Crime & Safety

Greenfield's Neighbors Not Keen on Consolidation

Greendale appears to have little interest joining its fire department with Greenfield's or anyone else's.

Consolidating the with others always stood to be a tricky and potentially time-consuming venture, but one major roadblock just to the south of the city's limits might make the move nearly impossible.

Greendale's Board of Trustees once again expressed concerns about consolidation at its meeting earlier this week. The board tabled a measure to contribute $1,500 toward a fact-finding study, a study Greenfield, Oak Creek, Franklin, Hales Corners and others are chipping in to help fund. The board did, however, agree to continue to participate in discussions with surrounding municipalities regarding consolidation.

, both Village President John Hermes and Village President Todd Michaels voiced concerns over consolidation.

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"I’ve said in the past that of the other communities that are discussing this we are probably the best and have the most to lose in any discussion of consolidating because the other communities aren’t as financially sound and efficient as we are," Hermes said.

Michaels expressed concerns over a loss of control over services.

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"We will be losing the ability to tell the chief we want to get response time down by two minutes," he said.

Michaels also said he became uncomfortable with discussions he participated in with officials from Zone D because those officials were dominating the discussions.

Consolidation is a move both Greenfield Mayor Michael Neitzke and appear in coming months and one both would be fine moving forward with if it meant saving money while continuing to provide the same or better service.


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