Rockland would effectively disappear under an agreement in the works for months with Greenleaf, according to records obtained by the Press-Gazette.
Rockland would effectively disappear and merge into Greenleaf under an agreement in the works for months between the two municipalities.
The intergovernmental cooperation agreement outlines a plan for Greenleaf to shoulder Rockland’s public services, absorb its government, and integrate almost all of Rockland into the village “as soon after the effective date as possible,” according to a copy of the contract obtained by the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
A public hearing on the agreement is scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 10 at Rockland Town Hall, 1712 Bob-Bea-Jan Road.
Rockland Town Chairman Dennis Cashman told the Press-Gazette that after the hearing, the agreement would "possibly be voted on" during a different meeting the same day. Both the Greenleaf Village Board and Rockland Town Board must accept the agreement by passing a resolution, according to state law. A referendum must be held if a petition signed by 20% of affected residents asks for one within 30 days, according to state law. Though not technically an annexation, state law says a referendum must be done in the same way as ones for annexation.
Cashman said the agreement would protect the rural character and values of Rockland, as well as eliminate the possibility of future annexations by De Pere. The document said the arrangement will better provide services for residents on a “cost-effective basis.”
Most of the 1,800 people living in Rockland would become residents of Greenleaf, which has staked its character in preserving a rural lifestyle. The move would more than double the village’s population, estimated in 2025 at 1,307 people.
The new village would nearly triple Greenleaf’s total land area to about 31 square miles, roughly as big as Hobart.
Rockland would shrink to about 5% of its current size, down to roughly 0.7 square mile of land owned by Big Valley Farms around Midway and Big Valley roads. The owner of the remaining town land has indicated its desire to be annexed into De Pere, according to the agreement. Should De Pere not annex this remnant by Dec. 31, the village will try to negotiate with the property owner to incorporate the remainder into Greenleaf, the agreement said.
Greenleaf would take all responsibility for public works, public safety, park services and zoning powers. Rockland’s current private contract for trash and recycling services would continue until it expires, the agreement said.
All town employees will become village employees, according to the agreement. Rockland Clerk Julie Koening would serve as part-time deputy clerk to Greenleaf Clerk Stephanie Owen. The Town Board, currently made up of three board members, would be dissolved. Two of the Town Board members would join the current Greenleaf Village Board, forming a new five-person Village Board.
A new set of laws would consolidate the village and town’s current ordinances.
The agreement has been in progress for months.
Records obtained by the Press-Gazette show the labor law firm Renning, Lewis & Lacy met with Rockland officials on Jan. 6. A draft agreement was sent April 17 between Rockland officials and Anthony Steffek, who’s providing legal services to Greenleaf. The Greenleaf Village Board has gone into closed session at least three times in May and June to discuss an intergovernmental agreement.
Cashman declined to comment on how the agreement was initiated.
Jesse Lin is a reporter covering the community of Green Bay and its surroundings, as well as politics in northeastern Wisconsin. He also writes a weekly column answering reader questions about Green Bay. Contact and send him questions at 920-834-4250 or [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Rockland could cease to exist under plan with Greenleaf | Exclusive