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Walworth County Board of Adjustment met Nov. 11 to hear two variance requests on Geneva Lake properties: one to replace retaining walls close to the ordinary high‑water mark and another to reduce a rear‑yard setback to allow a replacement residence; the second hearing was continued to the next day after discussion and a split vote to adjourn.
Walworth County meeting approved the 2027 budget appropriation and the first five years of a 10-year capital improvement plan, and set a county tax levy to support the appropriation. The assembly also approved three Human Resources items, including creating a 1.00 FTE special education aide position for Lakeland School and adjustments to 2026 pay ranges.
Walworth County Board of Supervisors met on Nov. 26 and adopted the 2027 budget and related tax levy, approved several budget and staffing resolutions, accepted a congressional project grant and donations, and heard a public comment urging clarity on whether a COLA will be included in next year’s pay adjustments.
The Fire Advisory Board met to review staffing and equipment updates, debate changes to the Elkhorn Area Fire Department service agreement (including a failed motion to allow Lafayette to terminate early), discuss the 2027 capital improvement plan and training budget reallocations, consider the 2027 expense-allocation agreement, and heard that Brad Suchka was offered the permanent fire chief position pending screenings.
Walworth County held a public budget hearing on Oct. 29, 2026, where Finance Director Jessica Connolly presented the preliminary 2027 budget (spending plan $196.6 million) and explained levy, mill-rate, capital and operational priorities; the hearing was closed for board consideration Nov. 10.
Walworth County Traffic Safety Commission met to review recent fatal crashes, grant results and enforcement, discuss e-bikes/UTV safety and pedestrian studies, hear resident speeding complaints on County D/Bluff Road, and set 2027 meeting dates.
Finance committee reviewed the draft 2027 preliminary budget, discussed a staff transfer and budget highlights (sheriff, government center), previewed a dashboard and strategic plan website, and recommended adding a special-education aide for a tuition student by voice vote.
Walworth County Finance Committee reviewed and approved the preliminary 2027 budget, several budget amendments including a special-education aide at Lakeland School, multiple resolutions (including the 2027 appropriation and capital improvement plan), procurement recommendations, ARPA project updates and several grant and donation acceptances during its Oct. 22 meeting in the County Boardroom.
Walworth County Health & Human Services Board discussed childcare capacity and intergenerational care options, approved several grant applications and acceptances (including supplemental behavioral health awards and a Title V youth mental-health grant application), reviewed billing write-offs tied to an EHR transition, and approved routine minutes and agendas.
Walworth County Human Resources Committee met Oct. 21, 2026, approved four personnel-related resolutions including creation of a 1.00 FTE special education aide at Lakeland School, approved annual position changes tied to the 2027 budget, adopted pay-range adjustments for select nonrepresented positions, and delayed an employee premium increase for four months while amending funding. Committee also heard an update on the county classification and compensation study and scheduled a fuller presentation for November.
Lakeland Health board met Oct. 21 to approve agenda items and minutes, approve two resolutions (one to designate $4.3M to Lakeland Healthcare Center internal building/equipment reserves and one to accept a $1,000,000 congressionally directed community project grant), hear a social services presentation that included the retirement announcement of Mel Davis and the introduction of new admissions coordinator Kelly Fuller, review operating risks after the state denied an NSGO Medicaid add-on (projected ~$345,000 impact for 2027), and receive business activity and hiring updates.
The Walworth County Children with Disabilities Education Board met Oct. 21, 2026, and discussed the 2027 preliminary budget (including a proposed paraprofessional addition), a cabinet-and-lock CIP for Lakeland School, two budget resolutions (a 0.1 FTE special education aid position and a $1.36M reclassification of reserves), policy reviews, staffing changes, enrollment updates and school reports.
City of Elkhorn Common Council met Oct. 19, 2026 to hear public comment on a proposed chicken ordinance and historic-preservation work, approve routine payments and purchases, and consider multiple ordinances including e-bike registration fees, an animals/chicken ordinance, hotel/motel tax changes, zoning text for construction services, and infrastructure and architectural contracts. The council also approved staff direction to pursue litigation intervention on a high‑voltage transmission project and moved forward with a preferred fire‑chief candidate.
Walworth County executive committee heard a presentation from Sheriff Dave Gerber on the Sheriff's Office preliminary 2027 budget, covering payroll and non-payroll increases, jail population growth, technology and radio-system costs, squad car reductions and range maintenance. Committee members asked questions about inmate population, range fees and proposed a standing monthly departmental report; the sheriff said he is retiring at year-end.
Walworth County Executive Committee met Oct. 19 to hear public comment and take action on transmission-line concerns, review the sheriff's preliminary 2027 budget, consider WCA steering-committee representation, accept a K-9 donation, and receive a housing strategy update.
Walworth County Public Works Committee met Oct. 19 to consider routine approvals and reports, heard that a $4.3M STP grant for County Highway B was denied, reviewed e-bike safety options (education vs. ordinance), approved several CIP actions including a dive-boat scope change and a comprehensive-plan update start, and accepted community project funding.
Walworth County Land Conservation Committee met Oct. 19, 2026 to hear updates on short-term rental licensing and complaints, the wildlife damage (crop damage) program, a student conservation poster contest theme, and a pulled-forward capital project to update the county comprehensive land use plan for 2029.
Walworth County Agriculture Extension Education Committee reviewed the 2027 preliminary budget and a draft UW Extension contract, heard program reports (4‑H, dairy, human development, horticulture), agreed to circulate a county leadership engagement survey, and recessed for a scheduled tour of the UW Extension office and cell‑phone coverage update.
The Elkhorn legislative and regulatory committee met Oct. 14, 2026, to consider a liquor-license application from 15 o 9 Social LLC for 812 North Wisconsin Street; the committee voted to forward the application to the full city council after staff reported that building and fire inspections had passed.
The Elkhorn Financial & Judicial Committee met on Oct. 7, 2026 to review the preliminary 2027 city budget; staff reported deficit-reduction measures but the municipal outdoor pool, which runs a substantial annual shortfall, dominated discussion as members pressed for clearer resident/nonresident data and options to shrink the pool loss.
