Town of Waukesha - In what it called a clarification of its role and responsibility in any future west-Waukesha bypass, the Town Board unanimously voted Wednesday to keep all options open - including possibly rejecting the project eventually.
Former Town Chairman Robert Tallinger, who was defeated in a recall election last year, had signed a 'memorandum of understanding' in April 2009 between local, county and state officials that kick-started planning for a long-stalled bypass between I-94 and Highway 59 on Waukesha's west side.
The agreement outlined who would pay what share of the costs and how they would contribute. Waukesha County is currently studying alternate routes and preparing an environmental impact statement for public review this fall.
The Town of Waukesha's only responsibility under the agreement was to cooperate with the county and city of Waukesha to resolve who would take jurisdiction of local road segments once the bypass is built.
But now the Town Board says it has no record that Tallinger ever took up the issue with the previous Town Board.
'I don't know how he could credibly bind us to anything,' said Supervisor Joe Banske, a bypass critic who researched town records.
Banske has served on a bypass community advisory committee, and the study team of city, county and state engineering staff recently invited the Waukesha town chairman and a town supervisor to join in their meetings, as well.
Wednesday, the board said it had been granted 'a belated' opportunity to join in discussions. Notwithstanding that involvement, the Town Board 'has not and does not consent to any potential route, the ultimate construction of the west Waukesha bypass at any location, or commit to any financial or other obligation in any respect,' the resolution reads.
It also says the town wishes to continue to be cooperative but reserves the right to take a position after it has sufficient information.