TOWN OF KOSHKONONG RESOLUTION
TO OPPOSE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION U.S. HIGHWAY 12 ALTERNATIVES 7 AND 7a
TO BYPASS FORT ATKINSON

WHEREAS, the Town of Koshkonong has in the past resolved to oppose any bypass of U.S. Highway 12 that would be routed through Koshkonong Township; and

WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has published a Draft Environmental Impact Statement covering six possible EIS options, including four that would involve Highway 12 bypasses of Fort Atkinson; and

WHEREAS, Alternative 7 has been planned by WisDOT to be routed along the Star School Road corridor in Koshkonong Township, and Alternative 7a planned to follow the Creamery and McIntyre Roads route through Koshkonong Township; and

WHEREAS, these bypass Alternatives will destroy nearly 260 acres of prime farmland in Koshkonong Township, taking that land out of the Township’s tax base; and

WHEREAS, Alternatives 7 and 7a will eliminate up to 12 acres of wetlands and 19 acres of woodlands, critically depleting the natural habitat and rural attractiveness of the Township; and

WHEREAS, the dead end streets and cul-de-sacs created by building on either bypass route will delay fire and rescue assistance, impacting the welfare and safety of town residents, and the township will not accept jurisdictional transfer of these dead ends and new roads created by building of either bypass 7 or 7a; and

WHEREAS, building a bypass on either of these routes will result in increased costs to taxpayers in the township for fire contracts, tax assessor contracts, and higher cost in county taxes for additional police protection, snow removal and highway maintenance: and

WHERESAS, the town board agrees highway funds to be allocated to the building of a bypass of Fort Atkinson would be far better spent if used for improvement and maintenance of existing town, county and city roads; and

WHEREAS, building Alternative 7 would result in the loss of the Town of Koshkonong’s Town Hall and shop, and construction of either bypass route will cause considerable damage to town roads by state road builders; and

WHEREAS, these bypass Alternatives will drastically limit access to U.S. Highway 12 for Koshkonong Township residents, and these roadways will be high speed routes with the concomitant danger of an increase in the number of vehicle crashes within the Township endangering its residents; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Koshkonong Board of Supervisors favors improvements to the current highway 12 roadway, but finds bypass Alternatives 7 and 7a proposed by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to be completely unacceptable; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Koshkonong Board of Supervisors opposes the construction of either bypass Alternative 7 or 7a through the Township, and requests the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to remove them from consideration in the final Environmental Impact Statement; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Board of Supervisors will notify the Wisconsin Department of Transportation with a copy of this resolution of its adamant opposition to bypass Alternatives 7 and 7a.

PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 21st day of November, 2005 at a regular meeting by the following vote:

AYES______ NOES______ABSENT______

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Jae Ames, Supervisor

Carol Clavey, Supervisor
_______________________ _______________________

Randy Harris, Supervisor

August Lehman, Supervisor

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Paul Swart, Town Chairman

Attest:

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Brigetta Nelson, Town Clerk

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Judy Almquist, Treasurer