[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6526071,"mediaKeyId","3806764-595e896243c5e28259984babee7993c3","parentId",3806764,"title","County presentation lays out options for Health Care Center; board moves to closed session on sale","audioSeconds",3901,"startMs",3799000,"endMs",7700000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3806764-595e896243c5e28259984babee7993c3&start=3799&end=7700","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3806764-595e896243c5e28259984babee7993c3/thumbnail_3799000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6526071/Rock-County/Wisconsin/County-presentation-lays-out-options-for-Health-Care-Center-board-moves-to-closed-session-on-sale","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6526071-8ea3295d20ca54b4e9d5d0810d333007/orig.mp4?Expires=1773754142&Signature=cT5EXjUdziJ-NRHEAZZM47laMzHC8j0s4xgrj2gTRTe8SzlLjLQt3T~lufKzgdY6vKI1Q6hgSRogaooRD5azQrfu2gaP9hfwykjbU4aeQ6TBd3dkhV5w2tZc2FUzgGEwuTwdnB0~v4HshhNQrxX1F4rrpipkhh3j7ldqu86FtP~2~KHgjoEpyLsTxjgLl0gM4X-IZmcn3kKEfVjyLecjSrO-~WnlVlIMOLUuU4v-KnTgU5pyx8rpQSajkC3nRH2F1zn4rjGDnXpKXGU9ZOrg9~Ebj8rYGKIzmfzSoNsMXypWAuvaY8xgUnx6ZdRqMwnjY7XsCSDUkZYZ5O5RhqtO-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rock County, WI","date","2025-06-13T12:56:36Z","article","Rock County staff on June 5 gave supervisors a high-level briefing on the Rock County Health Care Center building and its role within the county’s Highway 51 campus, telling the board earlier that demolition and redevelopment would likely cost less and create more efficient space than renovating the existing 1972 structure.

A county staff member explained the building’s history and the assessments that led to the recommendation to remove the structure. The Health Care Center, built in 1972 originally as a psychiatric hospital, has five floors plus a ground level and long corridors and concrete support columns that limit efficient reconfiguration. County staff said a 2017 analysis and a 2018 facilities master plan both concluded renovation would cost more than demolition and new construction, and an appraisal performed late in 2024 pegged the property’s value without the building at $520,000; the appraisal concluded the building itself had no residual value.

County staff described a schedule in which hazardous-material abatement and demolition were planned as part of the facilities master plan sequence (abatement noted for early 2024 and demolition discussed for early 2025 in staff comments), and said the county solicited interest from multiple developers to explore potential reuse, including multifamily housing. Aerial imagery presented to the board showed the Health Care Center’s location amid the sheriff’s office, jail, UW-Extension offices and other county facilities on the Highway 51 complex. The presentation identified factors that make renovation inefficient, including the building’s block structure, interior columns and corridor-focused layout.

After the presentation the board approved motions to move into closed session to discuss negotiations related to the Health Care Center and legal strategy on an unrelated workers’ compensation claim.

Formal actions

- Motion to go into executive session pursuant to Wis. Stat. §19.85(1)(e) to deliberate negotiation of sale of public property (Rock County Health Care Center) (moved by Supervisor Woodman; seconded by Supervisor Mawhinney): passed by roll call (board reported 27 yes, 2 no when roll call completed).
- Motion to enter executive session pursuant to Wis. Stat. §19.85(1)(g) to confer with legal counsel regarding likely litigation (workers’ compensation claim of Sarah Vance) (moved by Supervisor Mawhinney; seconded by Supervisor Knutson): passed by roll call (27-2).

Why it matters

The Health Care Center sits inside a concentrated campus of county facilities. Staff told the board the structure’s layout and condition limit its usefulness and that demolition and rebuilding would likely yield operational efficiencies and better reuse options (including multifamily housing, which the county solicited developers to evaluate). The board’s move to closed session begins the next phase of negotiating how to proceed with the property and any potential sale or redevelopment.

What’s next

The board discussed and then entered closed session to deliberate negotiation strategy for the property and separately to discuss litigation strategy. Any eventual sale, demolition timeline, or redevelopment plan will be reported back in open session as required by law.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Rock County Board Meeting - 6/12/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Rock County staff on June 5 gave supervisors a high-level briefing on the Rock County Health Care Center building and its condition, telling the board that demolition and redevelopment would likely cost less and create more efficient space than renovating the existing 1972 structure.","taxTitle","Rock County, Wisconsin","taxId",4653,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6526076,"Rock County board debates overhaul of community agency funding; sends proposal back to committee",3190,4320000,7510000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3806764-595e896243c5e28259984babee7993c3&start=4320&end=7510","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3806764-595e896243c5e28259984babee7993c3/thumbnail_4320000.jpg","/articles/6526076/Rock-County/Wisconsin/Rock-County-board-debates-overhaul-of-community-agency-funding-sends-proposal-back-to-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6526076-1a1be21f0544322388642813cb94ca74/orig.mp4?Expires=1773754142&Signature=ZN6rmjg9VF89bnO2PuS4jHCn6M9PxFMKzNPDZUokOHN~wXYj5oNIzKjpUo~V1I84TBIkG6qoxdFOKlvjknJyvjxdz~WBbGEw9wL0F3u1jU0~Pvb-jGmOS0iPVnQIGQO3myya9BvDV9aA9pPxPlVRqmr9rQqAPiBQTHUXq1ZmH1ezfxE1IjI9dcAwgnoZCVuaqYHW4XZbcgvjvFc37CuZu7aqvW~QAeUUAg0w5BXV7s0nkpbZWyHl-GUtwYdf7rom1nF6VNnN8YDgxtqQkxHG5El2QEqKEXHOH0uAzTdFrXItdoMKhSKwencK0jhgXe0YXqDqrcfL~mwRCDz9kUuGxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Rock County Board of Supervisors debated a proposal to change how the county distributes community initiative funding on June 5, 2025, ultimately voting 17-10 to send the resolution back to the County Board Staff Committee for further work.

Supporters of keeping the current centralized model told supervisors that moving funding into department budgets would fragment coordination and slow responses to urgent needs. Several nonprofit leaders, including Kelsey Hood Christiansen, president and CEO of Family Services of Southern Wisconsin, described cases where county-led coordination helped reunify and stabilize families after trafficking and other crises. \"Centralizing the administration of these funds under the county administrator allows us to keep the focus on these families. Not on departmental confusion or bureaucracy,\" Christiansen said.

The debate centered on whether tax-levy dollars given to community agencies should be allocated from the county administrator’s centralized budget (the current practice) or shifted into individual departmental budgets so they are paid as contracted services subject to memoranda of understanding (MOUs) or formal contracts. Proponents of the resolution by Supervisor Schwartz said moving to contracts or MOUs would create clearer statutory justification, monitoring, and documentation for use of public funds. \"Any tax dollars that are given to a community agency for services rendered should have an identified public purpose ... that purpose is authorized by statute,\" one supervisor summarized, citing guidance from legal presentations and the Wisconsin Counties Association.

Opponents — led by supervisors who said the current process has produced longstanding partnerships and efficient services — warned that changing the policy could reduce accountability and disrupt services that serve vulnerable residents. \"These organizations have proven track records,\" Supervisor Raskin said. \"This resolution takes a sledgehammer to a system that needs a scalpel.\" Several supervisors proposed alternatives such as keeping centralized funding but requiring MOUs or more formal reporting from recipient agencies and improving coordination among agencies.

During the floor debate supervisors asked county legal and administrative staff about liability and transparency. County legal counsel explained the basis for concern: a 2017 Wisconsin Attorney General opinion placed limits on county expenditures where statutory authority was unclear. Counsel said Rock County has operated under policies designed to conform to that opinion, and no court has invalidated the county’s current practice since 2017. County administration staff said they could implement increased reporting or contracting requirements without a policy change if the board directed them to do so; others argued such changes should be adopted as formal policy.

After extensive discussion, Supervisor Raskin moved to recommit the resolution to the County Board Staff Committee for further development; Supervisor Stevens seconded the motion. A roll-call vote to recommit carried 17 in favor, 10 opposed. The board chair instructed the staff committee to consider revisions that would address concerns raised in the debate, including clearer reporting and coordination mechanisms.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to adopt resolution reforming community agency initiatives appropriations policy (moved by Supervisor Schwartz; seconded by Supervisor Tillman): motion considered on the floor; later recommitted to committee (see below).
- Motion to recommit resolution to County Board Staff Committee (moved by Supervisor Raskin; seconded by Supervisor Stevens): passed by roll call, 17 yes, 10 no.

Why it matters

County community initiative funding supports local nonprofits that provide shelter, domestic violence services, senior transportation and other services that county departments either cannot provide directly or would deliver at higher cost. The debate addresses statutory risk, transparency, and how best to ensure service continuity for vulnerable residents while documenting public purpose for tax-levy spending.

What’s next

The County Board Staff Committee will revisit the resolution and may draft a replacement or amended proposal. Supervisors and staff said they expect amendments to focus on requiring contracts or MOUs, clarifying deliverables and reporting, and strengthening interagency coordination.","Supervisors debated a resolution to change how Rock County’s community initiative funds are distributed, hearing nonprofit leaders urge keeping centralized administration; the board voted 17-10 to recommit the resolution to the County Board Staff Committee for revision.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6526067,"Rock County 4‑H Fair officials outline economic impact, youth programs ahead of July event",571,3171000,3742000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3806764-595e896243c5e28259984babee7993c3&start=3171&end=3742","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3806764-595e896243c5e28259984babee7993c3/thumbnail_3171000.jpg","/articles/6526067/Rock-County/Wisconsin/Rock-County-4H-Fair-officials-outline-economic-impact-youth-programs-ahead-of-July-event","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6526067-c4687fe5737a5f9eb015f6c20c3676d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773754142&Signature=ZFkGkOWBBcFwmM0dIqiI5xKtcRsgeqW60s6pb3NTSQl~7tOWLRKvMXsvPOLP7rWe9tcz0xlhNsgJuLOu0MBh-ZVcVjFF1ePlEa7KiuGBtFTkLr5N1E8X5X~koC6oVAQWv6DMlLronjjMEGo--L7crM8jFdajZ8yt0Ocq8UopA7z4evCdmzOsqUcskr3xXfSEbau7rm08GtU2vsqKrz8J7OVfyFVCS16RMJUiydn-AqxdZ4qbHpBKiPx3BX8X7AgjmCdQ-yHliiKeKwfnxIInXn2GIq6mY~uiZ4tdu3KXq12FgR-CcaWdu67X1mzNhefKkZI0Er2Is7p~EIB4KYB23Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Leaders of the Rock County 4‑H Fair Association presented to the Rock County Board of Supervisors on June 5, outlining attendance, youth participation and the fair’s economic contributions and inviting supervisors to the 96th Rock County 4‑H Fair in July.

Ryan George, president of the Rock County 4‑H Fair Association, said the fair averages \"65,000 plus\" visitors and that a good year brings about 85,000 attendees; an \"excellent year\" can exceed 100,000. George said many visitors come from outside Rock County, particularly from the I‑90 corridor to the south. The association raises scholarship money for youth exhibitors; George said the auction program produces more than $700,000 annually and that roughly 97% of that money goes directly to the youth who exhibited animals.

Mary Chek, the fair manager and the association’s only year‑round employee, described vendor, food and staffing numbers: the fair typically features more than 140 vendors, a capped 32 food vendors, and a seasonal office staff plus gate and grounds crews. She said the fair draws vendors and overnight visitors who use local campgrounds and hotels and that many vendors purchase supplies locally while on site.

The association reported roughly 1,500 youth exhibitors and nearly 10,000 entries across projects such as livestock, photography and cultural arts. The presenters said the association has invested more than $100,000 in facility upgrades to the fairgrounds in recent years and emphasized community volunteer contributions. George invited board members to pick up discounted season passes and to attend the fair’s entertainment and free grandstand shows, July 22–27.

Why it matters

The fair supports youth development through 4‑H and FFA programs, raises scholarships and brings substantial visitor spending to Rock County businesses, organizers said. Supervisors received the presentation as part of the board’s reports section and asked no follow‑up questions during the meeting.

What’s next

The Rock County 4‑H Fair Association will host the fair July 22–27, 2025, and supervisors were invited to use discounted season passes supplied by the association.","Rock County 4‑H Fair Association leaders told the county board the fair draws tens of thousands of visitors, supports youth exhibitors and raises substantial scholarship funds; they invited supervisors to the July fair and noted investments in fairgrounds facilities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County presentation lays out options for Health Care Center; board moves to closed session on sale

Rock County board debates overhaul of community agency funding; sends proposal back to committee

Rock County 4‑H Fair officials outline economic impact, youth programs ahead of July event