June 6, 2019 – Washington Co., WI – An agenda is expected to be released later today regarding a meeting next week Wednesday, June 12 when the Washington County Board Executive Committee is expected to vote to convert Washington County to a county executive form of government.
Washington County currently operates with an appointed county administrator. The proposal is to make that a non-partisan elected position.
There was a public discussion held May 22.
County Supervisors and members of the community who favored the change mentioned things like “managing development” and needing “new ideas and new people.”
Those against electing a county executive noted things like having “less representation from less populated areas” and “giving too much power to one man.”
Diane Petersen of Richfield brought up a number of points at the public discussion including the fact the county administrator could be removed by the county board but an elected county executive could only be removed by the governor.
After the public meeting some neighbors in attendance expressed concern about losing farmland to development, having little representation from smaller towns and villages in the county and concerns about a comment made by a county supervisor to reduce the size of the county board again, which would mean more power held by a few.
The resolution to be voted on is below.
County attorney Brad Stern said once the resolution is approved there’s no going back. “The only way to undo it is for the community to file a petition and ask for a referendum,” he said. “The county board just can’t change it’s mind and go back to the old way of doing thing.”
Stern said according to statute the decision on changing the county’s form of government could be done by a petition referendum or the decision could be made by the county board.
Also note, in the resolution language, the termination of the contract with the current county administrator would cost “approximately $130,000 and does not include wages and benefits due under the contract terms through the date of transition. Additional fiscal impact is indeterminate at this time including possible additional election costs.”
If you want to contact your local County Supervisor, their phone numbers are posted below. A firm time for the meeting has yet to be released.
WASHINGTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Chairperson ……………………………………………………………………….Donald Kriefall
1st Vice-Chairperson……………………………………………………………Mark McCune
2nd Vice-Chairperson………………………………………………………….. Kristine Deiss
District No. Supervisor
1 ………………………………………………………………………………….. Kristine M. Deiss
C. West Bend, Wards 1, 2, 3, 21 1523 Quietwood Lane
West Bend, WI 53090
(262) 323-1542
kris.deiss@co.washington.wi.us
2 ………………………………………………………………………………………. Roger W. Kist
T. Barton, Ward 3 3305 Dubin Circle
C. West Bend, Wards 22, 23, 24, 26 West Bend, WI 53090
(414) 550-2755
roger.kist@co.washington.wi.us
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3 …………………………………………………………………………..Christopher D. Bossert
T. West Bend, Ward 8 607 S. 18th Avenue
C. West Bend, Wards 4, 6, 8 West Bend, WI 53095
(262) 404-5158
christopher.bossert@co.washington.wi.us
4 ………………………………………………………………………………………..Chris Jenkins
C. West Bend, Wards 7, 9, 10 2610 Eagles Court
West Bend, WI 53095
(262) 707-3959
chris.jenkins@co.washington.wi.us
5 ………………………………………………………………………………….Michael C. Bassill
C. West Bend, Wards 5, 11, 12, 13, 14 186 S. River Road
West Bend, WI 53095
(414) 378-3647
michael.bassill@co.washington.wi.us
6 ……………………………………………………………………………………. Denis J. Kelling
C. West Bend, Wards 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 25, 27 2306 Wellington Drive
West Bend, WI 53090
(262) 305-2678
denis.kelling@co.washington.wi.us
7 …………………………………………………………………………………………… Frank Carr
T. West Bend, Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 3492 Paradise Drive
C. West Bend, Wards 32, 33 West Bend, WI 53095
(414) 526-6030
frank.carr@co.washington.wi.us
8 ………………………………………………………………………………………Brian R. Krebs
T. Addison, Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 6081 Hilldale Drive
T. Hartford, Wards 4, 5 Hartford, WI 53027
V. Slinger, Ward 9 (262) 305-5224
C. Hartford, Ward 30 brian.krebs@co.washington.wi.us
9 ……………………………………………………………………………………Richard Bertram
T. Barton, Wards 1, 2, 4 2428 Salisbury Road North
T. Wayne, Wards 1, 2, 3 West Bend, WI 53090
(262) 355-5111
dick.bertram@co.washington.wi.us
10 ……………………………………………………………………………… William J. Symicek
T. Kewaskum, Ward 1, 2 219 Main Street, PO Box 22
V. Kewaskum, Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 Kewaskum, WI 53040
(262) 622-3385
william.symicek@co.washington.wi.us
11 ………………………………………………………………………………… Keith A. Stephan
T. Farmington, Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 8195 Indian Lore Rd.
T. Trenton, Ward 3 Kewaskum, WI 53040
(262) 483-4108
keith.stephan@co.washington.wi.us
12 ………………………………………………………………………….. Joseph C. Gonnering
T. Trenton, Wards 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 878 Riverview Road
V. Newburg, Wards 1, 2 West Bend, WI 53095
C. West Bend, Wards 18, 28, 29, 30, 31 (262) 689-5345
joe.gonnering@co.washington.wi.us
13…………………………………………………………………………………Robert H. Hartwig
T Jackson, Wards 4, 5, 3551 Country Aire Drive
V. Jackson, Wards 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10 Cedarburg, WI 53012
(414) 313-7514
robert.hartwig@co.washington.wi.us
14 …………………………………………………………………………………..Marcella Bishop
T. Jackson, Wards, 1, 2, 3 1735 Mill Road
V. Jackson, Wards 2, 6, 7, 9 Jackson, WI 53037
(262) 677-2662
marcy.bishop@co.washington.wi.us
15 ………………………………………………………………………………..Marilyn H. Merten
T. Jackson, Ward 6 2641 Mayfield Road
T. Polk, Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Richfield, WI 53076
(262) 677-2597
marilyn.merten@co.washington.wi.us
16 …………………………………………………………………………………….Russell Brandt
V. Slinger, Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 421 Hill View Drive
Slinger, WI 53086
(262) 644-8854
russell.brandt@co.washington.wi.us
17 …………………………………………………………………………….Timothy C. Michalak
T. Hartford, Ward 3 459 Abbott Avenue
C. Hartford, Wards 1, 2, 3, 5, 14, 31, 32 Hartford, WI 53027
(262) 670-1119
tim.michalak@co.washington.wi.us
18 ……………………………………………………………………………………….. James Burg
C. Hartford, Wards 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 535 W. State Street
17, 20, 23, 24 Hartford, WI 53027
(262) 339-7690
james.burg@co.washington.wi.us
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19 ………………………………………………………………………………….. John H. Bulawa
C. Hartford, Wards 4, 6, 12, 13, 21, 22 127 East Sumner Street
Hartford, WI 53027
(414) 531-6479
john.bulawa@co.washington.wi.us
20 ………………………………………………………………………………….Mark T. McCune
T. Erin, Wards 1, 2, 3, 4 2466 Lough Lane
T. Hartford, Wards 1, 2 Hartford, WI 53027
C. Hartford, Wards 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 (262) 844-2018
mark.mccune@co.washington.wi.us
21 ……………………………………………………………………………….. Donald A. Kriefall
V. Richfield, Wards 1, 2, 3, 4 4138 Stonehaven Way
Richfield, WI 53076
(414) 803-3488
don.kriefall@co.washington.wi.us
22 ………………………………………………………………………………..Rock R. Brandner
V. Germantown, Wards 3, 4, 15 4076 Woodside Lane
V. Richfield, Wards 7, 8, 9 Hubertus, WI 53033
(262) 628-1665
rock.brandner@co.washington.wi.us
23 ………………………………………………………………………………………..Brian Gallitz
T. Germantown, Ward 1 3295 Conestoga Trail
V. Germantown, Wards 1, 2 Richfield, WI 53076
V. Richfield, Wards 5, 6 (262) 790-3199
brian.gallitz@co.washington.wi.us
24 …………………………………………………………………………………….. Peter I. Sorce
V. Germantown, Wards 5, 6, 7, 17 N115 W16742 Royal Court
Germantown, WI 53022
(262) 253-0561
peter.sorce@co.washington.wi.us
25 ………………………………………………………………………………… Jeffrey D. Schleif
V. Germantown, Wards 9, 13, 14, 16 N105 W16136 Brook Hollow Drive
Germantown, WI 53022
(262) 253-0976
jeffrey.schleif@co.washington.wi.us
26 ……………………………………………………………………………………….Carroll Merry
V. Germantown, Wards 8, 10, 11, 12 N100 W14618 Sunburst Trail
C. Milwaukee, Ward 318 Germantown, WI 53022
(262) 253-6902
carroll.merry@co.washington.wi.us
