1. BECOMING the Village of Williamstown “The Best Way to Predict the Future is to Create It”

2. Reasons for Developing a Cooperative Plan to Expand the Village
Village notified the Town of its intent to dissolve. Between 2015 and the present, both Boards met numerous times to explore various options to combine both governments to best address the future needs of all its residents.
Town and Village leaders determined that the appropriate approach was to enter into a Cooperative Plan that would serve the purpose described under Wis. Stats (3)(b) - coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development.
Current Village Board members agreed to continue in their positions in order to accomplish an orderly merger of the two municipalities into one village. Becoming a village will ensure Kekoskee area residents will maintain the same powers to address their future needs.

3. Summarizing the Main Issues
Under State law, towns are subordinate to other types of municipalities (villages and cities).
Several attempts to negotiate a Border Agreement between the Town and the City of Mayville have been undertaken but unsuccessful.
The most recent formal attempt occurred in It received support from City Staff but was rejected by the City Council.
The Town continues to seek an agreement with the City.

4. Summarizing the Main Issues (cont.)
Subsequent annexations, some of which involved properties that have still not been developed, led to loss of Town tax base over the last 16 years.

5. 2000 to 2013 Annexations

6. Summarizing the Main Issues (cont.)
However, a Cooperative Border Agreement with the City would create a framework and timeline for both communities to better anticipate transitions.

7. Summarizing the Main Issues (cont.)
Extraterritorial Review Impacts
The City of Mayville exercises extraterritorial land division review authority in the Town of Williamstown. The Village of Kekoskee does not.
The City has been using this authority to deny Town residents’ land divisions, despite their having been approved by the Town.
In May 2017, the Town filed a notice of claim against the City of Mayville on the grounds that the City was exceeding its land division review authority by denying land divisions in the Town.
Again, a Border Agreement could address the terms of extraterritorial review.

8. Recent Extraterritorial Reviews

9. What are the Advantages of expanding the Village?
Increase candidate pool for municipal officials and address the Village’s impending dissolution.
Increase autonomy through home rule. Opportunity through empowerment.
Retain the tools needed to properly manage the concentrated development within the current Village

10. Advantages (cont.)
Protect Town residents from extraterritorial interference during land divisions thus avoiding litigation.
Make transfers of territory a joint effort between the expanded Village and the City.
Achieve efficiency and economy in the performance of government functions.

11. Advantages (cont.) More predictable tax base.
Protect and control our identity.
Improve our ability to negotiate with the City by operating on a level playing field.
Approval of cooperative plan does not affect authority to make an agreement with the City.

12. Cooperative Plan Content
Boundary Change: The Village of Kekoskee will adopt an ordinance to “attach” the Town of Williamstown, making it a part of the Village.
Name Change: The Village will be renamed the “Village of Williamstown,” but Kekoskee will continue as a neighborhood within the expanded Village.
Village Board: Current Kekoskee Board members will step down and be replaced with current Town of Williamstown Board members.

13. Cooperative Plan Content (cont.)
Ordinances: The Town and Village codes of ordinances will be merged into a single code applicable to the entire expanded Village.
Planning and Zoning: Kekoskee is currently unzoned, but a new zoning district will be created for it.
Services: The parties intend for current services to be continued to the extent possible. The City has threatened to refuse future EMS services to people within Williamstown and Kekoskee, but other entities can provide those services.

14. DOA Review Criteria
Is the cooperative plan consistent with each participating municipality’s comprehensive plan?
The Village of Kekoskee does not have a comprehensive plan because it does not engage in any of the activities that necessitate one.
The Town of Williamstown’s comprehensive plan makes clear its goals:
Working with surrounding municipalities, including the Village of Kekoskee, on boundary agreements.
Protecting its territory from interference by other municipalities using zoning powers and boundary agreements.

15. DOA Review Criteria (cont.)
Does the cooperative plan adequately provide for service delivery?
The Village will contract for law enforcement, fire protection, and ambulance services from third parties.
The Village will handle public works services itself or through contracts with third parties.
The Joint Wastewater Commission agreement will continue to apply.

16. DOA Review Criteria (cont.)
Are the proposed plan boundaries compact, and not the result of arbitrariness?
Town and Village will be merged one way or another. There is no option to make the combined boundary more “compact.”
The cooperative plan allows the merger to occur in an orderly and predictable fashion.
The merger will simplify boundaries and make them more uniform by eliminating the Town-Village boundary altogether.
The merger will have no impact on boundaries with any other municipality. The Village line will be the current Town line.
The result will be a single, uniform municipality with boundaries that will be readily understood.

17. Compact Boundaries
Forces at play that create the Town’s current compact planning area.
Horicon Marsh Boundary and WDNR Lands
Incorporated limits of the City of Mayville
Incorporated limits of the Village of Kekoskee
Incorporated limits of the City of Horicon
The geographic location of the Glacier Ridge Landfill
Remaining portions of the Town include a variety of land use types designed to provide coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development which meet the goals of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.

18. Compact Boundaries (cont.)

19. Timeline
Current Village Board members notified the Town of their intent to resign in They have volunteered to stay on since then in order to complete the cooperative plan process but are ready for their resignations to take effect.
Delaying the approval and implementation of the Cooperative Plan will result in extended uncertainty over future municipal boundaries and municipal services that will affect planning and property development in the area. We want to achieve certainty as soon as possible.
The Village of Williamstown will have the same authority to enter into a boundary agreement with the City that the Town did.

20. Negotiations with City
The Town and Village do not intend to “box in” the City.
Immediately upon approving the cooperative plan, the Town and Village authorized boundary negotiations with the City and those negotiations are ongoing.
Boundary negotiations include a “city growth area” that allows for growth of the City.
Town has decided not to contest a pending annexation even though the annexation is prohibited by law.