Executive Committee forwards eight names to county board for Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission slots

The Walworth County Board Executive Committee voted July 14 to forward a slate of candidate names to the full County Board for submission to the governor for appointment to the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. The committee voted to forward the list without making a specific recommendation as to priority. The action followed a staff presentation that said the county had solicited interest from chief elected officers and clerks across the county and compiled a packet of candidates who meet the statutory qualifications the governor’s office requires. Committee members were told the county must submit a minimum of two names for each vacancy and may submit more. The packet included eight names: Neil Kolb (current administrator for Welcomeet), Alan Borkman (planning commission member and retired professor with a PhD in land resources), Mary Grossman (Town of Spring Prairie supervisor and plan commission chair), Mark Radke (Town of Darien supervisor), Jess Hack (former Village of Williams Bay trustee and planning commission chair), Robert Umans (Village trustee), Adam Paramello (Village of Williams Bay president), and Alex Rasch (Town of Walworth supervisor and planning commission chair). Staff said the nominees generally meet the qualifications identified by the governor’s office. Committee discussion noted no nominee appeared to fail the statutory qualification standard. One member said that because the county will lose Mary Nipper — a member who had experience with lake and stream preservation and local lake associations — selecting a candidate with environmental and lakes expertise would be a priority, and staff pointed to Alan Borkman’s environmental background as relevant experience for planning and research work on the commission. A motion to forward all the names to the County Board so the Board could submit them to the governor passed. The County Board will receive the list and may, at that level, make specific recommendations before submission to the governor’s office.