Two years in making, Shelby-La Crosse boundary agreement nearing completion

Details are vague, but towns could share police and fire services. 

Details have yet to be released, but more information is expected today in a deal between local governments.

The city of La Crosse and town of Shelby have all but finalized a boundary agreement that could be a huge win for property taxpayers going forward says city council member Doug Happel, who represents the city in negotiations on the agreement.

“This is very significant,” he said. “Shelby and La Crosse have not always gotten along well.

“We’ll really improve things for taxpayers and for developers and for the citizens, probably for the next 20-25 years at a minimum.”

The agreement is expected to deal with sharing police and fire services, as well as covering issues dealing with allowable developments in the town just outside city limits.

The negotiating process has taken two years.

Happel, one of the agreement’s architects, calls it a huge step forward.

“(It) will be hugely important for the future development of both Shelby and the city of La Crosse, and the school district of La Crosse that we both share,” Happel said.