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Walworth County Board of Supervisors County Board’s America’s 250th Anniversary Celebrations Committee Thursday, August 27, 2026 Walworth County Government Center, County Board Room 114 100 West Walworth Street, Elkhorn, Wisconsin Chair Susan Pruessing called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Roll call was conducted and the following members were present: Chair Susan Pruessing; Vice-Chair Kathy Ingersoll; Supervisors Joanne Laufenberg, Sheila T. Reiff , and Bud Wojcik; and John Scholtz. Supervisor Ken Monroe and Pat Blackmer were absent. A quorum was declared. Others in Attendance County Board Supervisor: Supervisor Dennis Karbowski County Staff: Walworth County Administrator Mark W. Luberda and Communications Manager Jenny Quill On motion by Supervisor Reiff, second by Vice-Chair Ingersoll, the agenda was approved with no withdrawals. On motion by Supervisor Wojcik, second by Vice-Chair Ingersoll, the August 4, 2026, America’s 250 th Anniversary Celebrations Committee Meeting Minutes were approved. Public Comment There were none. New Business 7a. Discussion on planning and programming for events, activities, and promotional strategies for celebrating America’s 250 th Anniversary including but not limited to planning and scheduling for the Walworth County Fair event and review of the committee budget, the purchase of ribbons, the drone show, and marketing efforts. John Scholtz stated that Supervisor Reiff, Communications Manager Jenny Quill, and him met with Master Sergeant Shawn Souders on August 13 th. Scholtz stated that he will be meeting with MSgt. Souders again tomorrow to go over specifics regarding the stage and presentation of the coins and certificates to the veterans. Chair Pruessing informed Scholtz that she has requested chairs with arms for the veterans. She informed Scholtz the sound technicians will be present to assist if needed. Chair Pruessing indicated to Scholtz to let her know if the chairs are not there for the veterans. Chair Pruessing, Scholtz, and Supervisor Karbowski discussed the availability of golf carts for transporting veterans. Supervisor Karbowski will meet and greet the veterans, assist them into the golf cart, and direct them to the Park Stage. Walworth County Board of Supervisors August 27, 2026 America’s 250th Anniversary Celebrations Committee Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4 Scholtz stated he had the Purple Heart parking signs to put up the day of the event. Chair Pruessing stated she had requested 20 chairs for the veterans, and Scholtz said 14 veterans would be there. Chair Pruessing stated that if there were any medical problems, security should be called. There is a triage over by the main gate. Communications Manager Jenny Quill will attend the Log Cabin Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Wednesday and the Walworth County Proudly Salutes America’s 250th Celebration on Thursday. The Department of Public Works is adding baluster sand to the sandwich boards. Walworth County Administrator Mark W. Luberda noted the Walworth County sandwich board, bought by the County Administrator’s Office, will be used at multiple County events, including the ribbon cutting ceremony. Chair Pruessing said banners will be displayed at the County Fair, with one by the Park Stage and another by the fence. Quill reported the Meta ad is running successfully. Chair Pruessing confirmed the President of the Fair will read a script at the Log Cabin ceremony and discussed details of the ceremony. All County Board Supervisors, Fair Board members, and royalty are invited to the photo opportunity. Melody from the Fair has agreed to lend their big scissors for the ceremony. Chair Pruessing noted that Channel 58 will be on location at the Log Cabin on Wednesday morning during the Walworth County Fair, highlighting its restoration as a great human- interest story. Quill will reconfirm the station's attendance. Luberda suggested it may be more appropriate if County Board Chair Stacey is not available for the ribbon cutting, that the Chair of America’s 250 th Anniversary Committee be the one to speak at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Supervisor Reiff confirmed County Board Chair Stacey is available for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Luberda explained he is resolving a potential scheduling conflict with Wednesday's opening ceremony. He reported that the event tents have arrived; the Department of Public Works (DPW) will scope the site tomorrow and practice setup to ensure they are up by 8:00 AM on event day. Luberda requested spare tickets for DPW or IT staff and noted that he and Supervisor Wojick are coordinating logistics to transport necessary items to the fair on Thursday. The committee reviewed and discussed details of Supervisor Laufenberg’s map and the layout for the 250 th Anniversary Celebration tents. Luberda said a 10-foot pop-up tent for volunteer coolers will be behind the main tent, separate but accessible. He reported IT issues are resolved, and ice cream tickets will be printed. Luberda distributed the time capsule inscription text and will arrange its pickup. He also understood the cannon would be at the end of the tent. Supervisor Reiff stated she spoke to Dale Reich and told him that there is a place for him to change at the Dusterbeck’s building. Reich will have a headset and a microphone. Walworth County Board of Supervisors August 27, 2026 America’s 250th Anniversary Celebrations Committee Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4 Vice-Chair Ingersoll said there was a rehearsal last week for the music, and the music director is hoping for more young adult participation. Chair Pruessing confirmed the ice cream tickets will be handed out, not left on the table. Chair Pruessing instructed committee members to contact Emily at the Administrator’s Office if they require tickets. She noted that all setups must be complete and all personal vehicles must be moved out of the area by 10:00 a.m. Supervisor Laufenberg reported that 30 volunteers have signed up in all areas, including floaters, water, and equipment, noting a floater shortage from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Two people will staff the tent all day with overlapping shifts, while Supervisor Schneider and a friend will handle teardown. Chair Pruessing requested that any unused tickets be returned for the Fair, reminding members the tickets are strictly for County personnel working the 250 th Anniversary Celebration. Chair Pruessing answered Luberda’s inquiry about a time frame for packing up the vehicles by stating she will speak to the fair regarding the vendor contract and the time frame. She does not believe there will be a problem. Luberda stated he has been informed that he and Supervisor Wojcik could pull their vehicles up to where the space is reserved for the veterans at the end of the event. Chair Pruessing said she will check with the Walworth County Fair office on the deadline to load up in the Park Stage zone of the fairgrounds. Supervisor Wojcik asked Luberda to confirm the tent practice setup location (Fairgrounds or DPW) and when side kits are needed during assembly. Luberda agreed to check with DPW. Supervisor Wojcik noted that Supervisor Monroe is adjusting a boulder to better fit a plaque. Luberda confirmed DPW could arrive at the fair as early as 6 a.m. Chair Pruessing announced that Pat Blackmer’s books have arrived and will be distributed during the program. She also reminded committee members to request additional tickets if needed. Luberda confirmed he will provide the printed, laminated tickets to Chair Pruessing once they are ready, noting that a final line has been added to the design. Chair Pruessing showed the committee members the buttons to be given to the veterans and stated the price came in higher. Luberda stated the cost of the buttons was $793.02. Vice-Chair Ingersoll offered a motion, second by Supervisor Wojcik, to approve additional funding in the amount of $543.02, for the purchase of veterans’ buttons and ribbons. Motion carried 6-0. Chair Pruessing stated the time capsule is in Kenosha, and Luberda will have it at the same table as the TV program display in the tent. Walworth County Board of Supervisors August 27, 2026 America’s 250th Anniversary Celebrations Committee Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4 Chair Pruessing announced that Pearce’s Farm Stand is donating flowers for the log cabin’s front flower boxes. She will pick up the donation this weekend or next Monday. Supervisor Wojcik volunteered to assist with planting. Chair Pruessing reported that she received the final drone show outline incorporating the suggested corrections. While noting that the audio details have been resolved, she expressed concern that some of the music selections do not align with the event's theme. Additionally, Chair Pruessing raised questions regarding the launch location and overall visibility across the fairgrounds. She emphasized that if the show is only visible from the grandstand, attendees would have to pay to view it. Chair Pruessing concluded by stating the committee must determine alternative viewing areas throughout the grounds. Chair Pruessing showed the committee a reproduction of a 1936 photograph regarding the Log Cabin. She said that one of the pictures will be donated to the County Administrator’s Office, and the other will be given to the Walworth County Fair to hang in the Log Cabin. There was a discussion on where the drone show could be seen from different areas of the fairgrounds. Chair Pruessing informed Luberda that she had sent in the names of the volunteers for the event to the Walworth County Fair office. Luberda presented a diagram detailing the drone show's 90-degree viewing angle and optimal viewing locations. He explained how fields of view vary based on distance, noting that anyone within the shaded blue area would have an unobstructed view of the drones, provided their line of sight isn't blocked. Additionally, Luberda confirmed he spoke with the Superintendent of the Elkhorn Area School District regarding the County's reservation of the school field, noting there will not be a conflict with the school district. Reports/announcements by Chairperson – There were none. Confirmation of next meeting date and time: The next meeting was confirmed for September 8, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. or immediately following the budget meeting. Adjournment On motion and second by Supervisor Reiff and Vice-Chair Ingersoll, Chair Pruessing adjourned the meeting at 4:33 p.m. _________________________________________________________________________________ Submitted by Kathleen Aukland, Administrative Assistant. Meeting minutes were approved by the America’s 250th Anniversary Celebrations Committee at the September 8, 2026 scheduled meeting.