Harrison approves TIF district

Joint Review Board must still approve

HARRISON — The Harrison Town Board Sept. 12 approved the Tax Incremental Financing district centered around the Kieler Farms Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation expansion.

The board approved the TIF district 2–0, with town Sup. Matt Clark, a member of the Kieler family, abstaining.

The TIF district would be used to fund a number of projects within its region of development, particularly road improvement projects.

The TIF district was not listed on the public meeting agenda posted in The Platteville Journal Sept. 6, despite its listing in the previously distributed drafted project plan for the TIF district.

When Platteville Public Schools superintendent Connie Valenza told town clerk Barb Brogly that she was surprised not to see the TIF district on the agenda despite it having been known about for a long time, Brogly responded, “I neglected to get [the TIF district matter] on there,” adding it was “discovered after [the agenda] was posted.”

Some people who spoke at the Joint Review Board organizational meeting claimed the TIF district plans had been created privately and that the TIF district was discussed in a March meeting despite it not being listed on the agenda.

Browning said the town board meeting agenda had been updated Sept. 8 with the correct agenda.

Town chair Nate Niehaus and Sup. Michelle Olson voted in favor of the proposal to approve the resolution to the joint review board, with no discussion before the 30 people who attended. Clark abstained from the vote.

“The town board approved to move it forward,” said Olson, adding that now the Joint Review Board will get the final up or down vote Sept. 27.

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