Chapter 182

182.43 182.43 Underpass authorized. Wherever a turnpike project divides the land of one owner so as to prevent ingress to and egress from said lands, the corporation is authorized to provide an underpass or culvert sufficient to provide ingress and egress between said lands. Plans for the existence of an underpass shall be admissible in evidence in condemnation proceedings.

182.44 182.44 Limitations on powers. Turnpike corporations shall not have the power to secure any of their obligations by mortgage or pledge of all or any of their properties, either real, personal or mixed, except the pledging of tolls as herein provided.

182.45 182.45 Reports. On or before the first day of February of each year, the corporation shall make an annual report of its activities for the preceding calendar year to the department of financial institutions. Each such report shall set forth a complete operating and financial statement covering its operations during the year. The corporation shall cause an audit of its books to be made at least once each year by certified public accountants and the cost thereof may be treated as a part of the cost of the construction or of operations of the project.

182.45 History History: 1995 a. 27.

182.46 182.46 Tax exemptions. The exercise of the powers granted by ss. 182.30 to 182.48 will be in all respects for the benefit of the people of this state, for the increase of their commerce and prosperity and for the improvement of their health and living conditions. Therefore the corporation shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments upon any turnpike project or any property acquired or used by the corporation under the provisions of ss. 182.30 to 182.48 or upon the income therefrom, and the bonds issued under the provisions of ss. 182.30 to 182.48, their transfer and the income from the bonds, including any profit made on the sale of the bonds, shall at all times be free from taxation within this state.

182.46 History History: 1999 a. 83.

182.47 182.47 Motor vehicle laws to apply.

182.47(1) (1) The provisions of chs. 86, 341 to 349 and 351 relative to the operation of motor vehicles on highways and the protection of public highways including the weight restriction laws shall be applicable to turnpikes and for the purpose of these laws, turnpikes shall be deemed to be public highways. Turnpikes shall be considered as class “A” highways under s. 348.15 and all limitations on the use of such class “A” highways shall be applicable. Turnpikes shall not be subject to traffic control by any local governmental ordinance or rule.

182.47(2) (2) The corporation is authorized to hire suitable persons to enforce the statutes referred to in sub. (1), and, upon approval of the governor, they are vested for that purpose with the powers of state traffic officers. Such authority shall be evidenced by the governor’s certificate of approval.

182.47 History History: 1979 c. 333 s. 5.

182.48 182.48 State may acquire. When all turnpike revenue bonds issued under the provisions of ss. 182.30 to 182.48 in connection with any turnpike project or extension or sections thereof and the interest thereon shall have been paid or a sufficient amount for the payment of all such bonds and the interest thereon to the maturity thereof shall have been set aside in trust for the benefit of the bondholders, such project or extension or sections thereof, shall become a part of the state trunk highway system and shall thereafter be maintained by the department of transportation and shall be free of tolls.

182.48 History History: 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (8) (c).

182.50 182.50 Establishment of foreign trade zones.

182.50(1) (1) Definitions. As used in this section:

182.50(1)(a) (a) “Act of congress” means the act of congress, entitled “An act to provide for the establishment, operation and maintenance of foreign trade zones in ports of entry of the United States, to expedite and encourage foreign commerce, and for other purposes” (19 USC 81 et. seq.).

182.50(1)(b) (b) “Private corporation” means any corporation organized under ch. 180 for the purpose of establishing, operating and maintaining foreign trade zones under this section.

182.50(1)(c) (c) “Public corporation” means the state, or any county, town, city or village within the state, or any state or municipal authority or similar organization financed in whole or in part by public funds.

182.50(2) (2) Establishment, operation and maintenance. Any public or private corporation may make application for the privilege of establishing, operating and maintaining a foreign trade zone under the act of congress. Any public or private corporation, whose application is granted under the act of congress, may establish, operate and maintain a foreign trade zone subject to the conditions and restrictions of the act of congress and any amendments thereto, and under such rules and regulations and for the period of time that may be prescribed by the board established by the act of congress to carry out the provisions of such act.

182.50 History History: 1977 c. 110; 1983 a. 189.

182.70 182.70 Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company.

182.70(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

182.70(1)(a) (a) “Capital invested” means capital actually paid in and the par value of all negotiable bonds or other obligations issued by the company.

182.70(1)(b) (b) “Commission” means the public service commission.

182.70(1)(c) (c) “Company” means the Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company, its successors and assigns.

182.70(1)(d) (d) “Department” means the department of natural resources.

182.70(2) (2) Purpose of the company.

182.70(2)(a) (a) The company shall produce as nearly a uniform flow of water as practicable in the Wisconsin and Tomahawk rivers by storing in reservoirs surplus water for discharge when the water supply is low to improve the usefulness of the rivers for all public purposes and to reduce flood damage.

182.70(2)(b) (b) If maintaining uniform flow in the Wisconsin River below and above the north line of Lincoln County at the same time is impracticable, the company shall give preference to maintaining uniform flow in portions of the river above this line.

182.70(3) (3) Rights, powers and authority. Subject to chs. 30 and 31:

182.70(3)(a) (a)

182.70(3)(a)1. 1. The company may create, acquire or lease an entire reservoir project or otherwise maintain, operate or control a system of water reservoirs located in or along the Wisconsin river. These reservoirs shall be located north of township 37 north in or along the Wisconsin River, and in or along any tributary of the Wisconsin River that discharges into the river at any point north of the south line of township 23 north. The company may create, acquire, maintain and operate waterways to divert flood waters from or to the Wisconsin River to or from reservoirs on other rivers. Diversion of flood waters shall be subject to approval by the department. The company may construct, acquire and maintain dams, booms and other structures in, along or across this portion of the Wisconsin River and its tributaries to accomplish the purposes of this section. The company may clean out, straighten, deepen or otherwise improve any tributary to improve navigation of the tributary or of the Wisconsin River, or to prevent injury to property bordering on the rivers.

182.70(3)(a)2. 2. The company may not exercise the authority granted in subd. 1. on that part of the Eagle river and lakes lying between the point where the Eagle River enters Cranberry Lake, in section 31, township 40 north, range 11 east, and the Wisconsin River.

182.70(3)(b) (b)

182.70(3)(b)1. 1. All franchises, other than corporate franchises, and all riparian rights and rights of flowage acquired by purchase or grant by any person or by any corporation organized to improve the navigation of the Wisconsin or Tomahawk river, or any of their tributaries may be assigned to the company.

182.70(3)(b)2. 2. Subdivision 1. shall not amend or repeal chapter 532, laws of 1887, chapter 252, laws of 1889, chapter 483, laws of 1905, chapter 26, laws of 1903, or any amendment to those chapters. The company may not exercise eminent domain over any property used under those chapters, nor any other property devoted to public uses except as authorized in pars. (c) and (f).

182.70(3)(c) (c) The dam authorized by chapter 532, laws of 1887, may be raised, or a new dam or dams may be constructed and maintained, in the Eagle River between Long and Cranberry lakes in townships 39 and 40 north, range 11 east, to raise the water in Long Lake 6 inches higher than the high water mark established by the dam authorized by chapter 532, laws of 1887. Between May 1 and the succeeding November 1 the waters shall not be drawn down in Long Lake more than 18 inches below the high water mark. The company shall maintain the navigability of Eagle River between Long and Cranberry lakes for boats up to 50 feet in length with 12-foot beam and drawing 5 feet of water. If the construction, maintenance or operation of the new dam or dams requires the removal of the dam maintained under chapter 532, laws of 1887, or impairs the use of the dam or its appurtenances as a bridge across the Eagle River, the company shall either:

182.70(3)(c)1. 1. Provide a suitable bridge for H 15 loading, as provided in the standard specifications for highway bridges, adopted by the American association of state highway and transportation officials (1977), with suitable approaches, for safe and convenient passage over the new dam, or if more than one dam is built, over the dam nearest to the dam maintained under chapter 532, laws of 1887; or

182.70(3)(c)2. 2. At its election provide a suitable new bridge and approaches across the river at a point that will conveniently connect with the highway crossing the river.

182.70(3)(d) (d) The company may collect uniform tolls for the passage of boats over the dam the company builds under par. (c), proportioned to the size of the boat. The total fees collected may not exceed the cost of the care, maintenance and operation of the means of passage.

182.70(3)(e) (e) The company may acquire by condemnation any property, interest in property or other right necessary to create, maintain or operate any reservoir, dam or other improvement, if the property cannot be purchased at an agreed price.

182.70(3)(f) (f) The commission shall appraise the damage caused by a taking or overflow of state lands occurring under this section. The company shall pay the amount appraised to the state treasury.

182.70(4) (4) Private remedies. Any owner whose premises or access to the premises are injured by being divided, surrounded by water, flooded or waterlogged, or whose natural drainage is destroyed or injured by any dam or other construction built or operated by the company, may sue for damages or an injunction in the circuit court for the county where some part of the damaged lands are located. The injured party may choose a trial by jury.

182.70(5) (5) Tolls.

182.70(5)(a) (a) If the company improves any navigable tributary of the Wisconsin River, except that part of the Eagle River designated in sub. (3) (a) 2., or acquires the improvements or control of the improvements of any river improvement company already operating on these tributaries, and operates the works to allow the driving of logs and other floatables to the mouth of the tributary, the company:

182.70(5)(a)1. 1. May charge uniform tolls for floatables driven on the tributary; and

182.70(5)(a)2. 2. Shall have all of the rights and remedies granted to river improvement companies by law.

182.70(5)(b) (b) If the company operates water reservoirs under this section capable of storing and discharging 2 billion cubic feet of water that would not be naturally stored, it may charge uniform tolls to the owners, lessees or operators of every improved and operated water power located upon the Wisconsin River or any of its tributaries below any of these reservoirs and benefited by the operation of these reservoirs. The sum of the tolls may not exceed the reasonable costs of operation and maintenance, including taxes and depreciation, plus a net return not exceeding 7 percent on the capital invested and a reasonable allowance for working capital. The tolls shall be a first lien, subject only to taxes, on the water power, dam, franchise and flowage rights of the person or corporation charged with the tolls. The company may sue to enforce the lien or for sale of the encumbered property.

182.70(5)(c) (c) The commission shall fix the tolls semiannually in proportion to the benefits received from the reservoir system by each improved and operated water power. A water power liable to tolls and operated 2 months or more during a 6-month toll period shall be subject to tolls for the entire period. A water power operating for less than 2 months during a 6-month period shall not be subject to a toll. The company shall employ hydraulic engineers to assist the company and the commission in determining the tolls to be charged. The expense of employing the engineers shall be a part of the cost of maintenance and operation of the works.

182.70(5)(d) (d) The owners or operators of the improved water power shall pay tolls charged under this subsection, unless the improved water power is operated by lessees under a contract made prior to October 6, 1939. In that case the lessees shall pay the tolls.

182.70(5)(e) (e) The commission shall provide notice to each water power operator to be charged with tolls. The commission shall determine and certify the amount of the tolls to be collected from each water power operator for the period under consideration. The tolls shall then be due the company.

182.70(6) (6) Review. A party aggrieved by the determination of tolls to be collected may petition for a hearing. A person whose substantial interests have been adversely affected by the commission’s decision may seek judicial review under ss. 227.53 to 227.58, in the circuit court in the county where the property affected is located.

182.70(7) (7) Reports to the commission. On or before June 30 and December 31 of each year, the company shall provide the commission with a statement showing:

182.70(7)(a) (a) All expenditures made or necessary to be made for the 6-month period preceding the next July 1 or January 1. Expenditures itemized shall include maintenance, operation and depreciation of the reservoir systems.

182.70(7)(b) (b) The location of each reservoir.

182.70(7)(c) (c) All reports and data obtained from engineers employed to determine tolls charged.

182.70(7)(d) (d) A recommendation of the amount of tolls necessary to pay the cost of maintenance, operation, taxes and depreciation, a net return not exceeding 7 percent on the capital invested, and a reasonable allowance for working capital, together with a recommendation on the apportionment of costs against the owners or operators of improved powers.

182.70(7)(e) (e) Other information and statements the commission may require.

182.70(8) (8) Duties of the department. The department shall mark the height to which any dam may raise the water level by permanent monuments and bench marks, shall supervise and control the times and extent of the drawing of the water from the reservoirs, and may compel the maintenance of all reservoirs established.

182.70(9) (9) Issue of capital stock and secured bonds approved by the commission.

182.70(9)(a) (a) The company may, after certification from the commission according to the procedures under ss. 201.03 and 201.04, issue bonds or other obligations secured by pledge, assignment, mortgage or trust deed of its property.

182.70(9)(b) (b) The company may retire its secured obligations by issuing stock as payment.

182.70(10) (10) State acquisition. The state has the right, whenever it has the constitutional power, to take over to itself, and become the owner of all reservoirs and other works and property acquired by the company under this section, by paying for the property either of the following:

182.70(10)(a) (a) The total capital invested by the company, including outstanding bonds or other obligations of the company lawfully issued and outstanding, the computation of which shall include outstanding bonds or other obligations and stock or stocks plus undistributed earned surplus.

182.70(10)(b) (b) The actual value of the physical properties to be taken over, without any allowance for franchise or goodwill of the business. If the actual value cannot be agreed upon by the state and the owner, it shall be determined by the commission.

182.70 History History: 1979 c. 90 s. 19; 1983 a. 189; 1985 a. 182 s. 57; 1995 a. 196; 1997 a. 140; 1999 a. 83, 150.

182.70 Annotation Legislative Council Note, 1979: The Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company was created by ch. 335, laws of 1907, for the purpose of building, maintaining and operating dams and reservoirs on the Wisconsin River and its tributaries. These improvements on the river serve to improve navigation, decrease the hazard of flooding and provide a uniform flow for all public purposes.

182.70 Annotation Chapter 335, laws of 1907, as amended, is incorporated into the statutes and amended to reflect current statutory drafting practices, without any intention of making substantive changes in the law. [Bill 458-A]

182.71 182.71 The Chippewa and Flambeau Improvement Company.

182.71(1) (1) In this section:

182.71(1)(a) (a) “Commission” means the public service commission.

182.71(1)(b) (b) “Company” means the Chippewa and Flambeau Improvement Company.

182.71(1)(c) (c) “Department” means the department of natural resources.

182.71(2) (2) 

182.71(2)(a) (a) The company shall produce as nearly a uniform flow of water as practicable in the Chippewa and Flambeau rivers, by storing in reservoirs surplus water for discharge when the water supply is low, to improve the usefulness of the rivers for all public purposes, and to reduce flood damage.

182.71(2)(b) (b) If maintaining uniform flow throughout the length of these rivers is impracticable, the company shall maintain as nearly a uniform flow in the upper portions of these rivers as is practicable.

182.71(3) (3) 

182.71(3)(a) (a) The company may create, acquire, lease, maintain and operate a system of water reservoirs located in or along:

182.71(3)(a)1. 1. The Court Oreilles River and its tributaries above the north line of township 38 north.

182.71(3)(a)2. 2. The east and west forks of the Chippewa River and their tributaries above a point one mile below the junction of such east and west forks.

182.71(3)(a)3. 3. The Thornapple River and its tributaries above its mouth.

182.71(3)(a)4. 4. Butternut Creek and its tributaries above its mouth.

182.71(3)(a)5. 5. The north fork of the Flambeau River and its tributaries above a point one mile below the junction of the Manitowish and Turtle rivers.

182.71(3)(a)6. 6. The south fork of the Flambeau River and its tributaries, including the Elk River, above the junction of the south fork of the Flambeau River and the Elk River.

182.71(3)(b) (b) The company may construct, acquire, maintain and operate dams, booms and other structures in, along, or across any of these portions of the rivers and their tributaries to accomplish the purposes of this section. The company may clean out, straighten, deepen or otherwise improve any of these rivers and tributaries to improve navigation or to prevent injury to property bordering on the rivers.

182.71(3)(c) (c) All franchises and all riparian rights and rights of flowage of any person or any corporation organized to improve the navigation of these rivers or their tributaries may be assigned to the company.

182.71(4) (4) 

182.71(4)(a) (a) The company may acquire by condemnation any property, interest in property or other right necessary to create, maintain or operate any reservoir, dam or other improvement, if the property cannot be purchased at an agreed price.

182.71(4)(b) (b) The commission shall appraise the damage a taking or overflow of state lands may cause. The company shall pay the amount appraised into the state treasury prior to the taking or overflow.

182.71(5) (5)