in compliance with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the U. S.  Environmental Protection Agency in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.

 The entire water supply system is monitored with SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) distribution control system software.  The SCADA system allows operators to control operations at the treatment plant and throughout the distribution system.

The Washington Water Department provides drinking water to 5525 customers, 4875 residential, and 650 commercial customers.

The distribution system consists of four storage tanks and 125 miles of water mains ranging in size from 2” – 16” in diameter. 

The management of the municipal Water Works is under the direction of a seven-member Common Council and a three-member Board of Public Works.  Day-to-Day operations of the Water Works are the responsibility of the superintendent.  The Water Department consists of 13 full-time employees, 9 distribution system, 4 treatment plant.