Kenosha County Board approves three cabaret licenses, accepts drug task force grant and authorizes Silver Lake rental lease

The Kenosha County Board of Supervisors on an evening session approved three regular cabaret licenses, accepted a 2025 multi-jurisdictional drug task force grant that includes $53,140 for the county, and authorized a vendor lease to operate paddleboard and kayak rentals at Silver Lake.

The actions matter because they authorize ongoing business operations, grant-funded law enforcement work and a vendor arrangement that changes how county lifeguard staff would handle beach rentals.

Board action and votes Supervisor Franco moved and the board approved three regular cabaret licenses for establishments that completed probationary periods with no reported violations: Stumble Inn Bar and Grill in the town of Paris (Resolution 80), Sittin' Bull (Sitting Bull Tavern) in the town of Wheatland (Resolution 81), and Jetty's Bar and Grill in the town of Brighton (Resolution 82). Each resolution passed unanimously.

The board also approved Resolution 83 to accept a 2025 multi-jurisdictional drug task force grant administered by the Southeast Area Drug Operations Group (SADOG). Supervisor Franco said the total grant award is "over $200,000," with "$53,140 go[ing] to Kenosha County for investigation costs, surveillance over time, and the purchase of equipment." The resolution passed with 16 affirmative votes, meeting the two-thirds requirement specified for the item.

On a separate item, the board approved Resolution 84, a vendor permit agreement and lease of county land with Whenever Watersports to provide paddleboard and kayak rentals at Silver Lake. Supervisor Grady explained the county previously relied on lifeguards to handle rentals and described the lease as a way to "unburden our lifeguards and have them do the duty which they are basically there to do in the first place." Grady said the vendor model uses a small rental station and smartphone-based checkout and has worked elsewhere; the resolution passed unanimously.

Other routine business The board recorded an executive appointment (Item 27): Daniel Gaschke to serve on the Human Services Board; that appointment was referred to the Human Services Committee for consideration. The clerk's reading of communications (items 71–74) sent several items to committee referral, including a communication from the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department about license plate reader cameras (referred to judiciary and law enforcement and finance committees) and a right-of-way dedication request related to 30 Eighth Street LLC and U-Line Development (referred to Public Works and Facilities). The board approved February minutes (motion by Supervisor Decker, second by Supervisor Morrissey) and later adjourned (motion by Supervisor Decker, second by Supervisor Nordigan).

Context and background Supervisor Franco told the board the three cabaret license items had been approved previously on probationary licenses (dates cited in committee records included June 18, 2024; September 2024; July 3, 2024) and reported no probationary violations. For the drug task force grant, Franco said the grant spending is for 2025 and "will require no additional tax levy dollars." Supervisor Grady noted that one backup generator project at Brookside will require a temporary power shutdown in the surrounding grid on a weekend during summer break, and the county is coordinating scheduling to minimize impacts to Bradford High School.

Quotes from the meeting "We'd like to still offer that service. We'd like to unburden our lifeguards and have them do the duty which they are basically there to do in the first place," Supervisor Grady said when explaining the Silver Lake vendor lease.

"The total grant award is over $200,000 of which $53,140 goes to Kenosha County for investigation costs, surveillance over time, and the purchase of equipment," Supervisor Franco said about Resolution 83.

What the board did not decide The Daniel Gaschke appointment to the Human Services Board was referred to committee rather than confirmed by the full board. Several communications and ordinance referrals were sent to appropriate committees for later consideration; the board did not take final action on those items during the meeting.

Looking ahead The chair reminded supervisors of a Committee of the Whole meeting next Wednesday at 6 p.m. in chambers on the south branch. Supervisors also noted upcoming committee meetings, including Public Works next Monday evening at the Kenosha County Center.