Bristol’s governmental boards — town and village — are backing an effort by Kenosha to change state statutes regarding deannexations of territory from municipalities.
The issue has arisen because the village of Bristol has requested an annexation referendum that could unite the town and village as one municipality. No date for that vote has been set yet.
The possibility has raised concerns for Kenosha that a boundary agreement negotiated between the town and the city might be in jeopardy, said William White, Bristol’s municipal attorney, because the village is in effect a different municipality.
White contends that the agreement contains language that would still make it in effect even in the case of a mass annexation of the town. But the city would feel more confident if the state statute was changed, White said.
The boundary agreement calls for an area east of Highway MB and north of Highway 50 to be annexed into the city at the owner’s request or by 2030 if the owner has taken no action.
The village would still be bound by that agreement, White said, but the city is looking for additional reassurance.
“We think it just restates the obvious,” White said.
A resolution supporting Kenosha’s effort passed the Town Board unanimously and passed the Village Board 5 to 2.
Trustee Carolyn Owens, one of the no votes, said she objected to the village needing to support the resolution when the agreement already covered the issue.
“I don’t understand why we continually have to go through this …,” Owens said. “It doesn’t seem right.”
The town and village are in a more contentious situation with its other neighbor to the east. Pleasant Prairie has gone on record with questioning the legality of the annexation effort because it may jeopardize the boundary agreement between the town and Pleasant Prairie.
White said he met Monday with Pleasant Prairie representatives and he anticipates more meetings to work out differences.
“There are some issues which they want addressed,” Gossling said. “Our attorneys tell us we’re in good stead.”
The northwest portion of the former unincorporated town of Bristol incorporated as a village as of Dec. 1, 2009.
