French Island residents gather to learn about ways to incorporate Campbell as a village

A large industrial fire on French Island this week has helped call attention to the town of Campbell government and its resources.

Officials from Campbell spoke to an overflow crowd at Olivet Church on Wednesday about the recent efforts to incorporate the town as a village, partly to block annexation by the island’s neighbors.

The move is partly intended to prevent the city of La Crosse from annexing more French Island property, or trying to get Campbell to connect to La Crosse’s water system.

Island residents have been using bottled water for three years, after PFAS chemicals were found in private wells throughout Campbell. Community leaders are hoping that incorporation would allow them to install their own water system.

Campbell Town Board member Lee Donahue wants her community to continue to provide services to its residents.

“In some ways, serving a small community allows us to provide magnificent personal care, and I don’t want to lose those services” to another community, Donahue told the audience.

Fifty signatures would be needed on an annexation petition.

Campbell town chair Dan Kapanke described the petition process to the state department of administration.

“It’s about six months, they have to make a decision,” Kapanke said. “They can either dismiss the petition,” he explained, “or they can grant it,” and that could lead to a referendum on incorporation.

While only 50 signatures are needed, Kapanke said he would like to see 2,050.

Campbell officials announced their intent to incorporate last month.