Posted on: June 15, 2020
Of this week’s $4.6 million in new CARES allocations, Pierce County directed nearly $3.4 million to the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes funding for expanded testing, investigations and administrative cost...
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County Executive
Posted on: June 5, 2020
Pierce County learned today the county’s application to move to Phase 2 was approved by the state Department of Health. The move to the second phase is effective immediately.
“I’m pleased that our residents&rsquo...
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County Executive
Posted on: June 2, 2020
Pierce County’s application to enter Phase 2 of the Governor’s Safe Start Order was submitted today to the Washington State Department of Health.
“I’m proud that the people of Pierce County have worked so diligently ...
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County Executive
Posted on: December 13, 2019
Following a nationwide search, Dr. Mark A. Fajardo has been selected Pierce County’s Medical Examiner, pending confirmation by the Pierce County Council.
Dr. Fajardo, currently the Chief Forensic Pathologist for the Riverside County Sheriff Coroner in Cali...
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Learn more about the Medical Examiner's Office
County Executive
Posted on: January 25, 2017
Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier is seeking applicants for one South Hill community resident position on the Pierce County Airport-Thun Field Advisory Commission (TFAC). The appointee will fill an unexpired term to April 12, 2019, after which terms ...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: December 1, 2016
I join our community in extending heartfelt condolences to the Tacoma Police Department and the City of Tacoma as they mourn the loss of Officer Jake Gutierrez. We also offer our deep appreciation to Officer Gutierrez’s family for his swift and ...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: September 19, 2016
The Pierce County Executive’s Office is accepting applications to fill one Ethics Commission position. The citizen commission is responsible for promoting and upholding ethical conduct in Pierce County government.
Applicants must be registered to vote...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: March 31, 2016
The Pierce County Executive’s Office is accepting applications to fill two Ethics Commission positions. The citizen commission is responsible for promoting and upholding ethical conduct in Pierce County government.
Applicants must be registered to vote...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: January 13, 2016
Applications are being accepted to fill two regular Members and one Alternate Member on the Pierce County Board of Equalization. The seven member board hears appeals from taxpayers who disagree with the assessed value of their properties as determined by ...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: November 5, 2015
Pierce County officials have released the numbers showing the U.S. Open’s economic impact on the county. The financial summary shows Pierce County incurred about $3.9 million in overall expenses and saw just over $5 million in revenue, resulting in a net ...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: September 22, 2015
Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy detailed her budget proposal before the County Council Tuesday, highlighting an expanded economy, improved customer services and an investment in what she termed the “moral center” of government.
Her 2016 budget pro...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: August 24, 2015
Pierce County government will be taking steps to reduce water usage by at least 10 percent.
“I am asking staff to reduce the irrigation of lawns and landscaping at our facilities until further notice,” said Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy. “We ar...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: July 27, 2015
By July 1, 2016, all unlicensed marijuana sales operations in unincorporated Pierce County – medical and recreational – must close. That message has been delivered to county landlords, business owners and operators whose establishments involve the burgeon...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: July 10, 2015
“The merits of this project are clear: we can save taxpayers tens of millions of dollars and dramatically improve customer service by consolidating 19 divisions from 14 locations into one. We can do this while owning the building instead of continuing to ...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: July 8, 2015
Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy issued the following statement regarding the announcement that U.S. Army officials intend to only reduce the force at Joint Base Lewis-McChord by 1,250, a number far lower than originally proposed.
“Last summer, the...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: July 2, 2015
Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy has named Ron Klein as the interim director of the Department of Communications while a search is made for a permanent hire.
Klein succeeds Hunter George, who has served as director since 2009 and resigned to take ...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: June 22, 2015
Just hours after Jordan Spieth won the 2015 U.S. Open, construction crews were already beginning to remove the infrastructure that supported the championship in order to restore public access to Chambers Creek Regional Park as quickly as possible.
The ...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: June 21, 2015
The following is a statement by Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy about the conclusion of the 2015 U.S. Open:
"Congratulations to Jordan Spieth on winning the 2015 U.S. Open Championship. It was a thrilling week with lots of dramatic lead chang...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: June 8, 2015
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department will be supported by 36 local, state and federal agencies as they provide for the safety and security of everyone attending the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.
The Sheriff’s Department, which is the lead agency for pub...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: May 6, 2015
The American Heart Association has presented its Gold Achievement Award to Pierce County. The award, given to Councilmember Rick Talbert during the organization’s annual breakfast on May 5, recognizes employers who champion the health of their employees b...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: April 14, 2015
Chambers Bay Golf Course set new fiscal records in 2014, even as it reduced the number of rounds played to prepare for the 2015 U.S. Open Championship this June.
The golf course, owned by Pierce County, set all-time annual records for average greens fe...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: March 16, 2015
Pierce County honored 69 individuals and seven groups for outstanding volunteer service last year to parks, public safety, courts and community programs on Saturday, March 14, 2015.
The honorees, selected through a nomination process, were celebrated a...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: February 27, 2015
Farmers, wholesalers, institutional buyers and technical experts gathered in Puyallup on Friday, Feb. 27, to share strategies and experiences for boosting markets for the local agricultural industry.
About 200 people attended Pierce County's second Far...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: February 19, 2015
Fourteen local businesses and homeowner associations have been recognized for taking steps to reduce the amount of pollution entering Pierce County’s waterways in 2014.
These businesses and associations received Pierce County’s “5-Star Excellence in St...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: February 12, 2015
The following is a statement by Executive Pat McCarthy on the Senate's bipartisan transportation package announced on Feb. 12:
"I congratulate the Washington State Senate's transportation negotiators for reaching a bipartisan agreement on a tran...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: February 12, 2015
Efforts to reduce unhealthy wood smoke pollution in the Tacoma/Pierce County Smoke Reduction Zone area reached a milestone today when the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) approved a 10-year action plan and announced the area will be redesignated as i...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: February 2, 2015
Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy has negotiated a development and lease agreement for a proposed general services building that would dramatically improve customer service while saving taxpayers millions of dollars.
If approved by the Pierce County...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: January 9, 2015
Three members of the Pierce County Council are hosting a public forum to provide local residents with another opportunity to learn about the proposed general services building currently under consideration. The meeting – arranged by Councilmembers Connie ...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: January 9, 2015
Pierce County is seeking applicants to fill a vacancy on the Civil Service Commission for Sheriff's Department employees. Commissioners are appointed by the County Executive and serve a six-year term. The commission is a quasi-judicial body responsible fo...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: September 23, 2014
Executive Pat McCarthy has proposed adding four positions to assist people with mental illness and chemical dependency problems in her 2015 Pierce County budget proposal.
Her budget, submitted this week to the County Council, also curbs overtime in the...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: September 15, 2014
Work is scheduled to begin Sept. 18 on a project to remove derelict pilings and two dilapidated docks located along the shoreline in Pierce County in an effort to restore intertidal and near-shore habitats and improve overall water quality.
The Washing...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: June 13, 2014
The following is a statement by Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy on the passing of Mike Murphy, an 18-year public servant with the state auditor’s office, past president of the Washington Association of Counties and former Grays Harbor county commissi...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: May 30, 2014
Pierce County’s Agriculture Program is among six projects and programs around the region receiving prestigious VISION 2040 Awards from the Puget Sound Regional Council.
The awards, presented on May 29, showcase work being done to implement VISION 2040,...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: May 30, 2014
Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy has been reelected President of the Puget Sound Regional Council, which coordinates growth, economic development and transportation planning for the region.
McCarthy, serving her second term as County Executive, wa...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: May 29, 2014
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced today that the central Puget Sound region was one of 12 communities nationwide winning a Manufacturing Communities designation as part of a federal initiative.
PSRC developed the proposal to designate...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: May 5, 2014
The following is a statement by Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy on today's passing of Billy Frank Jr.:
“We have lost a national treasure in Billy Frank Jr. His advocacy regarding fishing and natural resources was second to none. His legacy include...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: April 29, 2014
Consumers can find hundreds of local farms, markets, products, recipes and more using a new mobile app built by Pierce County and Cascade Harvest Coalition.
The Puget Sound Fresh app provides quick access to a growing network of farms and farmers marke...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: April 24, 2014
Calling it a crime with consequences that devastate communities, members of the Pierce County Council adopted a joint resolution designating April 26, 2014, as Domestic Violence Awareness Day.
Joint Council-Executive Resolution R2014-49, approved durin...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: March 20, 2014
Chambers Bay Golf Course broke records in several financial categories in 2013 as excitement increased in advance of next year’s U.S. Open.
The 4th quarter financial report, released this week by County Executive Pat McCarthy, showed operating revenues...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: December 9, 2013
Pierce County is seeking applicants to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Civil Service Commission for Sheriff's Department employees. Commissioners are appointed by the County Executive and serve a six-year term. The commission is a quasi-judicial body resp...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: November 22, 2013
Pierce County took another step toward completing the popular Foothills Trail with the purchase this week of commercial land near South Prairie.
The county bought approximately 59,000 square feet of the South Prairie RV Park from Dwight Partin for $1,0...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: July 15, 2013
Pierce County’s second Aerospace Summit will offer valuable updates from experts in manufacturing technology and workforce training as the region continues its push for a larger stake in the global market.
The summit, which features a presentation by ...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: July 11, 2013
Last year, Pierce County completed a redistricting project affecting nearly every local voter in just five weeks. The county also started using the latest mobile technology to track damage to roads, bridges, and buildings during floods, fires and other di...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: July 10, 2013
Pierce County expects to reduce flood risk along two sections of the Puyallup River with projects set for this summer.
Construction has begun on a 2,000-foot-long side channel near Orting, and work on another project that will use engineered log jams t...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: July 8, 2013
The United States Golf Association (USGA) has opened corporate hospitality sales for the 2015 U.S. Open Championship at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash.
The U.S. Open will be conducted June 15-21, 2015, which includes three practice-round days a...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: July 2, 2013
Portions of a public beach will close for about three weeks in July while Pierce County removes approximately 200 derelict creosote pilings from the shoreline along Chambers Creek Regional Park in University Place.
Work will begin July 8 at the south p...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: June 26, 2013
Niagara Bottling, LLC, the largest family-owned bottled water manufacturer in the United States, has announced plans to open a state-of-the-art bottling facility in Pierce County, Washington. This will be Niagara’s first site in the Pacific Northwest, jo...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: May 17, 2013
Pierce County residents are invited to celebrate the completion of a series of projects along the 112th Street East corridor from 18th Avenue East to 86th Avenue East with a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 29.
The ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. at the...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: May 17, 2013
Jails in Pierce County face a backlog of inmates waiting for mental competency evaluations, creating additional pressure on already thin resources and in some cases threatening public safety. A bill signed by Gov. Jay Inslee is designed to cut into that ...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: May 15, 2013
When the 1.8-mile SR 99 tunnel opens to traffic in 2015, it will rely on the strength of 1,450 precast concrete rings fabricated with pinpoint precision at a newly expanded plant in Pierce County.
Dozens of community and business leaders gathered May 1...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: May 10, 2013
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced May 10 the contract control towers at Tacoma Narrows Airport and 148 other airports will remain open until Sept. 30, the end of the federal government's fiscal year 2013.
The towers had been slated to cl...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: May 10, 2013
The Pierce County Executive’s Office is accepting applications to fill an expired Ethics Commission position. The citizen commission is responsible for promoting and upholding ethical conduct in Pierce County government.
Applications must be registered...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: April 25, 2013
SEATTLE - Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy has been elected President of the Puget Sound Regional Council, which coordinates growth planning in a thriving four-county region.
McCarthy, serving her second term as County Executive, was elected on Thu...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: April 19, 2013
The following is a statement by Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy regarding State Farm’s announcement on April 19:
“Pierce County welcomes State Farm’s decision to open an Initial Loss Reporting center in downtown Tacoma. This follows Amazon’s recen...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: April 9, 2013
Sprinker Recreation Center, which serves thousands of visitors every year, has won Pierce County’s “Biggest Energy Loser” award for 2012 by cutting its energy use in half.
The 35-year-old ice rink was remodeled in 2011. The remodel consisted of upgradi...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: April 9, 2013
People who care for an individual with Alzheimer’s or other dementias are faced with heavy responsibilities unlike other caregivers. Sometimes the work can become overwhelming, especially when new and difficult behaviors and patterns come to the surface.
...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: April 15, 2013
Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy announced Monday, April 15, she has selected Lowell Porter to lead the Department of Emergency Management, saying his 30-plus years of experience in public safety will help ensure the region remains prepared for anythi...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: April 5, 2013
The Federal Aviation Administration announced April 5 it will delay the closure of the contract control tower at the Tacoma Narrows Airport in Gig Harbor until June 15.
The tower is one of 149 contract control towers slated to close this spring as the...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: April 4, 2013
A team of Pierce County employees who redesigned part of the county's website to make it much easier for citizens to access public records were honored Wednesday, April 3, by the Washington Coalition for Open Government.
It was the second time in three...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: January 28, 2013
Six more pontoons are complete for the new State Route 520 floating bridge. U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer of Gig Harbor joined state and local leaders in Tacoma today, as Washington State Department of Transportation crews began float-out of the second cycle of ...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: December 20, 2012
County Executive Pat McCarthy officially took the oath of office on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012 for her second term that begins next month.
McCarthy was re-elected in the Nov. 6 General Election. The oath was administered by her husband, Superior Court Jud...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: November 20, 2012
Before you apply for a permit to build the ultimate man cave, you can now check online to see how many people are waiting in line at the Pierce County Development Center.
That’s one of several online improvements launched by Planning and Land Services ...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: October 18, 2012
Pierce County Executive, Pat McCarthy addresses the crowd. 1/3A 120-acre property will forever remain as a farm and habitat thanks to another successful public-private partnership in the Puyallup River Valley.
Pierce County, the PCC Farmland Trust and ...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: September 25, 2012
Tuesday Sep 25 2012 3:05 PM
Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy proposes spending less on general government services in 2013 than is budgeted for this year.
The Executive's 2013 budget proposal makes strategic cuts in most departments to achieve a...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: September 24, 2012
Monday Sep 24 2012 11:48 AM
Sound Transit would like to invite you to a three-station celebration Saturday, Oct. 6 as they launch Sounder train service to Lakewood and South Tacoma! They'll have free train rides and fun activities for the whole family ...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: September 13, 2012
Thursday Sep 13 2012 9:04 AM
Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy will officially accept national recognition for the Foothills Trail at the Pierce County Trail Conference on Tuesday, Sept. 18.
Randy King, superintendent of Mount Rainier National P...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: September 12, 2012
Wednesday Sep 12 2012 2:15 PM
Sound Transit announced today that Sounder commuter rail service to South Tacoma and Lakewood will begin Monday, Oct. 8.
To celebrate the start of service, Sound Transit will hold a public ribbon-cutting event on Saturd...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: August 13, 2012
In moves that reflect confidence in Pierce County's fiscal management, two leading Wall Street ratings agencies gave the county high marks on bonds that will be invested in projects to make the region safer and better prepared to handle population and job...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: August 8, 2012
Sound Transit announced on Wednesday, Aug. 8, the start of rail and signal testing on more than eight miles of new track for its Sounder commuter rail extension to Lakewood.
Crews began running Sounder test trains up to 40 miles per hour from Freightho...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: July 27, 2012
Boeing predicts the global market will need 34,000 new airplanes over the next 20 years, and Pierce County aerospace suppliers can help the company compete for that business by finding ways to work faster while providing a safe, efficient and reliable pro...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: June 8, 2012
Kitsap County Commissioner Josh Brown has been re-elected President of the Puget Sound Regional Council. Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy has been re-elected Vice President. The vote took place today at the agency's annual meeting of its General Assem...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: May 1, 2012
Tuesday May 01 2012 9:49 AM
The South Sound Military and Communities Partnership (SSMCP) just released findings of the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Community Needs Survey. This is the first time the local community and JBLM officials have collaborated to r...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: April 23, 2012
Monday Apr 23 2012 9:02 AM
Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy and Sumner Mayor Dave Enslow today announced a proposal for Sound Transit to preserve bus service between the Bonney Lake Park-and-Ride lot and the Sumner Sounder Station. The new service,...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: April 26, 2012
New ST Express Route 596 will enable agency to continue serving Sounder riders from Bonney Lake, Buckley and Enumclaw
The Sound Transit Board of Directors today unanimously approved creation of a new Sound Transit bus route between the Bonney Lake Park...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: March 8, 2012
Thursday Mar 08 2012 3:10 PM
Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy issued the following statement regarding the news about three shipping companies selecting the Port of Tacoma as their port-of-call:
"The Port of Tacoma plays a major role in our...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: February 24, 2012
The Sound Transit Board of Directors on Feb. 23 unanimously approved an amendment to the agency's 2012 budget to provide $24.3 million in additional funding for establishing a shovel-ready plan to extend light rail from South 200th Street to the heart of ...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: July 14, 2010
Devil's Head, a 94-acre jewel in the South Sound, will be preserved for public use thanks to a coalition of conservation partners that acquired the stunning waterfront property.
Located at the south end of the Key Peninsula, the property includes about...Read on...
County Executive
Posted on: May 24, 2010
Three new organic farms are operating in the Orting area thanks to a successful public-private partnership.
Officials representing Pierce County, PCC Farmland Trust and the State of Washington gathered May 21 on the site of the former dairy farm to cel...Read on...
County Executive