KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — Kenosha County spent more than $43,000 in taxpayer money on contracted flaggers during the Kenosha County Fair this year, a county spokesperson confirmed, prompting questions from some residents about why taxpayers were responsible for such a large expense connected to one of the area’s biggest annual events.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
“Is it accurate that, at a time when Kenosha County is hemorrhaging employees due to worsening wages and benefits, Kenosha County spent $40k of taxpayer dollars to cover flaggers around the fairgrounds, during fair week?” one Kenosha County Eye reader asked.
The number was actually higher.
Kenosha County Communications Manager Joe Potente confirmed to KCE that the county spent $43,144.54 on flagging operations during the fair.
According to Potente, the money did not pay county employees overtime or other county staff costs. Instead, Kenosha County contracted with a private traffic-control company to provide the flaggers.
County officials said the additional traffic control was arranged in cooperation with the Kenosha County Fair Board because of concerns surrounding traffic flow caused by the ongoing Highway W construction project.
“Using the contracted flaggers allowed for Sheriff’s Office personnel to focus on getting people into the fair parking lot and other traffic control duties,” Potente told KCE.
The contractor supplied six-person flagging crews on Wednesday and Thursday of fair week and 10-person crews on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The county says the $43,144.54 expense will be rolled into the overall cost of the Highway W project.
County officials also pointed to unusually heavy traffic associated with the fair. Potente said the event recorded record-breaking daily attendance on Wednesday and Sunday and also set a record for overall attendance, creating traffic challenges even without the Highway W construction.
Many people in Kenosha County love the fair and consider it an important local tradition. The issue being raised by some taxpayers is not whether the fair is popular, but why taxpayers were expected to absorb more than $43,000 in traffic-control costs associated with fair week.
The county’s position is that the Highway W construction created circumstances requiring additional traffic-control measures and that the expense therefore belongs with the road project.
Critics, however, are questioning whether that distinction changes who ultimately paid the bill. The money still came from public funds, and some residents are asking why taxpayers should subsidize such a significant expense connected to running the fair, particularly at a time when the county is facing criticism over employee wages, benefits and retention.
For those taxpayers, the question is straightforward: If the fair requires tens of thousands of dollars in additional traffic control to operate during fair week, should that cost be borne by the public or by the organization running the event?
In this case, the taxpayer-funded bill for the flaggers alone was $43,144.54.
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28 Responses
I’m sure someone who knows someone made out well off this deal. They had a bunch of teenage kids flagging that had no clue what they where doing!!!.The Sheriff deputies where still out there flagging and directing traffic. Joes position is a joke and another waste of tax payer money!!!
That’s funny cause I’m pretty sure the “flaggers” are highschool cheerleaders working on community engagement not getting paid, supposedly fundraising for the team… You should look into that.
The flaggers out on the highways, not the ones in the parking area…
They did a shitty job. Could have fit way more cars there.
How about a shout out to the guy who is allowed people to park on his property at the fairgrounds? He has every right to have kept that roped off.
This wasn’t the on site at the Fair. This was on Hwy. W, south of the Fairgrounds.
So, this is from the DPW money? The purse strings that Shelley Billingsley controls? While her husband is on the fair board?
And Mark Edquist, who is in a decision making position for DPW, also on the fair board?
Seems like a massive conflict of interest. I’m surprised that Solis isn’t interested in looking into this being misappropriated taxpayer funds.
Good point
Fair board member told me that this was all Kerkman.
Rumor is Kenosha county public works just greenlit a 5% immediate raise without board or finance committee approval for certain employees because theres been over a 100% turnover rate for that department in less than 2 years.
Where theres smoke theres fire and theres a lot of crooked smoke at KCPW.
Holy crap.
For a group of guys that are supposed to do some pretty heavy manual labor, this department whines like a group of PMS’ing teenage girls.
Waaaaahhhhh.
Reading the complaining on here, you people don’t deserve whatever the standard increase is, let alone a special 5%. It sounds like a retention bonus, which is common in the real world. If you’re not getting one, go look for a new job. Every time there’s employees on here whining, it’s public works. Just shut up already. I feel bad for your leadership.
While retention bonuses might be common in the real world I can assure you they are not common at KCHD. This has been proven by their high turnover. Having said that why would they not try to retain 3 very skilled mechanics? One who had a 20 year career there. What they did do is throw money at what was left. Buckle in Kenosha it’s going to be a rough winter when trucks can’t get fixed to plow the roads
High turnover is a county-wide problem, it’s not unique to DPW. There’s not a single thing truly incentivizing the good employees to stay, outside of comfort and keeping their years of service.
Um not true. Do your research. Guarantee the Highway Department has the highest in all departments. Followed by the courthouse, human services and soon to be the Sheriff’s dept. The Highway department has TERRIBLE leadership. And more research will show, those are departments that Kerkmans have control over. Shelly gets all the heat but one wrong move and Kerkman will take that cushy overpaid position she handed her. The entire Highway department needs to be investigated. They are going to allow a dedicated mechanic, the only one there that knew what he was doing, leave because Jake likes to be a little bitch and pout when he doesn’t get his way. Who is fixing their machines now? Maybe look into that. In other failed public works news, why is the “new” human services building not open yet? Why are all projects delayed and over budget?
You piqued my interest a bit- but then you started with the namecalling, and I realized that you’re probably just one of the DPW whiners mentioned above. You’ve also revealed that it’s the Highway department that’s the problem. If this “dedicated mechanic” complains as much as the other DPW people in this comment section, I can see why this Jake let him walk out the door.
The Human Services building does need to be investigated. The county could have made a tangible impact in peoples’ lives with the money they have wasted on that project. Hungry children could have been fed, unhoused people could have been sheltered.
However, it sounds like Shelly spends all of her time being whined at by a bunch of people who could go find a different job if they’re so miserable.
I am pretty disappointed that my hard-earned property tax dollars are going to the wages of people who would rather complain online than go to a County Board Meeting or Public Works Meeting, and bring some real attention to an issue, and work toward positive change.
Is Jake the guy who runs the Highway department?
Do you guys in the highway department all get your periods at the same time? I hope Jake gets enough vacation time so that he can take that week off every month.
Is Jake the guy that runs the highway department?
Do you guys in the highway department all get your period at the same time?
I hope Jake has enough vacation time to take that week off every month.
What group of guys are you referring too? Nobody mentioned any particular department. You sound like youre very close to the department accused of funneling the money without approval? You wouldn’t happen to be in an administrative position with that department….would ya? Love to read your next comment. Next time dont give away your position so easily. Great talk.
OG comment literally says public works.
That group of guys.
Reading is fundamental.
No, I don’t work for Kenosha County Government. I do pay property taxes to Kenosha County Government.
Kcpw loves to secretly blow your tax money without your permission. Just ask the employees that just received an immediate 5% raise without board or finance approval because they keep losing employees at an over 100% turnover rate. All over poor management, pay, and benefits. So to fix the problem the did a backdoor deal so the remaining employees wouldnt quit. Where theres smoke there fire and theres a lot of crooked smoke.
And if the Highway W project is bonded money (as projects like this usually are) then $43k turns into what when all said and done with the interest paid?
… any of these “Flaggers” were needed ?!?
Google Maps provides any number of ways to get to the Fairgrounds that go around any reported road construction zones including Closed Roads.
Virtually every person and driver has this mapping system available on their cell phones. Anyone coming from the East, North or West above the State line wouldn’t have run into any of this construction.
Only fair goers from the south would run into this. And a side road barely a mile west of highway W at Rt. 173 is a viable known route that is just a short jog heading north.
I really don’t understand the rationale for any people to direct traffic at all ?
Other than a few legitimate deputies with lights flashing and orange vest on, at the exit gate why did myself or anyone before 5 pm need to be directed on how to drive a car or truck ?!?!?
A complete waste of money regardless who paid the bill.
Do the powers that be think that people don’t know where the fairgrounds are ??
Don’t know how to get around a road closure ???
This is completely ridiculous and didn’t need to be done.
From the north down W, from the East on C, to from the west on C, including anyone from Illinois coming from the west on 173, would realize and see just one or two signs saying a Road was closed. Not to mention this road has been closed for months !!
It’s really disappointing that people think that drivers and residents are too dumb to figure this out.
Who’s ever idea this was needs to have their head examined. STUPID, STUPID, STUPID !!!
It’s a better investment than a bald, feminist, man hating teacher is, that’s for sure.
Don’t ever question Kerkman county and the spending of our saviors in office. They spend our money like it’s never ending!!!
Unless they put sex offenders next door to you, lower your property value to $0, and make it so that you can’t even rent the house out.
Then, they care about spending tax dollars.
While retention bonuses might be common in the real world I can assure you they are not common at KCHD. This has been proven by their high turnover. Having said that why would they not try to retain 3 very skilled mechanics? One who had a 20 year career there. What they did do is throw money at what was left. Buckle in Kenosha it’s going to be a rough winter when trucks can’t get fixed to plow the roads
Is it free to enter and park at the fair or see musicians? Those type of expenses should be rolled into fair operations, not construction projects. That way, only those who attend and enjoy the fair pay for it.
Questions:
1. What is the name of the contracted “private traffic-control company”?
2. What tax base is the budget derived from? Property tax, fuel tax, sales tax?
Thank you.