Salem Lakes trustees grant residency exemption to convicted offender after 4–3 vote

The Village of Salem Lakes Board of Trustees voted 4–3 to grant a residency exemption under village code 439-5 to Joshua Cobalt, who had applied to live at 9416 270th Sixth Avenue following a conviction for an offense charged under Wisconsin child-enticing statutes.

The decision came after a continuation of a quasi-judicial hearing that began June 2. Village Attorney Ramsey instructed trustees that the ordinance requires balancing “the public interest in protecting children as well as the interest of the offender seeking the exemption,” and that the board may consider a nonexhaustive list of 11 factors during deliberations.

Ramsey summarized the statutory charge discussed at the hearing as child enticement and read from the statute and sentencing information. Trustees heard that Cobalt received a sentence including six months of house arrest, three years of probation and conditions including treatment and registry…