County Executive Jonathan Delagrave's 2021 State of the County Address - Delivered Tuesday, May 25, 2021 

Mister Chairman, Mister Vice Chairman, Members of the County Board, Youth in Governance representatives, distinguished guests, and residents of Racine County:

After a year of lockdowns, school closures, sickness, isolation, and grief, I speak to you tonight with optimism and hope about the State of Racine County.

COVID vaccinations are rising with the temperature. Mandates and restrictions are ending. Life is slowly – thankfully, mercifully – returning to normal.

We’re not out of the woods yet, and we must not get complacent. I encourage everyone who hasn’t already done so to get vaccinated – visit vaccines.gov to find the provider nearest you and help us beat COVID once and for all.

I have been so inspired by how our County has persevered and come together to help our fellow community members in a time of great need. Even through the worst pandemic in a century, the State of our County remained strong, and it’s getting stronger.

But while we have many reasons to feel optimistic, we also must be realistic about the difficult path to recovery and the tough challenges that remain for our County. All of us in this room and joining virtually have a lot of work ahead to build the vibrant, inclusive, and safe Racine County we all want to see.

But we are ready to do the work, and I am grateful for the County Board’s partnership and commitment.

This spring, we began holding budget summits with county supervisors and department heads. We had candid conversations about the County’s financial outlook and pondered creative solutions in both the short- and long-term.

The cold reality is that even with the one-time federal stimulus allocation we expect to receive, our needs at county facilities and infrastructure alone are three times that amount. COVID-19 significantly stretched resources in mental health, the jail, and other areas. And we face rising costs for health insurance, cybersecurity, public safety, employee attraction and retention, and more.

In the weeks and months ahead, we will convene County Board supervisors, business leaders, and community stakeholders to discuss how the County can leverage our stimulus funding and make the biggest impact in our communities.

I know we can work together, because we have several recent examples of successful collaborations to lean on:

• We worked in partnership with the Racine County Economic Development Corporation to obtain $500,000 from the state to help local small businesses hit hard by COVID-19.
• We teamed up with Gateway Technical College and Styberg Engineering to secure $300,000 toward hiring and training residents from underserved populations.
• And we worked with both the public and private sector to expand internet connectivity. Through a partnership between Gateway, Higher Expectations for Racine County, and e-vergent, we launched 10 additional internet access points on both the west and east ends of Racine County.

Closing the so-called Digital Divide has been a priority of mine, as I believe it’s crucial to helping Racine County grow and enhancing quality of life. I’m especially proud to partner with a great local company, e-vergent. They have truly gone above and beyond, often at their own time and expense, to help our residents and expand internet connectivity in their own backyard.

A few years ago, I began presenting the County Executive’s Community Impact Award to individuals and organizations making a difference in Racine County. I’m pleased to present the first award tonight to e-vergent and Vice President Jon Procunier, who is representing the company in the audience tonight. Please stand and be recognized!

E-vergent is just one part of the amazing business community we have in Racine County. Our County continues to grow with many exciting new developments -- from big projects like Amazon delivery hubs, which created about 400 new jobs in Sturtevant and Yorkville, to fantastic new small businesses like Low Daily and Runaway breweries in Burlington.

Meanwhile, single-family housing permits are up 27 percent compared to this time last year, and multi-family projects are moving forward throughout the area. In total, Racine County saw $91.7 million in private capital investment in 2020.

That said, Racine County is experiencing the same labor challenges happening across the country. We are working hard with employers, the Racine County Workforce Development Board, and training agencies to connect businesses with workers. One of those efforts, our STARTS Now initiative, has enrolled over 114 people to work with success coaches, develop a career plan, and move toward family-sustaining employment. 

More than ever, both the private and public sector must take an inclusive view and engage everyone in our County. We need to make sure that traditionally underserved populations have the tools and resources they need to be successful.

It’s not just the right thing to do -- we simply can’t afford not to.

In this year’s budget, I identified improving community engagement as one of my top priorities. Tonight, I am happy to share the progress we’ve made so far.

• Under Pastor Melvin Hargrove, in his new role as Community Impact and Diversity Coordinator, we’ve hired two additional community engagement specialists to help un- and under-employed residents in underserved neighborhoods.
• As part of that work, the Youth Summer Jobs program was born. We know that youth employment improves graduation rates and lifelong wages, and reduces involvement in the juvenile justice system. The County has brought together over 15 companies that are helping fund or employ up to 30 kids, with priority given to youth of color and individuals in youth justice diversion.

  So far, we’ve raised about $60,000 to fund wages and other employment supports. I’m so grateful to our business community for making an investment into Racine County’s future and charting a path of success for our kids.

• A big part of engagement is meeting residents where they are. Last month, we held an event called Coffee with the County at The Main Project and Cafe to raise awareness about County services and the opportunities we provide. A similar outreach event is planned for later this summer.
• Our Human Resources Department, led by new director Sarah Street, is deploying grassroots recruitment strategies and revamping internal career paths to ensure our staff better reflects the communities we serve.
• And two weeks ago, committees with stakeholders from across the County met for the first time to consider how to revamp our youth justice system. These committees will help us prevent kids from entering the justice system and move forward on the Racine County Youth Development and Care Center.

And let me emphasize that last point: we are making great progress and moving forward on a new youth center.

We inherited an antiquated model of youth justice at a facility with prison bars, windowless spaces, and no outdoor areas. We’re taking ownership of the juvenile justice system and developing a new center that’s welcoming, family-centered, and trauma-informed. The extensive feedback we’ve received over the last several months has made our plan better, and we will continue seeking out and listening to public input for years to come.

When it comes to inclusiveness and making sure all voices are heard, we could learn a lot from the next person I would like to recognize with a Community Impact Award. 

Through her stewardship of the Racine Mirror, Insider News, and Hispanic Reflections, Lisa Parham has given voice to populations that are too often marginalized. Her publications have delivered critical information to our residents and told the many positive stories happening in Racine County. I’ve also seen first-hand Lisa’s excellent oversight of important events such as the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.

Lisa has made an incredibly positive impact in Racine County. I am honored to present her with a Community Impact Award tonight.

As we recover from COVID-19, we continue working to bring the Central Racine County Health Department under Racine County Human Services. We will present more information to the County Board later this year, and we are on track to complete the process by January 1.

Throughout the pandemic, we’ve worked closely with Health Officer Margaret Gesner and her fantastic team, as well as many other community partners, to keep our communities safe. Folding in the health department with Racine County will allow for more efficient delivery of public health services for residents and taxpayers.

But even after the pandemic, many of us will carry the effects of COVID-19 for a long time – particularly on our mental health. Our Human Services Department has seen more than a 500 percent increase in mental health needs over the past decade. As a result, we’ve been forced to provide behavioral health services off site.

COVID-19 has revealed the need for even greater access to mental health support. To respond to the growing demand, we are working to reintegrate mental health services under one roof so we can more effectively address a critical part of our overall health and well-being.

I am happy to see signs of re-emergence from COVID throughout our Racine County parks.

The first events at the new multipurpose stadium at Pritchard Park were held this spring. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that my beloved Case Eagles were victorious at the grand opening. We can’t wait for fans and the entire community to enjoy the stadium this fall.

Just north of the stadium, water is back in the pools at the SC Johnson Community Aquatic Center, and the facility is on track to reopen in the coming days.

We expect construction to begin this year on a new year-round venue at Quarry Lake Park that will include banquet facilities, meeting rooms, and other amenities.

And I’m happy to announce that land acquisition for the expanded Rails to Trails in western and central Racine County has been completed. Much more work lies ahead, but this is a key milestone for the project. We will next coordinate a stakeholder group to develop a vision for designing and building the trail. No tax dollars were used to acquire the necessary land, and the stakeholder group will continue to seek grant funding to finish the trail.

None of the initiatives or projects I’ve talked about tonight would be possible without the efforts of more than 800 Racine County employees who work hard every single day to provide the highest possible level of service to our communities.

Throughout the pandemic, essential workers including Sheriff’s Office personnel, 911 dispatchers, snowplow drivers, juvenile detention workers, child welfare and adult protective service employees, and many others worked 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – oftentimes putting the needs and safety of others before their own.

On behalf of 200,000 residents of Racine County – thank you.

I’m also grateful to the staff of the Racine County Here to Help program, which gives residents in crisis a one-stop call to connect to help. In the nine months since the program launched, staff has responded to over 200 calls per week to keep people in their homes and help callers navigate various public systems.

If providing life-saving service wasn’t enough, our employees also have a tremendous spirit of giving and charity.  Last year, employees gave their own time and money toward a golf outing that raised $14,000 for the Wisconsin Humane Society. As great as that effort was, we are on track to far exceed that amount for this year’s golf outing, which benefits families impacted by juvenile diabetes through the Sophia’s Promise organization. Space is still available but filling up fast – visit our Facebook page for more information!

I want to give a special recognition to an employee with my third and final Community Impact Award.

As Racine County Veterans Service Officer, Zach Zdroik has gone far above his duties in giving our local veterans the care and attention they deserve. He has transformed the Veterans Service Office and expanded its presence in the community in an effort to make sure no veteran falls through the cracks. Our veterans are the finest among us, and they deserve the highest quality service. Zach makes sure they receive it.

As County Executive, I’m lucky to be able to see first-hand the energy and passion he brings to the job day in, day out. I’m excited to recognize Zach with a Community Impact Award.

As I wrap up tonight, I want to note that you can learn more about our initiatives through the State of the County website. Thank you to Travis Richardson and the Performance and Analytics Division for their amazing efforts in maintaining transparency and tracking progress on our efforts. Visit the website at racinecounty.gov/StateOfTheCounty. A written report has also been distributed to County Board Supervisors and will be available for the public at county facilities.

I would like to end by thanking my cabinet, our constitutional officers, and you, the County Board.

I was struck by something that former Youth in Governance representative Zach Eifert said at the last County Board meeting. Reflecting on his two years in the program, Zach said, “I have to admit that when I started my journey, I was skeptical of local government. I came in with the belief that good governance was the relic of a bygone era, and that the politics of today were too enflamed to be productive.

“I was wrong. From my observations, I found a group of people who are passionate about making Racine County the best place to live and work. While there were disagreements at times, everyone conducted themselves professionally and respectfully. Especially with the rhetoric that is used by people with differing beliefs today, I found this to be the most comforting part of my experience with Youth in Governance.”

Now I don’t know about you, but it feels daunting to live up to the sentiments that Zach expressed. But with his words echoing, and knowing how much work is ahead of us, it’s fitting that tonight is the first meeting in the Peter L. Hansen Racine County Board Chambers.

For over a quarter century, Peter Hansen served in these chambers with the utmost dignity and grace. He was the definition of a public servant. His legacy is one that we can use as a model – an elected official who always, always rose above politics to make Racine County a better place.

As we honor Peter’s memory, carrying his values of decency, kindness and humility would serve all of us well – myself included – as we work together to move our County forward.

With that, thank you, and may God bless our wonderful and Resilient Racine County.

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