RACINE COUNTY — The county faced a number of challenges this year, including the unexpected death of Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave. The county also made big, and sometimes controversial, decisions, such as approving a county sales tax and approving the removal of the Horlick Dam. Here’s a look at some of the biggest news stories in Racine County in 2024.
Scott Craig appointed to Racine County Circuit Court: Gov. Tony Evers appointed Scott Craig to Branch 4 of the Racine County Circuit Court in January, filling the vacancy created by Judge Mark Nielsen’s resignation, which was effective Jan 1.
Craig’s investiture ceremony took place at the Racine County Courthouse in May. His term ends July 31, 2025.
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County jail receives $400K for opioid abatement: The county board at its March 12 meeting approved the use of a $400,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for the Medicine Assisted Treatment program. The program helps inmates with opioid addictions recover and involves administration of multiple medications, including suboxone, methadone and vivitrol.
All 21 county board seats went up for election in April: Four of the 21 county board seat races were contested in April, and three new supervisors were elected.
Ernie Rossi won the race against Sam Peete for District 7, for which incumbent Jessica Lee Malacara did not seek reelection. Brett Nielsen defeated incumbent Marlo Harmon for District 8, and Tony Veranth defeated incumbent Olga White for District 10. District 3 incumbent Tom Rutkowski won reelection against challenger Andy Karch.
Spring election issues: The county clerk’s office faced issues with vote counts for the April 2 elections during election night and the day following, with the county having to repost results after recognizing an error.
In July, the clerk’s office announced that the spring election issues stemmed from a data error during the digital transfer of ballot results to the Racine County Clerk’s office. A break in the sequencing in the data caused the problem, which reportedly arose from one particular ballot style in a single ward in Mount Pleasant, the clerk’s office said.
Jessica Lynott wins seat in Racine County Circuit Court: Jessica Lynott won the race for the Branch 3 judge seat of the Racine County Circuit Court in the April 2 elections. She defeated Judge Toni Young, who was appointed to the circuit court by Gov. Tony Evers in December 2023 to fill the vacancy left by Judge Maureen Martinez’s resignation.
Roanhouse steps down from county chairman seat: County Board Chairman Thomas Roanhouse announced at the board’s April 9 meeting that he would be stepping down as chair. Roanhouse was elected as chair in 2020.
The board voted unanimously April 16 for District 13 Supervisor and then-vice chairman Tom Kramer to take over as chairman. District 16 Supervisor Scott Maier was elected as the new vice chairman.
Horlick Dam removal approved: Following weeks of presentations from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and at times contentious public hearings, the county board voted unanimously April 9 to approve a plan to remove the Horlick Dam.
The vote followed years of discussion with the Corps of Engineers to address the Root River dam, which the corps said does not meet Wisconsin’s 100-year flood event requirements.
Corps members said in March that they estimate work on the dam removal project will begin in summer 2025 and end in fall 2028. The corps will then monitor the site until fall 2031.
Underground railroad project completed: In June, the county board approved the use of up to $26,000 in unused 2023 American Rescue Plan Act funding to finish the Racine County Underground Railroad Heritage Trail Project. The project has installed memorials throughout the county, marking stops along the secret network on which enslaved people moved to escape to freedom.
Plaques were installed at the final 10 sites of the project in Burlington, Rochester and Norway in the fall.
The Racine Heritage Museum is developing a companion app to allow the public to more easily take a tour of the heritage trail. The museum plans to begin testing the app in January 2025 and go public with it during the summer.
County Executive Jonathan Delagrave passes away: Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave died unexpectedly on June 28, shocking the community. He was 51 years old and a father of two.
Many remembered him as committed and collaborative public servant. County Board Supervisor Thomas Roanhouse, who on July 23 was selected as interim county executive, called Delagrave “the greatest leader in Wisconsin, bar none.”
Hundreds gathered for Delagrave’s funeral at Grace Church in Racine on July 9.
On July 5, the county ordered a special election to take place Dec. 19 for a new county executive to finish the remainder of Delagrave’s term, which ends April 2027.
Ice center planning continues: The county board in July approved $200,000 in funding to go toward a preliminary design phase, site selection and planning, community engagement and fundraising, for the proposed Racine County Ice Center.
Racine County Communications Manager Casey Morgenson in July said the timeline for the project is dependent on the completion of the design phase and subsequent funding efforts.
WCA posthumously awards “Friend in County Government” to Delagrave: The Wisconsin Counties Association posthumously conferred the “Friend in County Government” award to Jonathan Delagrave on Sept. 23 during the annual WCA conference in La Crosse. Racine County Human Services Department Director Hope Otto accepted the award on Delagrave’s behalf.
County sales tax approved: Following months of public hearings, public information sessions and discussions amongst the county board, the board in October approved enacting a 0.5% county sales tax.
The sales tax will take effect April 1, 2025. The county will begin allocating some of the sales tax revenue to property tax relief in 2026.
Supervisors voted 13-5 to approve the ordinance adopting the tax, with Renee Kelly, Ernie Rossi, Robert Miller, Tom Kramer and Taylor Wishau voting against it.
Malicki elected county executive: Business owner Ralph Malicki was elected as Racine County executive during the Dec. 19 special election. Malicki defeated challenger Racine County Clerk Wendy Christensen with about 76% of the vote.
Malicki will finish the current county executive term, which ends in April 2027.
