RACINE, Wis (WRJN) – Racine County Executive Ralph Malicki opened his first State of the County address Tuesday with a call to “Be Better,” a leadership philosophy he says is centered on continuous improvement and community collaboration.

Malicki outlined where he wants to see progress, introducing changes to law enforcement, making it easier to get housing, and reviewing Racine County pay-rates.

Malicki started by talking up one major project: the upgrade of the county’s law enforcement hub. The 40-year-old patrol station will be fully refurbished and expanded with a 30,000-square-foot addition, creating a 50,000-square-foot facility that includes patrol, investigations, administrative offices, a new 911 dispatch center, and an Emergency Operations Center.

Malicki also addressed the housing crisis affecting Racine and Kenosha counties, which have the lowest housing inventory in Wisconsin. Since 2019, home prices in the area have risen more than 32 percent, while construction costs have increased nearly 40 percent. Despite adding about 5,000 housing units in five years, demand continues to outpace supply, especially for homes priced between $250,000 and $450,000. Malicki says to help, the county is partnering with the Racine County Economic Development Corporation to explore innovative housing solutions and private sector collaboration.

Other initiatives include revitalizing downtown areas in Rochester, Union Grove, Burlington, and Waterford, investing in new county buildings, and conducting a comprehensive salary study to attract and retain talent.

During the address, Malicki presented Community Impact Awards to four local leaders for their outstanding service to Racine County. Honorees are as follows:

Ali Haigh of United Way
Jenny Trick of the Racine County Economic Development Corporation
Steve Wicklund, Union Grove Village President
Alan Babe, Fire Chief

Each recipient was recognized for their contributions in areas of economic development, municipal collaboration, and public safety. Malicki said their work exemplifies the county’s “Be Better” philosophy and the spirit of community improvement.

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