[0:01] You're going to call a county board meeting to order. Start with the pledge of allegiance.

[0:06] [music] Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which

[0:14] it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty [clears throat] and justice for all.

[0:32] Did you get any notice from here?

[0:48] Roll call. Supervisors.

[1:04] There are 22 supervisors present. Supervisor Carol is absent.

[1:12] Okay. I think for the first time we're going to have the youth in

[1:15] governance introduce themselves here. Start right on the end. Thank you.

[1:27] It's on here right or is it gallery? Which one is it? Kyle Prince,

[1:31] Sam Sheen. Bruno Gonzalez. Smota. Sean Hawkins.

[1:42] Thank you. And then we'll move on to uh citizens comments.

[1:51] Okay.

[1:54] Any citizens comments? Please state your name and address.

[2:01] Eric Meadows, 8320 82nd Street, Pleasant Prairie.

[2:08] In 1774, the First Continental Congress, the delegates of the First Continental Congress began

[2:14] their first meeting by inviting Reverend Jacob Duché, an Anglican Anglican clergyman, to give

[2:19] an opening prayer. Some delegates initially objected over denominational differences.

[2:25] Sam Adams however supported it saying he could hear a prayer from any pious and virtuous man

[2:30] who is friend who is a friend to the country. It was ultimately approved and the prayer was

[2:35] given. After the first meeting, John Adams wrote a letter to his wife Abigail telling her it was

[2:40] a highly moving and unifying experience. Thus started a tradition of beginning each session

[2:46] with a prayer. When the first Congress under the current constitution convened in 1789,

[2:53] the practice was retained and has continued ever since under both Democrat and Republican

[2:57] majorities. When the territory of Wisconsin was formed in 1836, the Wisconsin territorial

[3:04] legislature followed suit and began all of their meetings with a prayer. When we became a state in

[3:09] 1848, the state legislature again continued this practice even though representatives differed in

[3:15] their religious beliefs. Every one of you on this county board are here because you share the same

[3:20] goal to make Kosha County the best possible place to live, a safe and a prosperous place. If you

[3:27] did not have that goal, you would not be sitting here today. [snorts] Each of us should seek every

[3:31] possible avenue to achieve that goal. That is why I submitted a proposed amendment to the municipal

[3:37] code of Kenosha County to follow the 250-year long long-standing tradition of seeking divine

[3:43] guidance to help us achieve our shared goal. That proposal would help us uh that proposal was

[3:50] presented to the legislative committee last month where it was voted down though not unanimously.

[3:55] The [snorts] reasons given for voting against it were a little outrageous to me. I was told

[4:00] that there needs to be a separation of church and state, a statement that does not reside in either

[4:05] federal law nor state law. The very fact that prayer has been given before every legislative

[4:10] session on both the federal and state levels proves that notion incorrect. The first amendment

[4:15] of the United States Constitution prohibits the government from establishing a religion

[4:19] and it prohibits the federal government from interfering with its free exercise of religion

[4:24] even in public spaces. I was told that there are a lot of legal cases that prove that prayer at a

[4:30] board meeting would not be a good idea. What the committee failed to actually produce was

[4:35] any legal case that stopped prayer from happening either on the federal level or the state level.

[4:41] That prayer continues to this day. I was told that the logistics of managing the process of inviting

[4:47] people to pray would be difficult. Just because it is hard does not mean that it is not worth

[4:52] doing. Nothing worth doing is easy. [snorts] Lastly, I was told that giving prayers would

[4:57] be seen as a divisive experience and a cause for people to offend others. I have far more

[5:03] faith in our community than that. Like the early delegates to the first continental congress, such

[5:08] a practice of seeking divine help would be seen as a unifying experience by the community. They

[5:13] would recognize what we are trying to achieve and they would thank us for it. It would be an amazing

[5:18] opportunity for us as board members to lead by example of showing unity despite differences

[5:23] in faith traditions in respecting each other's beliefs. Hearing others pray differently than I

[5:29] do or would listening's repair when you yourself don't pray is only offensive to you if you choose

[5:34] to let it be offensive. That is the choice we all make. Are we one nation under God, indivisible, as

[5:41] we pledge before every one of our meetings, or are we not? Are we one county under God, indivisible,

[5:47] or are we not? Should this come before the board again in the future, as I expect it will, I hope

[5:52] you will recognize that while it may be hard, it would be a net positive for our community as we

[5:57] use every avenue at our disposal to make Kenosha County the best possible place to live. Thank you.

[6:05] Are there any other citizens comments?

[6:13] Justine Ham of Jones, 8456 Eastridge Drive, Pleasant Prairie. Our freedom to vote and to have

[6:21] our votes counted is under threat. The federal government is moving to interfere in how elections

[6:27] are run even though states have administered their own elections since the founding. An April 27th,

[6:34] Reuters investigation, how Trump is moving to control US elections, one state at a time,

[6:40] documented federal authorities, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Homeland

[6:45] Security fanning out across the country, seeking confidential records, pressing for access to

[6:52] voting equipment, and re-examining voter fraud cases that courts in bipartisan reviews have

[6:59] already rejected. examples of federal interference already this year. Baseless claims of stolen

[7:06] elections and investigations without charges into organizations that run voter registration drives,

[7:13] especially in black and immigrant communities, justice department officials seeking access to

[7:20] Dominion voting machines in Missouri. Demands for voter roles and lists of voters flagged as likely

[7:27] non-citizens put on review by county clerks. The flag names were all allegible eligible citizens.

[7:36] A March 31st executive order directing the postal service to manage access to mail and

[7:42] ballots and directing DHS to build a list of who may receive them, excluding others. Demands for

[7:50] 2020 voting records in jurisdictions across the country. In Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Election

[7:57] Commission oversees the elections statewide, but local elections are overseen by county and

[8:03] municipal clerks. County Clerk [clears throat] Reggie Wigglea is ultimately responsible for

[8:08] ensuring the voter registration records are properly kept, polling places are efficient,

[8:14] ballots are counted correctly and promptly, and results are properly certified in Kenosha County.

[8:21] We are a part of the national faith in us initiative and we would like Miss

[8:27] Wvagora to know that we support her. But as the people who elected her,

[8:32] we will hold her accountable for protecting the right of our legal voters to vote without

[8:38] interference or intimidation and to ens to ensure that all votes are counted. We expect Miss Wiggora

[8:46] to pledge that she and the polling officers of Kenosha County who answer to her will one

[8:52] abide by the US Constitution and state election laws, two refuse to comply with any unlawful

[8:59] executive orders or data requests that seek to restrict voting, and three faithfully play their

[9:07] role to certify and seat the rightfully elected winners this November, regardless of the party.

[9:15] The right to vote is fundamental to all our other rights. Our ability to make change at every level

[9:22] depends on the people getting to choose who represents us. This call to action will be

[9:28] shared widely with the media outlets in Kenosha County and beyond. Thank you for your time.

[9:37] Any more citizens comments? Are there any more citizens comments?

[9:43] Say no more citizens comments. Citizens comments are now closed.

[9:51] Okay. Um the only announcement I have um would be just uh for those of you

[9:59] going to the 2026 annual conference uh some information should be on your desks I believe.

[10:05] And uh if you have any questions, concerns or anything like that,

[10:09] I think Reggie is a good resource or contact the conference center itself. Um I believe

[10:16] that's it for me on that. Supervisor reports. Any supervisors wishing to give a report?

[10:27] Supervisor Tarson. I just want to let everybody know. Um thank you, Chairman.

[10:34] Uh at the Kenosha Lakeshore Veterinary Clinic, there's a mural being painted and

[10:41] the community is invited to paint that mural uh this Saturday coming up um all day. So,

[10:48] please uh it be nice to support that, pass the word on, let everybody know.

[10:54] Thank you. When is that? Saturday. This Saturday coming Saturday. Okay. Thank you,

[11:02] Supervisor Gray. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, as the liaison for the Primal Nature Center,

[11:09] I just want to um remind everybody that the fall funfest is on uh September 26th,

[11:14] 11 to 3. And tomorrow afternoon, I believe it's 5:30, 6:00.

[11:21] 6:00 there was a ceremonial signing of the new agreement between the county

[11:25] and the priming nature center that extends that relationship for another five years.

[11:32] Okay. Thank you, Supervisor Gray. Supervisor Gashki. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, as chair of

[11:39] the Kenosha Joint Services Board, I just wanted to let the county board know that this coming Tuesday

[11:45] uh will be our monthly meeting. It's not our typical uh week that we meet. and we'll also

[11:50] be discussing doing some initial uh discussions about our upcoming budget. So, just wanted to make

[11:55] you aware of that if that's something that you're interested in that we will be meeting this coming

[11:59] Tuesday. Thank you. Thank you, Supervisor Gashki. Are there any more supervisors reports? Okay, see

[12:08] no more supervisor reports on we move. I'd like to announce that supervisor Carol is in attendance.

[12:18] Old business. Ordinance second reading to required. Ordinance

[12:22] 11 from the legislative committee. An ordinance to amend MCKC 2.133C related

[12:29] to standing committee assignments. This passed unanimously at committee.

[12:36] Okay. Supervisor Morrisy. I moved by Supervisor

[12:41] Morsy. Second by Supervisor Decker. Supervisor Morsy.

[12:47] Sorry. Hold on, hold on, hold on. Thank you. Go ahead. This ordinance uh clarifies that the

[12:54] executive committee is not to be considered one of the three standing committees that

[13:00] uh supervisors can be appointed to and as stated it passed unanimously

[13:04] at the legislative committee and I'd ask for your support.

[13:10] Thank you, Supervisor Morsy. Supervisor Nudo. Thank you.

[13:18] Uh I'm a little bit confused why this ordinance even came out to

[13:29] to be to take a vote on that to remove it. So could I ask the reason why this come out as

[13:38] uh an ordinance to correct or to do something with

[13:44] the executive committee if somebody can answer me that.

[13:55] Um I'm going to have corp counsel first to comment on that please. Jenn.

[14:03] Yeah. Well, as of right now, uh, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Chairman, as of right now,

[14:11] I would just like to know maybe from whoever, uh, the sponsor of this ordinance why that

[14:21] was done. And then we can ask uh maybe we can ask the...the county

[14:35] Oh yeah. Okay. Uh since this resolution or ordinance was put forth by myself, I'm handing

[14:41] the gavl over to Vice Chair Franco uh because I will be commenting on this um as the I guess

[14:49] um presenter. Um but to answer supervisor Nudo's questions in the past there have been

[14:57] um um oversightes where there have been more supervisors. Uh let me hold on let me take

[15:05] that back. We have carved out for the executive committee the um chairman of finance who's not

[15:13] supposed to sit on any other chairs to be able to sit on the executive committee. We don't have

[15:20] that carve out for any other chairman for any other committee. This simply is to put forth

[15:27] the fact that it this is a this isn't even a working committee. It's not even a committee I

[15:32] would consider a standing committee. Uh I think there's less than two or three meetings a year

[15:38] on average. Haven't even had one yet myself. But the three committee rule for standing committees

[15:46] uh that would make a chairman who's on three committees not eligible currently for the

[15:50] executive committee. And the executive committee as I said it's really a leadership. It is not a

[15:57] working committee. Executive committee isn't just um compos composed I won't say just of

[16:04] just supervisors. that's composed of the chairman and therefore it should be considered an extension

[16:10] of their leadership responsibility rather than a fourth committee assignment. Um it's kind about

[16:16] equal treatment too because you don't want to make an exception for finance administration and

[16:20] ignore all the other standing committees. I think that's important as well. Uh and it strengthens

[16:25] the executive committee. Uh if we're asking the supervisor to lead committees, we should want the

[16:30] perspective when the chairs collectively discuss countywide issues. Like I said, I've not had an

[16:35] executive committee yet. I haven't called one yet. Don't know if I'm even going to have one, at least

[16:39] this year. I have no idea yet. But should it come to be that executive committee does get put forth,

[16:47] the uh chairman, which currently is uh supervisor Decker, it would be a fourth committee, but she

[16:57] is chairman of U. judiciary and law and therefore should be allowed to sit on an executive committee

[17:06] which is not a real standing committee but not a work committee for sure. Uh I don't know if corp

[17:13] council has anything more to add to that and I'll I'm uh Mr. Chairman I'm satisfied with your answer

[17:20] for now but I'll have a a question for corporation council maybe a little bit later. Uh the reason I

[17:28] don't know if you want to add something else or if I can go on since I have the floor. No, go ahead.

[17:33] Okay. Well, that's the reason why I am so confused because when I was chairman, I had the same

[17:42] problem. We had we had to work on this to make sure uh in fact that some of the people on this

[17:50] board that were there when I was chairman that at one point I made some changes with the chairman

[17:55] of some committees and I had to rework that and I talked to the attorney. Actually my vice chair

[18:04] helped me out in setting up the committees at that time and everything and this year was a standing

[18:10] committee. Now when I saw this the first time that I saw this when uh you prepared the committee

[18:17] schedule I asked why there's one supervisor for committees. My answer sorry my answer the answer

[18:27] I got it was well the executive committee is not a standing committee. I said wait a minute

[18:36] what do you mean it's not a standing committee? We talked about it before whatever it is a standing

[18:41] committee. We got the rules and regulation where it shows what the standing committees are. And I

[18:47] say so that's what it is. I said so why didn't we do that? And the other answer was well that's what

[18:53] the chairman wanted to do it. So that's why I am uh I don't know who you're talking about. I talked

[19:00] to the attorney I talked to corporation. I'll tell you this. I talked to S uh uh Joel Cardone,

[19:07] our our corp counsel. We both missed this when I was planning. We both missed it. Okay. And this

[19:15] isn't the only reason to do it. But if we carve out one, okay, I understand. But let me finish

[19:21] with and then you can make your comments. You know, I'll let you make comments before when I

[19:25] had the floor. Oh, please. Uh, now going back just on what you say, which I was going to bring it up

[19:31] later on. Now, at the committee level, that's what uh I believe you say that or Joe say that both of

[19:40] you guys missed that. Okay. I don't believe it's true. I think it's a flatout lie. And the reason

[19:47] I'm saying that is because if you missed it and Joe missed it when I called when I called then

[19:55] you guys should have revised that and correct it. while waiting for 4 months. And the only reason

[20:02] that you guys tried to correct that after that is because I brought in the resolution, ordinance,

[20:09] whatever about changing the committees to seven people and that's when you guys did it. Now also

[20:17] at the committee level. Okay. Everything just like you tried to say before about the chairman

[20:24] or whatever uh the board chairman uh sorry the committee chairman there are three there are

[20:31] three committees. This a standing committee. So that should count as a standing committee. And the

[20:38] thing by saying oh well the chairman u committee chairman should be on the executive committee.

[20:45] That's what they try to go around to make believe that the only reason you're doing is otherwise the

[20:53] uh committee chairman cannot be on u on the legis uh on the executive committee. Well,

[20:59] that's not true. They can be on everything on the executive committee. In fact, in fact, on

[21:06] the rules, it says that's the only committee that the chairman doesn't have a choice how to set it

[21:12] up because that includes the board chairman, the board vice chair, and the uh chairman of the other

[21:19] committees. And in the event the board vice chair is a chairman of a committee, then uh the chairman

[21:27] of the board can appoint another supervisor to take his place. uh and uh it will be you know

[21:34] on um the executive executive committee and uh the board chairman can appoint somebody else. So

[21:42] that was not I think all the discussion that was done in committee to say we're doing this because

[21:48] the board we need we want the board chairman to be or the committee chairman to be there or whatever

[21:55] that was just to distract the people to let them believe that this thing was done to keep that

[22:03] that's as far as I'm concerned that's a complete why. It's not even an excuse. It's a complete why.

[22:10] will let the court counsel speak here. Um she was going to say something and address this issue. No,

[22:16] I can ask when I wanted to uh when I want her to speak. Let me finish what I'm saying.

[22:20] I'm going back and forth quite a bit here. Let Let her I'm not going back and forth. I'm just

[22:25] making my statement now. I'm not done with my statement. What else do you need to say? Well,

[22:30] if you listen, you will hear it. Okay. All right. Finish it up, please. Thank you. So,

[22:37] give me a second. Now I got to [clears throat] I got to tell what I was going to say. Um

[22:50] okay. Uh let's have you. Okay. I I want to still have uh after what I hear from I will

[22:57] address the situation. Go ahead. You have the floor. All right. Um thank you. And as you know,

[23:01] you guys will have to bear with me because I'm not in this chair very often. But um there's been some

[23:06] statements made about any type of dishonesty or falsehood, and I can say with certainty that on

[23:11] behalf of the corporation council's office and the chair that that is not the case. Um I've

[23:16] spoken at length with attorney Joe Cardamone about this situation and tried to get up to

[23:20] speed on it. And what my understanding is is that historically the executive committee has not been

[23:27] treated as a standing committee by the various chairs. If you look back at it, some chairs like

[23:32] supervisor Noodle when you were the chair you did use it quite frequently but historically there was

[23:37] very little usage of the executive committee. I think in 2016 2015 it was used four times.

[23:43] in 2016 zero times. In 2017, once 2018, zero. Um, I can go through all the years, but there's very,

[23:51] very little usage with the executive committee. So, what attorney Cardamone has explained to me

[23:56] is when we did the rules revision, it really should have been modified at that time. We

[24:00] should have made it clear that it is not a standing committee. It's how the chair

[24:04] determines how he wants to use it and it should have been addressed at that point when we did the

[24:08] full total rules modification. Um to the there's been no dishonesty or or falsehoods. I believe

[24:15] that attorney Cardamone has been very clear in his opinions that this amendment is in accordance with

[24:22] our past practice and it's he's supportive of what the chair is trying to do. Okay. Thank you. Well,

[24:33] you I passed the gavl back to him. Oh, do I still have left the floor then? Back to him. Are you

[24:38] ready to finish up or you have Are you Yeah, go ahead. I'm not trying to fill a buser or anything.

[24:43] I'm just trying to make my point. I can appreciate uh what corporation uh Jen what you said it and

[24:50] uh but I want to make one thing clear. I never say that anybody did it in a dishonest way. I

[24:58] say that I don't believe that's the true. Maybe I did not use the right word. I said to me what

[25:03] the excuse that they said it was a lie because it was not the reason because [snorts] if it was

[25:09] for something that they missed it when it was brought up then they should have taken care of

[25:14] that time. Okay. And what they said that also I say that at the committee level the thing that

[25:21] we're doing trying to make it believe that the only reason should have this so all the

[25:28] committee chairs can be on the committee which it's a fact the committee is set up who's going

[25:35] to be there or not. So that's the point I was uh making. Well, if we don't believe we should not

[25:40] have the a committee in there, well, before we changed, we should have uh take a vote to take

[25:47] it out and not making a stand extending committee. That is my point. If we're going to do that, well,

[25:53] I guess it's fine. But to let it go after 4 months to bring it up, I don't think it's right. And the

[26:01] only thing, but I did not say any dishonest way or anything. I just say that I don't believe I think

[26:07] it's it's a lie. I don't think it's a mistake. It's a lie. And uh for not having it. Well,

[26:16] I'll deal. I'll uh Okay. So, there's been a motion by Supervisor Robinson. Call the question and

[26:26] seconded by Supervisor Meadows. Is this a uh roll call vote? I believe it is. It's a roll call vote.

[26:39] All right. All those want to call the question and get to the vote, I guess, is what you're looking

[26:44] to. No more discussion. Correct. Okay. All those in favor would vote. Oh, we got to wait till we

[26:51] get it up. Yeah. Two majority. Mhm. Right. But to all those in favor of uh going of cancelling

[27:00] discussion, going to the vote, yes. And all those who want to continue discussion, no.

[27:15] Call the question um to end discussion. Yes. 18. No. Five.

[27:24] Okay. So, the question will be called and uh do I need to pass this over back to John since it's my

[27:31] resolution? I think so. Not if there's no more debate. Okay. Okay. Okay. Um then all those in

[27:39] favor of the ordinance uh do we need to read this? Okay. Um 2/3. Roll call vote has been called.

[27:49] All those in favor of the uh resolution would vote yes and all those against would vote no.

[27:55] And it requires two and it requires a twothirds vote to pass since it is a change of the rules.

[28:08] Speak the resolution. Supervisor Gre wants to give a resolution stated. Yeah. Supervisor

[28:16] Gray. Okay. He ordinance 11, an ordinance to amend MCKC chapter 2.133C related to standing

[28:26] committee assignments. Do you want me to read the change? Okay. The Kenosha County Board of

[28:34] Supervisors does hereby ordain the Municipal Code of Kenosha County Chapter 2.133C. The

[28:41] County Board rules of procedure is hereby amended as follows. Three committee assignments. C. No

[28:49] supervisor shall serve on more than three standing committees. For the purposes of this subsection,

[28:55] the executive committee shall not count as one of the three standing committees.

[29:13] The ordinance passes. 22 yes and one no.

[29:21] New business. Resolution. One reading. Resolution 43 from the public works facilities committee. a

[29:28] resolution for Kenosha County to adopt the 2026 2030 comprehensive outdoor recreation plan. This

[29:36] passed unanimously at committee. Supervisor Bellski was excused. Uh this was moved by

[29:43] Supervisor Meadows, second by Supervisor P. Supervisor Meadows. Uh move resolution 43.

[29:52] Uh I'm sorry. Move by Supervisor Meadows, second by Supervisor P. Supervisor Meadows.

[29:56] Thank you. Thank you, chairman. Uh this was a resolution to create a 5-year comprehensive

[30:01] plan for our parks division. Uh this gives us some strategic planning to of how we're

[30:05] going to manage our parks over the next 5 years. Uh such a plan is is is necessary to

[30:11] receive grant money from the state and other other people. Uh so this passed unanimously

[30:16] in committee and we ask for your support. Uh if there are any questions, we do have

[30:20] uh the parks director uh Riot Moore here to answer any questions. Thank you. Okay. Are there any

[30:28] questions or discussion on this ordinance? I'm sorry. This resolution. Oh, it is an ordinance.

[30:33] Yeah. It's a resolution. I'm looking at the other one. Sorry. One month off. [laughter]

[30:43] Uh, okay. Seeing no discussion. All those in favor vote. I I opposed. Motion carries. Ordinance

[30:51] first reading to required ordinance 12 from supervisor Nudo an ordinance to amend MCKC2.133C

[31:00] related to standing committee assignments. Communications 35 communication from the

[31:07] human services committee. A resolution to modify Kenosha County's Division of Health's budget to

[31:12] purchase new equipment. Refer to human services and the finance administration committee. 36.

[31:19] A communication from supervisor Colonia and supervisor Gearson. A resolution supporting

[31:24] the funding of W Parkside and the Universities of Wisconsin workforce and innovation initiatives.

[31:31] Refer to legislative and human services committee. The approval of the August 18th, 2026 minutes by

[31:38] Supervisor Gearson. Supervisor Gearson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move approval of the August

[31:45] 18th minutes. Is there a second? Second by supervisor Robinson. Any discussion? All those

[31:54] in favor vote. I I I opposed. Motion carries. Second. Move to adjourn by Supervisor Decker,

[32:03] seconded by Robinson. We'll go with We'll go with Robinson. Keep it going. All those in favor vote.

Kenosha County Board Meeting, September 1, 2026

Agenda

Transcript