Chapter 83

83.13 83.13 Guideboards. The county board may erect and maintain guideboards on county aid and county trunk highways which are not part of the state trunk highway system, the cost to be paid out of such fund as the board shall direct.

83.14 83.14 County aid on town and village initiative.

83.14(1) (1) Any town meeting or village board may vote a tax of not less than $500 to improve a designated portion of a county aid highway and may accept cash donations for such purposes, and when accepted subsequent proceedings shall be the same as if a tax of like amount had been voted. Highways in villages shall not be eligible to improvement under this section wherever the buildings fronting the highways average more than one to each 60 lineal feet of highway. The tax shall not exceed 2 mills on the dollar on the taxable property but every town and village may vote $500, and such tax shall be paid to the county treasurer when the county taxes are paid. If the total cost of the improvement approved by the town meeting or village board exceeds the amount which it is permitted by this subsection to raise by taxation in the current year, it may vote a tax of not to exceed the same amount for the succeeding year or years.

83.14(2) (2) When the tax has been voted the town or village board shall petition the county board at its next annual meeting to appropriate at least an equal amount as the county’s share of the cost of the proposed improvement. The petition shall designate the highway to be improved and state the character of the improvement and the amount which has been voted therefor.

83.14(3) (3) The county board shall thereupon appropriate for the improvement a sum equal to or greater than the amount voted therefor by the town or village; and shall raise the same by tax on all the taxable property of the county.

83.14(4) (4) No county shall be required to appropriate in any year over $2,000 for work in any town or village.

83.14(5) (5) The improvement shall be performed, supervised and paid for and accepted in the same manner as other county aid work.

83.14(6) (6) Construction shall not begin until the funds to pay for the same are in the county treasury and the plans and specifications have been approved by the county highway committee. After any town has voted the tax such town may borrow money for such improvement in anticipation of the tax levy and the appropriation to be made by the county board, and pay the same into the county treasury as an advance, after which construction may proceed. The county shall reimburse the town for such advance when the necessary funds become available.

83.14(7) (7) Towns and villages may take the initiative in the improvement of county aid highways by issuing bonds and the funds produced by such bond issue shall be handled and expended as though raised by taxation. If the county has not appropriated a sum at least equal to the funds raised by the town or village or to the proceeds of the town or village bonds advanced to the county for such improvements, the town or village board may petition the county pursuant to sub. (2) for an amount equal to one-half of such funds or of the principal maturing on such bonds in each year and the county shall appropriate its share as provided in sub. (3), subject to the limitation in sub. (4), until the county has appropriated an amount equal to the amount raised by the town or village or to the proceeds of the bonds thus advanced. This procedure may also be used to repay funds borrowed and advanced by a town or village for such improvements, as provided in sub. (6).

83.14(8) (8) The county clerk shall, on or before January 1 of each year, file with the department a written statement setting forth the petitions granted by the county board and the improvements determined upon under s. 83.03, the location, character and contemplated cost of each improvement, and the amount to be paid by the county and town or village for making each improvement.

83.14 History History: 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (8) (c); 1977 c. 272; 1985 a. 223 s. 5.

83.15 83.15 Aid by county for state line bridge or highway. The county board of any county bounded in part by a river, or by a highway, either of which is also a state boundary line may aid any municipality of such county in the construction of a bridge across such river or any part thereof, or in the reconstruction of the highway including its bridges by an appropriation therefor not exceeding one-third of the cost of such bridge or of such highway.

83.16 83.16 County may contract with foreign county. The board of supervisors of any county in this state bordering on any stream or highway which is the boundary line between such county and a county in another state is authorized in conjunction with the board of supervisors of such adjoining county in such other state, to construct and maintain a bridge or bridges across such river at a place or places within the limits of such county or reconstruct such highway including its bridges as may be agreed upon by the respective boards of supervisors, whenever said board of supervisors deems it necessary, and to enter into a contract with such board of supervisors of the adjoining county of such other state for the construction, maintenance and repair of such bridges or highway.

83.17 83.17 County may assume compensation liability; agreements with localities. Whenever a county contributes funds to a highway project undertaken by a town, village or city in the county or a city, town or village has its highways maintained by the county with local funds, the county through its county highway committee may assume the liability under ch. 102 of the town, village or city to any employee on such project, and may by agreement with the governing body of the town, village or city provide for the amount the town, village or city shall pay to the county for the assumption of such liability. The action of the county highway committee shall remain in effect until the county board by resolution disapproves of the action.

83.17 History History: 1975 c. 147 s. 54; 1979 c. 89.

83.18 83.18 Entry on lands. For constructing or maintaining any highway by the county, the county highway committee or commissioner shall possess all of the powers to acquire and enter lands conferred upon town boards by s. 82.03 (2) and (5).

83.18 History History: 1985 a. 29 s. 3202 (56); 2003 a. 214.

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

83.19 83.19 Temporary highways and detours. When any highway which is maintained or to be maintained by the county shall be practically impassable or be dangerous to travel or when it shall be deemed necessary on account of construction or repair work thereon or for other reasons to suspend travel upon any part of such highway, the county highway commissioner may lay out and open temporary highways for the accommodation of public travel through any lands, and the county highway commissioner shall possess the powers conferred by s. 82.35 upon town boards. Said powers shall be exercised by the county highway commissioner in like manner and the procedure shall be the same except that the contract and orders and claim for damages and other papers relating to the matter shall be filed with the county clerk, and claims for damages shall be acted upon by the county board in the manner provided by s. 893.80.

83.19 History History: 1977 c. 285 s. 12; 1979 c. 323 s. 33; 1991 a. 316; 2003 a. 214.

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

83.20 83.20 Highways, lighting. Any county may provide for lighting of improved highways maintained by the county or the construction of which has been aided by the county or state, and of bridges located thereon.

83.42 83.42 Rustic roads system.

83.42(1) (1) Purpose. In order to create and preserve rustic and scenic roads for vehicular, bicycle, electric scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device, and pedestrian travel in unhurried, quiet and leisurely enjoyment; to protect and preserve recreational driving, culture, beauty, trees, vegetation and wildlife by establishing protective standards of rustic road design, access, speed, maintenance and identification, which will promote a continuous system of rustic roads and scenic easements for the public health and welfare; a state system of rustic roads is created.

83.42(2) (2) Definitions. In this section:

83.42(2)(a) (a) “Board” means the rustic roads board in the department.

83.42(2)(b) (b) “Municipality” means a city, village or town.

83.42(3) (3) Designation as a rustic road. Any county highway committee or the governing body of any municipality may apply to the board for the designation of any highway under its jurisdiction as a rustic road. The board shall approve or deny the application for designation of a highway as a rustic road submitted under this subsection.

83.42(4) (4) Withdrawal of highways from rustic roads system. After holding a public hearing, any county highway committee, or the governing body of any municipality, which has jurisdiction over a rustic road may apply to the board for the removal of a highway from the rustic roads system. The board shall approve or deny the application for removal of the highway from its designation as a rustic road.

83.42(5) (5) Joint jurisdiction of highways. Highways under the joint jurisdiction of 2 or more municipalities or a municipality and a county or 2 or more counties may not be designated rustic roads or be withdrawn from the rustic roads system until after approval by:

83.42(5)(a) (a) The governing bodies of all affected municipalities; and

83.42(5)(b) (b) The county highway committees of all affected counties; and

83.42(5)(c) (c) The board.

83.42(7) (7) Local authority. The county highway committees, the municipalities and the counties shall have the same authority over rustic roads as they possess over other highways under their jurisdiction except as otherwise provided in this section.

83.42(8) (8) Aids. State aids for rustic roads shall be determined in accordance with the general transportation aids provisions of s. 86.30.

83.42(8m) (8m) Rustic road marking signs; state payment. The department shall pay the costs of furnishing and installing rustic roads marking signs on officially designated rustic roads from the appropriation under s. 20.395 (3) (eq).

83.42(9) (9) Rules and standards. The board shall promulgate rules and establish standards for the maintenance, identification, construction, use and preservation of the rustic roads system.

83.42 History History: 1973 c. 142; 1979 c. 100, 154, 355; 1981 c. 20 s. 2202 (51) (c); 1983 a. 55; 1985 a. 223 s. 5; 1991 a. 39; 1995 a. 338; 2001 a. 90; 2019 a. 11.

83.42 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Trans-RR 1, Wis. adm. code.