Fighting brain cancer, Melichar steps down as town chairman

Town of Port Washington Chairman Jim Melichar, who has been involved in town government for almost three decades, resigned from his post April 14, citing health concerns that limit his ability to fulfill his duties.

Melichar, 58, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a brain cancer, earlier this year and has been undergoing treatment and therapy.

“It’s quite a bit to overcome,” Melichar said Tuesday. “But I’ve got overwhelming support right now.”

“We are fighting,” his wife Sherri added. “Jim is going to beat this.”

During a special meeting Tuesday, the Town Board passed a resolution appointing Supr. Mike Didier as town chairman until Melichar’s term ends next April.

“You definitely have the seniority. You do a great job,” Supr. Gary Schlenvogt told Didier.

The board also agreed to start seeking applicants to fill supervisory seat until next April. They said they would solicit applications and also accept letters of interest from town residents.

Didier, a real estate agent, has been a town supervisor since 2011.

Didier said Melichar is a perfect example of a town chairman — someone who is from the town, lives and works in the township and cares about the community.

“He dealt with everything, no matter how small,” Didier said. “He dedicated a lot of his time to the town, and he got things done. He did what he had to do.

“He was not afraid to step up to the plate and help out where he could.”

In addition to his town positions, he noted, Melichar has been active in numerous clean water committees, agricultural groups, the county Dairy Promotions organization, 4-H and other events.

His Broadacre Farm has hosted Breakfast on the Farm several times, hosting thousands of people and teaching them about the ways agriculture impacts their lives.

Melichar has been involved in town politics since 1992, when he was named to the Plan Commission to fill the post being vacated by Bob Noll.

“I was coaxed into that by my neighbor,” Melichar said. “He wanted a farmer on the commission. He thought that was important.”

In 2001, he was elected town supervisor. At that time, the relationship between the city and town of Port was acrimonious and the town was spending a significant amount of money on legal fees annually, Melichar said.

It was a time when the town needed common sense and someone who understood the community’s history, Melichar said.

In 2011, he was elected town chairman, defeating longtime chairman Lee Schlenvogt, who was also a member of the Ozaukee County Board.

“I didn’t think that was right, holding two board positions,” Melichar said.

Melichar said he worked hard to represent the town as a whole as well as the agricultural community, ensuring the township didn’t forget its rural past as it moved forward.

Maintaining the Knellsville area as the town’s core is a priority, he said, and the board has worked hard to ensure there is a plan in place so the area is developed in a cohesive manner.

“It’s not going to be hodge-podged together,” Melichar said.

  But now, he said, it’s time to take a step back.

“From now on, my priority has to be my family and my health,” Melichar said. “The town’s in good hands.”