The Search is Progressing for A Richland County Administrator

Interim Richland County Clerk, Derek Kalish, reported to the Richland County Board of Supervisors last night (Tuesday), that the window to apply has passed with PPA in the search for a permanent County Administrator. PPA reports that they have 14 applications for the position. They will also be doing interviews for a fiance director in the coming weeks. He also stated that the county is accepting letters of interest to fill the vacant District 3 seat following the death of Supervisor, Marty Brewer. Residents of District 3 are eligible to submit a letter of interest by March 28^th. And, Interim Assistant County Administrator, Josh Elder, has been awarded a scholarship to attend a federal Transportation and Highway program in Washington D.C. in April.

Board Chair, David Turk, reported that the county can’t keep hanging onto to property that is costing the county $10,000 to $12,000 a month to take care of unusable buildings. They will continue to follow up on ideas. Corporate Council, Micheal Windle, reported that while the idea of making it a government center which would include a jail, however, the city ordinance at this time would not allow a jail on the campus property. The ordinance would have to be changed. The ideal for the Campus Reconfiguration Committee is that what would be the best answer is for someone to come in and take it over to make it a good community resource. Turk said that the consultant is prioritizing what the county really needs in its land use assessment. Al Lins, a member of the Symons Recreation Foundation Board, made a request at last night’s meeting for access to the campus gymnasium. Membership has reached a max over the last few years for exercise classes and activity classes. The space at the campus would allow for more access and an increase in participation. You are invited to attend the Campus Reconfiguration meetings. The next meeting will be held Wednesday, March 5, at 5:00.

Greater Richland Area Tourism Director, Marty Richards, gave a presentation of the status of tourism in Richland County. He stated people come back to the county for the outdoor experiences. They started web advertising during COVID and developed into digital billboards in the Milwaukee and Chicago areas. They eventually moved into social media to target directly to likely visitors. He added that from 2021 to 2023, Direct Visitor Spending in Richland County has an average increase of $2.5 million. Due to the addition of room tax, the advertising budget for Greater Richland Area Tourism has tripled. The next step is to get visitors to move here.

A resolution approving amendments to two 2024 provider contracts for the Health And Human Services Department was moved forward by the board of supervisors. Granted were for the following amendments to the following contracts: With Diane’s Adult Family Home of Arena, with the original contract being for $100,000, amended to $125,000 due to an increased need to provide adult family home services to Richland County Health and Human Services clients; and with Fiscal Assistance, Inc. of Madison, with the original contract being for $40,000, amended to $120,000 due to an increased need to provide financial management services.

In action items at last night’s meeting included:

To appoint Jason Marshall as MIS Director beginning March 4^th following the retirement of Barb Scott on March 3^rd.

A new collective bargaining agreement with the Richland County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, WPPA (The Union).

The appointment of Eric Rynes to the Transportation Coordinating Committe to replace Jeremy Walsh who resigned.

And the 2025 Emergency Fire Wardens: Boaz County Store; Natural Bridge Grocery; Richland County Land Conservation; and The Port.

A resolution urging Governor Evers and the Wisconsin Legislature to support the County Courts. In 2023, the total cost to Wisconsin Counties for running all Circuit Courts was $237 million. At the same time, the Court Support funding from the state to counties was $28 million, 12 percent of the actual cost to run the local courts. The Circuit Court system is intended to be a state-county partnership; and the state’s fiscal responsibilities include Judges, Court reporters, CCAP equipment, and the Circuit Court Cost Appropriation; and, the Counties are fiscally responsible for the majority of other functions of the court, including, but not limited to the following: bailiffs and court security officers, courthouse building maintenance, phones and utilities, Clerk of Court and Register in Probate, staff salaries and benefits, jury costs, psychological exams, guardians ad litem and court-appointed attorneys, expert witnesses, interpreters and translation fees, court commissioners, law libraries, corporation counsel, courtroom technology and audio visuals, copying machines and other non-CCAP office technology, office supplies, furniture, recruitment and training, financial collection efforts, mail fees, printing costs, exhibit and file storage, access to state data, insurance, service of court documents, judicial staff attorneys, and equipment repair. Over the last 10 years, the increase in the county portion of the cost to run the courts is nearly six times higher than the increase in Circuit Court Cost Appropriations provided to cover these costs, and counties now pay almost $150 million more than the state in unbalanced Circuit Court costs. By the Richland County Board of Supervisors joining the Wisconsin Clerks of Circuit Court Association (WCCCA) and the Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) in their efforts to increase the Circuit Court Cost Appropriation by $70 million payable to Wisconsin Counties in the 2025/27 Wisconsin State Budget. Richland County Clerk of Court, Stacy Kleist, reported that the WCA has made this a number one priority in the state budget. She explained that they have taken this to Madison and Assembly Representative, Tony Kurtz, is on board.