Merger vote up in air because trustee has gone fishin'

Village of Pewaukee – A vote on the long-debated merger issue may not occur tonight because one village trustee has gone fishing.

The Village Board is slated to vote on an ordinance to establish a street utility district and the consolidation ordinance. However, Trustee Paul Evert notified village staff late last week that he would be going fishing today, said Village Clerk Sue Atherton, who was asked this morning if all board embers would be in attendance.

Passage of both ordinances would set the stage for a November referendum on consolidating the village with City of Pewaukee. The city’s Common Council did not take action on the consolidation ordinance last night.

The street utility district needs approval of six of the seven members and the consolidation ordinance needs five of seven members.

Village President Jeff Knutson said he was upset that Evert would not be in attendance.

“I’m in a quandary,” he said. “I’m not really happy.”

Knutson said he would be talking with Atherton, Village Administrator Scott Gosse and Village Attorney Mark Blum about the available options, including moving forward on the items or holding a special meeting.

Knutson said he learned of Evert’s intention Friday afternoon. At that point, he said he thought it was too late to try to get hold of everyone to change the meeting date. “And it’s not fair to the constituents,” he said.