[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",6163423,"mediaKeyId","5435056-467b379e2f568f1a408b62250ae2376e","parentId",5435056,"title","County Board extends Walworth County administrator contract despite one member’s objections","audioSeconds",125,"startMs",1572000,"endMs",1697000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5435056-467b379e2f568f1a408b62250ae2376e&start=1572&end=1697","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5435056-467b379e2f568f1a408b62250ae2376e/thumbnail_1572000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6163423/Walworth-County/Wisconsin/County-Board-extends-Walworth-County-administrator-contract-despite-one-members-objections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163423-a82808fb260d89a76b111929aaf673ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161541&Signature=RdIJeS0UV1tS5tvnHuEDNtTp9ChEiJgn-yrvJ5ZwHvKv~1jenQ3lZnnDTlLQn49tEY2GB9nDVlvsqBjyjriqGvn2I7OH1eNaHbR8L2Q7303nxi3zDnJz2-X7hU4k3jLJuOoEFkUEI9vVpZWOpYJMH3g66NfPWiAm5HB-OvZFdnJhBWBg8erP2iMIuZ4tx---mMdT3DNMbhrFapzXOvuyzy3Acb~-hFIwS7r3dwHZ47DI8zqeGPqc77s51O4wg9Yj71cSib7wlfEAI-D22iQY5MhM88won0dRkt7JKp8yHICxxoWutL4UBU78hUg2QFL~dbE8xt9AKTuqOPpzty0Q9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","WI / Walworth County ","date","2025-07-08T00:00:00Z","article","The Walworth County Board of Supervisors on July 8, 2025, approved a resolution extending the employment contract of County Administrator Mark W. Laverge.

The resolution was recommended by the Executive Committee (5–0) and approved by the full board after brief discussion. Supervisor Joanne Laffenburg said she respects the administrator’s experience and work but raised concerns about how emergency powers and constitutional responsibilities have been handled and said she was not convinced those issues could not reoccur; she therefore could not support the extension. “I think that Mark Liberta [sic] does a wonderful job with what he does. He's experienced. He's diligent. He's hardworking,” Laffenburg said, then explained her unresolved concerns about emergency procedures and constitutional adherence and said she could not get behind the extension.

The motion to approve the contract extension was moved and seconded; the measure carried by majority vote with one no recorded. The transcript records the outcome as “Motion carries with Waffenberg voting no.” The executive committee minutes listed the recommendation to extend the contract by a 5–0 vote.

No changes to salary or specific contract terms were discussed in the full board meeting minutes beyond the adoption of the resolution extending the contract. The board proceeded to other agenda items after the vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Walworth County Board Of Supervisors - July 08, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved an extension of the county administrator’s employment contract after discussion about emergency powers and constitutional concerns; the motion passed with one recorded no vote.","taxTitle","Walworth County, Wisconsin","taxId",54224,"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},6163427,"Walworth County updates farmland preservation rules to allow agritainment, nonmetallic mining and commercial stables",103,1443000,1546000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5435056-467b379e2f568f1a408b62250ae2376e&start=1443&end=1546","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5435056-467b379e2f568f1a408b62250ae2376e/thumbnail_1443000.jpg","/articles/6163427/Walworth-County/Wisconsin/Walworth-County-updates-farmland-preservation-rules-to-allow-agritainment-nonmetallic-mining-and-commercial-stables","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163427-79d358f25c6dcaa093d6823e51139992/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161541&Signature=NTex--QqueBFkei2NIgxSe4geiJAfs-VjulKRUdgpUN-kJOxQkzWXqsnrcj58xb8zJ-sI1lHGnefFTrj97YAJsz7L8fUoUOaSyOSdMGHv71ObGTae8~xSGjgVpelbOw7DY~qwbFUWABesa3RU-rR9IVQ-tDy20ZstgRxho5zi6UYU9RnGSmmHHUt~Cz4j0SAoRZXmP2hxsTDpDeGNXJ7Q6JkveH-8IRBcrZ1pqZa8Bfh6gmplUgUfaWyuFgRwqID65uGcQRG2C6HZnuYppNDWz1SOnZ3ICIoDnjsbn6S~4D19TabxWt2cQ~F7kycGjdCIwuaAJPsF~W8qJLxKDDkkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Walworth County Board of Supervisors on July 8, 2025, approved a set of amendments to the county zoning code and shoreland zoning tied to updates of the county farmland preservation plan. The changes add certain allowable uses in agricultural districts, including agritainment, nonmetallic mineral extraction (with reclamation standards), commercial stables in A‑1 and A‑1NC districts, and hobby farms in A‑1NC.

County staff and committee reports said the amendments are part of a routine update to the farmland preservation plan and were recommended unanimously (7–0) by the County Zoning Agency. The board adopted the ordinance language as presented.

Supervisors moved the ordinance as a group of code changes across multiple sections of the county code of ordinances and associated shoreland provisions. The agenda listed the specific ordinance sections amended (including 74‑51, 74‑61, 74‑67, 74‑129 and 74‑131 for zoning and several shoreland sections). The board approved the motion without extended debate.

The board also approved related rezone requests on the meeting agenda: a rezone in Delavan Township (approximately 0.63 acres for Stanley Tomala) and a larger rezone in LaGrange Township (approximately 23.5 acres for Romel Cook). Both rezones were approved by the County Zoning Agency 7–0 at its June public hearing and were approved by the County Board during the July 8 meeting.

Board members characterized the ordinance package as aligning local code with the updated farmland preservation plan and clarifying allowable uses in agricultural districts; there were no recorded public objections during the meeting on these ordinance amendments.

The amendments include reclamation requirements for nonmetallic mineral extraction and specific allowances for commercial stables and agritainment uses; the text adopted references both zoning and shoreland code sections listed on the agenda.","The County Board approved zoning and shoreland ordinance amendments tied to an updated farmland preservation plan that add agritainment, nonmetallic mineral extraction rules, and allow commercial stables in agricultural districts.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":79,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6163432,"Walworth County Board adopts ordinance clarifying meat‑packing, allows small slaughtering in A‑1 zoning",1135,308000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5435056-467b379e2f568f1a408b62250ae2376e&start=308&end=1443","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5435056-467b379e2f568f1a408b62250ae2376e/thumbnail_308000.jpg","/articles/6163432/Walworth-County/Wisconsin/Walworth-County-Board-adopts-ordinance-clarifying-meatpacking-allows-small-slaughtering-in-A1-zoning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163432-bb3f72fc25527dc1bb2035605688024c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161541&Signature=I9QNHNTdL05viVbqaD5uvIiNhf1OFC58szJlIlt9vnhLfkd9NOiGz5rzU74g-AyUwFdjo3yrjxehWhbXGcn2JvJGdkpysJRaqEhYX1mXy9WF~wZ1mYVwQbJNiaGpkmCXA~v2J~RftDKUplk-54e61ox1VfGbrnbMmsm71wi80nhnv6T1jG9dBh1WUyFuv7vuNN92CnTi5ICZlDGVKC1vBIpUXY7A2JLVLHAA4w7tUKR-Oom0flboAzrSkY2kzfSP8DS6-3xYyUoBIXO~y5ftFRMqviEFpllfIXix7Jqrv85LIqAD3by4liPqAjnOCXNUJxoHsTJD3NNa941yn-eTdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Walworth County Board of Supervisors on July 8, 2025, adopted an amendment to the Walworth County Code of Ordinances that adds a definition of “meat packing” and clarifies that some meat‑packing operations may include on‑site slaughtering in A‑1 agricultural zoning.

The change, passed after debate and public comment, was described by county staff as a clarification intended to distinguish smaller, rural operations from large industrial slaughterhouses. The amendment was recommended by the County Zoning Agency by a 6–1 vote before coming to the full board.

Cindy Howard, an Elkhorn resident, addressed the board during the public‑comment period and urged supervisors to reject the ordinance amendment for allowing a slaughterhouse and meat‑packing facility in the A‑1 district. “I’m here tonight to oppose the zoning ordinance amendments for allowing a slaughterhouse and a meat packing facility in the A 1 zoning district,” Howard said, adding that the proposal should be in industrial zoning and kept away from residential areas. Howard also said many local residents were not notified about a special meeting that considered a related rezone and conditional‑use request and said she would file a public‑records request to learn who initiated the special meeting.

County zoning staff explained that the ordinance change does not approve any single large facility but clarifies language for future applicants and helps distinguish small, locally operated slaughtering connected to meat‑packing businesses from large industrial operations. “This clarifies the language in our ordinance to…more clearly define a slaughterhouse and a meat packing company,” a county zoning staff member said, adding the clarification is intended to apply to smaller operations similar to Sorg’s and Lake Geneva Country Meats, not large continuous 24/7 facilities in Menomonee Valley.

Board members said the specific rezone and conditional‑use request that prompted local concern had already been the subject of a lengthy, two‑plus hour hearing before the County Zoning Agency in June. Supervisors also discussed why a special county board meeting had been scheduled; board member Dennis Karbowski said he requested the special meeting because the applicant was subject to a grant timeline that required prompt action.

Supervisors debated aspects of scale and location. Zoning staff told the board they contacted local meat processors (Sorg’s, Lake Geneva Country Meats, and Wilsons) to estimate typical on‑site slaughter numbers; those businesses indicated they typically handle roughly 50–75 animals at peak times, and could not reliably reach 100–150 animals per period because of staffing and facility limits.

After discussion, Supervisor Dennis Karbowski moved adoption; the motion was seconded and approved by roll call. The board recorded the final vote as 8 in favor and 3 opposed; Joe Schafer and Kenneth Monroe are recorded in the transcript as having voted no, and the board chair summarized the tally as eight yes and three no’s.

The ordinance change as drafted applies to county zoning code sections and shoreland zoning references cited in the agenda; it clarifies how the county will classify and permit meat‑packing and slaughtering activities in agricultural districts going forward.

The board did not reverse any prior rezone or conditional‑use approvals during the meeting; zoning staff and supervisors noted that a rezone already granted by the County Zoning Agency remains in effect unless the board sends the matter back to that agency for reconsideration.

The board adopted the ordinance amendment and moved on to other business, while public concern about notification and proximity to residential subdivisions remained on the record.","The Walworth County Board of Supervisors approved an amendment to county zoning that defines 'meat packing' to include on‑site slaughtering, after public opposition and discussion about prior hearings and special‑meeting timing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County Board extends Walworth County administrator contract despite one member’s objections

Walworth County updates farmland preservation rules to allow agritainment, nonmetallic mining and commercial stables

Walworth County Board adopts ordinance clarifying meat‑packing, allows small slaughtering in A‑1 zoning