County board approves energy audit contract, boundary updates, personnel reallocations and several purchases; creates administrator search committee

The Jefferson County Board approved multiple resolutions and actions during the session, including contracts, boundary updates, staffing reallocations and purchases.

Votes at a glance (each item approved unless noted):

- Resolution 2024-408: Authorize county administrator to enter contract for a facilities energy audit (EE Consultants LLC) — the county received a $75,000 Public Service Commission grant to cover 100% of the audit; the Buildings & Grounds committee recommended awarding the contract to EE Consultants LLC for $67,800. The board approved by voice vote.

- Resolution 2024-409: Amend supervisory district boundaries to reflect two annexations (town of Koshkonong into Fort Atkinson Ward 3 affecting pop. 3; town of Lake Mills into City of Lake Mills Ward 1 affecting pop. 2). Executive Committee recommended adoption; the board approved by voice vote.

- Resolution 2024-450: Establish County Administrator Search Committee. The committee will include 13 members (five county board supervisors including board leadership, five current officials/staff and three former officials/staff). The Executive Committee recommended forwarding; the board approved by voice vote.

- Resolution 2024-451: Adjust budget allocation of assistant corporation counsel position. Motion reallocates the assistant corporation counsel position to 0.5 FTE in Child Support and 0.5 FTE in Human Services (under Corporation Counsel supervision), enabling in‑house handling of termination of parental rights (TPR) cases and reducing outside‑counsel costs. The finance committee recommended approval; recorded vote: 30 yes, 0 no, 0 absent (resolution passed).

- Resolution 2024-452: Authorize repurchase of property from Nestlé Purina (repurchase at prior sale price using funds set aside from earlier transfers). Finance Committee recommended funding the repurchase from proceeds previously transferred to the general fund; the board approved by voice vote.

- Resolution 2024-453: Highway department equipment purchases — authorize purchase of two self‑propelled road sweepers from American State Equipment for approximately $186,170 (funded from highway equipment operations center 53241); highway committee recommended approval; the board approved by voice vote (one recorded opposition was noted during discussion but final voice vote indicated approval).

- Land & Water Conservation resolution: Authorize one‑year extension of the county farm agricultural lease at current rental rate ($290.25 per acre) through 02/28/2026 (the current lease ends 02/28/2025). Committees recommended the extension; the board approved by voice vote.

- Parks committee resolution (2024-55): Approve Rock Solid Trail Contracting proposal (~$25,200) for trail reroute and erosion mitigation at Garmin Nature Preserve; project to be paid 100% from donated endowment funds. Board approved by voice vote.

- Planning and Zoning: Adopt ordinance 2024-12 amending the official zoning map consistent with committee recommendations; one supervisor abstained (conflict of interest); ordinance approved.

- Appointments: Board confirmed a set of appointments including library and human-services board positions; Fair Park advisory board appointments were also approved.

Procedural notes: Several items were approved by voice vote with no recorded roll-call counts in the transcript; where a recorded vote was reported (resolution 2024-451), the minutes show 30 yes, 0 no, 0 absent. Several motions included named movers and seconders in the record (e.g., approval of minutes, and multiple resolutions recorded with mover/second), and fiscal notes were presented for items funded by grants, transfers or department budgets.

The board also acknowledged multiple retirements during the meeting and received informational presentations (including the budget presentation and a published video about the Mott Center).