With a simple proclamation, the city of Beaver Dam will be upgraded to third class.
For many years, Beaver Dam, with a 2000 census population of 15,545, has been eligible to become a third class city. Such cities are defined by state statute as having a population between 10,000 and 39,000 residents.
Until the matter was discussed during the city’s process of completing its state-mandated Smart Growth Comprehensive Plan, the thought of upgrading its fourth-class status never entered the city’s collective consciousness.
“I don’t think the issue ever came up before,” Beaver Dam city attorney Maryann Schacht said.
The Smart Growth plan, adopted early this year, was designed to support local development that serves the economy, community and the environment. It was designed to encourage intergovernmental cooperation and public participation in local growth planning. It also keeps municipalities “in charge of their future, allowing local decisions to determine the direction that each community takes,” Governor Jim Doyle has said.
The upgrade to a third-class city is one way Beaver Dam can take a firmer grip on its future growth.
The main benefit of third-class status is that it enables the city to assert extraterritorial plat review authority within three miles of its border. Currently, the city has such authority within just 1.5 miles of its border.
“As far as the city is concerned, the benefits of an upgrade are there because we have further control in the adjacent territory to the city and increase our say in what goes on in the township,” assistant city attorney Dave Schacht said. “The classic example is they can’t put up a slaughterhouse next to a residential area near the city of Beaver Dam.”
The city of Beaver Dam already meets all other criteria for third-class status, with just a mayoral proclamation standing in the way of implementation.
“This will allow us to broaden our outreach,” Mayor Tom Kennedy said. “I have consulted with the city attorney, and as far as
I know this is the only benefit there is to be had. I’ve asked to see if there are any negatives from upgrading, and there really aren’t.”
Moving to a third-class city is one of several items on the city’s Smart Growth five-year to-do
list, along with updating its official map and ordinances.
“In essence, we’ve always been a third-class city. We just didn’t declare it,” Maryann Schacht said. “Now we’re finally putting ourselves where we belong. Getting in line with the guidelines in the Smart Growth plan is advantageous and gives us a greater opportunity to grow. One thing it recommends is getting the towns, cities and villages to sit down together and do what’s best for the area.”
Kennedy may read the proclamation at the next city council meeting, scheduled for Dec. 7, although he said he is unsure that the measure is necessary.
dbaulch@capitalnewspapers.com