RIB MOUNTAIN, WI (WSAU) — Rib Mountain residents had the opportunity to learn about next month’s incorporation vote during a public information meeting on Tuesday.
Town Administrator Gaylene Rhoden says the election will run just like any other. “It’ll be just like a standard election, only we will be the only election [on that day,]” said Rhoden. “We worked with Marathon County Clerk Kim Trueblood and our Clerk, Lynnae Kolden [to organize] poll workers and election captains. It will be a regular election.”
Those who want an absentee ballot for the election can request one at the myvote.wi.gov website or by contacting the Town Clerk’s office. Those will be mailed in the next week. In-person, absentee voting will begin on June 27th during regular business hours at the Municipal Center with no voting available during the 4th of July holiday.
Polls will be open on July 11th from 7 AM to 8 PM just like any other election, and a photo ID will be required to vote. A simple majority is required to pass the measure with results certified by the State Department of Administration before the change becomes official.
If the vote passes it would also trigger a second election in the early fall to elect a new Village Board of Trustees and President. All current Town Supervisors would be eligible to run, along with any other resident who wants to put their name on the ballot.
Residents were allowed to ask questions directly to village staff on what would change if the vote passes. That included if the new Village could back out of the recent address changes made through the county’s uniform addressing system, which the Town fought all the way to the state Supreme Court before ultimately giving in. That decision would be up to the new Village Board of Trustees, though an informal show of hands of the two dozen residents present showed no appetite for going through that change for a second time in less than five years.
Rhoden said for many in the town the process has been about locking their borders to prevent another incorporated community such as Wausau, Rothschild, or Kronenwetter from annexing land from the unincorporated town.
She added that one other advantage would be a change in signage along Interstate 39. Because the town is considered unincorporated none of the exits that take you into Rib Mountain are labeled as such. If incorporation passes the name “Rib Mountain” would then appear on mileage markers outside of the area and on exits.
“That would be really nice to have and would be one thing that residents could potentially see, along with visitors to our area,” added Rhoden.
Residents who would like to know more about incorporation can find details including the Town’s complete submittal to the Department of Administration by clicking here.
