Thurston County, Washington

The content on the Thurston County website is currently provided in English. We are providing the “Translation” for approximately 10 languages. The goal of the translation is to provide visitors with limited English proficiency to access information on the website in other languages. The translations do not translate all types of documents, and it may not give you an exact translation all the time. The translations are made through an automated process, which may not result in accurate or precise translations, particularly of technical and legal terminology.
County Contacts
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Thurston County Washington

Public Works

Thurston County Public Works FAQ

Impact

  • Public Works plans, constructs, and maintains county roads, bridges, parks, trails, stormwater ponds, pipes and ditches, and other vital infrastructure. We make a difference every day by working to sustain neighborhoods, protect natural resources, and enhance the local economy.
  • Engineering - We plan and construct projects that meet the needs of our communities and work to keep up with the impact our growing population has on our infrastructure. We also work with developers and property owners to ensure new structures are built to last.
  • Garbage and Recycling - We operate the only solid waste disposal facilities in Thurston County and provide essential tools for waste reduction to our communities.
  • Parks & Trails - We ensure our communities have well-kept parks & trails and we protect open spaces for future generations to enjoy.
  • Road Operations - Paved roads comprise the most significant part of Thurston County’s transportation system. Our work is crucial to maintaining the investment in our roads.
  • Water Resources - We manage stormwater runoff, mitigate flooding, and provide clean drinking water and sewage treatment for a cleaner, healthier environment. We help manage noxious weeds.
  • We are committed to providing excellent public services in all areas of our business.

Emergency Response and Road Safety

  • When a storm comes to Thurston County, we are here for the community. Thurston County operates the Waste and Recovery Center (WARC) and drop-box facilities in Rochester and Rainier to help you clean up after a storm has passed. Our crews work diligently to clean up trees and debris in our parks and on our trails.
  • Thurston County Public Works ensures water and sewer services are provided for the Boston Harbor, Tamoshan, Olympic View, and Grand Mound neighborhoods. You can get text alerts about service interruptions when you fill out this Contact Form.
  • If your power is out, please contact Puget Sound Energy (PSE) directly at 1-888-225-5773.
  • Our crews maintain a fleet of plows, anti-icing trucks, and graders in preparation for significant weather events, including snow, ice, and windstorms. During significant events, we first clear county arterial roads providing access to state highways and critical facilities such as hospitals and fire stations. That includes Old Highway 99, Littlerock Road, Martin Way, Yelm Highway, and more. Secondary connecting roads are cleared next. 
  • The map on the Travel Impacts and Concerns page, will show you real-time information for road closures due to county projects, downed powerlines, weather events, and other issues.
  • You can file a report on our Online Services Request page for the following:
    • Downed trees or tree limbs
    • Hazardous vegetation
    • Damaged sidewalks
    • Potholes or other roadway damage
    • Flooded streets
    • Objects or debris on the roadway or in the bike lane
    • Deceased deer or elk
    • Abandoned vehicles
    • Excessive litter
    • Downed or damaged traffic signs 
    • Traffic signal outages
    • Please note that our crews cannot respond to calls to remove deceased pets or small wildlife from the road. For assistance, please contact your local Animal Services department (360) 352-2510. 
  • Thurston County Public Works prioritizes road safety. Paved roads make up the largest part of the county’s transportation system. During Spring and Summer months, Public Works completes pavement preservation projects designed to help maintain the investment Thurston County has made in its roads and deliver on our commitment to road users. 
  • Regular maintenance of paved roads keeps them in good working order. The county uses surface treatments such as Chip Seal and Overlay, that can extend the life of a paved road from 8 to 15 years. 

Public Records and Requests

  • Thurston County Public Works strives to provide information as quickly as possible while following a consistent process to ensure accuracy. 
  • Under the Public Disclosure Act, the public may request documents using the Records Request Center tool found on the Thurston County website. Through the Records Request Center it is easy to submit records requests, check on the status of a pending requests, and search through past published requests. Additionally, requests can be made via fax, mail, or in person using the Public Records Request Form. 
  • All public records requests are sent to the Thurston County Public Records Officer and entered into the public records database. Requests are promptly referred to the Public Works Records Coordinator for a reply.
  • We value transparency and have provided a way for county residents to search for recently published news releases on our website’s County News page.

Feedback

  • Your insights, encouragement, and suggestions are valuable for making Public Works more responsive to your needs. Please use the county’s online Public Comment Form to share your voice with us.
  • We welcome you to attend public meetings. For more information about Thurston County public meetings and hearings, visit the Board of County Commissioners page. There you can review the county’s meeting calendar, meeting agendas, and watch recorded meetings.

Employee Retention and Workplace Concerns

  • Thurston County Public Works will continue to maintain high-quality operations across all service lines while supporting the health and safety of our employees. Our leadership is dedicated to providing every employee with a positive and productive workplace. Our mission remains clear: To provide excellent public service in all areas of our business. 
  • The county requires all supervisors, managers, and staff to respond to discrimination, harassment, and retaliation complaints by sending them immediately to the Human Resources department to respond with appropriate measures. 
  • Every complaint is taken seriously, and we provide employees with multiple methods to report a concern or complaint both verbally and in writing. Collective bargaining agreements also provide a process for elevating complaints.
  • Immediately after learning about the complaint shared in a local news source, Thurston County began working with a third-party human resources agency to provide a complete and impartial investigation into the matter. Choosing a third-party investigation was part of our commitment to transparency and impartiality. 
  • Well before this third-party impartial investigation began, Thurston County Public Works began engaging in a process of continuous improvement. 
  • Thurston County Public Works has been and remains committed to leadership development training for managers, positive workplace culture training for staff, listening sessions, staff surveying, and other actions to standardize our operational procedures and enhance safety. 
  • We appreciate the ongoing efforts of our leadership and staff to provide excellent public service in all areas of our business.
  • Road operations is a growing and competitive market nationwide. Currently, Thurston County Road Operations is budgeted for 66 full-time employees and is seeking to fill 13 openings as of March 2025. 
  • Thurston County Public Works leadership is actively recruiting and training new employees to fill all vacancies. If you know someone who would like to join the outstanding Public Works team, please encourage them to visit Thurston County Employment.
  • Federal law protects everyone's right to participate and be heard. The Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 prohibit people from being excluded from participation in, being denied benefits of, or being subjected to discrimination under any program, project, or activity of federal aid recipients, sub-recipients, and contractors, whether such programs, project, and activities are federally assisted or not.
  • Thurston County Public Works takes all Title VI complaints seriously. We are responsible for ensuring that all Title VI Discrimination complaints are investigated.
  • If a complaint against the Thurston County Public Works Department is in relation to a federal aid transportation program or its activities, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) will investigate the complaint. The OEO investigates as an impartial third party.