Adams County Board approves creation of county administrator post after public opposition and extended debate

The Adams County Board of Supervisors voted 14-5 to adopt Resolution 2, 2025, creating the office of County Administrator under Wisconsin Statute 59.18 and referring contract terms to the Admin and Finance Committee for later recommendation and full-board approval.

The move followed public comment and extended discussion. Pete Church, a Preston-area resident, told the board: "I would like to talk about this change. And what I'm worried about is that we are diminishing the power of our elected officials in Adams County." Several other residents urged the board to preserve local control and called for more public notice and detail on compensation and budgeting.

Attorney Andy Phillips of Autolus Law, speaking on behalf of himself and the Wisconsin Counties Association, explained the statutory difference between existing administrative-coordinator arrangements and the county-administrator model. "59.18 of the statutes ... spells out very clearly that the administrator serves at the pleasure of this board," Phillips said, adding that the statute provides clearer role definitions for department appointments and budget presentation.

Supervisor questions and motions followed. A motion to reconsider an earlier related resolution failed 3-16; an amendment that would have prohibited any pay increase for the first year and banned severance failed 5-14; and a motion to send the measure back to committee also failed 6-13. After the board ended debate by calling the question, the final vote to adopt Resolution 2 passed 14-5.

The resolution as adopted directs the Admin and Finance Committee to negotiate an employment agreement with the person the county packet names (Cynthia Haggard) and to return any proposed terms to the full board for approval. County staff confirmed the current county-manager/administrative-coordinator contract and salary schedule remain separate from the wage scale adopted in a prior meeting and that the administrator position’s compensation will be set by later action of the board.

Opponents at the meeting and in emails cited concerns about cost, loss of direct oversight by supervisors, and insufficient prior notice. Patty Youngbluth, a Preston resident, said: "If we are going to do that, I would suggest we go to a voted in position." Supporters said the statute provides role clarity and accountability and pointed to committee oversight and subsequent board approval of any employment agreement.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 2, 2025 (create office of County Administrator under Wis. Stat. 59.18): Adopted, 14 yes, 5 no (no: Dee Grabarski; Dozel; Creviglio; Shelton; McLaughlin). Motion to call the question to end debate passed 14-5. Admin & Finance Committee to negotiate contract terms and return to full board for approval.

- Ordinance 1, 2025 (rezoning approx. 0.56 acres from R-1 to B-1 in Town of Adams): Enacted, 18 yes, 1 no (McLaughlin).

- Resolution 1, 2025 (recognition of Karen Bays for 31 years of service): Adopted, 17 yes, 1 no (Podowski).

- Appointment of DNR emergency fire wardens (annual list): Approved (voice vote; tally not read into record).

- Claims, per diem and mileage: Approved (voice vote; tally not read into record).

What the resolution does and next steps

The board’s adopted resolution creates the statutory office and authorizes the Admin and Finance Committee to negotiate employment terms "with Cynthia Haggard as county administrator" and to present a final agreement to the full board. Any contract, including salary and severance provisions, must return to the full board for a vote before taking effect.

County staff and committee members said the helper materials in the packet include the current county-manager/administrative-coordinator contract, but the Admin and Finance Committee will need to determine whether to recommend a salary change. Staff reported the county manager/administrative-coordinator position was not included in a prior wage-scale action and remains a negotiated salary position.

Why it matters

Adopting a county-administrator structure changes the statutory relationships for department heads and budget preparation under Wis. Stat. 59.18. Supporters say the statute brings role clarity and a single point of operational accountability; opponents fear a shift of practical authority away from elected supervisors and possible added cost. The resolution does not itself finalize salary or contract terms; those are subject to later committee negotiation and full-board approval.

Representative comments and concerns

- Pete Church (resident): expressed worry the change would "diminish the power of our elected officials in Adams County."

- Patty Youngbluth (resident): urged an elected county executive if the community wanted an increased-executive role: "If we are going to do that, I would suggest we go to a voted in position."

- Andy Phillips (attorney, Autolus Law, speaking for Wisconsin Counties Association): said the county-administrator statute "provides greater clarity and definitional certainty as it relates to the roles and responsibility of the county administrator" and noted administrators appoint department heads subject to board confirmation and those department heads "serve at the pleasure of the county administrator."

- Several supervisors requested a clear written job description and more detailed budget/compensation proposals before finalizing contract terms; Supervisor Dolezal moved an amendment proposing no first-year pay increase and no severance, which failed.

What the record shows

The board debated the measure at length, heard multiple public comments (six residents asked to speak on the resolution during public participation), considered three procedural motions (reconsideration, amendment on pay/severance, and referral back to committee), and then approved the resolution. The Admin and Finance Committee will meet to negotiate an employment agreement and return a proposed contract to the full board for approval before any appointment or salary change takes effect.

Ending

With Resolution 2 adopted, supervisors and staff said they expect the Admin and Finance Committee to meet and present recommended contract language and any compensation changes to the full board at a later date. The resolution itself does not change payroll until the board approves any negotiated employment agreement.