Meeting colors

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Fond du Lac County Board of Supervisors Meeting - December 16, 2025

County Board of Supervisors — Tuesday, December 16, 2025

BodyFond Du Lac County, Wisconsin

SessionCounty Board of Supervisors

DateTuesday, December 16, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 3:01:36

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

1:04

Good evening, everyone.

1:05

I hereby call to order the Tuesday, December sixteenth, twenty twenty-five meeting of the Fond du Lac County Board of Supervisors.

1:13

As is our tradition, we will have the presentation of colors, followed by a moment of silence, followed in turn by the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:20

This evening we have Supervisors Streeter and Beer.

1:25

I'm sorry, Simon, my bad, uh presenting the colors.

1:29

Everyone, please rise.

2:31

Liberty and justice for all the time.

2:56

Okay, the roll call this evening.

2:57

We have twenty-four supervisors present with Supervisor Beer being excused.

3:25

And uh to date on I know the issue most people are here on is uh the proposed uh jails.

3:32

And uh we've had ten meetings to date so far on that, and we have allowed public comment at all those.

3:39

We're gonna have many, many more meetings on this issue, uh, committee meetings.

3:44

So if you do wish to make more public comment, uh you're welcome to do so.

3:49

I would encourage everyone here uh to go to the county website.

3:53

Uh, if you go under the supervisor tab, there is a section on the jail uh that uh gives us all the information.

4:02

If anybody has questions, I would also encourage everybody to go to the bottom of the of their website on the home page, and there is a subscribe button there.

4:10

That would allow you to subscribe to all of the meetings that are public meetings that are going to be happening.

4:17

So you'll get notified.

4:18

So that's a good way to stay in contact with what's going on at County Government.

4:22

So thank you.

4:57

Oppose nay.

5:07

Okay, the minutes have been approved, 24 in favor and none opposed.

5:20

Our first item on the agenda is resolution number 57-25.

5:26

Resolution recognizing Nancy Cardo's and Timothy Hickon for their dedicated service and contributions to Fond du Lac County.

5:34

This is submitted by Finance Personnel and Economic Development Committee and the entire County Board of Supervisors.

5:42

Okay, as is our tradition, I will read the resolution.

5:46

Whereas Nancy Cardos has served Fon Lac County for 26 years, retiring as a social worker in the Department of Human Services.

5:54

And whereas Timothy Hickand has served Fonlac County for 18 years, retiring as a Class III patrolman in the highway department.

6:02

Now therefore be it resolved that we, the members of the Fond du Lac County Board of Supervisors, do hereby extend to Nancy to Nancy Cardos and Timothy Hickon our sincere and grateful appreciation for their dedicated service and contributions to Fond du Lac County.

6:17

Be it further resolved that on behalf of Fondilac County, we do hereby offer our congratulations on their well-earned retirement and best wishes in the years to come.

6:27

Is there a motion to approve?

6:28

Motion by Supervisor Hayes, second by Supervisor Mike Will.

6:35

Are there any questions or comments on the resolution?

6:41

I don't see any, so we'll move to the vote.

6:43

All those in favor, press your button aye, oppose nay.

6:55

Okay, the resolution has been approved, 24 in favor and none opposed.

6:59

I believe uh Mr.

7:00

Hickon is here this evening.

7:02

Um if him and Mr.

7:04

Yankee would come on down, and we'll present him with a copy of the resolution and a plaque.

7:46

Yeah, so Tim Tim Hickon was our state patrolman on high on I-41, one of the more challenging or the probably the most challenging uh route there is on our state system of 40,000 plus vehicles a day.

7:58

Uh see that he uh plowed that route and maintained that route for what 18 years.

8:04

Uh then he went right into after the winter season stopped, he went right in to be on our hot roller man uh on our paving crew.

8:11

So literally you've seen the extremes of the temperatures anywhere between 260 degrees to uh 20 below.

8:18

So great turnout to see his retirement.

8:20

It's nice to see that.

8:22

So thank you, Tim, for uh, and we also have another recognition this evening.

8:45

This is resolution number 58-25.

8:48

Resolution congratulating Louise Goodex on her retirement as executive director of the Fon du Lac County Housing Authority.

8:57

This is dated December 16th, 2025, and submitted by Catherine B.

9:02

Griffith, Sarah Ann Smith, Michael J.

9:06

Streeter, Michael J.

9:08

Will, and the entire county board.

9:11

All right, as is our as is our tradition, I will also read this resolution.

9:16

Whereas Louise Goodicks began her career in public housing in 1979 as the Section 8 Rental Assistance Program Manager for the City of Fond du Lac.

9:25

And whereas in 1992, Miss Goodicks became executive director for the housing authority of the City of Fond du Lac, overseeing 358 units along with the voucher program.

9:37

And whereas under Ms.

9:39

Goodcks's leadership in 1995, the Housing Authority of the City of Fond du Lac received a received an award of excellence in the Milwaukee U.S.

9:48

Department of Housing and Urban Development Field Office.

9:52

And whereas in 1999, Miss Goodicks also became the executive director of both the Fondilac County Housing Authority and the Housing Authority of the City of Fond du Lac.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Justice System Coordination████████████████████████████████████36%

Procedural███████████████15%

Public Safety██████████10%

Jail Management█████████9%

Personnel Matters███████7%

Public Engagement██████6%

Fiscal Sustainability████4%

Engineering And Infrastructure███3%

Budget Equity Analysis██2%

Summary of Proceedings

Fond du Lac County Board of Supervisors Meeting - December 16, 2025

The Fond du Lac County Board of Supervisors met on December 16, 2025, at approximately 6:00 PM to conduct routine business, recognize retiring employees, and debate a resolution to move forward with the planning of a new jail facility. Key actions included approval of multiple resolutions, appointments, and a contested vote to authorize an RFP for schematic design of a new jail at both the Scott Road and downtown sites.

Recognitions and Resolutions

Retirement Recognitions: The Board adopted Resolution 57-25 recognizing Nancy Cardos (26 years, Human Services) and Timothy Hickon (18 years, Highway Department) and Resolution 58-25 congratulating Louise Goodex on her retirement as Executive Director of the Fond du Lac County Housing Authority after 46 years of service. Both resolutions passed unanimously (24-0). Supervisor Griffith praised Goodex's work, noting she managed 358 units and a voucher program, and that currently each county-owned unit has 13-18 households on the waiting list. Goodex thanked the Board for $200,000 in ARPA funds used for bathroom remodeling at Heather Meadows.
Appointments: Michael Benson was appointed to the Elderly Nutrition Program Committee, Nicole Drehr to the Transportation Coordinating Committee, and 28 other appointments (under Wis. Stat. 59.17(2)(c)) were approved, all unanimously (24-0).
Reports & Routine Approvals: The Board approved mileage and per diem reports for October 2025 ($1,140 per diem, $1,174.80 mileage, $0 expenses, total $2,314.80) and November 2025 ($1,620 per diem, $812.86 mileage, $13 expenses, total $2,445.86), both unanimously (24-0).

Discussion Items

Public Safety Training Center Fee Schedule: Resolution creating fees effective January 1, 2026, for the Public Safety Training Center. Dave Tackett explained that in-county public safety agencies use the facility for free; out-of-county entities will be charged. Fees were set lower than a competitor 35 miles north to attract users. Supervisor Hayes expressed concern that the fees would not cover costs, unlike the Prairie Event Center, and voted no. Supervisor Brault inquired about interest; Tackett noted the Sheriff's Department and State Jail Academy have used it, and Dodge County is interested. The resolution passed 22-2, with Brault and Hayes opposed.
PSAP Communications Grant Adoption: The Board accepted a Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) award of $1,598,471 for communications infrastructure. Captain Hallbach explained the grant must be accepted by December 19 to save $50,000 in vendor discounts. The county's share of the project (approx. $1.4 million) will be bonded. The resolution required two-thirds approval and passed 24-0 after discussion about the need for an 800 MHz radio system upgrade by 2030 and the provision of a backup radio system to mitigate flood risk at the current dispatch center.
Jail Facility Planning (Major Discussion): The Board debated Resolution to designate vacant land on Scott Road (adjacent to the Highway Department) as the site for a future jail and authorize an RFP for phase one schematic design for a jail, sheriff's office, and/or justice center. Key points:
- Positions in Opposition: Supervisors Griffith, Hayes, Brault, Leering, and others argued the process lacked public input, that the 450-bed capacity was not properly vetted, that a debt management policy should be established first, and that the cost estimate of up to $392 million (from Samuels Group chart) is too high. They called for more transparency, diversion programs, and consideration of the downtown site.
- Positions in Support: Supervisors Conley, Dean Will, Gary Will, Dornbrook, and others argued the Board must move forward to satisfy Department of Corrections compliance, that the RFP is only for design proposals and not a commitment to build, and that a new jail is necessary due to overcrowding (currently housing 20-25 inmates out-of-county) and the current jail's structural issues (settling, contaminated soil).
- Amendment: Supervisor Leering offered an amendment to keep both the Scott Road site and the downtown Western Avenue site under consideration, and to include potential for a justice center at Scott Road. The amendment passed 18-6.
- Motion to Table: A subsequent motion to table the amended resolution failed (9 in favor, 15 opposed).
- Final Vote: The amended resolution (authorizing RFP for both sites, including jail, law enforcement center, or justice center) passed 14-10.
Comprehensive Plan Amendment: The Board unanimously approved an amendment to the Fond du Lac County 2020-2040 Comprehensive Plan (24-0).

Key Outcomes

All routine resolutions and appointments approved unanimously.
Public Safety Training Center fee schedule approved (22-2).
PSAP communications grant accepted (24-0).
Amended resolution for jail site RFP passed (14-10); the RFP will seek schematic design proposals for both Scott Road and downtown sites, considering a jail, law enforcement center, or justice center.
Next meeting scheduled for January 20, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. I hereby call to order the Tuesday, December sixteenth, twenty twenty-five meeting of the Fond du Lac County Board of Supervisors. As is our tradition, we will have the presentation of colors, followed by a moment of silence, followed in turn by the Pledge of Allegiance. This evening we have Supervisors Streeter and Beer. I'm sorry, Simon, my bad, uh presenting the colors. Everyone, please rise. Liberty and justice for all the time. Okay, the roll call this evening. We have twenty-four supervisors present with Supervisor Beer being excused. And uh to date on I know the issue most people are here on is uh the proposed uh jails. And uh we've had ten meetings to date so far on that, and we have allowed public comment at all those. We're gonna have many, many more meetings on this issue, uh, committee meetings. So if you do wish to make more public comment, uh you're welcome to do so. I would encourage everyone here uh to go to the county website. Uh, if you go under the supervisor tab, there is a section on the jail uh that uh gives us all the information. If anybody has questions, I would also encourage everybody to go to the bottom of the of their website on the home page, and there is a subscribe button there. That would allow you to subscribe to all of the meetings that are public meetings that are going to be happening. So you'll get notified. So that's a good way to stay in contact with what's going on at County Government. So thank you. Oppose nay. Okay, the minutes have been approved, 24 in favor and none opposed. Our first item on the agenda is resolution number 57-25. Resolution recognizing Nancy Cardo's and Timothy Hickon for their dedicated service and contributions to Fond du Lac County. This is submitted by Finance Personnel and Economic Development Committee and the entire County Board of Supervisors. Okay, as is our tradition, I will read the resolution. Whereas Nancy Cardos has served Fon Lac County for 26 years, retiring as a social worker in the Department of Human Services. And whereas Timothy Hickand has served Fonlac County for 18 years, retiring as a Class III patrolman in the highway department. Now therefore be it resolved that we, the members of the Fond du Lac County Board of Supervisors, do hereby extend to Nancy to Nancy Cardos and Timothy Hickon our sincere and grateful appreciation for their dedicated service and contributions to Fond du Lac County. Be it further resolved that on behalf of Fondilac County, we do hereby offer our congratulations on their well-earned retirement and best wishes in the years to come. Is there a motion to approve? Motion by Supervisor Hayes, second by Supervisor Mike Will. Are there any questions or comments on the resolution? I don't see any, so we'll move to the vote. All those in favor, press your button aye, oppose nay. Okay, the resolution has been approved, 24 in favor and none opposed. I believe uh Mr. Hickon is here this evening. Um if him and Mr. Yankee would come on down, and we'll present him with a copy of the resolution and a plaque. Yeah, so Tim Tim Hickon was our state patrolman on high on I-41, one of the more challenging or the probably the most challenging uh route there is on our state system of 40,000 plus vehicles a day. Uh see that he uh plowed that route and maintained that route for what 18 years. Uh then he went right into after the winter season stopped, he went right in to be on our hot roller man uh on our paving crew. So literally you've seen the extremes of the temperatures anywhere between 260 degrees to uh 20 below. So great turnout to see his retirement. It's nice to see that. So thank you, Tim, for uh, and we also have another recognition this evening. This is resolution number 58-25. Resolution congratulating Louise Goodex on her retirement as executive director of the Fon du Lac County Housing Authority. This is dated December 16th, 2025, and submitted by Catherine B.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com