Compromise on park to be proposed

Muskego residents who oppose buying property for a lakefront park because the cost of developing the park is still unknown may get some answers.

Muskego Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti announced tonightthat she intends to bring forward at the next council meeting a proposal to put off buying the properties until park development questions are answered. She will propose forming an ad hoc committee to work on park development with the help of municipal boards and bodies.

That could take until the end of summer, she estimated. Hearings would be held.

The plan that Chiaverotti said was originated by Alderwoman Tracy Snead hinges not only on Common Council approval but on the property owners agreeing to keep their properties off the market that long.

Chiaverotti will bring the proposal to the March 13 council meeting.

Meanwhile, a vote on a direct legislation effort to stop the park purchase until a binding referendum is held was put off on the advice of the city's legal counsel.

The reason had to do with three aldermen opposing the park and the mayor being at an outside meeting where the park issue was discussed.

Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel issued an opinion that the three aldermen did nothing wrong in participating in the meeting. But their action inadvertently would put the legality of a vote on the direct legislation in doubt, John Macy, city attorney told the council. With one alderman unable to attend tonight's council meeting only six were left to vote, he said, so the three who attended the meeting wound up being a voting block that controls the vote, contrary to Wisconsin open meeting requirements.