(Photo by Joe Potente, Kenosha County Government)
Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman presented her annual State of the County address to the County Board this evening, highlighting recent successes while unveiling a new county logo.
“The State of Kenosha County is strong — and it’s looking better all the time,” Kerkman said, referencing a rebranding process more than a year in the making.
The new logo, Kenosha County’s first since 1982, moves the county’s brand into the 21st century, Kerkman said.
(Photo by Joe Potente, Kenosha County Government)
“The new logo was designed to embody the essence of Kenosha County — a mix of new and old, honoring our past while looking toward the future,” Kerkman said.
Prominent in the logo are images of the 1866 Southport Lighthouse near the Lake Michigan shore, as well as the recently developed Veterans Honor Plaza at the Kenosha County Veterans Memorial Park on the far-west end of the county. A ribbon of green in the logo represents the county’s parks and rural areas, while a pair of blue ribbons signifies Lake Michigan and the county’s inland lakes.
The logo design was completed by a team of county staff and County Board members, including Supervisors Laura Belsky and Erin Decker and former Supervisors Zach Rodriguez and Zach Stock.
(Photo by Joe Potente, Kenosha County Government)
“The team that developed this logo sees it as a perfect reflection of our identity as a county — a symbol that residents can be proud of, and that visitors can identify with,” Kerkman said. “As we continue to grow and evolve as a county, this logo will serve as a constant reminder of our unique character and unwavering spirit.”
The rollout of the logo begins immediately and will be a driving factor in a refresh of the county website that will occur in the coming months, Kerkman said.
In addition to the logo announcement, Kerkman’s speech included recognition of the nine new members of the County Board who were elected last month, along with the corresponding supervisors who departed the board. In particular, Kerkman acknowledged former Supervisors Terry Rose and John O’Day,
who departed with a combined 66 years of experience.
(Photo by Joe Potente, Kenosha County Government)
Kerkman noted that she and new County Board Chairman Monica M. Yuhas are the first all-female executive and board leadership team in Kenosha County’s history.
Citing a watershed change in leadership in the community over the last two years, Kerkman said she looks forward to working with newly elected Kenosha Mayor David Bogdala to further strengthen the relationship between the city and county, seeking out opportunities to work together to benefit the entire community.
“As I’ve often said, Kenosha County is one community,” Kerkman said. “When the east end prospers, the west end benefits, and vice versa.”
Kerkman said she also works forward to working with the County Board to produce a high-quality budget in 2025, while continuing the county’s top-tier AAA bond rating.
Kerkman noted that Kenosha County will find itself in the center of the national spotlight this summer, when Milwaukee hosts the Republican National Convention, and the Democratic National Convention is in Chicago.
As the Gateway to Wisconsin, Kenosha County will see an impact from these conventions,” Kerkman said. “Delegates and other visitors will fill our hotels, and we’ll likely see some extra traffic on our roads. The nation will be watching us — and we will shine.”
Other highlights included in Kerkman’s address included:
– An update on the ongoing Human Services Building project, a legacy project that will stand the test of time.
– Kenosha County Public Health’s launch of the Kenosha Overdose Response Initiative (KORI), collaborative effort with the Kenosha Fire Department and Oakwood Clinical Associates to bring Narcan and other resource information to overdose survivors.
– The county’s partnership with Lake Behavioral Hospital in Waukegan, Ill., which she said is projected to save the county some $400,000 in Chapter 51/mental health detention costs this year, while providing more convenient care for families.
-The continuing work of the Broadband Advisory Committee, which Kerkman convened in 2023 and will soon come forth with a recommendation to use American Rescue Plan Act funding to bring high-speed internet service to residents in unserved or underserved areas.
Video of Speech:
63 Responses
She’s a fraud…….her lack of management relations has shown in her current position. She won’t get reelected
Noticeably missing from her speech is the fact that employee satisfaction/happiness is at an all time low, and employees are leaving for reasons other than retirement, at an all time high. Kenosha County Government used to be an employer of choice- once you were in, you never left. Now, they’re hiring externally more than promoting from within, so Kenosha County Government has essentially become a dead-end job. This is showing in their recent hiring & recruiting. So many of the good nurses/CNAs have left, more are actively pursuing other opportunities, staff looking to move up, HR saying thanks but no thanks. The “We’re hiring” sign out front should serve as a warning to everyone. Neighbor works for public works, and it’s happening there, too. Lots of people leaving, few people interested in accepting offers, after doing a small amount of research into the organization.
SPOT ON!
Let’s not forget when the board asked the head of HR Clara tappa why people were leaving and she did not know.
Clara stated the NEW additional HR position will be responsible for exit interviews.
So as Kenosha county HR department continues to get larger and outsourcing even more responsibilities, WHY ARE PEOPLE LEAVING? I have never heard anything about exit interviews.
Why?
Because Clara doesn’t talk to people! Clara sends an email exit interview. Why would an employee that quits take the time to fill out a email? GO TALK TO PEOPLE CLARA!
Kenosha county has always treated their employees bad. They’ve had a terrible HR department for over 20 years and the head of DCFS is a tyrant.
Head of DCFS is definitely a tyrant, however HR was well-managed under Mr. Ruidl, with his four support staff. Tappa has more than doubled the size of the department, with the quality & value of the department tanking significantly. There was one person in HR who regularly did her job, but (surprise, surprise) she left to go to the private sector. A woman IN HER 50’s, NEARING RETIREMENT, left the county for the private sector. Her reasoning? Mismanaged HR department, with Kerkman caring more about how things appear, than how things are actually functioning.
State of Kenosha County is strong? What a joke
I’m conservative nearly to a fault, but things were better under Kreuser. Things got done without it being a Kerkman picture show.
True. At least he knew what he was doing.
Kreuser was never there. He was always up north on vacation. Tunkewicz was running the county, yet Kreuser was collecting his 6 figure paycheck and pension all while making the taxpayers pay Tunkewicz’s salary, pension and benefits.
If so, the he had a better team.
I’m sure he had a learning curve, as well, however Kerkman is surrounding herself with incompetence and then (poorly) micromanaging.
She should clean house while she can, surround herself with competent division heads & Directors, and then focus on salvaging what’s left of her term.
She has had that chance.
Nothing was better under Kreuser. Kerkman is kicking butt as the County Executive.
Wrong-o, Mate. Things are better because Erin Decker has had some bang-up ideas over the past couple of years, and was able to garner support for her resolutions. Kerkman has made things much worse for employees— or, at least, she didn’t take steps she could have, to make things better. AEB higher than ever employee turnover.
Replacing a logo is very expensive. When you count all the vehicles, signs, letterhead and business cards it will easily be in the six figure $$$$ range. Nice to see that they incorporated the US, State and Pride flags!
The state, county and pride flags are not on there. It is Veterans Memorial Park’s Honor Plaza.
And Kerkman has said things will be replaced with the new logo as they wear out or reach end of life. No spending $$$$ like Kenosha did with their logo.
At least the logo isn’t a picture of her. I expected her to plaster her face on it. She is the most vain person I’ve ever seen.
You should check out “supermayor” Tiffany Henyard.
1850?
1860 is more accurate.
But who can remember that far back?
Agree with you. City in 1850, county 1860. A wiki fail I expect.
John O’Day
Who?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenosha_County,_Wisconsin
The Potowatomi inhabited the area that would become Kenosha County for centuries prior to the acquisition of the area in 1833. The city of Kenosha was founded in 1835, and Kenosha County was formed from Racine County on January 30, 1850.[7] Its location led to development and factories being built in the 19th century. Manufacturing continued to be a key component of the economy into the 20th century.[8]
Maybe you should check Wikipedia before commenting and making yourself look like an idiot.
Hahaha, “Maybe you should check Wikipedia before commenting and making yourself look like an idiot.” Riiiight…..
No red at all in that flag? This is like waving a blue flag for all Dems.
Although it looks nice, they could have put the lighthouse red…
Considering the lighthouse is the Southport lighthouse yellow is the correct color.
Is there a lighthouse in the County?
The City of Kenosha and all the other municipalities are within the county of Kenosha, moron.
My bad! I thought the one on the flag was the one at the pier! I guess since the OTHER one is yellow, it makes sense.🙂
Although the flag looks nice, it looks too “soft” and no boldness, which I think Kenosha has shown especially through the riot time. They could have put the lighthouse red, which would have at least given Kenosha some “backbone” look to it. I hope they aren’t planning to paint the lighthouse that mustardy color yellow! It’s fine in the flag, buy it would NOT look good to look at in the lighthouse! Yellow just doesn’t make sense!
Considering the lighthouse is the Southport lighthouse yellow is the correct color.
True! My bad! I thought the lighthouse on the flag was supposed to be the one at the end of the pier!🤦♀️
I usually hate logo re-designs, and prefer the older traditional ones however this one I like.
We can expect our first woman president/dictator, a necessary evil, before things get better. Political corruption is rampant here in IOWA too. Hot town, summer in the city. . . I Love Wisconsin & Kenosha s beautiful parks.
Anyone else notice that the most ardent (R)’s on the board were all missing last night? Decker, Geertsen, Poole, Karow?
Some are on vacation
Nobody cares about a stupid logo. Fix the roads, enforce the laws and lower taxes. Bidenomics is killing us.
Thank you!!! No incoming business is going to look at a flag to decide if they want to be part of community. Waste of money $$$$
Amen Robert!
Robert gets it.
Just wait until Berg announces. He has been seen at a lot of small events and working the crowd. That willl be funny.
Announces his new role in an upcoming porn film?
Berg will be in jail and unemployed for stealing donations
The only ones complaining about Kirkman are unionist leftist which ran Kenosha way too long.
No, the ones complaining about Kerkman are the ones sick of being pushed around by her ultra-woke, completely unchecked, HR department.
Does this bitch actually do any work or does she just pose for pics of useless stuff?
Whew. We conservatives can all breathe easier now. Government will save us. .
It’s astounding they’re united when it comes to keeping their jobs, but try and get something done that matters? Forget about it. I am as disgusted by the GOP today as I was when they dropped the ball on “convid”, the fraudulent election and ten other prescient issues.
Has anyone heard anything about consequences for the little tyranny Evers created during covid? Me either. How are the roads in Kenosha? Can you rent a moderately decent apartment or duplex for less than 40% of your income without being on some low-income housing program? Can your parents? How much overtime do you need to work to ensure your family is fed and the doctor bills are paid? The GOP can kiss my hairy American tail.
Inevitably someone will say “well they’re better than the democrats”. Are they? No. The left and right are working as a team of parasites, incrementally squandering EVERYBODY’S liberties. With few exceptions, local governments have bent a knee to the states, the states have bent a knee to the feds and the feds have bent a knee to a global authority known as the WEF.
Yeah. I know. Just rantings of a lunatic. It’s not my fault you’re not paying attention. You should be. Your children will blame you for what’s coming, and your grandchildren will hate you for it. You’re surrendering the freedoms you enjoyed because you’re too self-absorbed to bother paying attention.
The roads should get better since the trash-can-fire of a highway commissioner left for Dane County.
Just so there isn’t any question- for two years, she could have gotten rid of him in favor of someone who would show up, rain, snow, or shine, and do a good job for the people of Kenosha County. However, she decided to keep a Verona resident as the commissioner— a man who would get lost in the county, not show up unless the weather was ideal, and chose which roads to pave based on “aesthetics” OR which county supervisor whined the loudest, and not paser rating (which shows actual need).
But, hey- what do I know. They fired me because I wouldn’t shut up and fall in line.
Sammy the Dem is a smart politician. Smart as a fox, first-hand dealings with Sammy. It is all about getting votes for Sammy the Dem.
With gov’t or schools a new logo always fixes everything. Or not.
Is that really the best they could do for a logo? It’s not going to stand out at all. Looks like 5th grader designed it
As much as Kerkman likes to have her photo taken, you would think she would care more about her appearance. She always looks like she needs to comb her hair. At least she didn’t show up in jeans and hey dudes this time.
Can the Kenosha News go one day without printing her picture?
Kerkman hired a photographer
I don’t care about Republicants or Dummycrats. Just do your damn job and get off my lawn!
Drain the swamp!
https://nationalfile.com/citizen-activists-fighting-to-recall-rino-wisconsin-speaker-robin-vos-accuse-the-swamp-of-infiltrating-sabotaging-their-petition-campaign/
They rejected my idea for a flag : I94 in the center, to the west some fentanyl pills , to the right a crack pipe
Well we can ad the revised Kenosha County flag to her list of accomplishments in public office. First the cranberry being designated as the state fruit. Then she failed at her attempt to change daylight savings time and now this. Am I missing anything?
Same shit,differant person.
More photo ops for Sam The Slime! Mr. Pitts should be embarrassed to have her stand next to him!
Our very own Nikki Haley??????
I hate this. Why isn’t the lighthouse red? Not an ounce of red for all the Republicans in the county. Shame on you Kerkman.