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Politics & Government

Little Interest in Lisbon Sussex Merger

Former Lisbon chairman sent a letter to state officials saying Lisbon and Sussex should merge instead of separate incorporation.

and Town of Lisbon leaders said they have no active interest in merging despite calls for at least a partial merger by former town Chairman Mike Reed.

Reed sent a letter to the state Incorporation Review Board asking for members to deny the Lisbon incorporation because the town should instead dissolve and merge with Sussex and other area communities.

Lisbon Chairman Matt Gehrke said Tuesday it’s not something town leaders are considering at this time.

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“I’ve heard his comments but I support moving forward as does the entirety of the Town Board,” Gehrke said. “There are certainly multiple reasons why he isn’t chair in Lisbon anymore.”

A citizens group called Lisbon-Inc.org filed the petition for incorporation with the Wisconsin Department of Administration in 2010 due to issues they have with preserving borders with Sussex and Menomonee Falls, and to avoid county zoning rules for subdividing land, which would allow for smaller lots on a divided property.

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The petition is being reviewed by the state, which is expected to render a judgment by the end of June.

In the letter Reed states the dissolution of the town and merger with Sussex and Merton are necessary because incorporating Lisbon now would run contrary to Gov. Scott Walker’s ideas of shrinking government and reducing costs.

“Town of Lisbon gets many of its services from the Village of Sussex. Lisbon and Sussex have had an ongoing feud for longer than many of its current residents have been alive. Costly competitive disputes between boards and committees are ongoing,” the letter states. “The facts remain: Lisbon needs Sussex sewer capacity. Lisbon residents shop and frequent Sussex and Merton commercial and business establishments. Lisbon residents and kids frequent Merton and Sussex sports events and sports facilities on an ongoing and frequent basis. For the most part, Sussex and Merton are Lisbon's community centers. Lisbon has no community center other than that shared with Sussex; has no business district, and is not homogenous and nor compact. “

Jeremy Smith, village administrator for Sussex, said the municipality has let its views be known about how Sussex could be impacted if Lisbon incorporates, but there hasn’t been any official stance on supporting or not supporting incorporation.

He said it has been awhile since village leaders discussed consolidation with Lisbon, but it isn’t a new issue.

“This has been out there 50, 60, 70 years about what’s the most effective way to do things,” he said. “There are a lot of different issues, but ultimately it’s not something the boards have really talked about seriously, but if people were interested it’s certainly we could look at.”

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