As we enter the new year, I want to express my appreciation to all of you for the honor of continuing to serve you on the Dane County Board by running for reelection without opposition. In these controversial times, we on the local level try to address local challenges in a civil way. We did have an unfortunate shutting down of the Dane County Board after the budget passed via uninterrupted shouting, but we came back the next night and finished our work. This was a first and hopefully last time for this juvenile behavior.

In 2018 we will undertake an overall study of our adult mental health system where we currently spend $34 million annually. This is part of our ongoing efforts to keep folks out of the jail. The $76 million jail renovation project I have been working on for years passed and actually reduces our overall jail bed capacity by 91 beds, so all efforts continuing to reform our criminal justice system must continue.

The Healthy Farms, Healthy Lakes Task Force should report out recommendations in 2018 to enhance lake water quality. Recommendations will no doubt be difficult to implement, as much of the phosphorus problem comes from manure from dairy farms. I was born in California but live adjacent to Lake Mendota and believe we must find a way to significantly improve water quality for today and future generations.

Supervisor Rusk can be reached at 249-9667 or rusk@countyofdane.com.