Wisconsin Legislature: 201,408

(k) The cost of perpetuating these corners shall be paid out of the county road and bridge fund or other county fund under s. 83.11.

201,397 Section 397 . 59.64 (title) of the statutes is created to read:

59.64 (title) Claims against county.

201,398 Section 398 . 59.64 of the statutes is renumbered 59.75 and amended to read:

59.75 Certificates and records as evidence. The certificate and also the official record of the county surveyor when produced by the legal custodian thereof, or any of the county surveyor's deputies, when duly signed by the county surveyor in his or her official capacity, shall be admitted as evidence in any court within the state, but the same may be explained or rebutted by other evidence. If any county surveyor or any of his or her deputies are interested in any tract of land a survey of which becomes necessary, such survey may be executed by any land surveyor to be appointed by the county board.

201,399 Section 399 . 59.65 of the statutes is renumbered 59.45 (3) and amended to read:

59.45 (3) Surveyor; fees. In addition to the regular fees of land surveyors that are received from the parties employing the county surveyor, the county surveyor may receive a salary from the county.

201,400 Section 400 . 59.66 (title) of the statutes is created to read:

59.66 (title) Unclaimed funds.

201,401 Section 401 . 59.66 of the statutes is renumbered 59.46 and amended to read:

59.46 Penalty for nonfeasance. Any county surveyor, any city, village or town engineer, or any land surveyor who fails or refuses to perform any duty required of that person by law shall be fined forfeit not less than $25 nor more than $50 for each such failure or refusal.

201,402 Section 402 . 59.67 of the statutes is renumbered 59.06 and amended to read:

59.06 County property. (1) How held. County property shall be held by the clerk in the name of the county. All property, real or personal, conveyed to the county or to its inhabitants or to any person for the use of the county or its inhabitants is county property; such . Such conveyances have the same effect as if made directly to the county by name.

(2) Effect of transfer. All deeds, contracts and agreements made on behalf of the county pursuant to under the directions of the board under s. 59.07 (1) 59.52 (6), when signed and acknowledged by the clerk and the county seal is attached, are valid and binding on the county to the extent of the terms of the instrument and the right, title and interest which the county has in the property.

201,403 Section 403 . 59.68 of the statutes is renumbered 59.54 (14) and amended to read:

59.54 (14) Courthouse and jail; restrictions. (a) Each A county shall provide a courthouse, fireproof offices and other necessary buildings at the county seat and keep them in good repair. Each A county shall provide a jail or enter into a cooperative agreement under s. 302.44 for the cooperative establishment and use of a jail. The jail and rehabilitation facilities as extensions of the jail need not be at the county seat and may be located outside of the county under a cooperative agreement under s. 302.44.

(b) No jail may be constructed until the construction plans and specifications are approved by the department of corrections.

(c) When the courthouse from any cause becomes unsafe, inconvenient or unfit for holding court, the board shall provide some other convenient building at the county seat for that purpose temporarily, and this building shall then be deemed considered the courthouse for the time being.

(d) The construction of any courthouse shall be in accordance with plans and specifications that are accompanied by the certificate of the circuit judge in whose circuit the building is to be erected, to the effect that after consultation with competent experts the judge is advised and believes that the courtrooms provided for will possess proper acoustical properties. The fee for this advice shall be paid by the county upon the judge's certificate.

(e) Repairs which amount substantially to a reconstruction of a courthouse shall be governed by the same restrictions that apply to new construction, so far as practicable.

(f) The personnel who are required to comply with ss. 302.41 and 302.42 shall be provided at the expense of the county expense.

(g) A county may establish extensions of the jail, which need not be at the county seat, to serve as places of temporary confinement. No person may be detained in such an extension for more than 24 consecutive hours, except that a court may order that a person subject to imprisonment under ss. s. 23.33 (13) (b) 2. or 3. or (c) or 350.11 (3) (a) 2. or 3. or (b) be imprisoned for more than 24 consecutive hours in such an extension. Jail extensions shall be subject to plans and specifications approval by the department of corrections and shall conform to other requirements imposed by law on jails, except that cells may be designed and used for multiple occupancy.

201,404 Section 404 . 59.685 of the statutes is renumbered 59.54 (15) and amended to read:

59.54 (15) Annual inspection. At least once each year the county board of each county, or a committee thereof, shall visit, inspect and examine each jail maintained by such the county, as to health, cleanliness and discipline, and the keeper thereof of the jail shall lay before it the board or the committee a calendar setting forth the name, age and cause of committal of each prisoner; and if it shall appear. If it appears to the said board or committee that any of the provisions of law have been violated or neglected it, the board or the committee shall forthwith immediately give notice thereof of the violation to the district attorney of the county.

201,405 Section 405 . Subchapter VII (title) of chapter 59 [precedes 59.69] of the statutes is created to read:

Chapter 59

Subchapter VII
Land use, information
and regulation,
environmental protection,
Surveys, planning and zoning

201,406 Section 406 . 59.69 (title) of the statutes is renumbered 59.56 (14) (title).

201,407 Section 407 . 59.69 (1) (title) of the statutes is repealed.

201,408 Section 408 . 59.69 (1) (intro.), (a), (b) and (c) of the statutes are renumbered 59.56 (14) (a) 1. and 2., (b) and (c) and amended to read:

59.56 (14) (a) 1. Land Except as provided in par. (c), land upon which to hold agricultural and industrial fairs and exhibitions may be acquired by county boards a board and improvements made thereon.

2. In counties containing less than 500,000 population, the county board may annually, at the same time that other county taxes are levied, levy a tax upon the taxable property of such county.

(b) The board may grant the use of fairgrounds acquired under par. (a) 2. to agricultural and other societies of similar nature for agricultural and industrial fairs and exhibitions, and such other purposes as tend to promote the public welfare, and may receive donations of money, material or labor from any person or municipality for the improvement or purchase of such land. All improvements made on such lands by societies using them may be removed by the societies at any time within 6 months after their right to use the land terminates, unless otherwise agreed in writing between the societies and the county at the time of the making of the improvements.

(c) In counties containing more than 500,000 population, land upon which to hold agricultural and industrial fairs and exhibitions may be acquired by a board, and improvements made thereon, by donation, purchase or condemnation, but not exceeding in value $150,000, and the board may convey or donate such lands so purchased or acquired or the use thereof to the state of Wisconsin or to agricultural and industrial societies for the purpose of holding thereon agricultural and industrial fairs and exhibitions, and may receive donations of money, material or labor from any person or municipality for the improvement or purchase of such land. If at any time lands or the use thereof so conveyed or donated shall be abandoned or no longer used for the purpose for which such lands or the use thereof were so conveyed or donated, the title to such land shall revert to the county; and the commissioners of public lands, in the case of conveyances or donations to the state, are authorized and directed to execute and deliver such proper deeds of conveyance as well as revest the title to such lands in such county, and when such lands or the use thereof were conveyed or donated to an agricultural and industrial society, such proper deeds or conveyance shall be executed and delivered by such society by its proper officers. However, the state may at any time within one year after title to any such lands revests, by proper conveyance in such county, remove any structures erected thereon by or for the state subsequent to the acquisition of such lands by the state.

201,409 Section 409 . 59.69 (2) (title) of the statutes is repealed.

201,410 Section 410 . 59.69 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 59.56 (14) (d) and amended to read:

59.56 (14) (d) The board of any county may vote an amount which it deems considers sufficient to aid in the purchase of, or to make improvements upon the fairgrounds for any organized agricultural society, or to aid any organized agricultural society or any incorporated poultry association in any of its public exhibitions held or to be held; and any amount so voted shall be paid upon demand by the treasurer to the treasurer of such organized agricultural society, who shall keep an accurate record of the expenditure thereof by such society, and file a verified copy of such record with the clerk within one year after the receipt of such amount.

201,411 Section 411 . 59.69 (3) (title) of the statutes is repealed.

201,412 Section 412 . 59.69 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 59.56 (14) (e) and amended to read:

59.56 (14) (e) Whenever The board may provide for and conduct county fairs and exhibitions if a majority of the electors upon a referendum in any the county have approved thereof, the board may provide for and conduct county fairs and exhibitions so approve, in a referendum, and for such purpose may:

1. Acquire by deed or lease real estate and make improvements thereon on such real estate.

2. Appropriate funds for the adequate equipment and the proper management to properly equip, manage and control of such the fair or exhibition.

3. Adopt rules and regulations for the management and control of such the property and of such, fair or exhibition and for the appointment and salaries of persons necessary therefor.

201,413 Section 413 . 59.70 of the statutes is renumbered 59.53 (16) and amended to read:

59.53 (16) Isolation hospitals. (a) In counties having a population of thirty thousand 30,000 or more the county board may erect, establish and maintain isolation hospitals or places for the care and treatment of all persons afflicted with infectious, contagious and communicable diseases, requiring isolation and quarantine under the laws of the state, who are inmates of the charitable, penal, correctional and other institutions of said county or who are required to be cared for and treated at the expense of said county. The board may also provide for the care and treatment therein of all persons so afflicted, who are required to be cared for by the various towns, cities and villages municipalities in said counties, under such terms, conditions, rules and regulations, as to apportionment of cost of erection of such buildings and places and the expense of care and treatment of such persons afflicted, as may be agreed upon between the county board and the common council of such cities and the boards of such villages and towns, and each such council or board is hereby vested with power and authority to enter into such contracts and to appropriate such funds as may be necessary to carry into execution all contracts so made.

(b) All isolation hospitals and other places, when so erected or established in counties having a county board of administration, shall be conducted under the control and management of said the board in the same manner and to the same extent as other institutions under the control of such the board, and in other counties such the isolation hospitals and other places shall be conducted under the control and management of the county board. Any resident of this state who is not indigent may be received into, treated and cared for in such an isolation hospital or other place upon such the terms and conditions and at such the rate or pay as may be established and fixed by the board having charge of such the isolation hospital or other place; provided, however, that indigent and destitute sick persons shall be cared for and have preference of admission to such hospitals and places.

201,414 Section 414 . 59.71 of the statutes is renumbered 59.52 (3) and amended to read:

59.52 (3) Records where kept; public examination; rebinding; transcribing. (a) The books, records, papers and accounts of the county board shall be deposited with the respective county clerks and shall be open without any charge to the examination of all persons.

(b) When any book, public record or the record of any town, village or city, village or town plat in any county office shall, from any cause, become unfit for use in whole or in part, the county board shall order that the book, record or plat be rebound or transcribed. If the order is to rebind such book, record or plat, the rebinding must be done under the direction of the officer in charge of the book, record or plat, and in that officer's office. If the order is to transcribe such book, record or plat, the officer having charge of the same shall provide a suitable book for that purpose; and thereupon such officer shall transcribe the same in the book so provided and carefully compare the transcript with the originals, and make the same a correct copy thereof, and shall attach to the transcript a certificate over that officer's official signature that that officer has carefully compared the matter therein contained with, and that the same is a correct and literal copy of the book, record or plat from which the same was transcribed, naming such book. Such copy of book, record or plat, so certified, shall have the same effect in all respects as the original, and such original book, record or plat shall be deposited with the county treasurer and carefully preserved except in counties having a population of 500,000 or more where a book containing a tract index is rewritten or transcribed, the original book may be destroyed. The order of the county board directing the transcribing of any book, record or plat duly certified by the county clerk shall, with such certificate, be recorded in each copy of book, record or plat transcribed. The fee of the officer for such service shall be fixed by the board, not exceeding 10 cents per folio, or if such books or any part thereof consist of printed forms, not to exceed 5 cents per folio for such books or records, to be paid by the county.

201,415 Section 415 . 59.715 (intro.) and (1) to (10) of the statutes are renumbered 59.52 (4) (a) (intro.) and 1. to 10., and 59.52 (4) (a) (intro.), 1. to 7., 9. and 10., as renumbered, are amended to read:

59.52 (4) (a) Destruction of obsolete county records. (intro.) Whenever necessary to gain needed vault and filing space, county or court officers and the custodian of the records of all courts of record in the state may, subject to ss. 59.716 and 59.717 pars. (b) and (c), destroy obsolete records in their custody as follows:

1. Notices of tax apportionment that are received from the secretary of state, after 3 years.

2. Copies of notices of tax apportionment that are sent to local taxing districts by the county clerk, after 3 years.

3. Records of bounty claims that are forwarded to the department of natural resources, after one year.

4. Lists of town, city and village officers of a municipality that are certified to the county clerk by the town, city and village municipal clerks, after the date of the expiration of the term listed.

5. Crop reports made that are submitted to the county clerk by the local assessors, after 3 years.

6. Illegal tax certificates that are charged back to local taxing districts, 3 years after the date of charging back the same such certificates.

7. Notices of application for the taking of tax deeds and certificates of nonoccupancy, proofs of service and tax certificates that are filed with the county clerk in connection with the taking of tax deeds, after 15 years.

9. Claims that are paid by the county, and papers supporting such claims, after 7 years.

10. Contracts, notices of taking bids, and insurance policies to which the county is a party, 7 years after the last effective day thereof.

201,416 Section 416 . 59.715 (12) and (14) of the statutes are renumbered 59.52 (4) (a) 11. and 12. and amended to read:

59.52 (4) (a) 11. Reports of town treasurers that are submitted to the county clerk on dog licenses sold and records of dog licenses issued, after 3 years.

12. County The clerk's copies of all receipts that are issued by the county treasurer, 4 years or until after being competently audited, whichever date is earlier.

201,417 Section 417 . 59.715 (15) to (19) and (21) to (23) of the statutes are renumbered 59.52 (4) (a) 13. to 20., and 59.52 (4) (a) 13., 15. and 17. to 20., as renumbered, are amended to read:

59.52 (4) (a) 13. Copies of notices that are given by the county clerk to the town assessors setting out lands owned by the county and lands sold by the county, after 3 years.

15. All other receipts of the county treasurer, after 7 years.

17. Oaths of office, after 7 years.

18. Case records and other record material of all public assistance that are kept as required under ch. 49, if no payments have been made for at least 3 years and if a face sheet or similar record of each case and a financial record of all payments for each aid account are preserved in accordance with rules adopted by the department of health and family services. If the department of health and family services has preserved such case records and other record material on computer disc or tape or similar device, a county may destroy the original records and record material under rules adopted by the department.

19. After 10 years marriage Marriage license applications and records and papers pertaining to the applications, including antenuptial physical examinations and test certificates, consents of parent or guardian for marriage and orders of the court waiving the waiting period, after 10 years.

20. Books in the office of the register of deeds in counties having with a population of 500,000 or more containing copies of deeds, mortgages, other miscellaneous documents and military discharges that are authorized by law to be recorded in the office if the records first shall be photographed or microphotographed and preserved in accordance with ch. 228.

201,418 Section 418 . 59.716 (intro.) and (1) to (3) of the statutes are renumbered 59.52 (4) (b) (intro.) and 1. to 3., and 59.42 (4) (b) (intro.), 1. and 3., as renumbered, are amended to read:

59.52 (4) (b) Transfer of obsolete county records. (intro.) Prior to Before the destruction of public records under s. 59.715 par. (a), the proper officers in counties with a population of less than 500,000 shall make a written offer to the historical society under s. 44.09 (1). If the offer is accepted by the society within 60 days, the officers shall transfer title to noncurrent records in their custody as follows:

1. Original papers, resolutions and reports that are connected with county board proceedings.

3. Original minutes of the county board.

201,419 Section 419 . 59.717 (intro.), (1), (2) and (4) of the statutes are renumbered 59.52 (4) (c) (intro.) and 1. to 3., and 59.52 (4) (c) (intro.), 1. and 3., as renumbered, are amended to read:

59.52 (4) (c) Destruction of county records, when. (intro.) If title is not accepted by the historical society within 60 days after a written offer is made under s. 59.716 par. (b), county officers in counties with a population of less than 500,000 may destroy records as follows:

1. Original papers, resolutions and reports appearing in county board proceedings, 6 years following the date of first publication of the same in the official proceedings of the board.

3. No assessment roll containing that contains forest crop acreage may be destroyed without the prior approval of the secretary of revenue.

201,420 Section 420 . 59.72 of the statutes is renumbered 59.47 and amended to read:

59.47 County auditors; powers; duties. (1) In every county the county clerk shall act as auditor, unless a separate office of county auditor is created as provided in sub. (2), and, when directed by resolution of the county board, shall examine the books and accounts of any county officer, board, commission, committee, trustees or other officer or employe entrusted with the receipt, custody or expenditure of money, or by or on whose certificate any funds appropriated by the county board are authorized to be expended, whether compensated for services by fees or by salary, and all original bills and vouchers on which moneys have been paid out and all receipts of moneys received by them. The clerk shall have free access to such books, accounts, bills, vouchers and receipts as often as may be necessary to perform the duties required under this subsection and he or she shall report in writing the results of the examinations to the county board.

(2) The county board by resolution may create a separate office of county auditor and may fix the compensation of such the auditor. The auditor shall perform the duties and have all of the powers conferred upon the county clerk as auditor by sub. (1), and shall perform such additional duties and shall have such additional powers as are imposed and conferred upon him or her from time to time by resolution adopted by the board.

(3) If a county auditor's office is created under sub. (1) (2), the chairperson of the county board shall appoint a person known to be skilled in matters of public finance and accounting to act as county auditor. The appointment shall be made under ss. 63.01 to 63.17 and shall be subject to confirmation by the county board. The auditor shall direct the keeping of all of the accounts of the county, in all of its offices, departments and institutions, and shall keep books of account necessary to properly perform the duties of the office. The auditor's salary and the amount of the official bond shall be fixed by the county board. The auditor shall perform all duties pertaining to the office, have all of the powers and perform the duties in sub. (1) and perform other duties imposed by the county board.

(4) The county board by resolution may authorize a county auditor appointed under sub. (3) to appoint a deputy auditor under ss. 63.01 to 63.17 to aid him or her in the discharge of the duties of his or her office, and who, in the absence or disability of the county auditor, or in case of a vacancy in said office, shall perform all the duties of the office of county auditor until such vacancy is filled, or disability is removed. Such deputy shall execute and file an official bond in the same amount as that given by the county auditor.

201,421 Section 421 . 59.73 (title) of the statutes is created to read:

59.73 (title) Surveys; expressing bearings, subdividing sections.

201,422 Section 422 . 59.73 of the statutes is renumbered 59.61 (1) and amended to read:

59.61 (1) Receipts and deposits of money; accounts. Every county officer and employe and every board, commission or other body that collects or receives moneys money for or in behalf of the county, shall:

(a) Give such receipts therefor and file such duplicates thereof with the county clerk and county treasurer as the county board directs.

(b) Keep books of account and enter therein accurately in the books from day to day with ample description, the items of that person's or that body's official service, and the fees therefor.