KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission will continue to try to keep Outagamie County as a member, despite the County Board’s vote to withdraw from the organization.
Wisconsin has nine regional planning commissions. They provide planning assistance on regional issues, assist local interests in responding to state and federal programs, act as a coordinating agency for programs and activities, and provide planning and development assistance to local governments, according to the description on the state DOT website. The East Central region includes Menominee, Shawano, Waupaca, Outagamie, Waushara, Winnebago, Calumet, Marquette, Green Lake and Fond du Lac counties.
Outagamie County has objected to services it gets for the amount of levy dues it pays. On Tuesday, the County Board voted 30-1 to leave the ECWRPC. Five supervisors were absent.
After a meeting of its steering committee Friday, ECWRPC executive director Eric Fowle says the commission and other counties will continue to try to resolve the issue.
“Today showed that the remaining counties and the commission do have concern, they do value Outagamie County. They know how integral the county is in terms of development, transportation, and in interactions with the rest of the region. So, it’s coming to consensus on how we can accommodate some of their concerns about cost and value,” Fowle said.
Outagamie County would formally leave as of the end of the year, if a deal is not reached.
