Chapter 33

33.14(1) (1) Proposed plan. If specific lake protection and rehabilitation measures developed under s. 33.13 appear feasible and if financial assistance under s. 33.16 is sought, then the commissioners of the district shall develop a proposed plan based upon the recommendations of the department and the formulated alternatives or upon other technically valid bases.

33.14(2) (2) Submission of proposed plan. Prior to adopting a plan by formal resolution under s. 33.15, the commissioners shall:

33.14(2)(a) (a) Forward a copy of the proposed plan to the department;

33.14(2)(b) (b) Refer the proposed plan to the appropriate county land conservation committee and to the appropriate regional planning agency for the area, if any, for review and comment within 60 days of receipt; and

33.14(2)(c) (c) Make application for any required permits and file an application for financial aid.

33.14(3) (3) Department review. Within 21 days after receipt of the proposed plan and applications the department shall advise the district if additional information is needed to conduct its technical and environmental review of the proposal. If an environmental impact statement is required, the department shall complete its environmental impact review before taking final action on the proposed plan.

33.14(3m) (3m) Notice; hearing. The department shall schedule a hearing on the proposed plan or follow the notice procedures under s. 31.06 (1).

33.14(4) (4) Considerations at hearing. If a hearing is conducted, the department shall consider the following:

33.14(4)(a) (a) Compliance with s. 1.11;

33.14(4)(b) (b) The issuance of permits which have been applied for;

33.14(4)(c) (c) Whether the implementation of the plan is likely to cause long-range environmental pollution as defined in s. 299.01 (4);

33.14(4)(d) (d) Comments made by the reviewing county land conservation committee and regional planning agency, if any; and

33.14(4)(e) (e) Such other subjects as the department by rule deems necessary for making the order required by sub. (5).

33.14(5) (5) Approval. Within 60 days following the hearing, the department shall by order either approve, approve with modification or disapprove the plan. The department shall concurrently rule on all permit applications.

33.14 History History: 1973 c. 301; 1975 c. 197; 1979 c. 34 s. 2102 (39) (g); 1981 c. 20, 317; 1981 c. 346 s. 38; 1995 a. 227, 349.

33.15 33.15 Implementation.

33.15(1) (1) No plan developed under this subchapter which involves financial assistance under s. 33.16 may be formally adopted for implementation by the district until the department approves the plans or whatever modifications it finds appropriate. If the department modifies an application by order, it shall clearly explain reasons why the modifications are being made.

33.15(2) (2) Following receipt of the department’s order, the district may adopt the approved plan by resolution, in which case it shall forward a copy of the resolution and plan to the department.

33.15(3) (3) The district may then carry out the adopted plan of implementation.

33.15(4) (4) Implementation work may consist of any work in the lake or its watershed which will protect or enhance the opportunities for public enjoyment of the lake.

33.15 History History: 1973 c. 301; 1975 c. 197; 1981 c. 20.

33.16 33.16 Financial assistance program.

33.16(1) (1) Feasibility work contracted under s. 33.13 (2) (b) is eligible for financial assistance subject to guidelines established by rule by the department for funding feasibility studies. Receipt of financial assistance for feasibility work does not guarantee financial assistance for implementation costs and the department may not make this type of commitment for future financial assistance.

33.16(3) (3) A district desiring financial assistance shall apply to the department on forms provided by it and prescribing the information to be submitted.

33.16(4) (4) The department shall review all applications for financial assistance under this section. In the course of review of applications for financial assistance for implementation work the department shall consider, without limitation because of enumeration, the following factors where appropriate:

33.16(4)(a) (a) Whether the citizens of the state will reasonably benefit from any improvements made or information obtained, and the degree of benefit;

33.16(4)(b) (b) Whether sufficient long- and short-term benefits will be derived from the project, in relation to its cost;

33.16(4)(c) (c) Whether the project is financially viable, given the resources of the district and the possibility of financial and nonmonetary aid;

33.16(4)(d) (d) Whether adequate steps have been or will be taken to ensure that the improved conditions resulting from the project will be sustained by adequate controls over potential sources of lake degradation including, where appropriate, control of sediments as suggested by the county land conservation committee;

33.16(4)(e) (e) Whether experimental techniques involving a high risk of failure are being undertaken;

33.16(4)(f) (f) Whether contamination from deleterious substances emitted by residential, municipal or industrial sources, sedimentation, siltation and nutrient fertilization from uncontrolled agricultural sources or septic tanks, groundwater, municipal and industrial wastes and other drainage sources, and any other sources responsible for lake degradation, are or will be substantially eliminated as a source of lake degradation, in order that any lake rehabilitated under this chapter may be protected or maintained in its protected or rehabilitated state;

33.16(4)(g) (g) Whether the project involves dredging and, if it does, the expected useful duration of the proposed dredging, whether other techniques are available to provide relief from the problem to be solved by dredging and whether long-term controls are or will be undertaken to prevent sedimentation; and

33.16(4)(h) (h) Whether the project involves algae or aquatic plant abatement programs and, if it does, whether long-term controls are or will be undertaken to reduce or prevent nutrient pollution.

33.16(5) (5) The department may not approve any application for financial assistance for the implementation of any project which involves dredging if the expected useful duration of the dredging is less than 50 years. The department may not approve any application for financial assistance for the implementation of any project which involves dredging if the state funding provided by the department under the financial assistance program would provide more than 50 percent of the funding necessary for dredging other than dredging to provide public access. The department may not approve any application for financial assistance for the implementation of dredging if the amount of the financial assistance to be provided for dredging for a single project exceeds 10 percent of the funds available for all projects in the biennium. The department may not approve any application for financial assistance for the implementation of dredging unless no other reasonable alternative is available to provide relief from the problem to be solved by dredging.

33.16(6) (6) The department shall act upon each application for financial assistance within 60 days following plan approval and issuance of permits unless lack of adequate funding or the need to invoke a priority system dictates a delay in determination. Plan disapproval, delay in funding or other action not approving the application shall be explained by the department to the district in writing.

33.16(7) (7) 

33.16(7)(a) (a) District share. The department may not grant financial assistance for implementation work in an amount which reduces a district’s share of the project cost to less than 10 percent, except that up to 100 percent funding may be allowed on high-risk experimental projects where eventual results are highly uncertain.

33.16(7)(b) (b) Grant limit. No grant for financial assistance under this section may exceed 25 percent of state funds available in the biennium.

33.16(7)(c) (c) Dredging limit. No grant for financial assistance under this section may provide for funding for dredging in an amount which exceeds 10 percent of the funds available in the biennium.

33.16(7)(d) (d) Renewal. The department may not renew a grant for financial assistance under this section in future bienniums unless the council finds that a special situation exists and recommends renewal of the grant.

33.16(7)(e) (e) North-south split. The department shall grant financial assistance under this section so that not less than 25 percent of the moneys granted in any fiscal year are granted to districts north of a line running east-west across the state and commencing at the southernmost point on the southern boundary of the city of Stevens Point, except that this subsection does not preclude the full utilization of available funds if all applications north of this line aggregate less than 25 percent of the annual appropriations.

33.16(7)(f) (f) Level of funding; priorities. The department shall grant financial assistance under this section with the appropriate level of state funding based upon rules promulgated under s. 33.02 (1) (d). The department may deny financial assistance under this section based upon priorities promulgated by rule under s. 33.02 (1) (e).

33.16(8) (8) The department may evaluate or contract with the University of Wisconsin System to evaluate projects receiving financial assistance under this section.

33.16 History History: 1973 c. 301; 1975 c. 197; 1981 c. 20, 317; 1981 c. 346 s. 38; 1981 c. 391; 1987 a. 27.

33.17 33.17 Unfunded application to continue.

33.17(1) (1) Aid applications approved but unfunded because of a lack of funds remain eligible for future funding, subject to updating as the department may require. A lack of funding under this subchapter does not preclude a district from implementing all or part of an approved plan with funding from any other source but these projects are not eligible for retroactive financial assistance.

33.17(2) (2) The department shall return rejected applications to the district with a concise statement of the reasons for rejection.

33.17 History History: 1973 c. 301; 1975 c. 197; 1981 c. 20.

33.18 33.18 Use of tax incremental financing prohibited. A district may not apply for or utilize tax incremental financing to fund an inland lake protection and rehabilitation program or project.

33.18 History History: 1981 c. 317.

subch. IV of ch. 33 SUBCHAPTER IV

PUBLIC INLAND LAKE PROTECTION AND REHABILITATION DISTRICTS

33.21 33.21 Public inland lake protection and rehabilitation districts; purposes. Districts may be created for the purpose of undertaking a program of lake protection and rehabilitation of a lake or parts thereof within the district.

33.21 History History: 1973 c. 301; 1995 a. 349.

33.21 Annotation A district may rehabilitate part of a lake only if the entire lake lies within the district. Kaiser v. City of Mauston, 99 Wis. 2d 345, 299 N.W.2d 259 (Ct. App. 1980).

33.22 33.22 District; powers.

33.22(1) (1) Any district organized under this chapter may select a name for the district, sue and be sued, make contracts, accept gifts, purchase, lease, devise or otherwise acquire, hold, maintain or dispose of property, disburse money, contract debt and do any other acts necessary to carry out a program of lake protection and rehabilitation. All contracts in excess of $2,500 for the performance of any work or the purchase of any materials shall be let by the commissioners to the lowest responsible bidder in the manner they prescribe.

33.22(2) (2) The district may require that a contracting party give adequate security to assure performance of the contract and to pay all damages which may arise from inadequate performance.

33.22(2m) (2m) Any district may create, operate and maintain a water safety patrol unit, as defined in s. 30.79 (1) (b) 2.

33.22(3) (3) 

33.22(3)(a) (a)

33.22(3)(a)1. 1. Except as provided in par. (b) 1., any district organized under this chapter may have the powers of a town sanitary district under ss. 60.77 and 60.78, other than the power under s. 60.77 (6) (b), that are authorized by resolution of the board of the town having the largest portion by valuation of the district.

33.22(3)(a)2. 2. The board of commissioners of a district that has the powers of a sanitary district under subd. 1. shall possess the powers of town sanitary district commissioners under s. 60.77 that are authorized by resolution of the town board that adopts the resolution under subd. 1.

33.22(3)(b) (b)

33.22(3)(b)1. 1. Beginning on April 9, 1994, any district organized under this chapter may assume the powers of a town sanitary district under ss. 60.77 and 60.78, other than the power under s. 60.77 (6) (b), that are authorized by resolution by the annual meeting of the district.

33.22(3)(b)2. 2. The board of commissioners of a district that assumes the powers of a sanitary district under subd. 1. shall possess the powers of town sanitary district commissioners that are authorized by resolution by the annual meeting of the district.

33.22(4) (4) Districts shall not exercise the town sanitary district powers authorized under sub. (3) within the boundaries of an incorporated municipality unless the governing body of the municipality consents. In addition, districts shall not exercise town sanitary district powers in any territory included in an existing town sanitary district except by contract under s. 66.0301 or unless the sanitary district merges under s. 33.235 (3).

33.22(4m) (4m) A district may undertake projects to enhance the recreational uses of a lake within its jurisdiction, including recreational boating facilities as defined under s. 30.92 (1) (c).

33.22(4r) (4r) If authorized by an annual meeting of a district, the district may appropriate money for the conservation of natural resources or for payment to a bona fide nonprofit organization for the conservation of natural resources within the district or beneficial to the district.

33.22(5) (5) Nothing in this chapter shall limit the authority of the department to establish town sanitary districts under s. 60.72.

33.22 History History: 1973 c. 301; 1975 c. 197; 1977 c. 391; 1983 a. 532 s. 36; 1989 a. 159; 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 167; 1995 a. 349; 1999 a. 150 s. 672.

33.22 Annotation A low bidder under s. 33.22 who is apparently a “responsible” bidder has standing to seek a permanent injunction against the award of a contract to any other bidder. Aqua-Tech v. Como Lake Protection & Rehabilitation District, 71 Wis. 2d 541, 239 N.W.2d 25 (1976).

33.23 33.23 Municipalities may establish district.

33.23(1) (1) The governing body of a municipality may by resolution establish a district if the municipality encompasses within its boundaries all the frontage of the public inland lake within this state. Except as provided under sub. (3), the governing body of the municipality which establishes the district shall perform the function of the board of commissioners. For purposes of this subsection, “district” does not include a restructured district.

33.23(2) (2) Establishment of districts by towns under this section shall conform to the procedures of ss. 33.25 and 33.26 except that the town clerk shall perform the functions of the county clerk and the town board shall perform the functions of the county board and in addition shall hold the hearing.

33.23(3) (3) Districts established by municipalities under this section may adopt the form of governance provided under s. 33.28 by petition to the governing body of the municipality. Upon presentation of a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 requesting the change and signed by at least 20 percent of the property owners within the district, the governing body of the municipality shall provide for the necessary election of commissioners. The election shall be held by secret ballot at the next annual or special meeting, whichever occurs first, of the district and the change becomes effective at that time unless a challenge to the results of that election is initiated in circuit court within 14 days after the election. The court shall stay the change pending the decision on the challenge.

33.23 History History: 1973 c. 301; 1975 c. 197; 1977 c. 141, 391; 1981 c. 18, 229; 1989 a. 159, 192, 359; 1995 a. 349.

33.235 33.235 Restructured districts; conversion and merger of town sanitary districts.

33.235(1) (1) In this section:

33.235(1)(a) (a) “Lake” means a lake, reservoir or flowage within the boundaries of the state.

33.235(1)(b) (b) “Lake district” means a public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district that does not include a restructured district.

33.235(1m) (1m) A town board by resolution may convert a town sanitary district which encompasses all the frontage of a lake within its boundaries into a restructured district. The town sanitary district commissioners shall serve as the initial board of commissioners until the first annual meeting of the restructured district, at which time the commissioners shall be selected under s. 33.28. Conversion shall not affect any preexisting rights or liabilities of the town sanitary district. All such rights or liabilities shall be assumed automatically by the restructured district.

33.235(2) (2) The commissioners of a town sanitary district that does not encompass all the frontage of a lake within its boundaries may, with approval of the town board, petition under s. 33.25 for the formation of a restructured district to include the territory of the existing sanitary district and any additional frontage on the lake that is deemed appropriate by the commissioners. The commissioners may sign the petition for the landowners in the sanitary district. If necessary to meet the requirements of s. 33.25, signatures of owners of land lying outside the sanitary district shall be obtained. Formation of a restructured district that includes such additional territory shall not affect any preexisting rights or liabilities of the town sanitary district, and all these rights and liabilities shall be assumed automatically by the restructured district. The method by which these rights and liabilities are apportioned within the restructured district shall be determined by the county board, and set out in the order issued under s. 33.26 (3) forming the restructured district.

33.235(3) (3) A town sanitary district having boundaries coterminous or contiguous to a lake district may merge into the lake district. Merger is effected by approval of an identical merger resolution by a two-thirds vote of the commissioners of the town sanitary district and the lake district, followed by ratification by a majority of those voting at an annual or special meeting of the lake district and a majority of those voting in a referendum of the town sanitary district under s. 60.785 (2). Merger may not become effective unless the town board which created the sanitary district approves the merger. The commissioners of the town sanitary district and the district shall act jointly until the next annual or special meeting, whichever occurs first, of the restructured district at which time the board of the restructured district shall be created subject to the requirements under s. 33.28. Merger does not affect the preexisting rights or liabilities of the town sanitary district or the lake district. All these rights and liabilities are assumed automatically by the restructured district, but the method of discharging these rights or obligations shall be set out in the merger resolution.

33.235(4) (4) Any restructured district shall have all powers granted to districts under this chapter and to town sanitary districts under ch. 60, except the taxation power under s. 60.77 (6) (b). Such powers shall be exercised using the procedures and methods set out in this chapter.

33.235 History History: 1975 c. 197; 1979 c. 299; 1983 a. 532 s. 36; 1989 a. 159; 1995 a. 349.

33.24 33.24 County board may establish district.

33.24(1) (1) Notwithstanding s. 33.01 (3), in this section, “district” does not include a restructured district.

33.24(2) (2) The county board of any county may establish districts within the county if the conditions stated in s. 33.26 are found to exist. Before a district that includes any portion of a city or village may be formed under authority of this section, the city council or village board must have previously approved the inclusion of its territory within the boundaries of a proposed district.