Chapter 59

59.76 History History: 1971 c. 211; 1981 c. 245; 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 301; 1995 a. 201 s. 463; Stats. 1995 s. 59.76; 2017 a. 102.

subch. VIII of ch. 59 SUBCHAPTER VIII

POPULOUS COUNTIES

59.79 59.79 Milwaukee County. In a county with a population of 750,000 or more, the board may:

59.79(1) (1) Housing facilities. Build, furnish and rent housing facilities to residents of the county. Such a county may borrow money or accept grants from the federal government for or in aid of any project to build, furnish and rent such housing facilities, to take over any federal lands and to such ends enter into such contracts, mortgages, trust indentures, leases or other agreements as the federal government may require. It is the intent of this subsection to authorize such a county to do anything necessary to secure the financial aid and the cooperation of the federal government in any undertaking by the county authorized by this subsection, including the authority to provide housing subsidies or allowances by participation in federal government housing programs.

59.79(2) (2) Intergovernmental committees; appropriation. Appropriate money to defray the expenses of any intergovernmental committee organized in the county with participation by the board to study countywide governmental problems, and make recommendations thereon. All items of expense paid out of the appropriations shall be presented on vouchers signed by the chairperson and secretary of the intergovernmental committee.

59.79(3) (3) Transportation studies. Undertake the necessary studies and planning, alone or with other urban planning activities, to determine the total transportation needs of the county areas; to formulate a program for the most efficient and economical coordination, integration and joint use of all existing transportation facilities; and to study the interrelationship between metropolitan county area growth and the establishment of various transportation systems for such area in order to promote the most comprehensive planning and development of both. In pursuance of such undertaking the board may employ the services of consultants to furnish surveys and plans, and may appropriate funds for the payment of the cost of such work and the hiring of consultants.

59.79(5) (5) Fee for certain marriage ceremonies. Enact an ordinance imposing a fee to be paid in advance to the clerk for each marriage ceremony performed by a judge or a circuit or supplemental court commissioner specified in s. 765.16 (1m) (e) in the courthouse, safety building, or children’s court center during hours when any office in those public buildings is open for the transaction of business. The amount of the fee shall be determined by the board.

59.79(7) (7) Lakefront parking facility.

59.79(7)(a) (a) Contract with the state to use and pay reasonable charges for the use of all or a portion of the parking facility authorized under s. 13.485 and to guaranty all or a portion of the debt service for revenue obligations issued under s. 13.485 as compensation for benefits to be derived by the county and the public from the facility funded by the issuance.

59.79(7)(b) (b) Take any action that is necessary to facilitate contracting with the state under par. (a), including the levying of any direct annual tax for that purpose.

59.79(8) (8) Contractual personnel services. Enter into a contract for a period not to exceed 2 years for the services of retired county employees, provided such services shall not replace or duplicate an existing office or position in the classified or unclassified service nor be considered an office or position under s. 63.03.

59.79(10) (10) County hospital. Determine policy for the operation, maintenance and improvement of the county hospital under s. 49.71 (2) and, notwithstanding the powers and duties specified under s. 46.21 (2) (k), (3r) and (6) with respect to the county hospital and the administrator and specified under s. 46.21 (2) (b), (L), (m), (n), (nm), (o), (p) and (q) and (3g), provide for the management of the county hospital as the board considers appropriate, except that the employee positions at the hospital will be county employee positions. If the board acts under this subsection, the board may not discontinue operation, maintenance and improvement of the county hospital under s. 49.71 (2) and shall exercise the duties under s. 46.21 (4m). This subsection does not apply if the board acts under s. 46.21 with respect to the county hospital under s. 49.71 (2).

59.79 History History: 1995 a. 201 ss. 137, 164, 166, 168, 170, 184, 189, 194 to 196, 223, 225, 235, 236, 431, 454; 1999 a. 9, 83; 2001 a. 61; 2007 a. 63; 2013 a. 4 s. 2; 2013 a. 14, 372; 2017 a. 207 s. 5.

59.79 Annotation Milwaukee County has authority to acquire vacant land on the open market and to resell it at a reduced price to private parties under a contract of sale that requires purchasers to build low-income and middle-income housing, especially for persons displaced by expressway construction. 60 Atty. Gen. 242.

59.792 59.792 Milwaukee County; sewage, waste, refuse.

59.792(1) (1) In this section:

59.792(1)(a) (a) “County” means a county with a population of 750,000 or more.

59.792(1)(b) (b) “Waste” includes, without limitation because of enumeration, garbage, ashes, municipal, domestic, industrial and commercial rubbish, waste or refuse material.

59.792(2) (2) The county’s board may provide for the transmission and disposal of sewage from any county buildings. The county shall annually pay to the municipality in which the buildings are situated its proportion of the expense of the transmission and disposal of the sewage by the municipality, as certified under s. 200.55 (5). The county’s proportionate expense shall be determined by the ratio that the amount of sewage contributed by any county buildings bears to the total amount of sewage contributed by the municipality to the sewage system. Each municipality in which county buildings are located, if payment is to be made, shall provide and furnish meters to determine the amount of sewage so contributed. This subsection shall not apply to user charges billed to the county under s. 200.59.

59.792(3) (3) 

59.792(3)(a) (a) The county’s board may do any of the following:

59.792(3)(a)1. 1. Engage in the function of the destruction or disposal of waste by providing dumpage facilities.

59.792(3)(a)2. 2. Acquire lands by purchase, lease, donation or right of eminent domain within the county and use the lands as dumpage sites for depositing, salvaging, processing, burning or otherwise disposing of waste.

59.792(3)(a)3. 3. Acquire land by purchase, lease or donation outside the county for purposes described in subd. 2. where state and local regulations permit.

59.792(3)(a)4. 4. Construct and equip incinerators and other structures to be used for disposal of waste.

59.792(3)(a)5. 5. Maintain, control and operate dumpage sites.

59.792(3)(a)6. 6. Maintain, control and operate incinerators for burning waste.

59.792(3)(a)7. 7. Utilize or dispose of by sale or otherwise heat or power reclaimed from incinerator facilities.

59.792(3)(a)8. 8. Sell all salvageable waste materials and by-products.

59.792(3)(a)9. 9. Levy a tax to create a working capital fund to maintain and operate dumpage facilities, construct, equip and operate incinerators and other structures for disposal of wastes.

59.792(3)(a)10. 10. Charge or assess reasonable fees to persons making use of such sites, incinerators or other structures for the disposal of waste.

59.792(3)(a)11. 11. Make charges approximately commensurate with the cost of services rendered to any municipality using the county waste disposal facilities.

59.792(3)(a)12. 12. Authorize payment to any municipality, in which county waste disposal facilities, including incinerators, are located, to cover the reasonable cost of fire fighting services rendered to the county when fire fighting service is required.

59.792(3)(a)13. 13. Contract with private collectors and municipalities and transporters to receive and dispose of waste other than garbage at dumpage and incinerator sites.

59.792(3)(a)14. 14. Levy taxes to provide funds to acquire sites and to construct and equip incinerators and other structures for disposal of wastes.

59.792(3)(a)15. 15. Enact and enforce ordinances, and adopt and enforce rules and regulations, necessary for the orderly conduct of providing dumpage facilities and services and provide forfeitures for the violation thereof.

59.792(3)(b) (b) The charges for waste disposal services shall be determined by the board and shall include a reasonable charge for depreciation. In the determination of the charges the board shall give full consideration to any fees directly collected for the service. Waste disposal charges shall be apportioned under s. 70.63 to the respective municipalities receiving the service. The depreciation charges shall create a reserve for future capital outlays for waste disposal facilities.

59.792(3)(c) (c) Before acquiring any site in the county to be used for dumping or the erection of an incinerator or other structure for the disposal of waste, a public hearing shall be held in the county following notice of hearing by publication as a class 3 notice, under ch. 985.

59.792(3)(d) (d) The powers conferred by this subsection are declared to be necessary to the preservation of the public health, welfare and convenience of the county.

59.792 History History: 1999 a. 83; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2017 a. 207 s. 5.

59.794 59.794 Milwaukee County; limitations on board authority and on intergovernmental cooperation, shared services.

59.794(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

59.794(1)(a) (a) “Agreement” means an intergovernmental cooperation agreement under s. 66.0301, or a contract to provide consolidated services under s. 59.03 (2) (e), entered into by a county and another local governmental unit that is located wholly within that county.

59.794(1)(b) (b) “Board” means the board of a county.

59.794(1)(c) (c) “County” means a county with a population of 750,000 or more.

59.794(1)(d) (d) “Executive council” means a body that consists of the mayor of a 1st class city, and the elected executive officer of every city and village that is wholly located within the county and who is also a member of the executive council as described in s. 200.23 (2) (b).

59.794(1)(e) (e) “Local governmental unit” has the meaning given in s. 66.0131 (1) (a).

59.794(2) (2) Limitation on agreements.

59.794(2)(a) (a) Subject to par. (b), before an agreement may take effect and become binding on a county, it must be approved by the executive council. If the county enters into an agreement, the executive council shall meet as soon as practicable to vote on the agreement.

59.794(2)(b) (b) With regard to an intergovernmental cooperation agreement under s. 66.0301, the requirements under par. (a) apply only to any single contract, or group of contracts between the same parties which generally relate to the same transaction, with a value or aggregate value of more than $300,000.

59.794(3) (3) Limitations on board authority.

59.794(3)(a) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 59.51, the board may not exercise day-to-day control of any county department or subunit of a department. Such control may be exercised only by the county executive as described in s. 59.17.

59.794(3)(b) (b) A board may require, as necessary, the attendance of any county employee or officer at a board meeting to provide information and answer questions. Except as provided in par. (d), for the purpose of inquiry, or to refer a specific constituent concern, the board and its members may deal with county departments and subunits of departments solely through the county executive, and no supervisor may give instructions or orders to any subordinate of the county executive that would conflict with this section.

59.794(3)(c) (c) The board may not create any county department or subunit of a department, except as provided in s. 59.17 (2) (b) 2.

59.794(3)(d) (d) The board may use the legal services of the corporation counsel under s. 59.42 (2).

59.794(3)(e) (e) The board may not terminate, lower the salary or benefits of, or eliminate the position of, any county employee who works in the office of the county executive unless a similar change is made which affects county employees, on a countywide basis, in all other county departments. This paragraph does not apply after the county board supervisors who are elected in the 2016 spring election take office.

59.794 History History: 2013 a. 14.

59.794 Annotation The verbs “provide, fix, or change” under s. 59.22 (2) (c) 1. a. establish a broad power for county boards to determine compensation levels for all unclassified county positions. However, under s. 59.22 (2) (a), the power is controlled by the power of the Milwaukee County Executive under sub. (3) to exercise day-to-day control of any county department or subunit of a department. In other words, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors can provide, fix, or change the pay of unclassified employees, unless and until board action interferes with the Milwaukee County Executive’s day-to-day control of a county department or subunit. Lipscomb v. Abele, 2018 WI App 58, 384 Wis. 2d 1, 918 N.W.2d 434, 17-1023.

59.794 Annotation The Milwaukee County Executive’s day-to-day control power under sub. (3) (a) has the express intent of removing and clarifying some authority of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors (Board) under s. 59.22 (2) and increasing and clarifying the authority of the Milwaukee County Executive. The Milwaukee County Executive’s day-to-day control power prevents the Board from taking actions that effectively direct what duties may or must be accomplished by employees or officers or how they may or must perform those duties, even when a Board action may result in a compensation change. Lipscomb v. Abele, 2018 WI App 58, 384 Wis. 2d 1, 918 N.W.2d 434, 17-1023.

59.794 Annotation The Milwaukee County Executive is included in the definition of any “officer” whose appearance the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors may require under sub. (3) (b) to provide information and answer questions. The board as a whole may require an appearance under sub. (3) (b), not a board committee or other subset of board supervisors. Lipscomb v. Abele, 2018 WI App 58, 384 Wis. 2d 1, 918 N.W.2d 434, 17-1023.

59.796 59.796 Milwaukee County; opportunity schools and partnership program. Notwithstanding s. 59.81, the board of any county with a population of 750,000 or more may not have access to or exercise oversight of any private gifts and grants received by the county executive under s. 59.17 (2) (b) 7.

59.796 History History: 2015 a. 55.

59.80 59.80 Milwaukee County; city-county crime commission. The board of any county with a population of 750,000 or more or the common council of any 1st class city however organized in such county may appropriate money to defray in whole or in part the expenses of a city-county crime commission organized and functioning to determine methods of crime prevention in such county. All items of expense paid out of such appropriation shall be presented and paid on board vouchers as are claims against counties.

59.80 History History: 1995 a. 201 s. 167; 2017 a. 207 s. 5.

59.81 59.81 Cash flow, Milwaukee. In counties having a population of 750,000 or more, the treasurer may be designated as the custodian for all cash received in an escrow, trust, bailment or safekeeping capacity by any other department of the county. This section is not applicable to the clerk of circuit court or any other depository specifically designated by a court of law or by a donor or other bailor even if the other depository retains control over such funds and the ultimate disposition. The treasurer may commingle this cash with general revenue cash and subject these funds to a common investment policy. Any interest earned on such investment reverts to the general fund of the county.

59.81 History History: 1975 c. 41; 1995 a. 201 s. 271; Stats. 1995 s. 59.81; 2017 a. 207 s. 5.

59.82 59.82 Milwaukee County Research and Technology Park.

59.82(1) (1) Counties with a population of 750,000 or more may participate in the development of a research and technology park under sub. (2) if all of the following apply:

59.82(1)(a) (a) A nonstock corporation is organized under ch. 181, and that corporation is a nonprofit corporation as defined in s. 181.0103 (17), organized for the sole purpose of developing a research and technology park under sub. (2).

59.82(1)(b) (b) The research and technology park is located on land designated by the board for that purpose and owned by the county.

59.82(1)(c) (c) The board determines that participation is for a public purpose and that participation will benefit the Milwaukee regional medical center, Milwaukee County and this state.

59.82(2) (2) A county may participate with the nonstock, nonprofit corporation under sub. (1) (a) in the development of a research and technology park by doing any of the following on terms approved by the board:

59.82(2)(a) (a) Leasing or otherwise making available to the nonprofit corporation property for a research and technology park.

59.82(2)(b) (b) Making grants or loans to the nonprofit corporation for the operations of the nonprofit corporation and for the development of a research and technology park.

59.82(2)(c) (c) Borrowing money to be used for the development of a research and technology park and by issuing notes, bonds or other evidence of indebtedness for this purpose.

59.82(2)(d) (d) Entering into contracts or exercising any other authority that is necessary for the development of a research and technology park.

59.82(3) (3) Officers, officials and employees of the county may be members of the board of directors of the nonstock, nonprofit corporation under sub. (1) (a) but may not receive compensation for serving as a member of the board.

59.82(4) (4) The nonstock, nonprofit corporation under sub. (1) (a) shall give a 45-day written notice to a municipality that is located in the county whenever the nonprofit corporation intends to enter into a transaction that entails moving a research or technology business or facility from the municipality to the research and technology park.

59.82 History History: 1995 a. 201 s. 230; 1997 a. 79; 2017 a. 207 s. 5.

59.84 59.84 Expressways and mass transit facilities in populous counties.

59.84(1) (1) Definitions. In this section, unless the context indicates otherwise:

59.84(1)(a) (a) “Board” means the county board of supervisors in any county with a population of 750,000 or more.

59.84(1)(b) (b) “Expressway” means a divided arterial highway for through traffic with full or partial control of access and, generally, with grade separations at intersections.

59.84(1)(bm) (bm) “Full control of access” means that the authority to control access is exercised to give preference to through traffic by providing access connections with selected public roads only and by prohibiting crossings at grade or direct private driveway connections.

59.84(1)(c) (c) “Expressway project” means an integral portion of the expressway that may be put to public use independently of other expressway projects.

59.84(1)(d) (d) “Expressway project budget” means the plan of financial operation embodying an estimate of proposed expenditures for an expressway project and the proposed means of financing them.

59.84(1)(e) (e) “Mass transit” includes, without limitation because of enumeration, exclusive or preferential bus lanes if those lanes are limited to abandoned railroad rights-of-way or existing expressways constructed before May 17, 1978, highway control devices, bus passenger loading areas and terminal facilities, including shelters, and fringe and corridor parking facilities to serve bus and other public mass transportation passengers, together with the acquisition, construction, reconstruction and maintenance of lands and facilities for the development, improvement and use of public mass transportation systems for the transportation of passengers.

59.84(1)(em) (em) “Partial control of access” means that the authority to control access is exercised to give preference to through traffic to a degree that, in addition to access connections with selected public roads, there may be some crossings at grade and some private driveway connections.