Kenosha County approves purchase of 11312 Burlington Road to satisfy court-ordered supervised-release placements

Corporation Counsel told the Kenosha County Joint Finance and Public Works committees that the county has been ordered by three judges to identify residential placements for people eligible for supervised release under Chapter 980 of the Wisconsin Statutes, and that failure to find housing could result in monetary sanctions.

The committee approved a resolution authorizing the county to purchase a single-family property at 11312 Burlington Road after an offer was accepted contingent on board approval. Corporation Counsel said the courts had given the county specific deadlines and that one judge had found the county in contempt (the finding was stayed) and issued a directive giving the county an additional 30 days to comply. "We're taking this step as a final resort. We're doing it in order to comply not only with state law, but also with direct court orders, and we're doing it because I believe the alternative is gonna be potentially significant monetary sanctions," Corporation Counsel said.

Why it matters: County leaders said the purchases respond to court orders requiring counties to locate supervised-release housing for individuals committed under Chapter 980, a statutory procedure for continuing treatment after a criminal sentence. According to Corporation Counsel, the state now expects the individual's home county to identify a residential option and report it to the court within prescribed timeframes; failure to do so can trigger sanctions and additional court action.

What the county will acquire and how it will be used: The property being purchased is a single-family home with three bedrooms at 11312 Burlington Road in the Village of Somers. County staff told committees the house was occupied until about two weeks before the meeting, that it sits on roughly 0.68 acres, and that the house is approximately 1,180 square feet. Corporation Counsel said the house matches the immediate need — "there are 3 bedrooms and 3 individuals who are pending placement" — and the county intends to negotiate a lease with the state once it owns the property. Counsel said the state has not agreed to lease negotiations until the county is owner but indicated a likely rent in the range of $2,000 to $3,000 per month.

Concerns and alternatives raised: Several supervisors questioned the choice of property and its location. "A housing facility shouldn't be placed on the county property, county center on Highway 50. I believe it should have been at the detention center," Supervisor Balski said, arguing that the detention center would better address staffing and safety concerns. Other supervisors pressed for details on zoning, liability and the length of supervised-release stays; Corporation Counsel said supervised release durations depend on individual progress but that the state estimated participants typically remain in the program three to five years and that, for the first year at minimum, residents are subject to restrictive conditions and chaperoned movement.

Zoning and municipal coordination: Committee members clarified that the parcel is in the Village of Somers and thus subject to Somers zoning rules rather than City of Kenosha ordinances. Corporation Counsel said the county had earlier pursued placing temporary dwellings on county detention center grounds but was blocked by city zoning and unsuccessful appeals; the judges then ordered the county to identify and acquire residential options, prompting the current purchase.

Price, market history and fiscal context: Committee discussion noted the accepted purchase price of $425,000 and that the property had been on the market for an extended period with prior price reductions. Some supervisors argued the county was overpaying; one member said the property had been listed previously at about $325,000 and that the seller raised the price after the county entered negotiations. Corporation Counsel acknowledged the price was not ideal but said the county was acting under time pressure and court direction and that continuing noncompliance risked escalating sanctions (Counsel said one court had set a current sanction rate of $250 per week and that other courts might impose monetary sanctions as well).

Outcome and next steps: After discussion, a motion to table the request failed for lack of a second. A subsequent motion to approve the resolution to purchase 11312 Burlington Road was moved and seconded and passed; the chair stated the motion passed each committee. Corporation Counsel said the county would complete the purchase, then pursue a lease negotiation with the state and, when placements conclude, consider conveying the property for commercial use if no longer needed for supervised release.

Community and operational notes: Committee members and staff clarified that the individuals to be placed are Kenosha County residents; that supervised-release participants are monitored and chaperoned as part of the program; and that the state covers most treatment costs and, according to counsel, would accept responsibility for chaperone staffing and related supervision. Counsel also said the county would seek to recoup some costs through the state's lease payments.

Ending: With the resolution approved, county staff will complete the purchase and proceed with the steps outlined by Corporation Counsel, including negotiating a state lease and complying with court instructions. Committee members asked for continuing updates on zoning, liability coverage and the county's plan for the property once placements end.