Judge Rules Wausau Cannot Annex Neighboring Village’s Land

A Marathon County Judge has ruled the city of Wausau cannot annex land in the newly created Village of Maine.

In November, Judge Jill Falstad ruled Wausau could not dissolve the new village because of alleged open meetings violations leading up to its incorporation.

On Thursday, she ruled the village’s boundaries are set and Wausau cannot annex the coveted property on its northern border.

“The city’s argument overlooks a fundamental fact: village territory is not subject to annexation,” Falstad wrote in her opinion.

Town of Maine citizens voted to become a village so they could better deal with the debt of the dying paper mill community of Brokaw, which will soon become part of Maine. The new village is counting on the tax revenue from the disputed parcels to offset the debt.

Maine Village Attorney Randy Frokjer said Falstad’s decision allows the village to move forward with its plans.

“We’re pleased with the decision,” Frokjer said. “We believe that the judge followed the law. There’s a number of things that we need to do to move forward, and as a village we’re pleased to see it.”

In a news release, Wausau Mayor Bob Mielke said the property owners on its northern border “rushed to annex their property to Wausau to preserve their opportunity to develop their land at its highest and best use with the benefit of urban services Wausau can provide.”

Mielke said the members of the city’s common council would be meeting with legal advisers to consider their subsequent options.