Oconomowoc council rescinds prior allocation of 100 'recs' to neighboring town after alleged bad-faith negotiation

The Oconomowoc Common Council voted Dec. 3 to rescind a prior resolution that had provided 100 "recs" to the town of Maconamwauk, citing what council members described as bad-faith negotiations by the neighboring municipality.

Assistant/Staff explained the June 18 action that originally provided the 100 recs, describing it as a good-faith outreach to resolve lingering disputes between the two communities. Alderman Douglas said the town subsequently “knew where they were going” and continued to press for recs while pursuing other actions the council viewed as inconsistent with earlier discussions.

“During that entire period of time, we told them we were never going… the boat launch was a done deal, and then they withdrew that funding,” an alderman said, summarizing the council’s view of the negotiations. Another alderman said the wrecks (described as intended for lakefront properties and lake-cleaning initiatives) had been deprioritized by the town, and Oconomowoc could reciprocate by rescinding the prior allocation.

Council members emphasized the city acted transparently during negotiations and said rescinding the previous resolution is in the city’s best interest. One alderman added that rescinding the recs would not affect separate negotiations about the boat launch or sewer issues, saying the matters are “completely separate items.”

The motion to rescind the resolution was moved and seconded and passed on a roll-call vote. Council did not propose new intermunicipal agreements at the meeting; the action restores the city’s prior position on the 100 recs and was described by council members as protective of local interests.

The rescission references Resolution 24R3208 (as read aloud during the meeting); council did not provide details in the meeting about what the town planned to do with the recs or about subsequent legal steps.