Sentinel The Shorewood
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
ONLINE More news at shorewoodsentinel.com
Voyager Media Publications • www.shorewoodsentinel.com
Vol. 18 No. 19
BUILDING ISSUE SHELVED Referendum for new library defeated by a wide margin
By Robin Ambrosia Staff Reporter
The library referendum for a new building was shot down in Shorewood-Troy, while Mayor Chapman is rebuilding his leadership team. School Board President Robert Stahl was surprised voters came out so overwhelmingly opposed to the referendum, which was 2,301 against and 605 in favor of building a new library building. “We knew we were fighting an uphill battle, but I thought it would be closer,” Stahl said. In January, the board voted to purchase five acres near the Shorewood village hall for $500,000. Being a non-profit organization, the library will not pay taxes on the property but not all the trustees felt purchasing the land was a good idea. “I voted no to purchasing the land before knowing the referendum outcome because it was like putting the cart before the horse,” trustee Phil Besler said. “Now we own five acres and are unable to build a new library.” There are no specific future plans now that the referendum has been voted down. “We can’t build on the existing building because of zoning laws and we are maxed out on space, See REFERENDUM, page 23