Chapter 88

88.05(4)(c) (c) The persons enumerated in par. (a) and all owners and mortgagees of lands affected whose names and post-office addresses are known or can with reasonable diligence be ascertained.

88.05(5) (5) In the case of a court hearing, in lieu of the service by mail specified in sub. (3), the notice of hearing may be served as provided in s. 801.11 for the service of a summons, at least 20 days before the time fixed for hearing. The service is sufficient to give the court complete jurisdiction over the parties and their lands without any other service.

88.05(6) (6) Railroad companies shall file with the department of financial institutions a document stating the name and post-office address of the person upon whom any notice required by this chapter may be served.

88.05(7) (7) In the case of a court hearing, the board shall file with the court proof of publication and service of the notice required by this section. The certificate or affidavit of the person who made the service, publication or mailing, or who knows the facts, is sufficient proof of service, publication or mailing.

88.05(8) (8) Failure to give notice as provided by this section or to announce any adjournment does not defeat the jurisdiction of either the court or the drainage board. If a failure to give legal notice to any person entitled to notice is discovered before an order is entered, the court or drainage board shall adjourn the hearing and direct the giving of proper notice. If a failure to give the notice is discovered after the order is entered, the court or drainage board may order the person not served with notice to show cause why that person should not be bound by the order already entered. In any case, notice may be waived by appearance or by a written waiver filed with the court or drainage board.

88.05 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 773 (1975); 1977 c. 449; 1981 c. 346 s. 38; 1985 a. 29; 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 184, 456, 491; 1995 a. 27.

88.06 88.06 General procedure for obtaining consent or approval of the court in drainage proceedings. Whenever any action by the drainage board requires the consent or approval of the court and no other procedure is expressly provided, the procedure in this section applies:

88.06(1) (1) The board shall file with the clerk of court a petition asking the court’s consent to or approval of the particular action that the board proposes to take.

88.06(2) (2) Upon receipt of the petition the court shall fix the time and place of the hearing on the petition and shall order the board to give notice of the hearing as provided in s. 88.05 (1) (b) to the persons specified in s. 88.05 (4) (b).

88.06(3) (3) At the hearing any interested person may appear and testify either for or against the petition, subject to the requirements of s. 88.07 (1). If the court is satisfied that the board’s proposed action will be in the best interests of the districts involved, it shall grant the petition and approve the report, subject to the changes and conditions that it considers advisable. Otherwise, the court shall dismiss the petition.

88.06(4) (4) If a petition, which is basically the same in substance as a petition which has been decided or dismissed, is filed within 3 years after the dismissal, the court may refuse to order a hearing on the petition or to take any other action with respect to it.

88.06 History History: 1977 c. 135 s. 19; 1993 a. 456.

88.065 88.065 General procedure for drainage board hearings. If this chapter requires the drainage board to conduct a hearing before issuing an order and no other procedure is expressly provided, the following procedure applies:

88.065(1) (1) Upon receipt of the petition, the drainage board shall fix a time and place of hearing on the petition and shall give notice of the hearing as provided in s. 88.05 (2) (b) to the persons specified in s. 88.05 (4) (b).

88.065(2) (2) At the hearing, any interested person may appear and testify either for or against the petition or object to the report assessing costs. If the drainage board is satisfied that the proposed action will be in the best interests of the districts involved, the board shall grant the petition and issue the order, subject to the changes and conditions that the board considers advisable. Otherwise, the drainage board shall dismiss the petition.

88.065(3) (3) If a petition, which is basically the same in substance as a petition which has been decided or dismissed, is filed within 3 years after the dismissal, the drainage board may refuse to order a hearing on the petition or to take any other action with respect to the petition.

88.065(4) (4) Except as provided in sub. (5), all meetings of the drainage board are subject to subch. V of ch. 19.

88.065(5) (5) 

88.065(5)(a) (a) A gathering of drainage board members solely for one or more of the following purposes is not a meeting, as defined in s. 19.82 (2):

88.065(5)(a)1. 1. Observing, supervising or undertaking the construction, maintenance or improvement of drains.

88.065(5)(a)2. 2. Observing, supervising or undertaking the construction or maintenance of highways, railroads, bridges, utilities or other similar structures that may affect drains in any drainage district.

88.065(5)(a)3. 3. Collecting information by observation, survey or measurement or by discussions with an affected landowner at the site of a drainage ditch or a proposed drainage ditch.

88.065(5)(a)4. 4. Responding to natural disasters affecting a drain.

88.065(5)(b) (b) Any action taken by a drainage board under par. (a) shall be reported by the board’s secretary at the next meeting of the drainage board for inclusion in the board’s minutes.

88.065(5)(c) (c) A drainage board may not take any action at a gathering under par. (a) if the action will result in an increase in the assessment against any property in the drainage district.

88.065 History History: 1993 a. 456.

88.065 Note NOTE: 1993 Wis. Act 456, which created this section, contains extensive explanatory notes.

88.07 88.07 General rules; drainage proceedings in court.

88.07(1) (1) All objections made to the jurisdiction of the court or to the sufficiency or legality of any petition or report shall be in writing. The objections shall be set forth clearly and in detail and shall be filed with the clerk of court before the hearing.

88.07(2) (2) Several petitions may be filed in any proceeding. At any time before the sufficiency of the signers of the petitions has been adjudicated, additional signers may be added to the petitions with like effect as if they had signed the original petition.

88.07(3) (3) At any time before but not after the hearing has begun on any petition filed under this chapter, any petitioner may withdraw his or her name from the petition upon filing in court an undertaking with sufficient sureties to be approved by the court. The undertaking shall be conditioned that if the withdrawal of names reduces the number of signers below the number required by the section under which the petition is filed and thereby deprives the court of jurisdiction, the withdrawing petitioner will pay into court the costs of the drainage proceeding incurred prior to and including the making and entry of the order denying the relief requested in the petition and will pay into court the expenses incurred on the petition before his or her withdrawal.

88.07(4) (4) For satisfactory cause the court may adjourn any hearing for a period of not more than one month at any one adjournment. The adjournment of any meeting or hearing beyond the time, or failure to act within the time, provided in this chapter does not affect the jurisdiction of either the court or the drainage board, but a subsequent hearing shall be had and notice of the time and place thereof shall be given.

88.07(5) (5) Any hearing under this chapter may be adjourned by the court or presiding judge or, in his or her absence, by the clerk of court.

88.07 History History: 1977 c. 135, 449; 1993 a. 456.

88.08 88.08 Costs in drainage proceedings.

88.08(1) (1) In all proceedings under this chapter involving a petition to the court, the court shall by order tax the taxable costs of the proceeding. If costs are taxed against the drainage board, they shall not go against the board members personally but shall be paid out of the district funds or from funds received from the petitioners unless the court orders otherwise.

88.08(2) (2) If a petition for organization of a drainage district is dismissed before the appointment of a drainage board in the county, the order taxing costs shall be entered against the petitioners and in favor of any person who advanced moneys, rendered services or incurred other liabilities in prosecuting or contesting such proceedings, for the amount of such moneys, services and incurred liabilities.

88.08(3) (3) If proceedings are dismissed in any case where a drainage board has been appointed in the county, the order taxing costs shall be entered against the petitioners and in favor of the board for all costs, expenses and liabilities incurred by the board or by any other person in prosecuting or contesting such proceedings and for the benefit of those who have rendered services or advanced or loaned money in prosecuting or contesting such proceedings.

88.08(4) (4) Before any order taxing costs is entered, a petitioner or the board or a person contesting the proceedings shall file with the clerk of the court a duly verified itemized statement of all costs, attorney fees, and other liabilities incurred in prosecuting or contesting such proceedings, upon which an order shall be issued requiring the petitioners to show cause why an order taxing costs should not be entered against them for the amount of costs, attorneys’ fees and other liabilities. Notice of hearing of such order to show cause shall be given to the petitioners as provided in s. 88.05 (3). Such order need not contain an itemized statement of such account, but shall state where such account is filed.

88.08(5) (5) The petitioners shall, between themselves, contribute to the payment of such costs in proportion to the number of acres of land owned by them within the boundaries of the district or proposed district at the time of filing the petition.

88.08 History History: 1977 c. 449; 2005 a. 253.

88.09 88.09 Certiorari; drainage board decisions. Any person subject to an order or rule of the drainage board may, within 30 days after publication of the order or rule, commence an action seeking the remedy available by certiorari. The court may not stay proceedings involving the order or rule when an action is commenced, but may, on application, on notice to the board and for cause, grant a restraining order. The board is not required to return the original papers acted upon by it, but may return certified or sworn copies of the papers. If necessary for the proper disposition of the matter, the court may take evidence, or appoint a referee to take evidence and report findings of fact and conclusions of law as the court directs, which shall constitute a part of the proceedings upon which the determination of the court shall be made. The court may reverse or affirm, wholly or partly, or may modify, the order or rule brought up for review.

88.09 History History: 1977 c. 187 s. 134; 1983 a. 219; 1993 a. 456.

88.10 88.10 Guardian ad litem; failure to appoint. Failure to appoint a guardian ad litem in a proceeding under this chapter is not jurisdictional, but when the failure is discovered a guardian ad litem shall be appointed and an order served upon the guardian ad litem to show cause why the minor or individual adjudicated incompetent should not be bound by all prior proceedings pertaining to the drainage district. On such a hearing the court shall enter such order or judgment as the facts warrant.

88.10 History History: 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 456; 1999 a. 83; 2005 a. 387.

88.11 88.11 Assistance to drainage districts.

88.11(1) (1) The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall employ an engineer, who shall be the state drainage engineer, to improve district operations. The department shall do all of the following:

88.11(1)(a) (a) Perform inspections in drainage districts to determine compliance with this section.

88.11(1)(b) (b) Review and approve district maintenance plans including ditch designs; installation and maintenance of structures; and plans for drainage, drainage control, soil conservation and water conservation, and require alteration of plans and existing structures in order to achieve and maintain compliance with performance standards established under par. (i).

88.11(1)(c) (c) Provide guidance to drainage boards and professional engineers in developing district surveys and maintenance plans.

88.11(1)(d) (d) Review and approve district designs for new ditches and structures, assist districts in developing hydrologic and hydraulic information about project effectiveness, and require alteration of the designs in order to achieve and maintain compliance with performance standards established under par. (i).

88.11(1)(e) (e) Coordinate district activities with the department of natural resources.

88.11(1)(f) (f) Assist districts in applying for permits under s. 88.31.

88.11(1)(g) (g) Provide guidelines for compliance with federal and state agricultural and conservation programs.

88.11(1)(h) (h) Establish, by rule, procedures for assessments and reassessments.

88.11(1)(i) (i) Establish, by rule, performance standards for drainage district structures, ditches, maintenance and operations, in order to minimize adverse effects on water quality. The performance standards shall be consistent with any requirements imposed by the department of natural resources under s. 88.31.

88.11(1)(j) (j) Prepare reports for the purposes of sub. (3).

88.11(1)(k) (k) Establish, by rule, a procedure for an investigation of whether a drainage district complies with this section and any requirements imposed by the department under this section.

88.11(1)(L) (L) In cooperation with the state drainage engineer, produce an educational pamphlet in 2009, and every 3 years thereafter, that describes the function of drainage districts, costs that may be assessed to persons whose property is located in a drainage district, and contact information for the state drainage engineer. The pamphlet shall be distributed, upon request, to drainage boards and to any person who requests the pamphlet.

88.11(1m) (1m) The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection may perform any functions related to drainage districts that the department considers appropriate.

88.11(2) (2) The state drainage engineer shall provide technical assistance to improve district operations on the request of the department of natural resources, drainage board, landowners in the district or the judge.

88.11(3) (3) If the area proposed for drainage exceeds 200 acres in a single project, the board or the petitioners, before the hearing on the report under s. 88.34, 88.36 or 88.77, shall procure a report of the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection on all of the following:

88.11(3)(a) (a) The location, design, feasibility and cost of the proposed outlet drains.

88.11(3)(b) (b) A general description of the additional drainage necessary to reclaim the land fully for general agricultural purposes, and its probable cost.

88.11(3)(c) (c) A general comparison of the benefits in the different parts of the district on the basis of the location and design of the proposed drains.

88.11(3)(d) (d) The physical features of the land to be drained.

88.11(4) (4) The board or the petitioners, with the aid of an engineer having the qualifications specified in s. 88.21 (5), shall make the necessary survey and evaluation as directed by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection for its report.

88.11(6) (6) A drainage district shall comply with the rules promulgated under this section and any requirements imposed by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under this section.

88.11(7) (7) The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection may issue a special order directing the immediate cessation of work regulated under this section until the necessary plan approval is obtained or until the project complies with this section.

88.11(8) (8) Any person who violates this section may be required to forfeit not less than $25 nor more than $500 for each violation. Each day of continued violation constitutes a separate offense.

88.11 History History: 1989 a. 31 ss. 2200d, 2200k; 1991 a. 309; 1993 a. 456; 2001 a. 103; 2007 a. 121.

88.11 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. ATCP 48, Wis. adm. code.

88.12 88.12 Proceedings when drainage area is in more than one county.

88.12(1) (1) If a proposed drainage district lies in more than one county, the petition for organization of the district shall be filed in the court of the county containing the largest acreage proposed for drainage by the petition, and the court of that county has jurisdiction of the organization of the drainage district.

88.12(2) (2) In cases affecting a multicounty drainage district, copies of all court orders and judgments shall be filed in the court of each of the other counties in which the drainage district is located.

88.12(3) (3) If a drainage district lies in more than one county, the drainage board of the county containing the largest acreage that is drained or proposed for drainage has jurisdiction of the operation of the drainage district. The drainage board that initially has jurisdiction of the operation of a drainage district retains that jurisdiction even if the drained acreage is subsequently changed, unless the drainage board that initially has jurisdiction agrees with the drainage board of any other county containing land of the drainage district to transfer jurisdiction.

88.12(4) (4) All moneys collected on behalf of the drainage district in the other counties shall be transmitted to the treasurer of the county in which the drainage board has jurisdiction.

88.12 History History: 1977 c. 449; 1993 a. 456.

88.13 88.13 Right to enter lands of drainage district. Whenever necessary for any purpose connected with the organization of a district or the construction, maintenance or repair of drains and other works, members of the board, representatives of the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection, and persons intending to bid on or to whom contracts have been let for the construction of the works within a district or on former district lands transferred under s. 88.83 and their respective agents and employees may go upon any lands proposed for inclusion or included within a district or on adjoining lands or on former district lands transferred under s. 88.83, and are not guilty of trespass therefor but are liable for unnecessary damage caused to crops or structures.

88.13 History History: 1989 a. 31; 2017 a. 115.

88.14 88.14 Controversies between districts.

88.14(1) (1) If a controversy arises out of the relationship of 2 or more drainage districts that are subject to the jurisdiction of a single drainage board, the board may hold hearings and take whatever other action it considers necessary toward settling the controversy, including the issuance of orders.

88.14(2) (2) If a controversy arises out of the relationship of 2 or more drainage districts that are subject to the jurisdiction of 2 or more drainage boards, the boards shall attempt to settle the controversy and may hold hearings and take whatever other action they consider necessary to accomplish that objective. If the drainage boards are unable to settle the controversy, the matter shall be submitted to arbitration under ch. 788.

88.14 History History: 1977 c. 449; 1993 a. 456.

88.145 88.145 Limitation of damages and suits. In any action against a drainage district, drainage board, drainage board member, drainage board employee or an owner of land within the district who undertakes work approved by the drainage board, s. 893.80 is applicable and the limit on the amount recoverable by any person under s. 893.80 (3) applies to the drainage board, the members and employees of the drainage board, the drainage district and any owner of land within the district who undertakes work approved by the drainage board. This section does not apply to actions commenced under s. 19.37, 19.97 or 281.99.

88.145 History History: 1993 a. 456; 1995 a. 158; 1997 a. 27.

88.145 Note NOTE: 1993 Wis. Act 456, which created this section, contains extensive explanatory notes.

88.16 88.16 Notification requirements, engineering study.

88.16(1) (1) If a board takes any action which results in the hiring of an engineer to conduct a study that is related to the operation of a drain, or the district, the board shall send, as soon as possible, written notice of the action to all of the following: