Bob Ball sworn in to Walworth Village Board; trustees unanimously approve committee and official appointments

President Louise Czaja called the Village of Walworth Board of Trustees organizational meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. on April 21, 2026, at Village Hall. During roll call the board noted Trustee Merik Fell was absent. Trustee Chrissy Sara submitted a letter of resignation from her trustee position (term expires 2027) and offered a brief statement of thanks to colleagues.

President Czaja nominated Bob Ball to fill the vacancy created by Sara's resignation. Trustee Steve Hovestol moved to approve the nomination, seconded by Trustee Peg Hubertz. The board conducted a roll-call vote and recorded six ayes (Hovestol, Sara, Yunker, Ellerth, Czaja, Hubertz); the motion carried. Clerk/Treasurer Kellie Thelen then administered the oath of office to Bob Ball.

The board reviewed and voted unanimously to approve committee appointments under Village Ordinance Section 2-2-4(b)(2). Among the assignments announced, Steve Hovestol was listed as chair of the Public Works Committee; Ken Ellerth as chair of the General Services Committee; Louise Czaja as chair of the Finance Committee; and Merik Fell listed as chair of the Personnel Committee (Fell noted absent at roll call). A Czaja/Ball motion to approve the appointments in Section A passed on a recorded vote.

President Czaja also presented presidential appointments for village officials, subject to board confirmation, including Kellie Thelen as Clerk/Treasurer; Accurate Appraisal, Inc. as assessor; Lochowicz & Venema, LLC (Bradley J. Lochowicz and Keith Venema) as village attorneys; Baxter & Woodman, Inc. (engineers David Hemmerich and Scott Hartay); Dr. Deana Courier as health officer; Shanon Hammond as weed commissioner; Mike Kahl as fire/rescue chief; and Larry Gums as emergency government director. The motion to approve Section B (appointed officials) carried unanimously.

The board approved additional appointments to statutory boards and advisory committees, including the Board of Review membership, the Zoning Board of Appeals (citizen members listed with several vacant seats noted), the Plan Commission (including Mary Ann Kahl and Annie Zambito as secretary, with one vacancy remaining), and the Park, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Committee with Trustee Steve Hovestol as the trustee member. The president also presented membership for the Community Chest Board and the Library Board; the minutes record multiple citizen-member terms and several vacancies.

An A Czaja/Ball motion to approve the appointments listed in Sections C, D and E carried unanimously. Finally, the board voted to approve all nominations and appointments as presented in a concluding roll-call (6 ayes). The meeting adjourned at 6:24 p.m.

The minutes record that the resignation was submitted and that vacancies remain on several citizen boards and commissions. The record also cites Wis. Stat. a717.24 regarding the board's authority to appoint a replacement to serve until a special election or the end of the unexpired term.