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City, Turtle looking at boundaries
By Ann Montgomery
Daily News staff writer
City seeks development land
Residents in the Town of Turtle are upset over a request from the City of Beloit to extend the municipality's border agreement.
If amended as the city has proposed, Beloit would not only push its city limits east to Butterfly Road and north to Philhower/Creek Road, but would absorb 3,500 acres along Shopiere Road and Interstate 90. The proposal also shows 50 acres along Shopiere Road north of Our Lady of the Assumption Church, and 990 acres along Stateline Road, becoming part of the city, according to a letter drafted by Beloit City Manager Larry Arft.
Town of Turtle officials knew last summer the city was looking at amending the current border agreement, but didn't take action until a letter and a map of the proposed changes arrived at the town community center in early February. Since then, the town's Boundary Area Agreement Review Committee, town board members, and about 40 residents have met to look over the proposal.
Town Chairman Jim Brandenburg said many are not happy with what they see.
"There are a lot of upset people out here," he said.
The city is interested in acquiring the 3,500 acres along Shopiere Road and I-90 in order to encourage development in the area, according to Assistant City Manager Steve Gregg. Many developers require land to have sewer lines extended before they will considered buying acreage, but the town does not have its own sewer system. Beloit could extend its sewer lines to the 3,500 acres in question, therefore spurring development of the I-90 corridor.
Gregg said annexing smaller parcels of land, including the 50 acres near OLA, would eliminate a small pocket of the Town of Turtle that exists surrounded by the city.
In requesting an amended boundary agreement, the city is offering a one-time payment for the signing of the agreement, and a revenue sharing option to compensate the town for giving up the land.
The city is offering a one-time payment of $150,000 if the State Department of Administration approves the amendment, as well as $10,000 a year for 20 years. The city also would provide the Town of Turtle an annual payment for 10 years equal to the amount of the town's current property tax rate, times the current assessed valuation for all property attached to the city within the areas added to the boundary agreement.
A revenue sharing plan for land that is developed is also being considered between the city and the town. The plan would give the town certain monies based on developments that spring up on land annexed into the city.
Brandenburg said residents who have seen the proposal are upset because many of them moved to the town to get out of the city. He noted large subdivisions, including those east of Beloit Memorial Hospital and Beloit Clinic, are within the land the city wants to annex.
Turtle's Boundary Area Agreement Committee has referred the issue to a boundary agreement specialist, and will take that person's suggestions under advisement before formally responding to the city's request. Brandenburg said he expects the town to be able to respond to boundary agreement request soon.
Residents in the Town of Turtle are upset over a request from the City of Beloit to extend the municipality's border agreement.
If amended as the city has proposed, Beloit would not only push its city limits east to Butterfly Road and north to Philhower/Creek Road, but would absorb 3,500 acres along Shopiere Road and Interstate 90. The proposal also shows 50 acres along Shopiere Road north of Our Lady of the Assumption Church, and 990 acres along Stateline Road, becoming part of the city, according to a letter drafted by Beloit City Manager Larry Arft.
Town of Turtle officials knew last summer the city was looking at amending the current border agreement, but didn't take action until a letter and a map of the proposed changes arrived at the town community center in early February. Since then, the town's Boundary Area Agreement Review Committee, town board members, and about 40 residents have met to look over the proposal.
Town Chairman Jim Brandenburg said many are not happy with what they see.
"There are a lot of upset people out here," he said.
The city is interested in acquiring the 3,500 acres along Shopiere Road and I-90 in order to encourage development in the area, according to Assistant City Manager Steve Gregg. Many developers require land to have sewer lines extended before they will considered buying acreage, but the town does not have its own sewer system. Beloit could extend its sewer lines to the 3,500 acres in question, therefore spurring development of the I-90 corridor.
Gregg said annexing smaller parcels of land, including the 50 acres near OLA, would eliminate a small pocket of the Town of Turtle that exists surrounded by the city.
In requesting an amended boundary agreement, the city is offering a one-time payment for the signing of the agreement, and a revenue sharing option to compensate the town for giving up the land.
The city is offering a one-time payment of $150,000 if the State Department of Administration approves the amendment, as well as $10,000 a year for 20 years. The city also would provide the Town of Turtle an annual payment for 10 years equal to the amount of the town's current property tax rate, times the current assessed valuation for all property attached to the city within the areas added to the boundary agreement.
A revenue sharing plan for land that is developed is also being considered between the city and the town. The plan would give the town certain monies based on developments that spring up on land annexed into the city.
Brandenburg said residents who have seen the proposal are upset because many of them moved to the town to get out of the city. He noted large subdivisions, including those east of Beloit Memorial Hospital and Beloit Clinic, are within the land the city wants to annex.
Turtle's Boundary Area Agreement Committee has referred the issue to a boundary agreement specialist, and will take that person's suggestions under advisement before formally responding to the city's request. Brandenburg said he expects the town to be able to respond to boundary agreement request soon.
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