Fond du Lac County Board of Supervisors Meeting – April 21, 2026

The Fond du Lac County Board of Supervisors met on April 21, 2026, to swear in newly elected supervisors, elect county board officers, adopt interim rules, approve prior meeting minutes, and vote on the sale of former county property. This summary is based on the meeting transcript.

Officer Elections and Oath of Office

• Supervisors elected for the 2026–2028 term were sworn in. Supervisor Mike Streeter and Supervisor Bob Simon presented the colors, and each new supervisor signed the oath of office and the official register.
• Board chair: Supervisor Catherine B. Griffith placed her own name in nomination and read a statement explaining why she was running. She emphasized improving the board’s decision-making process, gathering input before board meetings on controversial resolutions, avoiding last-minute time-sensitive votes, and applying experience from her work with a Quaker organization that required near-consensus decisions. She also highlighted her work on jail and acute-unit issues, including ride-alongs, jail visits, and helping create a criminal justice coordinating council. Supervisor Stephen A. Abel, who had served 16 years on the board including four as chair, said the board had tackled big problems and asked for the board’s vote. After ballots were counted, Stephen A. Abel won a majority and was elected board chair for a two-year term.
• First vice chair: Supervisor Ryan was nominated and elected first vice chair.
• Second vice chair: Supervisors Mike Will and Dean Will were nominated. The first ballot produced no majority and was described as a tie, requiring a second ballot. The transcript does not report the final result of the second vice chair election.

Discussion Items

• Adoption of board rules: The board voted to use the previous term’s rules on an interim basis. Chair Abel said he was working with Corporation Counsel Megan McNamara to update the rules using a Wisconsin Counties Association template, with plans to distribute the proposed rules before the May meeting, receive feedback, and seek adoption in June through the Committee on Committees.
• Approval of March 17, 2026 minutes: Motion by Supervisor Meyerchuk, second by Supervisor Beer. The minutes were approved with 22 in favor, none opposed, and Supervisors Gary Will and Leuring abstaining.

Key Outcomes

• Sale of 848 South Military Road: The board adopted a resolution authorizing the sale of the former Fond du Lac County Land and Water Conservation Department property at 848 South Military Road, City of Fond du Lac, to Sterling Properties FDL LLC for $717,000 net of closing costs. The proceeds are to be transferred to the County General Fund Contingency for major building projects. Because the sale amends the adopted 2026 county budget, the resolution required at least two-thirds approval.
  • A supervisor asked whether the board could later direct the proceeds to the future jail project. County Executive Kaufman responded that the property was originally purchased with ARPA funds, those funds had been moved to the campus, and the sale proceeds were designated to return to the building fund.
  • In response to a question about the property being valued at about $1 million but selling for $717,000, County Executive Kaufman said the market determines the sale price, other offers had been around $600,000, the Finance Committee was willing to accept at least $700,000, and the county had recouped the building’s costs. He also cited ongoing maintenance expenses and potential HVAC issues as reasons to sell now.
  • The resolution passed 21–3, with Supervisors Hurlash, Brault, and Hayes voting in opposition.

Announcements & Next Steps

• The chair reminded everyone that April is Work Zone Safety Awareness Month.
• Supervisor Meyerchuk noted that it is Public Library Week.
• A tour of the courts facility was announced for the next meeting date at 5 p.m., with the board meeting scheduled to start at 6 p.m. whether or not members returned.
• The next county board meeting was announced for April 28, 2026 at 6 p.m., and a Committee on Committees meeting was scheduled for that Thursday at 7 a.m.
• The meeting adjourned by motion from Supervisor Simon, seconded by Supervisor Mike Will; the chair said the vote appeared to be unanimous or a majority, despite a voting system issue.