Mercer discusses zoning ordinances

By ZACHARY MARANO

zmarano@yourdailyglobe.com

MERCER, Wis. — The Town of Mercer Board of Supervisors discussed zoning ordinances at its regular meeting on Thursday.

Board chairman John Sendra said that the Iron County Zoning Administration has gone against the town board of supervisors’ recommendations on zoning more than once and asked attorney Fritz Shellgell for counsel.

Shellgell said that he has represented the town of Mercer for almost 25 years and until recently, the county followed the town’s recommendation on zoning applications. However, he said that the town is in an advisory position and the zoning administration is not bound to their recommendations.

Shellgell said the only recourse that the town board has would be to ask the county to allow Mercer to adopt its own zoning ordinances, but he said that it would be unnecessary and cost prohibitive for the town to do this.

Board trustee Vic Ouimette said that an existing town official and-or employee assuming the role of zoning administrator would add $40,000 to $50,000 minimum to the town budget in salary and benefits.

Ouimette suggested that county’s zoning committee could make a motion requiring the zoning administrator to follow the town’s wishes. Shellgell said he didn’t think they would go for that, and board trustee Opal Roberts added that most of the committee rarely goes against the administrator.

In other business, Roberts noted that tourist rooming houses are starting to pay their room taxes following the last board meeting on Oct. 7. The town received $148,923 in room tax for a total of $2,010,849 in funds.

The board also:

—Approved amendments to the sign ordinance recommended by the planning commission with changes stipulated by Shellgell.

—Postponed discussion of business park and covenants until the planning commission comes back with a full and complete report.