richelle andrae
Thank you for the opportunity to serve District 11, which includes most of Hill Farms, Shorewood Village, and the neighborhoods immediately east of Midvale Blvd. I’ve lived in Madison since 2013, and reside just west of Hilldale. I’ve experienced our community through the eyes of a student, a young professional working in non-profit, an academic, and a volunteer. During the day, I am an advocate for safety net clinics in Wisconsin, working with state policymakers and partners to ensure that all residents have access to quality health care, regardless of income or insurance status. I’ve previously worked on local public health evaluation projects, rural workforce development, and Medicaid policy. After serving an AmeriCorps service term in California, I returned to Wisconsin and worked directly with underserved teens in Madison high schools, helping them find and keep their first jobs.
On the County Board, I Chair the Public Protection & Judiciary Committee, which has oversight for the Dane County Sheriff's Office, District Attorney's Office, Emergency Management, 911 Call Center, Courts, Pre-Trial Services, Medical Examiner, and more. A few of my "success stories" on the Board include navigating the complex jail consolidation project, improving constituent outreach by encouraging implementation of a blog system for Supervisors, and budget amendments to embed crisis expertise in emergency response and improve the pay structure for staff attorneys to support the timely service of justice. I also serve on the Dane County Food Policy Council and Greater Madison MPO, which administers transportation-related funding and programs across the region.
When I’m not at work or engaged in Board activities, you can find me at the Odana dog park with my rescue pup, Roux. I studied Spanish at UW-Madison during my undergrad, and earned a Masters in Public Affairs from the La Follette School, focusing on health policy and administration. Please reach out at any time and I look forward to working with you.　
Neighbors,
I’ve been talking to a lot of district 11 residents recently, fielding excellent questions about county services, programs, and the functions of the County Board. I spoke with a mom concerned about her child’s friends with mixed documentation status in their families (I shared info about the county Office of Immigration Affairs which helps with case management and system navigation), and a neighbor seeking mental health resources and supports for families with special needs (see County Behavioral Health services), and more. I just attended the luncheon for Immigration Affairs last week, and was honored to help celebrate the contributions of their staff and the entire immigrant community in our area. I’m proud of resources like this in Dane County that make our community richer, more diverse, and welcoming for all. Residents also had questions about public transportation, lake and watershed protections, hunting restrictions on county land, and an architect involved with the local Lakeway project along John Nolen Drive. Keep the questions and discussion coming!
We live in a changing community, one where we’re all encountering changes, whether that’s to traffic, new school demographics, different services and events, or fluctuating income as affordability seems out of reach for many. I do want to flag new estimate for Dane County’s growing population, covered by the Cap Times this week. New estimates project that the countywide population will reach nearly 900,000 residents by 2050, compared to about 600,000 today. That’s a boost in an estimate from earlier this year and likely more accurate. Learn more: https://rhs.danecounty.gov/documents/pdf/FactSheets/Fact-Sheet---RDG-2050-Population-Projections-for-Dane-County-2025-08-22.pdf.
I hope that you have some time to unplug over the holidays. I’ll be visiting my family in Door County, hopefully frolicking in the snow with my dog, finding quality time for a few board games with friends, and looking ahead to the new year. Wishing you warmth, rest, and cheer this holiday season.
This email has information about:
New ATTA Juvenile Program
I’m really thrilled about a new program that officially launched in Dane County yesterday, called ATTA. I started talking with Juvenile Detention Director John Bauman, Judge Everett Mitchell, and legal counsel in the heart of the pandemic about opportunities to reduce reliance on Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake, the state run facilities for serious juvenile offenders in Wisconsin. These facilities are not ideal settings for many reasons, and youth can spend months or years there, and the vast majority of youth return to community at some point. Youth there are far from home, not receiving local services, and outside of the county’s authority from a safety perspective. We looked for a different approach, and it took leadership from county champions, many complex conversations, different funding models, and buy-in from a lot of stakeholders to pull this new program together. Now with ATTA, we will have an option to build programming that meets youth needs for longer stays in a detention facility right here in Dane County, provide family supports, and really invest in re-entry so that youth can be successful and we can see reductions in recidivism. This program makes great fiscal sense, too – it costs literally hundreds of thousands of dollars to house each Dane County youth at the state facilities, so we will also be saving funds and redirecting those to local services.
I’m so thankful for all the partners that came together to bring this to fruition, and especially the staff that saw the opportunity to improve outcomes for our youth, and ran with it. I’ll be excited to share updates as the program is implemented.
Read more in the Cap Times: https://captimes.com/news/government/dane-county-effort-aims-to-curb-state-incarceration-of-teen-offenders/article_3e73f5f8-9ea3-4d3a-9ab4-8858b11043a3.html and find details about the program here: https://www.danecountyhumanservices.org/documents/pdf/Youth-Justice/2024/On-Balance-Winter-2025.pdf.
AEC Redevelopment Plan Update
The county has a big project related to redevelopment of the Alliant Energy Center, one of many moving pieces in the south Madison area corridor, along with the Lakeway project and others. Here’s an update on that project:
Last month, Dane County released a Request for Proposals to secure a development partner for a full-scale renovation of the aging facility. County Executive Melissa Agard has prioritized this effort, calling it a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a sustainable, modern venue that supports entertainment, sports, and community use. Across the rest of the campus, work efforts are focused on advancing the projects that will create a more vibrant, connected experience for all. Renovation of the hotel on the Alliant Energy Center campus is among these. Under new ownership, the newly renovated Spark Hotel by Hilton Madison Central is now open, offering 140 guest rooms, upgraded amenities, and a skywalk connection to Exhibition Hall—making it the most convenient stay on campus.
In September of this year, the County prepared a (Request for Proposals (RFPs) to creatively and flexibly address the renovation of the Coliseum while ensuring it continues to serve as a regional anchor for events and economic activity. The RFP was broadcast nationwide, with proposals due Nov 21, 2025. A locally founded company, Frank Productions Concerts Live, was the only respondent. The County is evaluating the proposal, and if deemed viable, will begin negotiations. The stated goal of the RFP was to solicit proposals from Proposers that are prepared to deliver a comprehensive renovation of the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Dane County intends to partner with a qualified development team that will be responsible for designing, building, financing, operating, and maintaining the Veterans Memorial Coliseum after a major renovation.
According to the RFP, the County is seeking a public-private partner that:
To help lead the RFP process, the County has partnered with CAA ICON, an industry leader in entertainment facility development and strategic consulting. CAA ICON brings extensive experience in guiding the development, design, and construction of high-profile venues, including project management of Fiserv Forum and adjacent development in Milwaukee’s Deer District, which has become a nationally recognized hub for sports, entertainment, and community activity.
About the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Built in 1967, the 10,000-seat venue served as home for the University of Wisconsin Badgers Men’s hockey until 1998. It has also hosted hundreds of memorable events, including major musical acts like Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Sinatra, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, The Who, Sting, as well as The World Dairy Expo, Zor Shrine Circus, and many more. In its current outdated state, it does not meet the needs of major events that could be hosted here to entertain the residents of southern Wisconsin and beyond. Today, our residents often travel outside the region to attend concerts and other shows that could be hosted with a renovated Coliseum.
Sustainability Campus (AKA landfill expansion) – ICYMI
I’ll take any opportunity I can to talk about our amazing landfill which is an international model for sustainability. I’m just sharing some info here about the project underway to expand and grow: https://landfill.danecounty.gov/projects/WastandRenewableProjects/Sustainability-Campus. Check it out and don’t forget about their weekly tours!
Child Sextortion PSA
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul requested that local policymakers share a Public Service Announcement (PSA) and video link his office created on the significant threats children face online. This PSA is designed to educate, inform, and provide guidance to parents and caregivers. It’s ridiculous and sad that we even have to think about this issue. Here’s AG Josh Kaul’s message:
As you may be aware, sextortion is currently one of the more significant threats children face online. To help educate the public on this concerning threat and provide guidance on what to do if a child is being sextorted, the Wisconsin Department of Justice has created a video public service announcement (PSA) for use on social media. The PSA features the families of Landen Weigelt and Bradyn Bohn, two Wisconsin teenagers who died by suicide because of sextortion. Watch video: https://youtu.be/6EdAGY0guKg
Thank you all, and I look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood this winter. Stay warm,
In service,
Richelle Andrae
Dane County Board Supervisor District 11
