Board roundup: county board approves 911 proclamation, zoning changes, HR ordinance and county administrator appointment

The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors approved a slate of resolutions, an ordinance and an appointment in a single meeting that combined routine approvals with several items requiring formal votes.

The board voted on proclamations, intergovernmental agreements, personnel rules, zoning map amendments, budget items and an executive appointment. Most items carried by voice vote; several budget-related resolutions required and received two-thirds roll-call approval.

Highlights and outcomes

- Proclamation: The board adopted a proclamation recognizing April 13–19, 2025 as National 9‑1‑1 Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Jefferson County. Motion by Supervisor Morris, second by Supervisor Backlund. Vote: all in favor; proclamation adopted.

- Resolution urging state action on circuit-court funding: The Executive Committee’s resolution urging Governor Evers and the Wisconsin Legislature to increase state support for circuit courts (resolution noted in the meeting as 2024-80) was moved by Supervisor Wieneke and seconded by Supervisor Paulson. The board approved the resolution by voice vote.

- Intergovernmental agreement for broadband right-of-way permit review: The board approved a resolution authorizing the county administrator to execute an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Watertown to provide engineering review of right-of-way permits for the Bug Tussle Wireless fiber project. Motion by Mr. Wieneke; second by Mr. Paulson and Mr. Lund. Vote: all in favor; resolution adopted.

- Budget-related approvals (two-thirds votes): The board approved a short contingency transfer to cover department deficits ($27,509.76) and separately approved carryover requests requiring board approval totaling $21,935,422.21 (part of $46,773,757.21 in all proposed carryovers). Both measures were moved by Supervisor Jones and seconded by Supervisor Jayco and were approved by roll call with 29 yes, 1 no, 0 absent.

- Personnel ordinance amendments on holiday pay: The board adopted an ordinance (noted as HR0360/HR0645 amendment, ordinance number 2024-21) to provide nonexempt employees required to work on designated holidays compensation at 1.5 times their regular hourly rate. Moved by Supervisor Brogner; second by Supervisor Callan. The fiscal note estimated an approximate annual impact of $17,442 for 17 positions and said departments would absorb the cost.

- Planning and zoning map changes: The Planning and Zoning Committee’s recommendations to amend the county zoning map (ordinance referenced in the packet) were adopted. One supervisor, Mr. Kennard, abstained due to a potential conflict of interest; the ordinance otherwise passed.

- Appointment of county administrator: The board appointed Michael Lucky as county administrator effective March 11, 2025, pursuant to an employment agreement negotiated by the board’s search committee. The resolution noted the county retained CPS HR to conduct a nationwide search and that the search committee recommended Lucky after two rounds of interviews; the board approved the appointment by voice vote.

Procedural notes: Several items were introduced by committee chairs and moved with standard seconding; the finance-related measures required roll-call votes and the meeting packet included fiscal notes for budget and personnel items. Supervisors asked procedural questions during committee reports and when individual items were presented; one supervisor asked about bidding for parks-shop work and was told much work is done in-house. Where the packet did not contain a specific sheet, presenters said printed copies would be provided before a formal vote.

Ending: The meeting closed after committee reports, the appointment vote and routine adjournment; the board scheduled forthcoming events including a fund-balance study presentation from GFOA and a legislative breakfast on April 25.