13-02-2025
Scholz gives 'state of the county' address at his final board meeting
CHIPPEWA FALLS — Chippewa County Administrator Randy Scholz thanked the board Tuesday for his support and their collaborative efforts during his seven-year tenure leading the county.
Scholz gave a 'state of the county' address in his final county board meeting before retiring next month. The three finalists to replace him will be interviewed next week.
'(My future replacement will be) coming into a very dynamic and well-run county,' Scholz said. 'I'm proud to report that Chippewa County is in a strong fiscal position. There are some counties that are using short-term borrowing or general revenue funds.'
Scholz, 56, praised the economic growth in the county. Among the items he's worked on in recent years is trying to create a new industrial park, and he said that work will continue with the next administrator.
'I'm just thankful for my team, and I'll miss the debates we had,' Scholz said. 'And the employees are the backbone of our success. Nothing happens without our employees.'
One of the challenges Scholz said he faced was rising costs due to drug abuse and how that impacted the budget. Meth 'really hit Chippewa County hard,' and it led to a lot of out-of-home placements, he said.
'We blew through a million-dollar fund balance in about three years,' Scholz said. 'We sat down and talked about where the funding had to go.'
However, out-of-home placements dropped drastically last year, and the county will show a surplus, he said.
'We also had the (HSHS St. Joseph's) hospital go away, and that was a big hit,' he said. 'But we've gotten good news about the Aspirus coming in, and the community hospital. This community has come together and run with it.'
He said it has been a great honor to be administrator 'and the future here is bright.'
The board gave him an ovation upon completing his statement.
Scholz will retire March 7. However, he has taken a job as city manager in Ishpeming, Mich. He told the Leader-Telegram recently that he has family in that region and purchased land there.
Scholz became county administrator in February 2018, replacing Frank Pascarella. Scholz is now the longest-serving county administrator in the county's history. Prior to being hired here, he served as Lincoln County administrative coordinator. He attended Mount Senario College, and he earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from UW-Eau Claire.
Highway T funding approved
The county board voted 14-6 Tuesday to approve its share of the Highway T expansion project, which will begin in Chippewa County, with work continuing south, essentially from Highway 29 to Clairemont Avenue.
The entire project is estimated to cost about $17 million, with the county's share at $2.29 million. Eau Claire and the town of Wheaton also are paying for an equal share. Construction could begin in 2027 or 2028.
Voting against the measure were supervisors Pamela Guthman, Duane Shoebridge, Joel Seidlitz, Joseph Roshell, David Kelly and Rocky Kempe.
Former county board member Ken Schmitt spoke against the Highway T project before the vote.
'I don't see why the county board should facilitate annexation of the town of Wheaton into Eau Claire,' Schmitt told the board.
Schmitt notes that his family often travels that corridor.
'There were no hold-ups. There are no complaints that there are backups, or traffic doesn't move,' Schmitt said. 'I just don't understand why we should do this at this time.'
