MONROE - A land purchase agreement with a closing date set for October was met with an obstacle on Tuesday when Monroe Common Council voted to deny annexation of the 98-acre parcel between Wisconsin 81 and County N.
The addition of the area, commonly referred to as the Dolan Property, was struck down in a 4-2 vote during council proceedings which aldermen Chris Beer, Jeff Newcomer and Charles Koch did not attend. Per City Attorney Dan Bartholf, a two-thirds vote of the entire council was needed to pass the ordinance. There are nine aldermen. With six council members in attendance, that meant a unanimous vote was needed to annex the property.
Alderman Michael Boyce informed the council he did not approve of the proposed Tax Increment District 9, which was being considered for the property.
Under the proposed project plan, the city was considering possible uses for the area, including a mixture of commercial businesses and housing. Currently the property sits as empty farmland.
Boyce has voiced opposition to TID properties throughout the city, though he did approve of the further consideration of TID 10, which includes Monroe Clinic and nearby properties. TID 10 would be set up as a Pay-Go district, allowing for proof of development before any sort of incentives would be given by the city to Monroe Clinic.
Boyce and fellow alderman Ron Marsh voted against the annexation ordinance. Council members Brooke Bauman, Tom Miller, Richard Thoman and Rob Schilt supported it.
Without annexation, City Administrator Phil Rath said the purchase could still move forward but that the parcel would not be considered city property subject to zoning code, nor could a TID be created until annexation took place. The land would simply be considered a part of Green County. City staff will need to consider options before moving forward, Rath added.
The addition of the area, commonly referred to as the Dolan Property, was struck down in a 4-2 vote during council proceedings which aldermen Chris Beer, Jeff Newcomer and Charles Koch did not attend. Per City Attorney Dan Bartholf, a two-thirds vote of the entire council was needed to pass the ordinance. There are nine aldermen. With six council members in attendance, that meant a unanimous vote was needed to annex the property.
Alderman Michael Boyce informed the council he did not approve of the proposed Tax Increment District 9, which was being considered for the property.
Under the proposed project plan, the city was considering possible uses for the area, including a mixture of commercial businesses and housing. Currently the property sits as empty farmland.
Boyce has voiced opposition to TID properties throughout the city, though he did approve of the further consideration of TID 10, which includes Monroe Clinic and nearby properties. TID 10 would be set up as a Pay-Go district, allowing for proof of development before any sort of incentives would be given by the city to Monroe Clinic.
Boyce and fellow alderman Ron Marsh voted against the annexation ordinance. Council members Brooke Bauman, Tom Miller, Richard Thoman and Rob Schilt supported it.
Without annexation, City Administrator Phil Rath said the purchase could still move forward but that the parcel would not be considered city property subject to zoning code, nor could a TID be created until annexation took place. The land would simply be considered a part of Green County. City staff will need to consider options before moving forward, Rath added.