Could a Merger Be on the Way?

Lisbon officials float the idea and could put the question to voters in a referendum.

Could the battles between Sussex and Town of Lisbon be coming to an end? The Sussex Sun is reporting the Lisbon Board of Supervisors is exploring the possibility of holding a referendum to allow the community to merge with Sussex. If the referendum vote is successful, the two communities would form a steering committee to form the new community. Sussex and Lisbon have been at odds over the years with issues related to detachments of properties into the village and opposition Sussex showed during the unsuccessful 2011 attempt by Lisbon to incorporate into a village. Sussex leaders issued a press release Thursday stating the idea was discussed at a recent meeting between the two communities and a merged community could help the area become …

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Arnold Jung

12:38 pm on Friday, March 16, 2012

Steve what makes you think that Sussex taxes are that much different than Lisbon?   more ›

Judge Rejects Review of Lisbon Incorporation Case

After a citizens group asks judge to reopen case, Hassin takes minutes to toss it.

Goetz to Represent Sussex in Mediation with Lisbon

Village president will meet with Town Chairman Matt Gehrke to reach an agreement in the boundary agreement scuffle.T

Village President Greg Goetz has been named the representative of Sussex for the mediation process with Town of Lisbon over alleged boundary agreement violations. The Village Board Tuesday unanimously approved making Goetz the representative during the mediation process as the two sides try to hash out a resolution. Board members said they wanted Goetz to represent the village because Town Chairman Matt Gehrke will represent Lisbon. The two communities are squabbling over the boundary agreement after Lisbon alleged the village was in violation of the agreement because it opposed the failed incorporation attempt by the town. The incorporation effort was rejected by the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Incorporation Review Board. The…

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Group Pushing for Lisbon Incorporation Not Giving Up

Organization files for review of judge's decision; Sussex officials not sure of their next step.

A group of residents trying to incorporate Town of Lisbon as a village have filed a judicial review of the failed petition and get the effort back on track. Lisbon-inc.org filed for the review in Waukesha County Circuit Court last week on the heels of Circuit Judge Donald Hassin’s dismissal of the petition to incorporate. Hassin dismissed the case because the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Incorporation Review Board determined in June the town failed to meet three of the five requirements needed to become a village. Lisbon-inc.org leaders didn’t return phone calls for comment on the appeal. Attorney Michael Krill, who is representing Lisbon-inc.org in the court case, said papers were filed to have Hassin review aspects of the …

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Lisbon Incorporation Effort Appears Dead

Attorney says state has ruled that the town failed to meet criteria to become a village.

An effort by Town of Lisbon residents to incorporate that community as a village appears to have failed. Attorney Stan Riffle, who represented Sussex and Menomonee Falls during the incorporation effort, said the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Incorporation Review Board has issued a draft ruling rejecting the incorporation effort. The ruling, which will be delivered to the Waukesha County Courthouse Friday, will then go before a judge, who is legally obliged to follow the ruling issued by the board.   “They issued a draft determination that basically came to the determination that the five criteria in place in order to incorporate were not met by this incorporation effort,” Riffle said. “That was a draft determination and that …

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Report: Sussex Spent $40K on Legal Fights to Fight Lisbon Incorporation

Goetz says the legal fees are necessary to protect the interests of the village.

The Sussex Sun is reporting that the village has spent more than $40,000 on legal fees over the last two years in an effort to block the Town of Lisbon's efforts to incorporate. The newspaper reported that attorney Stanley Riffle has received $39,083.65 in fees from June of 2009 through May 17 to block the incorporation of the town into a village. The unbudgeted legal expenses will paid from the village's $1.8 million general fund reserve. Village President Greg Goetz told the Sun the legal fees were necessary to protect the interests of the village. Officials are worried that incorporation could mean more development in Lisbon, which would have an adverse effect on Sussex, he said. The state is expected to decide Friday on whether to …

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Lisbon Incorporation to be Decided by Friday

Sussex leaders will discuss incorporation effort during a closed session meeting Tuesday.

A state panel will decide by Friday if it will allow Town of Lisbon to proceed in its efforts to incorporate as a village — a move opposed by Sussex officials. If the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Incorporation Review Board allows the effort to go to a referendum in Lisbon, Sussex leaders will need to decide what their next move will be in the process. The Village Board will discuss the matter in a closed session meeting Tuesday. Lisbon applied for incorporation last year after a group of resident filed papers with the state and collected $25,000 to pay for state fees related to the effort. Although the Town Board hasn’t financially backed the effort, officials have stated they favor the incorporation effort. Sussex officials …

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Goetz, Gehrke to Try and Hash Out Border Disagreement

Village of Sussex leaders want to know what border issues the Town of Lisbon has and find a way to reach an agreement moving forward.

Sussex Village President Greg Goetz and Town of Lisbon Chairman Matt Gehrke will meet in the near future in order to settle some differences their border agreement. “With the boundary agreement there are things that can and can’t be done,” Gehrke said. “It has been in place for about 10 years or so … but they’ve gone against our incorporation process, which violates the agreement.” The Lisbon Board of Supervisors recently agreed to send notice to Sussex letting leaders know the village has violated the boarder agreement during the process of the town seeking to incorporate as a village. The effort is under review by the state Department of Administration’s Incorporation Review Board. If the board gives Lisbon its blessing, the town will …

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