This map shows in green where sex offenders are eligible to live in Twin Lakes with the 1,200 foot buffer and all public gathering places added (revised from earlier version; click for larger version). /Twin Lakes village document
The Twin Lakes Village Board on Monday voted to keep a 1,200-foot buffer from public gathering places for sex offenders residences.
The village’s attorney had recommended changing the buffer to 1,000 feet or 750 feet to make the village’s ordinance less likely to be successfully challenged with a lawsuit. Attorney Elaine Ekes said at an earlier meeting that ordinances in several other Wisconsin municipalities — including Pleasant Prairie in Kenosha County — have recently had their ordinances challenged, with the municipality losing.
Ekes had recommended that the village have 60 percent of its area available for residency by sex offenders, a mark reached by the 750-foot buffer. About 40 percent of the village is available for residency by sex offenders with the 1,200-foot buffer.
Trustees discussed enacting the 1,000-foot buffer, but ultimately decided to stick with the 1,200-foot buffer.
The board also enacted a 600 foot buffer between the residences of sex offenders.
