History of the Walworth County
Administrator's Office
Wisconsin law provides three options in which county government can be organized.
Counties can:
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Create the appointed position of administrative coordinator.
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Create the appointed position of county administrator.
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Create the elected position of county executive.
The county board chairperson initially served as Walworth
County's administrative coordinator, on a part-time basis.
In May 1995, based upon the recommendation of
the Ad Hoc Administrative Study Committee, the Walworth County Board adopted resolution no.
04-05/95, creating the full-time position of administrative coordinator,
effective January 1, 1996. Upon adoption of resolution no.
04-05/95, the county's administrative committee began work on recruiting to fill
the position. On November 14, 1995, the County Board confirmed the
appointment of its first administrative coordinator, Richard Gruber, who began work in January
1996. Mr. Gruber served until January 2, 1997.
On December
9, 1997, Ann Capela was appointed Administrative Coordinator, serving until
October 2000. In April 2001,
the executive committee selected a candidate to recommend to the Board, and
at a special meeting held on April 5, 2001, the County Board
approved a contract with David Bretl to fill the position of Administrative
Coordinator. The following year, on January 8, 2002, the Board made the
decision to change the county's form of government by abolishing the position of
Administrative Coordinator and establishing the position of County
Administrator. Mr. Bretl has served in the position since that time. In addition, Mr. Bretl serves as the county's corporation
counsel, representing the county and its departments in all legal matters.