By Gail Peckler-Dziki
Correspondent
Earlier this spring, Salem and Silver Lake, in separate meetings, authorized the preparation of a cooperative boundary agreement between the town and village. The final version is yet to be worked out, is expected to include a plan that would merge the two into one single village.
If the Department of Administration approves the boundary agreement that will soon be submitted, the new village would be the second largest village in Kenosha county with an area of over 33 square miles and more than 14,500 residents.
This new village would have nine lakes within its borders and the everyday management of the new village would be handled by an experienced administrator whose responsibilities include the implementation of policy directives, developing, presenting and managing the budget, facilitating capital improvement projects and working with various local, state and federal agencies.
Salem’s borders would be protected from annexation by other villages with higher mill rates and Silver Lake would have the advantage that Salem’s favorable bond rating. Currently, the village has no bond rating and must borrow funds at market rate rather than the lower rates Salem enjoys.
The current Silver Lake mill rate is $5.52 per thousand; Salem’s mill rate is $3.47.
The worst-case mill rate increase for Salem residents, worked out by the town’s incorporation study group is that the town mill rate could rise 30 cents with the change. That would give an annual increase of $30 for a home valued at $100,000.
The combined jurisdictional boundaries will form a government that encompasses both municipalities and will increase local government efficiency. Salem already provides fire and rescue services for Silver Lake and Salem public works has been providing Silver Lake with necessary supervision and also handling projects that the village previously contracted for.
The length of time needed for zoning approvals would be streamlined, since the new village would have home rule and no longer deal with county planning and zoning.
This would be especially important to the development of the Salem Business Park, according to town officials.
Village home rule has another advantage. Towns can do only what is permitted by the state, a village can do anything unless it is prohibited by the state.
This boundary agreement is the shortest and least expensive way to become a village. The entire town will also be kept together.
Town Chairwoman Diann Tesar stated that, “The action is not about one municipality taking over another. Both municipalities are working together to negotiate terms that benefit residents of both communities. Each board votes on the final agreement.”
Silver Lake would remain a hamlet, or neighborhood within the larger municipality, much like Camp Lake, Trevor and Wilmot are now within the boundary of the town.
The name of the new municipality is still under negotiation.