Kenosha County committee approves lease with state for Burlington Road home, adds monitoring-notification requirement

Kenosha County’s Public Works Committee on Monday approved a one-year lease with the State of Wisconsin for the county-owned residence at 11312 Burlington Road to house participants in the state’s supervised-release program, and added a requirement that the county and sheriff be notified within 24 hours if electronic monitoring of residents fails.

The lease sets rent at $3,500 per month, to be paid by the state; tenants are responsible for utilities and renters insurance, and the county will act as landlord. Committee members debated additional reporting and oversight measures before voting to adopt the lease with the monitoring-notification amendment and to reject a separate proposal to require quarterly census reports of occupants.

Facilities staff told the committee the lease is a standard, one-year agreement and that the county would perform basic landlord functions, including regular checks of the home. "It's a standard lease in the amount of $3,500 per month," said facilities staff during the presentation. County staff said some appliances already existed in the house, the county purchased one refrigerator, and recent replacements include a new furnace, air-conditioning unit and water heater.

The committee’s discussion focused on oversight and safety. Committee members asked whether the county would be informed when the state places or replaces individuals at the property, and whether…