County Board - Regular Meeting

Call the meeting in the order.

And stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Okay, roll call, supervisors.

Oh, that's right.

There are 19 supervisors present. Supervisors Belsky, Gray, Carroll, and Lux are excused.

Okay, our youth in government that are present today, and if I screw up your name, I am sorry for all of you. Bruno Gonzalez, who's an alternate. Sean Hawkins, alternate. Samuel Shane, finance and administration. Caleb Fleej, Human Services. Cerise Marame Conjurcata, from Judiciary and Law. And we did have, looks like someone else just came in too. Rebecca Waite. And you are with what committee? I'm sorry? Joint Services, thank you. Welcome, thank you. Yes, thank you. Oh, you know, I could've looked at that, I guess. Okay, are there any citizens' comments tonight?

David McLean, 2020 21st Street. Good evening, Chairman, board members, and fellow citizens. I'm here tonight to speak for the hardworking families of our county. This crisis isn't an abstract policy debate to me. It is sitting directly across the street from my home. Dollar Loan Center recently moved into my neighborhood. I support honest capitalism. But true capitalism completely fails when weaponized triple-digit subprime operations are allowed to sneak into our communities, set up shop right across the street from our schools, and trap vulnerable families in permanent debt treadmills. Let's stop pretending that these are standard old school payday shops. What they are bringing to Wisconsin is dangerous, predatory evolution of debt. We know their business model because we watched them run this precise playbook across South Dakota, Nevada, and Utah before legislators could catch up. They load desperate people up with triple digit annual interest, wait for them to drown, and hound working class citizens to the brink of financial ruin. This is not an accident. It is their explicit corporate culture. During construction of the newest facility, before the office windows were blacked out, I viewed their private mission statement posters and employee leaderboards for awarding of capital extraction. I looked at the enlarged first letters of the six-point corporate mission statement. It spelled out a sickening intentional acronym, F-A-T-C-A-P. On June 16th, I directly confronted the owner, Chuck Brennan, during a site visit to his newest location on 22nd Avenue, neighboring Minnie's Little Angels Daycare, Messiah Lutheran Church, and Cordelia Harvey Elementary School. Chuck Brannon asked if I liked this acronym and I described it as horrible and oppressive to our neighborhood. As his associate replied, nobody cares. My new neighbor climbed into his corporate rep Lamborghini SUV and drove away. This is how they view Kenosha. They aren't providing financial services. They are here to extract our wealth and ship it out of state pockets. Ship it to out of state pockets. Earlier this session, state leaders came incredibly close to stopping operators like DLC. Bipartisan Senate Bill 759 and 760 aim to establish a common sense 36% interest rate cap and a true lender test to stop out-of-state entities from using shady banking loopholes Those bills failed to cross the finish line this spring, which means Kenosha County must lead where Madison failed. Do not tell us this county has no power. Your hands are not tied by a free market, ICABA, or by claims that lending regulations belong solely to the state. Let me be perfectly clear. Your names are on the ballot, our taxpayers live in these neighborhoods, and the buck stops right here at this dais. Stop treating the people of this county like an interruption. Protect our taxpayers and do your jobs. Preemption stops us from capping interest rate. Boundaries do not mean we are powerless. Tonight, I'm asking this board to take three immediate lawful actions. Initiate an intergovernmental zoning partnership. Work directly with Kenosha City Council to create unified zoning ordinances. Leverage municipal zoning, conditional use permits, and land use control to ban these predatory storefronts from operating within a thousand feet of our schools, churches, and daycares. Fund financial literacy registers. Partner with local nonprofits to mandate the clear consumer rights and credit union alternatives are displayed at high interest transaction counters. pass a home rule resolution, enact an official county resolution endorsing the failed SB759-760 framework, legally demanding Madison pass the 36% APR cap next session. We must use every tool in our toolbox. Let's protect Kenosha families, collaborate with our city neighbors, and push back against out-of-state predators. Thank you, and I yield my time. Thank you.

Are there any more citizens' comments? Any more citizens' comments? Seeing no more citizens' comments, citizens' comments are closed. I have no announcements from the chairperson. Do I have any supervisor reports?

Supervisor Morrissey. I just want to make an announcement for those of you who knew old Fred Nelson was the water utility director for many years. Spent the last part of his life at Brookside. There was going to be a memorial in his honor at Brookside. For whatever reason, that didn't work out. But that memorial was installed and dedicated yesterday. It's just east of the Civil War Museum, west of the Columbus Statute. If anybody wants to go see it, it's a very fitting tribute to old Fred Nelson. Thank you.

Thank you, Supervisor Morrissey. Are there any more supervisor comments? Supervisor reports? Seeing none, supervisor reports ended.

County Executive Appointments 13, Robert Swanson to serve as Director of the Division of Veteran Services.

Refer to Human Services Committee.

Old Business Policy Resolution, second reading to required. Policy Resolution One from the Finance and Administration Committee, a policy resolution to approve a generative artificial intelligence usage policy. This passed unanimously at committee. Supervisors Carroll and Robinson were excused.

Supervisor Gerritsen. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Oh, sorry. Moved by Supervisor Gerritsen, seconded by Supervisor Ludo. Supervisor Gerritsen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Before I proceed, the Corp Council advised that there were five minor Scrivener changes which could be incorporated into the policy if the County Board offers unanimous consent. There is no motion required. Those typo Scrivener changes are on the Supervisor's desk. so I could just take a moment for everyone to review those, and if I get unanimous consent to proceed, then I'll make a brief report on policy resolution one.

I don't know.

Are we good to go? We have unanimous consent. Thank you. Policy Resolution One establishes guidelines for the responsible use of AI. It's needed due to the proliferation of AI, which is affecting our operations and our systems. It allows the proper use of AI, but provides for oversight. It protects sensitive information and sets policy for the final work product, and it requires IT input when we procure AI tools to ensure that they meet county standards. So that's a very brief summary of this new policy, and thank you very much, I recommend approval.

Thank you, Supervisor Gerritsen. Questions, further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor vote aye. Aye. And opposed? Motion carries.

Ordinance second reading to required ordinance seven from the Planning Development Extension Education Committee, an ordinance supporting a temporary moratorium on the consideration and or issuance of building permits, conditional use permits, and zoning approvals for battery energy storage systems pending enactment of an amended zoning ordinance to address these systems and protect the public health, safety, and welfare of Kenosha County residents. This passed unanimously at committee. Supervisor Meadows was excused.

Supervisor Meadows. Move Ordinance 7. Oh, wait a minute. He can't move that. I'm sorry. It's going to be Kirby. Kirby. Let me find her over here. Supervisor Kirby.

Move Ordinance 7.

Correct. I can't hear you.

Sorry. Move Ordinance 7.

Thank you. Moved by Supervisor Kirby, seconded by Supervisor Colonia.

This ordinance is similar to the resolution that we had already passed. I am asking for the board's approval.

Thank you, Supervisor Kirby. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, vote aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

Ordinance eight from Judiciary and Law Enforcement Committee, an ordinance to amend the Municipal Code Kenosha County 8.021 relating to cabaret ordinances. This passed at committee four to one with Supervisor Pollack voting nay.

Supervisor Decker.

Move ordinance eight please.

Moved by Supervisor Decker, seconded by Supervisor Gashke. Supervisor Decker.

Thank you, Chairman. This ordinance amends Chapter 8.02 of the Kenosha County Code relating to cabaret licenses. Events such as music festivals are already required to obtain approvals before they can operate. These can include an activity control license and a conditional use permit, both of which involve a far more comprehensive review than the current cabaret license requirement. For example, the music festival taking place next week has worked closely with both the Planning and Development Department and the Sheriff's Office to ensure the event is conducted safely and responsibly for the thousands of people that attend. I urge your approval.

thank you supervisor becker supervisor pollock thank you mr chairman i did vote against this and not because i was against the intent or the purpose of it i had a little bit of a disagreement with the language particularly lines 25 and 26 i felt like this ordinance really deserved to be more in chapter 12 which governs conditional use permits But I feel satisfied that my opinion was heard in committee, and I don't see any reason why I would be the reason this doesn't pass 100% tonight. Thank you, I yield back. Thank you, Supervisor Pollack.

Is there any more discussion? Seeing no further discussion, all those in favor, vote aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.

New Business, Resolution 25 from the Human Services Committee, a resolution approve the appointment of Luke Pollack to serve on the Brookside Board of Trustees. This passed unanimously at committee.

Supervisor Stocker? Move Resolution 25. Move by Supervisor Stocker, seconded by Supervisor Robinson. Supervisor Stocker?

This resolution passed our committee tonight with a unanimous decision, and we recommend that you do as well.

Thank you, Supervisor Stocker. Is there any further discussion? Seeing no further discussion, all those in favor, vote aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.

Resolution 26 from the Human Services Committee, a resolution to approve the appointment of John O'Dea to serve on the Commission on Aging and Disability Services. This passed unanimously at committee.

Supervisor Stocker.

Move Resolution 26.

Moved by Supervisor Stocker, seconded by Supervisor Brown. Supervisor Stocker.

This is another resolution that passed tonight unanimously, and we recommend that you do the same. Thank you.

Thank you, Supervisor Stocker. Is there any further discussion? Seeing no further discussion, all those in favor, vote aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

Resolution 27 from the Human Services Committee, a resolution to approve the appointment of Veronica King to serve on the Commission on Aging and Disability Services. This passed unanimously at committee.

Supervisor Stocker. Move Resolution 27. Moved by Supervisor Stocker, seconded by Supervisor Nez. Supervisor Stocker.

This is a resolution that also passed unanimously in our committee tonight, and we recommend you do the same. Thank you.

Thank you, Supervisor Stocker. Any further discussion? Seeing no further discussion, all those in favor, vote aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.

Communications 23, communication from Supervisor Meadows, an ordinance amending Municipal Code Kenosha County 2.03 relating to county board meetings to establish an invocation at the start of the county board meetings.

Refer to legislative committee.

Communication 24, from Supervisor Newto, a policy resolution to repeal 2022 policy resolution and adopt a policy regarding Kenosha County division heads.

Refer to Finance and Administration Committees.

25, communication from Supervisor Newto, an ordinance to amend Municipal Code Kenosha County Chapter 2.133A, related to standing committee assignments.

Refer to Legislative Committee.

26, a communication from Corporation Counsel Joseph Cardamone III, a resolution to purchase property at 11308 Burlington Road.

Refer to Public Works, Facilities, and Finance Administration Committees.

27, a communication from Supervisor Decker, a resolution urging the state of Wisconsin to provide sustainable, flexible funding for the local public health departments.

Refer to Legislative Committee.

28, communication from Supervisor Aaron Decker and Supervisor John Morrissey, a resolution urging the Wisconsin legislature to amend Wisconsin Statute 961.55 to expand the definition of forfeiture expenses to include drug treatment, diversion, prevention, and law enforcement program costs.

Refer to legislative committee.

29, a communication from Finance and Administration Committee, a resolution authorizing and providing for the issuance of not to exceed $22,750,000 general obligation promissory notes and or bonds, providing for the notification and sale of said notes and bonds and other related details.

Refer to Finance and Administration Committee.

Claims, four, Michelle Voiskov, property damage.

Refer to Corporation Counsel.

Five, Donny Roy, property damage.

Refer to Corporation Counsel.

Six, James Madison, property damage.

Refer to Corporation Counsel.

The approval of the June 16th, 2026 minutes by Supervisor Tarzan.

Supervisor Tarzan. Approved. Motion to approve. Motion to approve. Okay.

Second.

Thank you, Supervisors Tarzan. Any discussion? No? Okay.

Decker seconded.

Decker seconded? Yeah. Yeah. Thank you.

Okay. All those in favor, vote aye. Aye.

Opposed? Motion carries.

Second. Morrissey and who wants a second?

Overdue.

Who? Julia?

Robinson.

Robinson. Okay. All those in favor, vote aye. Aye. Are those opposed? Motion carries.