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Public works outlines phased plan for Kemper shoreline, flags County Trunk Highway W erosion concerns
Summary
Public Works and parks staff reviewed capital priorities including a proposed three‑phase approach to stabilize the Kemper Center shoreline after FEMA BRIC funding became unavailable, and early design/real estate work on County Trunk Highway W resurfacing and riverbank protection.
Department of Public Works and Development Services (DPWDS) staff briefed supervisors on major capital projects likely to surface in the 2026 capital improvement plan, with special attention to the Kemper Center shoreline and County Trunk Highway (CTH) W.
Why it matters: both projects have multi‑million dollar implications and could rely on a mix of grant funding and county capital if grants are not available.
Kemper shoreline
DPWDS staff said the county’s existing shoreline design for the Kemper Center has a current estimate of about $34,000,000 for a full rebuild. Staff reported that FEMA’s BRIC program recently stopped accepting applications, and that previously awarded funds are presently unavailable. As a result, DPWDS described a “plan B” that phases the shoreline work into three chunks over five to ten years to make grant applications and smaller capital requests more realistic. If grant pursuit is unsuccessful, staff said they would consider programming a capital project in 2027 rather than 2026 because redesign into phases and grant preparation would take time.
County Trunk Highway W
DPWDS and highway staff reported that a resurfacing project is in design for 2026 from the Illinois state line north to County Trunk Highway C. Staff said additional sections of CTH W north of that segment — particularly areas bordering the Fox River near the Kenosha County Fairgrounds — face erosion and past emergency repairs (sheet piling and closures in 2019). The department said designers are evaluating bank protection and other measures and that some capital impact is likely in future CIP requests.
Other context
Staff described a range of department accomplishments in 2024 — thousands of permits processed, park improvements, mountain bike trail additions, bridge and roadway maintenance — and said they will continue supervisor‑led task forces, continuity planning and project planning tools (Gantt‑style planning charts) to manage ongoing work and coordination.
Ending
Staff said the projects are being pursued aggressively for grant funding; if grants are not available, the county will reassess and may request capital funding in upcoming CIP cycles.
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