Kenosha County to tighten oversight, hire senior manager for Kemper Center as restoration work advances

Kenosha County supervisors said they will require work at the Kemper Center to clear county review and Kemper’s building and grounds committee before county staff or directors take action.

The change follows concerns the committee chair raised after seeing ongoing projects the parks department had been doing at the Kemper Center. “No one calls Director Moore and ask him to do anything at Kemper Center until it goes through the building and grounds committee of Kemper, and then it comes to the board of directors for approval,” the chair said.

The move is part of a broader management change: the county plans to hire a senior manager — referred to in committee discussion as a “president” rather than an executive director — funded by a donated pool intended to professionalize oversight of the historic facility.

Why it matters: The Kemper Center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and supervisors emphasized that certain repairs and restorations must follow State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) standards. Supervisors and staff said they want the facility condition assessment (FCA) and a square‑footage assessment combined and reviewed together to guide what work requires SHPO review and what can proceed with standard contracting.

Facilities staff said Insight (the firm conducting specifications and the FCA) can develop bid specifications concurrently with the FCA so work can be bid in the fall rather than wait until next year. Supervisors expressed urgency about completing assessments but also cautioned against doing major restoration work during the facility’s busiest season.

Work already under way and schedule details - Exterior and roofing work: Construction on courthouse restorations and several roofs began the week of May 12. Shingle roof replacement is complete and other metal roofing work is proceeding. - Chapel and stained‑glass windows: Staff said stained‑glass glazing requires a separate preservation assessment. Improper earlier fixes (including plexiglass installations that lacked ventilation) have in some places warped lead and glass. Supervisors said some repairs could require SHPO‑approved conservation, which is costlier and more time‑consuming than simple touchups. - Doors: A manufacturer identified as Bayne Nelson has finished painting and is scheduled to install replacement doors next week; staff plan to document old and new doors for outreach. - Interior finishes and pews: Staff said light sanding and touchups differ from full refinishing, which may trigger SHPO review.

Staffing, reporting and next steps Supervisors requested the final assessments and bid specifications be circulated to the committee when available so members can see exactly which items will require SHPO review. County staff said they will remove the stained‑glass refurbishment from the general scope and treat it as a separate project requiring its own assessment and procurement process.

Ending: Staff committed to bringing the FCA and bid specs back to the committee when ready and to post the president/executive hire publicly. Supervisors said they would provide more frequent updates to the committee and at county board meetings as projects proceed.