Kenosha County Board unanimously approves three public-works measures, refers appointments to committees

At its regular meeting, the Kenosha County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved three public-works resolutions and referred three county-executive appointments to committee.

Supervisor Grady summarized infrastructure and facilities work across the county and asked the board to approve a set of routine public-works items. The board approved a plat and relocation order for County Trunk Highway W that authorizes right-of-way acquisition; approved purchase of a small parcel needed to enable replacement work on the Dutch Gap Canal Bridge along County Trunk Highway WG; and approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Twin Lakes to assign local maintenance of catchment basins along County Highway EM. Each resolution passed by unanimous voice vote.

Why it matters: the measures clear immediate legal and property hurdles for highway and bridge projects and clarify local maintenance responsibilities with a neighboring municipality. Right-of-way acquisition and small parcel purchases remove known barriers to planned construction; the IGA transfers routine maintenance tasks to the village of Twin Lakes.

Details of the board actions

Resolution 67 approved a plat and relocation order for County Trunk Highway W and authorized county acquisition of necessary right-of-way. Moved by Supervisor Grady and seconded by Supervisor Gence, the motion was described as standard project business and passed unanimously.

Resolution 68 approved the county’s purchase of a narrow parcel adjacent to County Trunk Highway WG so the Dutch Gap Canal Bridge replacement can proceed. "It's a tiny little sliver of land that goes along County WG, and we just need it so we can be able to do the necessary infrastructure improvements," Supervisor Grady said when urging approval. The motion carried unanimously.

Resolution 69 authorized an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Twin Lakes covering maintenance of catchment basins and pedestrian-area coordination along County Highway EM. Grady characterized the item as largely housekeeping: the village will maintain specified basins and the county will not retain those maintenance responsibilities. The motion, moved by Supervisor Grady and seconded by Supervisor Decker, passed unanimously.

Appointments and other business

The clerk announced three county-executive appointments: Thomas Santarelli to the Civil Service Commission (referred to the Judiciary and Law Enforcement Committee), Pamela Mundling to the Veteran Service Commission (referred to the Human Services Committee), and Michael Macassie to the Local Emergency Planning Commission (referred to the Judiciary and Law Enforcement Committee).

The board also received a report from Supervisor Grady on public-works activities — including a county-funded accident study summarized in a Kenosha News article, upcoming County Highway 0 improvements planned for 2025, radar-speed signs planned for County KD, facility repairs and roof replacements, and the completion of a generator pad at the county center. Grady said bids to replace two underground fuel tanks at the public-safety building came in over budget and the county will revise specifications and rebid in spring.

Procedural notes

The minutes of the Nov. 19, 2024 meeting were approved. A communication from Clara Tappa proposing a civil-service ordinance amendment and a property-damage claim from Christopher J. Lehi White were referred to the appropriate committees/offices. The board adjourned following a motion by Supervisor Decker.

Next steps: the appointed candidates will be considered in the committees to which they were referred; the public-works projects described will proceed through their standard acquisition, bidding and construction processes.