WHITEWATER — The Whitewater Common Council will have a public hearing on Tuesday for the proposed Trippe and Cravath Lakes District.
The city’s Lakes Advisory Committee is recommending the creation of the district that would include the entire city of Whitewater.
A public hearing will take place at Tuesday’s Whitewater Common Council meeting on the creation of the lakes district. A resolution to create the district is expected to be presented to the council on May 6, according to council meeting materials available at .
The two lakes lie north of the U.S. Highway 12 bypass. To the east of Cravath Lake is Hillside Cemetery, on South Wisconsin Street. To the west are properties with homes along West Ann Street and South Franklin Street.
To the northwest of Trippe Lake is Trippe Lake Park, the Whitewater Bike and Pedestrian Trail as well Waters Edge Drive, with homes to the west. To the northeast is Rice Street with homes, as well as Elkhorn Road to the east. Elkhorn Road is Business Highway 12 and Highway 59.
The council meeting materials include frequently asked questions about the proposed creation of the district, including the following census data stats:
- Whitewater had a population of just under 16,000 people with a median age of 21.7 and a median household income of $46,135 in 2022.
- In 2022, the median property value in Whitewater was $199,700 and the homeownership rate was 29.5%, according to that page.
- According to the city, the aggregate estimated property value of property owners around Trippe Lake is about $10.2 million. The city lists 26 property owners along Trippe Lake.
- On Cravath Lake, the aggregate estimated property value of property owners around Cravath lake is about $10.6 million, according to the city.
“The legislature has given lake districts a broad range of financial and administrative powers to undertake lake management programs,” the council materials state, going on to say:
- Lake districts have been granted power to levy taxes and impose special charges and assessments; borrow and disburse money; make contracts; accept gifts; buy, hold and sell property; undertake projects to enhance recreational uses and sue and be sued.
- The district can monitor the lakes’ water quality, inventory and monitor aquatic plants, map the lakes’ watersheds, identify pollution sources and develop long-range lake management plans. It also can provide education, wetland restoration, erosion control programs, invasive or nuisance aquatic plant management programs and maintain water levels through dam ownership.
- According to state statutes, voting would be different than with a common council, town board or village board. Residents who live within the district may vote, as well as property owners within the district even if they do not live inside the district. Also, a married couple would have one vote under the statute. Individuals who own property would get one vote each, no matter how many parcels they own. Trusts and estates get one vote through a designated representative.
The city acknowledged ahead of Tuesday’s council meeting that there could be legal challenges with the creation of the district “given that Whitewater is unique in considering an entire city for a lake district.”
The risk, according to the council meeting materials, is that property owners could challenge the district’s creation under state statutes, arguing that their properties receive no benefit from the lake district.
According to state statutes, a verified petition challenging the creation may be presented to a circuit court within 30 days for review.
The city also recognizes in the council materials that there is court precedent with rulings “against districts that overreach in their boundaries, requiring them to prove tangible benefits for included properties.” No specific examples of the precedents were included, nor were there examples of courts supporting lake districts.
The meeting will be in the community room at the municipal building, 312 W. Whitewater St. There is also a Zoom option at . Access the meeting by phone at +1 312-626-6700, or by webinar with the ID 825 7242 7438 and passcode 767507.
