Chapter 60

60.05(1)(b) (b) Any area which has at least 300 residents who have a freehold interest in real property located in the area, at least 150 of whom are electors who have resided in the area for at least one year prior to verification of the petition under sub. (2), and which has an equalized valuation of at least $5,000,000, according to the last preceding assessment, may be organized into a town if the remaining territory of any town of which the newly organized town was formerly a part is not less than 36 square miles and has not less than 75 electors and real estate valued at at least 40 percent of the equalized value of real estate in the town before division, according to the last preceding assessment.

60.05(2) (2) Petition. To initiate a proceeding to organize a town under this section a petition, signed by a majority of the electors of the proposed town, shall be filed with the circuit court of the county in which the area is located. The petition shall demonstrate that the area is entitled to be organized as a town under sub. (1) and shall contain an accurate description of the proposed area of the town, the name of the town of which the area is currently a part, the names of the electors of the proposed town and the proposed name of the new town. The petition shall be verified by at least 3 signers. Upon receipt of a petition, the court shall establish the time and place for a hearing on the petition and direct that a copy of the petition and order be served upon the clerk of the town of which the proposed town is currently a part. The petition and order shall be served upon the clerk at least 20 days before the hearing. The court shall order that a notice of the hearing be published in the area of the proposed town as a class 3 notice under ch. 985.

60.05(3) (3) Hearing. The court shall conduct a hearing on the petition and shall permit any elector or taxpayer of the area of the proposed town, or of any town of which the proposed area is currently a part, to be heard. The court may adjourn the hearing from time to time and refer any issue of fact to a referee. The fees and expenses of the referee shall be established and apportioned by the court after the trial of any issue and paid by any town of which the area of the proposed town is a part.

60.05(4) (4) Court order. If, after the hearing under sub. (3), the court finds that the area of the proposed town meets the requirements of sub. (1), the court shall enter an order establishing a new town under the name proposed in the petition and shall designate the location of the first town meeting of the new town. The clerk of court shall immediately file certified copies of the order with the secretary of administration and the county clerk.

60.05(5) (5) Apportionment of debts. Assets and liabilities of the newly organized town and any town or towns of which it was a part shall be apportioned under s. 66.0235.

60.05(6) (6) Attachment of remainder of old town. If the remaining territory of any town from which a new town is organized is divided into 2 detached parts by the organization of the new town, the detached portion with the least number of electors shall be attached to and become part of the new town.

60.05 History History: 1983 a. 532; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2015 a. 55.

60.06 60.06 Validity of attachment or detachment. The town board may bring an action to test the validity of an ordinance attaching or detaching all or part of the territory of the town to or from any town, village or city. Any expense incurred by the town board and its agents, attorneys and representatives in the action shall be paid by the town.

60.06 History History: 1983 a. 532.

60.06 Annotation No tort liability can attach to the exercise of a town’s legal right to challenge an annexation. Whispering Springs Corp. v. Town of Empire, 183 Wis. 2d 396, 515 N.W.2d 469 (Ct. App. 1994).

60.065 60.065 Change of town name. The name of a town shall be changed if a petition designating the new name is signed and filed with the town clerk under the procedures in s. 9.20 (1), certified by the town clerk under the procedure in s. 9.20 (3), approved by the electors in an election held under the procedures in s. 9.20 (4) and the result of the election is published in the town’s official paper, or posted in the town, and the new name is filed with the secretary of administration.

60.065 History History: 1993 a. 246; 2015 a. 55.

60.07 60.07 Delivery of papers to clerk of new town. If a new town is organized, the town clerk of the town from which the new town was organized shall deliver, if removable, all of his or her official papers and files pertaining to the new town and a certified copy of all relevant official records, papers and files not removable to the office of the clerk of the new town. Any record, paper or file delivered to the office of the clerk of a new town under this section shall have the same effect as if originally filed there.

60.07 History History: 1983 a. 532.

60.09 60.09 When a county constitutes a town.

60.09(1) (1) Generally. If a county is not divided into towns, it shall, for purposes of town government, be considered one town.

60.09(2) (2) Menominee County. The county of Menominee consists of one town, known as the town of Menominee.

60.09 History History: 1983 a. 532.

subch. III of ch. 60 SUBCHAPTER III

TOWN MEETING

60.10 60.10 Powers of town meeting.

60.10(1) (1) Direct powers. The town meeting may:

60.10(1)(a) (a) Raise money. Raise money, including levying taxes, to pay for expenses of the town, unless the authority has been delegated to the town board under sub. (2) (a).

60.10(1)(b) (b) Town offices and officers.

60.10(1)(b)1. 1. Fix the compensation of elective town offices under s. 60.32, unless the authority has been delegated to the town board under sub. (2) (k).

60.10(1)(b)2. 2. Combine the offices of town clerk and town treasurer under s. 60.305 (1).

60.10(1)(b)2m. 2m. In a town with a population of 2,500 or more, provide for the appointment by the town board of the town clerk, town treasurer, or both, or of the combined office of town clerk and town treasurer under s. 60.305 (1), at a level of compensation to be set by the board that may not be reduced during the term to which the person is appointed.

60.10(1)(b)3. 3. Combine the offices of town assessor and town clerk under s. 60.305 (2).

60.10(1)(b)4. 4. Establish or abolish the office of town constable and establish the number of constables. Abolition of the office is effective at the end of the term of the person serving in the office.

60.10(1)(b)5. 5. Designate the office of town clerk, town treasurer or the combined office of clerk and treasurer as part-time under s. 60.305 (1) (b).

60.10(1)(b)6. 6. Designate town board supervisors as full-time officers.

60.10(1)(c) (c) Election of town officers.

60.10(1)(c)1. 1. Adopt a plan under s. 5.60 (6) to elect town board supervisors to numbered seats.

60.10(1)(c)2. 2. Provide under s. 8.05 (3) (a) for the nomination of candidates for elective town offices at a nonpartisan primary election.

60.10(1)(e) (e) Cemeteries. Authorize the acquisition and conveyance of cemeteries under s. 157.50 (1) and (3).

60.10(1)(f) (f) Administrator agreements. Approve agreements to employ an administrator for more than 3 years under s. 60.37 (3) (d).

60.10(1)(g) (g) Hourly wage of certain employees. Establish the hourly wage to be paid under s. 60.37 (4) to a town employee who is also an elected town officer, unless the authority has been delegated to the town board under sub. (2) (L).

60.10(2) (2) Directives or grants of authority to town board. Except as provided under par. (c), directives or grants of authority to the town board under this subsection may be general and continuing or may be limited as to purpose, effect or duration. A resolution adopted under this subsection shall specify whether the directive or grant is general and continuing or whether it is limited as to purpose, effect or duration. A resolution that is continuing remains in effect until rescinded at a subsequent town meeting by a number of electors equal to or greater than the number of electors who voted for the original resolution. This subsection does not limit any authority otherwise conferred on the town board by law. By resolution, the town meeting may:

60.10(2)(a) (a) Raise money. Authorize the town board to raise money, including levying taxes, to pay for expenses of the town.

60.10(2)(b) (b) Membership of town board in populous towns. In a town with a population of 2,500 or more, direct the town board to increase the membership of the board under s. 60.21 (2).

60.10(2)(c) (c) Exercise of village powers. Authorize the town board to exercise powers of a village board under s. 60.22 (3). A resolution adopted under this paragraph is general and continuing.

60.10(2)(d) (d) General obligation bonds. Authorize the town board to issue general obligation bonds in the manner and for the purposes provided by law.

60.10(2)(e) (e) Purchase of land. Authorize the town board to purchase any land within the town for present or anticipated town purposes.

60.10(2)(f) (f) Town buildings. Authorize the town board to purchase, lease or construct buildings for the use of the town, to combine for this purpose the town’s funds with those of a society or corporation doing business or located in the town and to accept contributions of money, labor or space for this purpose.

60.10(2)(g) (g) Disposal of property. Authorize the town board to dispose of town real property, other than property donated to and required to be held by the town for a special purpose.

60.10(2)(h) (h) Exercise of certain zoning authority. In a town located in a county which has enacted a zoning ordinance under s. 59.69, authorize, under s. 60.62 (2), the town board to enact town zoning ordinances under s. 61.35.

60.10(2)(i) (i) Watershed protection and soil and water conservation. Authorize the town board to engage in watershed protection, soil conservation or water conservation activities beneficial to the town.

60.10(2)(j) (j) Appointed assessors. Authorize the town board to select assessors by appointment under s. 60.307 (2).

60.10(2)(k) (k) Compensation of elective town offices. Authorize the town board to fix the compensation of elective town offices under s. 60.32 (1) (b).

60.10(2)(L) (L) Hourly wage of certain employees. Authorize the town board to establish the hourly wage to be paid under s. 60.37 (4) to a town employee who is also an elected town officer, other than a town board supervisor.

60.10(2)(m) (m) Membership of town sanitary district commission. If the town board does not constitute itself as the town sanitary district commission, direct the town board to increase the membership of the town sanitary district commission under subch. IX from 3 members to 5 members, or direct the town board to decrease the membership of the town sanitary district commission from 5 members to 3 members, except that the town meeting may not act under this paragraph more frequently than every 2 years. If a town meeting directs the town board to decrease the membership of the town sanitary district commission, the reduction in members first applies upon the expiration of the terms of the first 2 commissioners whose terms expire at the same time after the town meeting directs the town board to reduce the number of commissioners.

60.10(3) (3) Authorization to town board to appropriate money. The town meeting may authorize the town board to appropriate money in the next annual budget for:

60.10(3)(a) (a) Conservation of natural resources. The conservation of natural resources by the town or by a bona fide nonprofit organization under s. 60.23 (6).

60.10(3)(b) (b) Civic functions. Civic and other functions under s. 60.23 (3).

60.10(3)(c) (c) Insects, weeds and animal diseases. The control of insect pests, weeds or plant or animal diseases within the town.

60.10(3)(d) (d) Rural numbering systems. Posting signs and otherwise cooperating with the county in the establishment of a rural numbering system under s. 59.54 (4) and (4m).

60.10(3)(e) (e) Cemetery improvements. The improvement of the town cemetery under s. 157.50 (5).

60.10 History History: 1983 a. 532; 1991 a. 39; 1995 a. 34, 201; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 214; 2015 a. 245.

60.10 Note NOTE: 2003 Wis. Act 214, which affected this section, contains extensive explanatory notes.

60.10 Annotation The terms “authorize” and “direct” in sub. (2) are not used interchangeably. A town meeting that “authorizes” an act gives the town board permission to do the act within its discretion, but if it “directs” that an act be done, the action is mandatory. Graziano v. Town of Long Lake, 191 Wis. 2d 812, 530 N.W.2d 55 (Ct. App. 1995).

60.10 Annotation Assessments made by an assessor appointed in the absence of authorization under sub. (2) (j) were valid under the de facto officer doctrine. Joyce v. Town of Tainter, 2000 WI App 15, 232 Wis. 2d 349, 606 N.W.2d 284, 99-0324.

60.10 Annotation Section 60.55 does not create an exception to the grant of power to the town meeting to authorize land purchases or construction by the town board. If a town board chooses to meet the requirements of s. 60.55 to provide fire protection by providing housing for fire protection services and also chooses to purchase land and construct that housing, then the town board must proceed with the authorization of the town meeting under sub. (2) (e) and (f) to purchase the land and construct the building. Town of Clayton v. Cardinal Construction Co., 2009 WI App 54, 317 Wis. 2d 424, 767 N.W.2d 605, 08-1793.

60.10 Annotation A town board exercising village powers under s. 60.22 (3) is not entitled to purchase land and contract for construction when doing so would conflict with statutes relating to towns and town boards. The village board power to acquire land and construct buildings under s. 61.34 (3) is in direct conflict with sub. (2) (e) and (f), which relates to towns and town boards and which confers that power of authorization on the town meeting. Town of Clayton v. Cardinal Construction Co., 2009 WI App 54, 317 Wis. 2d 424, 767 N.W.2d 605, 08-1793.

60.11 60.11 Annual town meeting.

60.11(1) (1) Requirement. Each town shall hold an annual town meeting, as provided in this section.

60.11(2) (2) When held.

60.11(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the annual town meeting shall be held on the 3rd Tuesday of April.

60.11(2)(b) (b)

60.11(2)(b)1. 1. The annual town meeting may set a date different than provided under par. (a) for the next annual town meeting if the date is within 10 days after the 3rd Tuesday of April.

60.11(2)(b)2. 2. The town board or, if the town board is unable to promptly meet, the town chair may postpone the annual town meeting to a date that is not during the period beginning on the first day of the public health emergency declared on March 12, 2020, by executive order 72, and ending 60 days after the termination of that order.

60.11(3) (3) Where held.

60.11(3)(a) (a) The annual town meeting may be held in the town or in any other town, village, or city in the same county or in an adjoining county.

60.11(3)(b) (b) The annual town meeting shall be held at the location of the last annual town meeting unless the location is changed by the town board. If the town board changes the location, it shall publish a class 2 notice under ch. 985 stating the location of the meeting, not more than 20 nor less than 15 days before the date of the meeting.

60.11(4) (4) Adjournment. The annual town meeting may be recessed to a time and date certain if the resumed meeting is held within 30 days after the date of the meeting originally scheduled under sub. (2).

60.11(5) (5) Notice. No public notice of an annual town meeting is required if held as provided under sub. (2) (a). If held as provided under sub. (2) (b), notice of the time and date of the meeting shall be given under s. 60.12 (3).

60.11(6) (6) Jurisdiction. An annual town meeting may transact any business over which a town meeting has jurisdiction.

60.11(7) (7) Poll list. An annual town meeting may require the clerk of the town meeting to keep a poll list with the name and address of every elector voting at the meeting. If an elector of the town obtains a confidential listing under s. 6.47 (2) and presents an identification card issued under s. 6.47 (3), the clerk shall record the identification serial number of the elector in lieu of the elector’s address.

60.11 History History: 1983 a. 532; 1999 a. 49; 2005 a. 312; 2011 a. 115; 2019 a. 185.

60.12 60.12 Special town meetings.

60.12(1) (1) Who may convene. A special town meeting may be convened if:

60.12(1)(a) (a) Called by a town meeting.

60.12(1)(b) (b) A written request, signed by a number of electors equal to not less than 10 percent of the votes cast in the town for governor at the last general election, is filed with the town clerk.

60.12(1)(c) (c) Called by the town board.

60.12(2) (2) Time, date and purpose to be stated. If a special town meeting is requested or called under sub. (1), the time, date and purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the request or as part of the call.

60.12(3) (3) Notice. The town clerk shall, not more than 20 nor less than 15 days before the date of a special town meeting, publish a class 2 notice of the meeting under ch. 985. The notice shall state the purpose, date, time and location of the meeting. If notice is posted, the same time and content requirements apply.

60.12(4) (4) Location.

60.12(4)(a) (a) A special town meeting may be held in the town or in any other town, village, or city in the same county or in an adjoining county.

60.12(4)(b) (b) A special town meeting shall be held where the preceding annual town meeting was held, unless the location is changed by the town board.

60.12(5) (5) Adjournment. A special town meeting may be recessed to a time and date certain if the resumed meeting is held within 30 days after the date of the originally scheduled meeting.