90 days to MHC decision? John Gower speaks during the county budget meeting (photo by H. Marc Larson). Kelso asks for study on long-term financial impact; Gower easily confirmed as District 4 supervisor By Christopher Clough News-Chronicle A decision on the Brown County Mental Health Center will be made in July - probably. Carol Kelso, presiding over her first Brown County Board meeting as its new executive, requested withholding action on construction of a proposed $32 million MHC for 90 days to give her, and the board, time to answer some final questions. She asked to set up a "blue-ribbon commission of experts" to determine the long-term impact of energy and staffing costs. She noted Gov. Jim Doyle is looking at deinstitutionalizing some public mental health facilities. Additionally, Kelso said the federal Health and Human Services Department is looking at freezing Medicaid reimbursements, which would affect payments for out-of-county patients and potentially affect part of the funding scheme for the new building. "We've spent a lot of time, a lot of study on the facility," she said. "Before we proceed, we need to get a good handle (on long-term costs). I don't think it's prudent to build this facility until we know what the final impact will be." Kelso said she could not guarantee a vote on the MHC in 90 days - the board's July meeting - saying that will be up to the board to decide, but "this will give (supervisors) the tools to make that decision." It was thought action might have been taken on the MHC during Wednesday's meeting, because a resolution from last year approving the $32 million plan was removed from the table at a March 19 Human Services Committee meeting and awaiting full board approval. After Kelso asked for a 90-day wait, Sup. Rick Schadewald said he would delay his call for a vote until the July meeting. - In other board action, the confirmation of John Gower went quickly and easily. Gower became the new Brown County District 4 supervisor by a 16-7 vote at Wednesday's board meeting. He thanked chairman Ken Simons for the nomination and the supervisors for their approval. "There's nothing so humbling and responsibility-filled as elected office," he said. Sup. Pat Collins said Monday he would challenge Gower's nomination and hoped to rally supervisors to vote against the confirmation, but no debate was held on the matter. Corporation Counsel John Jacques ruled because it was essentially a personnel matter, not policy, it was not debatable before it was put to vote. - In her first report as county executive, Kelso said she wants to help pull the board together. She said she met in her office with two supervisors who held different views on the same issue. Although they argued, she indicated it was a healthy kind of argument. "It's a new day in Brown County," she said. "I think we all need to look forward, not backward." - Jim Schmitt, who was District 4 supervisor until he was elected mayor of Green bay this month, was given by Simons a commendation for his five years on the board. "I've been on quite a few committees," Schmitt said. "But this is the one I'll miss the most. I cut my teeth in politics on the Brown County Board. These are the most dedicated people."