State OKs merger plan

deptadmin-webVillage of Salem Lakes will emerge out of Salem-Silver Lake agreement

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

As anticipated, the state Department of Administration – Division of Intergovernmental Relations approved a cooperative plan between the Town of Salem and Village of Silver Lake, effective Feb. 14, 2017, when the Village of Salem Lakes is born.

In a letter addressed to Salem Town Administrator Pat Casey, Division of Intergovernmental Relations Administrator Dawn Vick welcomed the merger, and expressed support of the cooperative agreement.

“Congratulations on your success in reaching an agreement to combine your communities,” the letter states. “Your collaboration represents a substantial progression of the existing cooperation between your communities.”

Casey said the next hurdle is to merge all operations, including, but not limited to, ordinance development, zoning, planning, law enforcement, public works and lake protection districts.

“The next step, really, is now that the state approved it, it is similar to two private companies merging,” he said. “We have to combine all of the operations like rules and regulations.”

Both communities have already agreed to law enforcement and fire protection services, among others, so the cooperative plan is a continuation of the existing level of cooperation.

The approval comes after both municipalities completed established procedures, which include joint initiating resolutions to develop a plan, a joint public hearing to receive comments from the public and other governing bodies along with a resolution adopted by each municipality to approve a final version of the cooperative plan.

The Town of Salem passed its resolution May 2, and three days later, the Village of Silver Lake gave its resolution the green light, according to a seven-page document outlining the cooperative agreement.

Before their July 6 joint public hearing, which received positive feedback from residents in attendance, both communities held two public informational meetings on June 16 and 21.

Both communities adopted resolutions approving the merger on July 27.

Later, the two communities forwarded the resolutions to the Department of Administration for formal review Sept. 6.

In transition
As part of its transition period, running from Nov. 21 until the first meeting of elected officials for the new village, both communities voluntarily agreed they will not do the following: Incur new debt, authorize new expenditures, enter in new contracts, hire new staff, discharge existing staff, annex territory, exercise any zoning or plat approval authority and approve zoning amendments.

Furthermore, employees of both communities will retain their jobs for a minimum of one year.

“All of the departments will remain intact, the agreement calls for everybody to retain their positions for at least a year,” said Casey, adding the Town of Salem is absorbing six village employees.

In the letter, Vick added the merger creates a more efficient flow of municipal business and enhances future development of the eventual new municipality.

“No doubt by combing services and eliminating duplication, this Cooperative Plan will greatly increase governmental efficiency and orderly future development and be tremendously beneficial to area residents,” Vick stated


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