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County Fare

Idsvoog reelected Portage County Board chairman

By BRIAN LEAHY
of The Gazette
The Portage County Board of Supervisors unanimously re-elected O. Philip Idsvoog as its chairman when they met Tuesday for the first time following the April 6 election.

Idsvoog, who represents District 16, has served as County Board chairman since the June 2003 death of then County Board chairman Clarence Hintz.

Idsvoog was nominated by District 7 Supervisor James Clark.

"I like Phil's leadership style," Clark said, "basically because he has a strong commitment to the committee structure."

Under the committee structure, county committees do much of the work on issues and forward their recommendations to the County Board for approval.

Idsvoog, who served as County Board chairman from 1988 to 1990, is the principal of P.J. Jacobs Junior High School. His pending retirement in June will allow him to devote a large amount of time to the County Board chairman position, he said.

"I am very committed to the committee system," Idsvoog said. "I will do my best to keep the public business in front of the public and this board."

No other supervisors were nominated for County Board chairman.

The County Board chairman also serves as chairman of the county's five-member Executive/Operations Committee. All members of that committee are County Board supervisors.

District 6 Supervisor Richard Purcell was selected as first vice chairman of the Executive/Operations Committee, defeating District 10 Supervisor Dwight Stevens by a vote of 17 to 11.

While Purcell has a reputation as being fiscally conservative, he doesn't put being "cheap" in front of the needs of Portage County residents, said District 27 Supervisor James Krems, who nominated Purcell.

Stevens and District 25 Supervisor Jerry Borski were nominated for second vice chair, with Stevens winning that contest on a 20-8 vote.

"What really stands out with neighboring counties is Portage County is a leader, not a follower," Borski said, citing past county projects as the Portage County Business Park, Central Wisconsin Airport, Highway HH bridge, landfill and Materials Recovery Facility. "This county has seen and made perpetual progress."

Borski and District 14 Supervisor James Gifford ran against each other for the fourth Executive/Operations Committee member position. After that vote was split 14-14, Gifford removed his name from contention and Borski was seated as the fourth member.

Borski then nominated Gifford for the fifth and final committee member position. No one else was nominated and Gifford was seated on the committee.

Supervisors used anonymous ballots to cast their votes in contested races. Nominees needed at least 15 votes to win.

The Executive/Operations Committee was scheduled to make appointments to various county committees this week, with the County Board scheduled to vote on those appointments when it meets again on Thursday.

Clark said when the Executive/Operations Committee makes its appointments, it should not "load up" key committees, like Finance and Personnel, with three of its members. The five members of the Executive/Operations Committee should serve on a variety of committees so information can be better shared among county committees, he said.

"I have a lot of confidence in committees," Clark said. "They do all the hard work and present it to the board."

Four new County Board members were also seated - Philip Peterson, who defeated 1st District incumbent Robert Woehr; David Medin, who beat 9th District incumbent Eugene Szymkowiak; Taniya Fatticci, who won as a write-in candidate for an open seat in District 11; and Charles Gussell, who won a contested race for an open seat in District 19.

As is the board's policy, new members received a copy of the county's ethics code.

"The basic premise is a public office is a public trust," said Michael McKenna, county corporation counsel.

Once the board committees are reorganized, there will be a mandatory meeting of the county's Ethics Committee, McKenna said. Persons alleging ethics code violations must make signed and sworn statements.

The Ethics Committee is comprised of three members of the County Board and two citizen members.
The County Board of Supervisors also issued certificates of appreciation to two former supervisors. Szymkowiak was recognized for his 24 years of service as a 9th District supervisor. Woehr was recognized for his three years of service as 1st District supervisor.



	Idsvoog reelected Portage County Board chairman By BRIAN LEAHY of The Gazette The Portage County Board of Supervisors unanimously re-elected O. Philip Idsvoog as its chairman when they met Tuesday for the first time following the April 6 election. Idsvoog, who represents District 16, has served as County Board chairman since the June 2003 death of then County Board chairman Clarence Hintz. Idsvoog was nominated by District 7 Supervisor James Clark. "I like Phil's leadership style," Clark said, "basically because he has a strong commitment to the committee structure." Under the committee structure, county committees do much of the work on issues and forward their recommendations to the County Board for approval. Idsvoog, who served as County Board chairman from 1988 to 1990, is the principal of P.J. Jacobs Junior High School. His pending retirement in June will allow him to devote a large amount of time to the County Board chairman position, he said. "I am very committed to the committee system," Idsvoog said. "I will do my best to keep the public business in front of the public and this board." No other supervisors were nominated for County Board chairman. The County Board chairman also serves as chairman of the county's five-member Executive/Operations Committee. All members of that committee are County Board supervisors. District 6 Supervisor Richard Purcell was selected as first vice chairman of the Executive/Operations Committee, defeating District 10 Supervisor Dwight Stevens by a vote of 17 to 11. While Purcell has a reputation as being fiscally conservative, he doesn't put being "cheap" in front of the needs of Portage County residents, said District 27 Supervisor James Krems, who nominated Purcell. Stevens and District 25 Supervisor Jerry Borski were nominated for second vice chair, with Stevens winning that contest on a 20-8 vote. "What really stands out with neighboring counties is Portage County is a leader, not a follower," Borski said, citing past county projects as the Portage County Business Park, Central Wisconsin Airport, Highway HH bridge, landfill and Materials Recovery Facility. "This county has seen and made perpetual progress." Borski and District 14 Supervisor James Gifford ran against each other for the fourth Executive/Operations Committee member position. After that vote was split 14-14, Gifford removed his name from contention and Borski was seated as the fourth member. Borski then nominated Gifford for the fifth and final committee member position. No one else was nominated and Gifford was seated on the committee. Supervisors used anonymous ballots to cast their votes in contested races. Nominees needed at least 15 votes to win. The Executive/Operations Committee was scheduled to make appointments to various county committees this week, with the County Board scheduled to vote on those appointments when it meets again on Thursday. Clark said when the Executive/Operations Committee makes its appointments, it should not "load up" key committees, like Finance and Personnel, with three of its members. The five members of the Executive/Operations Committee should serve on a variety of committees so information can be better shared among county committees, he said. "I have a lot of confidence in committees," Clark said. "They do all the hard work and present it to the board." Four new County Board members were also seated - Philip Peterson, who defeated 1st District incumbent Robert Woehr; David Medin, who beat 9th District incumbent Eugene Szymkowiak; Taniya Fatticci, who won as a write-in candidate for an open seat in District 11; and Charles Gussell, who won a contested race for an open seat in District 19. As is the board's policy, new members received a copy of the county's ethics code. "The basic premise is a public office is a public trust," said Michael McKenna, county corporation counsel. Once the board committees are reorganized, there will be a mandatory meeting of the county's Ethics Committee, McKenna said. Persons alleging ethics code violations must make signed and sworn statements. The Ethics Committee is comprised of three members of the County Board and two citizen members. The County Board of Supervisors also issued certificates of appreciation to two former supervisors. Szymkowiak was recognized for his 24 years of service as a 9th District supervisor. Woehr was recognized for his three years of service as 1st District supervisor.