OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) – A Winnebago County judge accepted a petition from the Town of Menasha to incorporate into a village.
On Friday, Judge Karen Seifert accepted the petition without objection from its neighbors: Neenah, Menasha, Appleton or Clayton. However the next step in the process is where each municipality will have its stance known.
The effort would have the west side of the town become the Village of Fox Crossing. The town’s neighbors, Menasha and Neenah, are against the plan.
“This is an exciting time for the Town of Menasha and being able to move forward,” Town administrator Jeffrey Sturgell tells FOX 11.
“We don’t want to extend out the borders of one city that cannot provide the services adequately or village if that’s the case,” said Jim Godlewski, the city attorney for Neenah.
Now, the Wisconsin Department of Administration will review the Town of Menasha’s incorporation qualifications. Leaders say they want to incorporate so they can protect the tax base, solidify borders, offer more services, and have annexation and zoning authority.
“There is no doubt in my mind that we meet the criteria, but ultimately it’ll have to go through the process,” said Sturgell.
The cities of Menasha and Neenah have submitted resolutions to annex the town, as part of objections to the effort.
“When we do talk about annexations, the idea is who can best serve the area that is purposed in the future to become part of one or another incorporated village or city,” said Godlewski.
Appleton’s attorney says his city has a boundary agreement with Town of Menasha saying it won’t challenge an incorporation. However, things could change if it goes through, and the new village tries to annex east side portions of the town.
If the petition is approved, a public referendum would be next.
(Additional reporting from FOX 11).
