Waushara County Board approves State Highway 152 for ATV/UTV route pending state approval

Edit: State Highway 152 from Mt. Morris as an ATV/UTV route was approved by the Waushara County Board of Supervisors; however, this decision is still pending State approval. The route will not be open to drivers until the State approves the decision.

The Waushara County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved State Highway 152 from Wautoma to Mt. Morris as an ATV/UTV route at their regular meeting held at the Waushara County Government Center on May 20 (pending state approval).
Administrator Megan Kapp reported Desiree Acantilado was sworn in as Waushara County Clerk. She also reported the demo of the former courthouse is underway and the sale of the property to the entities for the YMCA will be on the agenda for the June meeting. Presently, Kapp is working with all department heads to set up the 2026 budget. Last month a county government day was held for students from Wautoma, Tri-County, and Wild Rose High Schools.
Debbie Paavola, Director of ADRC, gave her annual report on the Department of Aging, the challenges, and the successes. She explained that the department has gone through many name changes beginning with Commission on Aging, Aging and Disability Resource Center of Adams, Green Lake, and Waushara County (ADRC) and now is ADRC of Waushara County as the consortion with the other counties has disbanded.
Paavola told the board that she is working on a strict budget and had an $80,000 shortfall last year due to the ARPA funds ending, increased food costs, etc., and is working to provide services within the budget and make up for the shortfall. Senior Dining was a focus for her report as she feels sustainability of the services is so very important as it reduces the use of costly health care services; reduces nursing home use; reduces health care costs, and increases food security.

A report from the 2023 More than a Meal study found that seniors who received daily delivered meals were significantly more likely to report that home-delivered meals reduced their loneliness (77%) compared to those who received a one-time weekly delivery of frozen meals (65%). She said presently the county provides meal delivery three days a week. Her department has spent a considerable amount of time developing a new pilot dining schedule that will serve Waushara seniors at dining centers every day of the week. It may not be at the center they are presently attending, but seniors will be served five days a week throughout the county. A complete schedule that begins in June is available in the Source, at the ADRC office in the Government, and at the area dining centers.
Paavola informed that last year the department had contact with 3,500 individuals, the Nutrition Program served 38,400 meals and transportation provided 5,747 rides, and the department held 19 health and fall prevention workshops that involved 186 people.
John Muller, Risk Strategies, has been working with the county to do an overall assessment of pay ranges, special pay, leaves, and benefits. He said he checked with 12 different entities to complete an assessment including neighboring counties – Waupaca, Adams, Wood, and Green Lake. He felt this was a good spread for comparison and these are competing counties. He recommended the county take some action to build morale and retention. An increase in wages will be reimbursed through levies and grants. The modified compensation was adopted by the county board and included 49 employees who were below the minimum of the new pay band of $69,463. Seventy-six employees will be receiving compensation for $65,434. The financial impact including benefits is $154,535; without benefits, $134,897 affecting 100 employees.
Corporation Council Ruth Zouski asked the county board to approve $45,000 from the $90,381 Opioid fund balance for a state matching fund grant. Zouski added that more funds will be forthcoming for the Opiod Settlement Fund this year.
In other business the board approved a zone change for the Goellner Family Retreat LLC, Town of Mt. Morris. They also confirmed Chair John Jarvis’s appointment of Jenna Wakeley to the following committees: Administrative Review Board, Transportation Coordinating Committee, Public Works Board (Alternate), Facilities and Parks Management Committee, and Redgranite Library Board.
Peder Culver, Human Services, William Rosenau, Veterans, Dellos Gaatz, and Michelle Draskovich, were approved as members of the Transporation Coordinating Committee from June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2028.
The next regular meeting of the Waushara County Board of Directors will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17 at the Waushara County Government Center, 380 S. Townline Rd., Wautoma.