Diane Morehouse
for Dunn County Supervisor District 21
Passion - Experience - Leadership
JOIN THE CAMPAIGN TODAY!
About Me
I have lived in Dunn County since 1976, and in District 21 in Menomonie since 2014. I ran a successful consulting practice for 35 years, assisting non-profit programs, educational institutions and charitable foundations to measure outcomes and improve service delivery.
I was recruited by my predecessor and friends to run for County Board. Like many, I knew very little about County government. It has been an amazing learning experience. County government plays many roles and provides essential services, many of them state mandated, and often with very limited or no funding. My experience in human services, as well as my practical “running a business skills” have helped me understand and work to improve county government.
I am a graduate of the University of Minnesota, and have a Master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin River Falls. I am a graduate of the Blandin Foundation’s Community Leadership program, and for years, co-directed a leadership program for education and human services professionals in Minnesota.
Service to Community
I am grateful that I have been able to serve the Dunn County community in many ways:
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Member Dunn County Zoning Board of Adjustment
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Member and President United Way Board of Directors
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Chair 2004 United Way Campaign
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Member Dunn County Humane Society Board of Directors
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Member and President Mabel Tainter Board of Directors
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Member, Secretary, Treasurer Stepping Stones of Dunn County Board of Directors
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Member and President The Women’s Giving Circle
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Member Stepping Stones Development Committee
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Member Health Dunn Right Housing Action Team
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Volunteer: Thursday’s Table
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Volunteer: Stepping Stones
Dunn County Board Roles
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Member Planning Resources and Development Committee
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Chair Health and Human Services Board
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Member Executive Committee
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Member County Housing Work Group
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Member County Safety Committee
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Member Community Resources and Tourism Committee
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Dunn County Commissioner West Central WI Regional Plan Commission
Essential Services to Dunn County
While it is a “well-kept secret,” county government affects your life in many ways, every day. The county provides critical law enforcement and emergency management services, think 911. The county takes care of our 424 miles of county highways, making us 8 of 72 Wisconsin counties for number of miles of county highway. We offer a highly rated nursing home, as well as senior nutrition programs and aging and disability services. Our Veteran’s Service Office provides critical services to veterans, while also bringing significant dollars to the community. County programs provide essential services to protect our land and our water; this year was our second in providing free water testing services to private well owners. Additionally the Highway Department was able to repave and resurface 13 miles of county roads ($8.5 million). And we were able to provide all of this, while also operating on a balanced budget that actually reduced the county portion of property taxes. I am proud to have a leadership role in making these milestones happen.
Interests and Important Issues
Human and Health Services. County human services programs provide essential support to families and children with mental health issues, protect children from abuse and neglect, connect persons to SNAP benefits, Badger Care Plus, child care and health care for the elderly and disabled. We offer Birth to Three programming providing foundational services to our youngest citizens, and also Adult Protective Services to safeguard our aging population. The public health department provides public health nursing, community clinics, lead screening, restaurant and facility inspections, water testing, child safety and WIC services, as well as vaccinations, testing for STD’s and reproductive health care. The Health Department insures a safe and healthy environment, disease and disability prevention, and comprehensive positive health practices.
I am honored to have chaired the Health and Human Services Board for the last six years, overseeing our amazing staff as they cared for our neighbors through a pandemic, provided robust evidence-based healthcare, essential family and children’s services, and residents’ access essential public programs like SNAP. And thanks to the often heroic efforts of our staff, doing all this while balancing multi-million dollar budgets.
Goals for Re-Election
Robust Human Services. Should you re-elect me, I will work to help our staff address a significant spike in adult protective service needs, as well as a spiraling mental health crisis. I will be advocating for new funding for state mandated services. And leading the way to insure that we continue to offer essential, evidence-based services that provide families with food assistance, basic health care, and ongoing support.
Economic Development. With the tremendous assistance of a new Director of Economic Development, I will continue to support to insure business retention, services like housing and childcare that enable economic growth, and efforts to promote new business development. New business and industry should offer living wages, compatibility with our ongoing development plan, the environment and community values.
Smart Growth and Sustainable Development. I would hope to be able to continue serving on the Planning Resources and Development Committee, finalizing a robust County Comprehensive Plan for the
next ten years. This provides a path to sensible, smart growth that protects our water and natural resources while insuring that new housing and commercial development can co-occur.
Housing. I have long been, and will continue to be, a strong advocate for housing; safe, quality, desirable housing for families at all points on the income scale. A Housing Study I helped bring about identified an urgent need for more housing for the homeless, for workers like teachers and firefighters, and for our burgeoning senior population. In the past term, I was able to push the county to develop an ordinance permitting accessory dwelling units. I will continue to work on zoning codes that could facilitate more development. Housing is an essential element for economic development.