(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Kenosha County Board Supervisor Brian Thomas resigned from his 5th District seat effective today — Monday, July 1 — County Clerk Regi Waligora announced.
As such, applications are now being accepted from residents of the district who wish to be considered for appointment to the seat.
This was Thomas’ second two-year term. Thomas most recently defeated BLM activist David Arrington (D) in this Spring election 860 – 612 votes. In 2022, Thomas defeated the appointee Dennis Pierce (D).
Thomas was an active member of the board who spoke out and asked many questions. Thomas couldn’t be reached for comment.
The 5th District is located on the northwest side of the City of Kenosha. A map of the district is available online at https://bit.ly/KCDist5. The individual appointed to the position will serve until a successor is elected in the 2025 spring nonpartisan election.
County Board supervisors are expected to attend board meetings at 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Supervisors also typically serve on multiple committees for a commitment of four to five evenings per month. The position pays $6,526 per year.
Those interested in applying may access the application online at http://bit.ly/KCBoardApplication or pick up an application at the County Clerk’s Office in the county Administration Building, 1010 56th St., Kenosha. County Chair Monica Yuhas (D) will only be considering Democrats for the open position. With the new Democrat majority, her choice will be easily confirmed.
Applications are due to the County Board chairman, care of the county clerk, by 5 p.m. July 22 and may be returned in person at the County Clerk’s Office, via U.S. Postal Service delivery, or via email to countyclerk@kenoshacounty.org. Applicants will be interviewed, with an appointment to be made at the Aug. 6 County Board meeting.
For more information, contact the County Clerk’s Office at 262-653-2552.
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73 Responses
We need a libertarian to fill that seat, cut this overspending.
That really sucks for us. Why??? Now the seat will be filled by a lefty!
Kevin , could you do a story about how Kenosha firefighters only work 2 days a week , and get paid time and a half for the last 8 hours of the second day ? Thank you.
Maybe because they work (2) 24hr days which makes it 48 hrs and anything over 40 is time and a half idk im just assuming thats how it works!!
Thanks Einstein. The biggest problem these guys face is boredom . You can only shine up the truck so many times.
You are incorrect. With the rotating 24 hour schedule, it works out to an average of 60 hours a week with no overtime pay. I have had a firefighter in my family for 2 generations. I’m not sure where you got this Information, but it is not true.
I take that back, it’s an average of 52 hours a week. Week one, 50
Hours, week two 48 hours, week three 48 hours; and then continuing on a rotating schedule.
Typo, I meant 60 hours for week one. Depending on how you do
The math, it’s an average of about 58 hours a week.
Please be a big boy and put your name and address so the tireless FF come sprinting to your home when it catches on fire. Dumbass
Also the firefighters union are radical leftists.
Incorrect . And they get paid to sleep , and we pay for their food . Your turn.
Believe me, many nights the Firefighters, paramedics are up all night…no sleeping there! Not to mention the situations they respond to, try going back to sleep after one of those calls. What happens if you need assistance in the middle of the night???? WE pay for their food???? They plan their meals together and pool their money and often times bring food in to share with their shift members! Do you think they have a personal chef too?
Many of the Men and Women on KFD also VOLUNTEER their time, off shift in many different programs for the community, as well as continuing education.
Seriously, if you have the idea that working for KFD or KPD for that matter, is a job for lazy, weak people, I suggest you apply!
Don’t lump firefighters in with cops .
Two totally different things. And just in case I haven’t pissed enough of you off, I don’t think women should be firefighters . Discuss.
Some broads are strong & fit enough—- heck, most men are not
You don’t pay for their food. Im not sure where you are getting this info but it’s wrong. Stop spreading lies.
Exactly, but we pay for them to take the firetrucks to go grocery shopping, because it’s be too difficult to plan a menu and shop ahead of time. And if that firetruck hit’s someone/some thing in the parking lot, the taxpayers pony up since we’re essentually self-insured.
Two 24 hour shifts. Equals 48 hours pay.
40 hours straight time. 8 hours overtime.
Simple math. Where’s the story ??
How else do you want public servants to be ready 24 hours 7 days a week 365 days a year to come run in your burning home to save you from a fire in your home ? Possibly even not sleeping that whole time.
Firefighting is a unique profession. Not for the faint of heart. I’m sure over many generations the most effective way to have firefighters available 24-7 has been tried and tested. And this seems to be the most effective considering the constant changes of when they are able to sleep. Then going home and trying to have a normal life. Only to be ready to do it again.
Don’t want to pay overtime ? Then you better be ready to show up those last 8 hours to fill in
Since 1927 , 3 Kenosha firefighters had died in the line of duty. Two from heart attacks .
This ain’t NYC.
Lot’s of businesses run 24/7 without 24-hour shifts, surely there can be some middle ground?
I see a certain article is gone……
hoping the bike was returned?
Sure was 🙂
Word on the street was it ended up in the basement of the Alamo
Why can it only be a democrat?
Yes, why are they only picking a Democrat to fill the position? That is wrong. I don’t care if they have a majority. So the Democrats rig the system again.
Or perhaps, “we” placed our trust in the wrong person?
Monica works for Steinbrink in Pleasant Prairie. Do any of the other Board Supervisors work in another town office in Kenosha county? It’s a conflict of interest and I believe, should be changed.
John Morrissey is the new County Supervisor for District 9. He is also the full-time (six figure salary) City Administrator for the City of Kenosha. He ran unopposed. He will likely run against Kerkman for County Exec in 2026. Conflict for him to serve on county board?
Morrissey’s fake college degree should help him get that job.
https://kenoshacountyeye.com/2022/06/30/retired-fbi-special-agent-questions-kenosha-city-administrators-college-degree/
Individuals who have their main source of income as a job/career within any government should not be eligible for any elected position.
Totally
But it’s ok . He’s a Democrat .
2 thieves together wish they got jail cells next to each other.
Does the appointee have to live in the district.
Bob Wirch is that you ?
😂
😂
Why did he resign? After running for KUSD and the County Board, that’s pretty ballsy to resign. Haven’t seen anything out there with him thanking or apologizing for waiting voters time and now tax payers dollars.
maybe he didn’t want to be the state’s puppet anymore
Sorry but should have thought about that before running. Many people counted on him 😑
And what was the alternative? It’s not like someone else was trying and he messed up their opportunity. No one wants to run for these shitty positions.
Anything could have happened- a surprise diagnosis, an unexpected move. We don’t know what the situation is. He will definitely be missed, as there is a sudden shortage of common sense on that board following this last election. Some of those individuals really have no business speaking in public, let alone having their opinions count for anything that matters. Hopefully Geertsen & Nordigan will be louder, the county is riding on their shoulders.
He resigned because he is sleeping with his first cousin and word got out.
He resigned because he’s a bitch.
Big talk for someone who is afraid to put a name behind their words!
You’re a bitch too
I hope they point somebody that’s common sense and not extreme.
He was extreme at times.
I heard the next county board supervisor will be a trans woman.
Nah, they already have a them-it. Replacement will have to be a black woman. They don’t have one of those yet!
I would like to know how much of our tax dollars are going to Kerkman’s personal photographer.
At least she’s out and about, available, reachable, and approachable. Kreuser only showed up to cut an occasional ribbon or ride his bike.
But Kirkman doesn’t do anything except get her picture taken.
When it comes to county business, she doesn’t get back to you.
Kreuser at least new county business and what was going on.
Good afternoon,
Recently there was a big debate about County Executive Kerkman having the power to hire and fire Division Heads. A few concerned supervisors made mention of the amount of turnover Kenosha County has had since this Policy Resolution was put into place. I would like to bring up something else that happened around that time that I believe is more likely the cause behind the turnover. Mrs. Shelly Billingsley.
Shelly came to Kenosha County requesting max top pay even though she was a mistake away from being fired by the City of Kenosha. Yet, Kenosha County gave her max top pay.
The 2023 Budget was delayed in passing due to an attempt at 2 positions under Shelly being eliminated with one of those having someone lose their job. They did not end up completely losing their job but did almost cut their salary in half.
Long time director Clement Abongwa resigned. The rumor that was put out to the public that it was due to pay and/or location. When in actuality, it was due to Shelly Billingsley. He had even had a meeting with his staff and told them “There are big problems in this department and unfortunately I am unable to fix them”.
January of 2023, Reed Peterson was promoted to Shop Superintendent even though others more qualified had applied. Reed has since been investigated and terminated.
In September of 2023, the mechanic position was posted and numerous qualified people were interviewed. Every qualified candidate that was offered the job turned it down due to HR not willing to pay over $30 an hour. The hiring range at the time was $29.01- $32.97. They all had years and years of mechanic experience but no cdl. All were willing and capable of getting said cdl immediately upon hire. They ended up settling with Brian Doe who apparently stated in his resume that he had mechanical experience but once hired that was determined a lie. Brian had just gotten his cdl a month prior to applying so he had no experience with that either. Brian Doe was an internal transfer from the Kenosha County Jail and even though he had absolutely no experience being a mechanic, was hired at max top pay. In fact they waited until January to start him so he would get the new max pay of $39.69. In addition to that, Brian made so many crucial mistakes that could have cause injuries and/or at least law-suites, yet still kept his job without discipline. Oddly enough, Brian and his tool box have disappeared without any explanation. But HR would rather hire someone with a recently obtained CDL and no mechanic experience for $39.69 over paying an experienced mechanic without a current cdl more than $30. Make that make sense.
That internal hire went so well, they decided to hire another one from Parks. Craig, who punches in and takes a service truck to work for Parks and bills his time to a random truck in Highways. Again, no disciplinary actions.
Look at the almost 20 people who have left since Shelly took over. Maybe more than that.
Kenosha County has a huge problem of focusing so much on recruitment of new employees and need to focus more on retention of current employees.
Supervisor Gentz made a great point back on August 1, 2022 when Shelly was being appointed.
“All these people are starting off at top pay, including County Executive staff. Why? What is the point of having a pay schedule?”
Sam Kerkman was recently asked by an employee of over 25 years why he was not at top pay yet and she told him Kenosha County has a pay schedule so everyone has room to grow. Well obviously her staff and everyone else that is starting at max pay are done growing.
If someone doesn’t do something soon, I can guarantee you come winter, there will be no one out driving these plow trucks.
I encourage every single one of you to attend this meet and greet on Wednesday July 10th and talk to these employees yourself. Hear it directly from their mouths.
Just to point out a few examples:
Gregory Boldt – Starting at 131,763 E13 Max top pay
Jacob Dewart – started at $85,155 E9 Max hiring pay
Shelly started at 138,437 August 1, 2022 top pay
Thank you!
This needs to go to the Kenosha News. Everyone needs to know this information. Also send it to Guida Brown.
This also needs to go on every article so that it’s not missed- this article is getting buried!
Some of those people who are “needing room to grow” have been county employees for well over 20 years and are still closer to mid-range pay then they are top pay! Some of those people who were looked over for open jobs have much more experience then those hired at top pay. Some of those people have more management experience then the age of the newly hired employees at top pay. Loyal employees with over 12 years have offered to stay past their retirement plans to properly train new employees and requested more than mid-range pay to stay and were denied any raise even though they have been doing the jobs of 2 employees.
People, be very aware that the Kenosha Highway Department will not be able to do the excellent job on your roads with the severity of their short staffing.
Some heads have to roll for creating this mess.
Where is this meet and greet?
KCC tomorrow 12-1. It’s on the weekly meeting schedule under committees on the Kenosha county website
I’m one of the employees with 12+ years at the county. 40 years of experience in the construction industry. Who was over looked to replace Reed peterson. Was told I don’t have enough management experience. I worked for a construction company and was the dispatcher for all company projects in walworth county and the whole state of Wisconsin had 200 + employees and up to 100 leased dump trucks workIng every day. I had to watch Brian Doe get hired making 2.59 an hour more than me. And he had no clue what or how to fix things. Hard to get up and go to work knowing a new hire is making more than me and not knowing what he is doing. I worked under Reed and his predecessor Andy. I take care of the day to day operations of the maintenance for all of the highway department. I was given the extra responsibility of Reed’s job when he was released of his duty’s. I have planned for a year and a half to retire before the end of 2024. I have offered to stay past my planned retire date to help with the transition of and training of my new superintendent,I asked for a increase in pay. I was told that the budget is tight and there’s no money to pay me more. But yet they can hire a mechanic with no experience and pay him more than I’m making. My name is Doug Vriezen and will be happy to talk to any and all of the county board supervisor’s and answer any questions they might have.
Multiple, qualified, long-term employees were passed over for this rare opening of a superintendent position, in favor of a new hire, again brought in at max. Managers were told she wanted a mechanic, mechanics told she wanted a manager. In reality, she just wanted to crush morale and show that her department is full of dead-end jobs and if you want advancement, you must go elsewhere. She proved that she has absolutely no respect for any single one of her employees. If my experienced & dedicated managers cannot even move up within the county, I’m doomed.
A pizza party to introduce a new $100k+ individual, again brought in at max, when you have done nothing but undervalue and disrespect every person who will be below him on the org chart, is nothing but a big 🖕 and slap in the face to those who are out risking our lives in traffic every day.
These are very valid and concerning problems going on behind the scenes at Kenosha County and they need to be heard by the people that can do something about it. Unfortunately, they typically are not scrolling this page. You need to show up at the Public Works Committee meetings usually held on the 4th Monday at KCC; Finance Committee meetings usually held on the 2nd Thursday (or the Thursday in between the County Board meetings) downtown at the Admin building; and lastly the County Board meetings usually held on the 1st & 3rd Tuesday of every month.
How about management actually listening to their employees concerns and validating those concerns? Why should employees go the board meetings when they should be able to take their concerns to the management and be treated with some sort of respect instead of retaliation!
What is the board going to do? Dismiss the concerns like the management does?
Supervisors Gama and Garcia seem to be the only ones who care. They are part of the handful of supervisors who are actually trying to make Kenosha County better.
What would happen if the Kenosha News or even better, a state newspaper actually picked up this story? Would it change the disrespect of the good loyal employees by the Management? Would it get rid of the person in charge of that department? Would it get rid of the county exec who saved Billingsley from being fired from the city and put her at the county? Maybe someone should open the eyes of the state to the misappropriation of funds.
Kenosha County Highway department used to have a great reputation with the public for their work and was a sense of pride to be working for them. Now they are a laughing stock and an embarrassment.
So very sad.
AMAZING all these Kenosha highway workers bitching about how bad it is but they don’t find another job.
AMAZING how many people feel the need to post on a comment about a board member that quit and do it anonymously.
NO idea what delusional world you live in that Kenosha County Highway department had a great reputation, but the truth is roads have been full of trash and in poor condition for a decade now. Go north and the roads look much MUCH better! I94 use to be SPOTLESS when I crossed the border from Illinois into Wisconsin. NOW it is just the opposite! Kenosha County Highway department can not even keep a ladder in the back of the truck. I have seen the youtube video that almost caused an accident by the lazy Kenosha County highway worker with a ladder flying out of the back of the truck.
Kenosha County must have a process for filing a grievance?
Ever hear of due process?
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Samantha is this you or Shelly is this you?
Hey I know that guy!
They are finding new jobs. That is probably why. They are short staffed and actually currently hiring if you think you can do a better job for the crap pay. Plow snow at all hours, pick up dead animals off the side of the road, work in this heat. They aren’t complaining about their job. The problem is the lack of pay and appreciation. How would you feel at your own job if you’ve been there 25 years and someone comes in with zero experience but gets paid more than you? It’s not a good feeling. And I have to disagree with you. I think the area Kenosha county highways takes care of looks great. Can’t blame one employees stupid mistake on the entire department. Those men and women in those trucks and in the shop (for the most part) work hard and take pride in what they do. There’s a bad seed or two everywhere but there was a solid team before everyone started leaving. Kenosha County used to be somewhere you were proud to work. Not so much anymore.
“Crap pay” you say. INTERESTING however, if you actually look at the surrounding municipalities, you will see that Kenosha County is paying very well!
They all plow snow all hours, pick up dead animals on the side of the road and work in the heat.
kenosha County starting pay is $27 an hour
City of Burlington is currently hiring starting at $23.47 an hour
Village of Union Grove is currently hiring starting at $20 to $24 an hour
Burlington Director of Public Works is currently hiring •A starting salary range is $106,000 – $112,000 (midpoint)
INTERESTING
Now compare the road/highway lane miles, and the services provided. If Kenosha County roads looked like Racine County, people would bitch & complain 200% more than they already do. Racine County just recently started doing their own paving- and they’re terrible at it. The smaller municipalities that you mentioned do not do ANY of their own paving or concrete work— it’s all contracted out. They also rarely plow snow for a rotating 24 hours. They’re not responsible for any of the county or state highways, just their own town roads- which see significantly lower rates- and lighter classes- of traffic. Your comparison is not apples to apples, here. Your comparison of Kenosha County Highway Department to these smaller municipalities is like comparing a side of beef to a sleeve of graham crackers.
Ahh so you say these other municipalities that I mentioned (only to compare, hourly rates since you complained about your pay) contract out paving and concrete work. Well, let’s look at Kenosha County, and the work that they have contracted out.
Hwy 50 expansion and concrete work contracted out
Hwy 31 expansion and concrete work contracted out
Hwy 50 concrete resurfacing contracted out
Hwy C & U intersection improvement, contracted out
Hwy A bridge contracted out
Hwy E paving in improvement contracted out
Hwy H paving contracted out
Hwy WG bridge contracted out
Hwy A&Y roundabout contracted out
Hwy EM paving contracted out
Hwy K reconstruction and expansion contracted out
Hwy S reconstruction and expansion contracted out
Hwy F reconfiguration and paving contracted
Just to name a few projects here in Kenosha County. That have ALSO been contracted out.
Once again, appears to me, the entire department should be contracted out!
After all it is the Kenosha County highway workers that still haven’t picked up the illegal advertising signs on the side of the road that KEVIN Mathewson pointed out over a week ago!
Kenosha County does not also plow snow 24 hours a day on county roads! are you just making stuff up now?
But since you said I was not comparing apples to apples, can I compare you to Racine county highway department? they are after all right next to Kenosha County And their starting rate is $27.20 an hour, mid $28.81, top $30.41.
Sounds like you were also making up Kenosha County’s “crap pay” as they are almost identical.
The Finance/Administration meeting will be discussing this issue at their meeting on Thursday, July 11th at 6:00pm at the Kenosha Administration Building. They have a joint meeting and a few items to discuss before this one.
What authority does the committee have to take action? What is the scope of their power, when it comes to personnel matters?
Why does it seem like it’s ALWAYS the highway public works department that is the ONLY department ever complaining out of all the departments at Kenosha County????
Kenosha County eye Facebook 5 days ago posted hundreds of advertising signs along the side of the road. KEVIN said it’s illegal, so why are these Kenosha County Public Works employees NOT picking them up? I see them driving around in their orange trucks.
I see them all the time at Burger King at 50 and 83!
Somebody here said these three new employees are getting paid over six figures.
Gregory Boldt – Starting at 131,763 E13 Max top pay
Jacob Dewart – started at $85,155 E9 Max hiring pay
Shelly started at 138,437 August 1, 2022 top pay
How many other Public Works employees are getting paid that kind of money?
Seems to me somebody should look into outsourcing this department and saving us taxpayers some money!!!
Way more than just the Highway department have problems. Most employees are terrified of speaking out due to retaliation. Highway department is hiring if you think you can do a better job.