La Crosse, Shelby meeting today to work on boundary agreement

Goal is to have a deal in place by October

Another step today toward burying the hatchet between La Crosse and the town of Shelby.

A boundary agreement task force made up of reps from both governments will hold a couple meetings today to work on a deal that should be mutually beneficial, says Shelby town board member, Tim Ehler.  

“We’ve come to an agreement,” Ehler said, “there are a lot of things we can do together that are better for this community than just La Crosse and Shelby.”

The hope is to have a boundary agreement in place by October.

“I’m very surprised how fast the process has come and how easy it’s been to work together for a change,” Ehler said.

The agreement is expected to cover, among other things, use of parks and trails and the legal restrictions La Crosse has exercised in allowing Shelby to develop land in the three miles beyond the city’s boundaries.  

“La Crosse is very imp to us. Shelby is very important to La Crosse,” Ehler said. It’s been a very positive peace as far as we need each other.

“Honestly, we’re all in this together for this community. And fighting is not going to help.”

Details of the final agreement have not been released, but some in city government have wanted Shelby to help pay for things like streets and libraries.