Washington Co. Board to consider naming highway after Charlie Kirk

UNITED STATES, March 19 — TOUR ACROSS THE COUNTY. LEADING THE WAY WITH IMPORTANT LOCAL COVERAGE. YOU’RE WATCHING WISN 12 NEWS AT SIX.

FIRST HERE AT 6:00. OUR BIG STORY. OUTRAGE OVER THE IDEA TO RENAME A PORTION OF A WASHINGTON COUNTY HIGHWAY.

CHARLIE J. KIRK WAY TONIGHT. FIREWORKS AT A BOARD MEETING DISCUSSING THE PROPOSAL.

A CROWD URGED THE COMMITTEE TO STRIKE DOWN THE IDEA. IF IT IS APPROVED, ROAD SIGNS WOULD CHANGE ALONG A STRETCH OF COUNTY TRUNK HIGHWAY K. IT STARTS IN WEST BEND AND RUNS THROUGH MULTIPLE TOWNS.

12 NEWS KENDALL KEYS. JOINING US LIVE AT THE WASHINGTON COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER, KENDALL. IT WAS A PACKED HOUSE, RIGHT?

THEY DIDN’T EVEN HAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR EVERYONE IN THE BOARDROOM, THE CROWD SPILLING OUT INTO THE HALLWAY DURING THE MEETING, MANY PEOPLE TELLING ME THEY WERE ANGRY THAT SOME WASHINGTON COUNTY LEADERS WANTED TO HONOR SPEAKER CHARLIE KIRK, WHO THEY SAY HAS NO TIES TO WISCONSIN. I’M GIVING YOU BACK YOUR SAME ENERGY, SIR. AND IF YOU DON’T SHUT UP, YOU GET THE HELL OUT.

ONLY AT A WASHINGTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING WEDNESDAY, AND IT GOT HEATED. ONE MORE TIME, AND I’LL BE GONE. I AIN’T FOOLING AROUND.

THE COUNTY CONSIDERING RENAMING A STRETCH OF COUNTY TRUNK HIGHWAY K, CHARLIE J. KIRK WAY AFTER THE CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST WHO WAS ASSASSINATED LAST SEPTEMBER. WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WHAT DO WE DO TO RECOGNIZE CHARLIE SINCE AFTER HE WAS ASSASSINATED?

WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE CONTROVERSIAL, NO DOUBT, BUT NOT QUITE THIS CONTROVERSIAL. MAYBE RESIDENTS SHOWING UP WITH SIGNS TO THE MEETING, MANY OPPOSING THE MEASURE. I RECEIVED OVER 250 EMAILS AND PHONE MESSAGES THE LAST TWO DAYS I’VE LISTENED AND READ EVERY ONE.

AND THEY’RE ALL AGAINST IT. I DON’T HATE ANYBODY. IT’S TERRIBLE THAT HE WAS MURDERED.

IT’S TERRIBLE. BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN WE NEED TO HONOR HIM IN A COUNTY THAT HE DIDN’T HAVE ANY PART OF. I MEAN, IT JUST DIDN’T MAKE SENSE.

RIDICULOUS. WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE PAID FOR IN THIS COUNTY. THE MOVE WOULD COST THE COUNTY $50,000.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN SAYS THE MAJORITY OF THAT MONEY WOULD BE SPENT ON NEW SIGNAGE AND THE LABOR TO REPLACE THOSE SIGNS. MY PERSONAL PREFERENCE IS WE GO AND GET PRIVATE DONATIONS TO COVER THE COSTS. FIRST.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS FOR TAXPAYER MONEY. THEY SAY IT IS NOT. WELL, WE’LL BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE SEE IT.

THIS HEADS TO THE FULL BOARD. NOW. RIGHT, DIANA?

THE COMMITTEE VOTING YES TO PASSING THE MEASURE FORWARD, EVENTUALLY PASSING THE BUCK TO THE FULL BOARD TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO PASS IT. THE COMMITTEE, THOUGH THEY DID AMEND PART OF THE RESOLUTION HERE TONIGHT, SAYING THAT IT SHOULDN’T BE PAID FOR WITH TAXPAYERS DOLLARS. STILL A LOT TO HAP The Washington County Board of Supervisors will consider renaming a portion of a highway after Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist who was assassinated last September.

"We've been talking about what do we do, to recognize Charlie since after he was assassinated," Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann said. "We knew it was going to be controversial, no doubt. But not quite this controversial.

"If approved, "Charlie J. Kirk Way" signage would be installed along County Trunk Highway K from County Highway R to State Highway 144. The stretch goes through the towns of Addison, Hartford, Polk and West Bend.

A committee met about the resolution Wednesday night. The boardroom was completely full. A crowd of people spilled into the hallway, many carrying signs, outraged over the idea.

"I've received 250 emails and phone messages over the last few days. I've listened to every one. And they're all against it," County Board Chair Jeffrey Schleif said.

Residents WISN 12 News spoke with expressed anger that some Washington County officials wanted to rename the highway to honor someone without ties to Wisconsin. "I don't hate anybody. It's terrible that he was murdered.

It's terrible. But that doesn't mean that we need to honor him in a county that he didn't have any part in," Carol Hogan said. "Ridiculous.

We have so much more that needs to be paid for in this county," Patti Wintercorn said. The renaming would cost the county $50,000. "My personal preference is we go and get private donations to cover the costs," Schoemann said.

At the meeting, the committee amended part of the resolution, specifying that it should not be paid for with taxpayer dollars. "First, they say it was through taxpayer dollars. They say it is not.

Well, we'll believe that when we see it," Hogan said. The committee unanimously voted to move the resolution to the full board for official approval. The committee specified that this would be without recommendation, essentially passing the buck to the full council, without recommending whether or not they approve the measure.

The full board of supervisors will consider the item at an April 21 meeting. WASHINGTON COUNTY, Wis. The Washington County Board of Supervisors will consider renaming a portion of a highway after Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist who was assassinated last September.