Rib Mountain, Marathon County to go before Wisconsin Supreme Court today

Marathon County address grid. Image courtesy: WAOW TV.
Marathon County address grid. Image courtesy: WAOW TV.

MADISON, WI (WSAU) -- It's judgement day for Marathon County and the Town of Rib Mountain.

Wisconsin's Supreme Court will hear arguments from both parties this morning in the case of whether the town should be considered rural, and subject to the county's new uniform addressing system.

Residents in Rib Mountain have argued that much of their township should be considered urban, and therefore exempt from the process. The county has argued that because of Rib Mountain's status as a Town, it still holds jurisdiction and could make the changes.

Marathon County partially completed its uniform addressing system in 2018. A handful of towns remain unchanged and are scheduled to be completed as soon as the weather allows in 2019.

County Administrator Brad Karger has previously told WSAU news that one of three options could come out of the case. The Justices could either rule that the town is rural and should be changed, it's urban and not subject to change, or that the county needs to define what is "urban" and "rural" then only change the addresses in the rural areas.

RELATED: Mayor's Monday with Brad Karger featuring addressing discussion

Karger said he thinks if it's determined that only the rural parts of Rib Mountian are to be re-addressed, than they may be better off not changing anything in the town based on his discussions with Sheriff Parks.

Marathon County vs the Town of Rib Mountain is one of three cases that will be argued today, and one of a dozen arguments the court has scheduled for the month.

It's unclear when a verdict will be delivered.

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