Sauk County Institute of Leadership Group Discusses Conflict: “You Can Never Have Shared Vision Without Shared Values.”

The Sauk County Institute of Leadership (SCIL) kicked off its seventh of nine sessions last week by visiting the Sauk County Law Enforcement Center. There the group met Captain Lewis Lange, Sauk County Jail Administrator. During a tour of the facility, Captain Lange discussed the struggles in recruiting and retaining staff, mental health of officers and inmates, the impact of drugs in the community and simply trying to connect with citizens. 

From the Jail, the group moved onto the UW Platteville-Baraboo Sauk County campus for the rest of the day’s meetings. In advance of the SCIL Day, the group attended local government meetings to learn more about what is going on in our communities, as well as see leadership in action. Once the participants arrived on campus, UW-Extension Educator Morgan McArthur debriefed their observations of those meetings. Several members of the group noted that finding information on time and location of government meetings can be challenging. The group agreed that there is much to be learned about government by attending these meetings. 

After lunch, Baraboo Mayor Rob Nelson visited the group and referred to himself as “Communicator in Chief.” Mayor Nelson shared the story of how he became involved in local government. He urged the group to get involved with government meetings in order to be informed and to influence outcomes. He cited a quote that has guided his leadership journey, “if not me, then who?” He also conveyed to the group that showing up, regardless if one feels qualified or prepared, is leadership. 

The group concluded the day by learning about the history of the Badger Army Ammunition Plant and its transformation to the Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area. Curt Meine and Mike Mossman shared the story and process of  their involvement and perseverance with the Badger Reuse Plan while working with various federal, tribal, state, and local partners. Curt, founder of the Sauk Prairie Conservation Alliance, shared that he learned from this process that “no one really likes conflict. If there’s one thing we can strive for it is that there can be no shared vision without shared values.” 

Written by Andrea Lombard and Monica Jaled