61.189
61.189
Villages of 1,000 may become cities. 61.189(1)
(1) Whenever the resident population of any village exceeds 1,000 as shown by the last federal census or by a census provided for under
sub. (3), the village may become a 4th class city, and the trustees of the village may at a regular meeting, by a two-thirds vote of the members thereof, by resolution, so determine. The resolution shall observe the requirements of
s. 5.15 (1) and
(2) for wards, and shall fix the number and boundary of the aldermanic districts into which the city shall be divided and fix the time for holding the first city election, which shall not be less than 20 days from the date of such resolution, shall designate a polling place for each ward, and shall provide for the appointment of initial inspectors of election in the manner provided in
ss. 7.30 and
7.32.
61.189(2)
(2) The election shall be noticed and conducted and the result canvassed and certified as in the case of regular village elections and the village clerk shall immediately file with the secretary of state 4 copies of a certification certifying the fact of holding such election and the result thereof and a description of the legal boundaries of such village or proposed city and 4 certified copies of a plat thereof; and thereupon a certificate of incorporation shall be issued to such city by the secretary of state. Two copies of the certification and plat shall be forwarded by the secretary of state to the department of transportation and one copy to the department of revenue. Thereafter such city shall in all things be governed by the general city charter law. All debts, obligations and liabilities existing against such village at the time of such change shall continue and become like debts, obligations and liabilities against such city, and such city may carry out and complete all proceedings then pending for the issue of bonds for improvements therein.
61.189(3)
(3) If the last federal census figures are not used the village trustees shall cause to be taken an accurate census of the resident population of the village on some day not more than 10 weeks previous to the time of the adoption of such resolution, exhibiting the name of every head of a family and the name of every person a resident in good faith on such day and the lot on which that person resides, which shall be verified by the affidavit of the person taking the same affixed thereto. The original of such census shall be filed in the office of the village clerk and a duly verified copy filed with the clerk of the circuit court of the county wherein such village is situated.
61.189(4)
(4) Any village incorporated after August 12, 1959, may not become a city unless it meets the standards for incorporation in
ss. 66.015 and
66.016.
61.19
61.19
Annual elections; appointments. At the annual spring election in each village in odd-numbered years, except as otherwise provided herein, there shall be chosen: A president, a clerk, a treasurer, an assessor if election of the assessor is provided and a constable. In villages in counties having a population of 500,000 or more, the officers named shall be elected for a term of 2 years on the first Tuesday of April of each even-numbered year. Any other officers shall be appointed annually by the village board at their first meeting after the first Tuesday in April unless the board otherwise provides. No person not a resident elector in such village shall be elected to any office therein. The village clerk may appoint a deputy clerk for whom the clerk shall be responsible, and who shall take and file the oath of office, and in case of the absence, sickness or other disability of the clerk, may perform the clerk's duties and receive the same compensation unless the village board appoints a person to act as such clerk. No assessor shall be elected or appointed if the village has come within the jurisdiction of a county assessor under
s. 70.99.
61.19 History
History: 1973 c. 90;
1991 a. 316;
1995 a. 16 s.
2.
61.191
61.191
Population, use of federal census. Except as provided in
s. 61.189 (3), where the census of a village is required the last federal census, including a special federal census, if any, shall be used.
61.195
61.195
Discontinuance and change of term of offices. Any village may proceed pursuant to
s. 66.01 to discontinue the office of marshal or constable, to change the method of selection of or tenure of any officer other than members of the village board, to consolidate any such office or to change the term of office of members of the village board.
61.197
61.197
Selection of officers. 61.197(1)
(1) Officers other than members of the village board and municipal judges except as provided in
s. 61.65, shall be selected by one of the following methods:
61.197(1)(b)
(b) Appointment by the village president subject to confirmation by the village board.
61.197(1)(d)
(d) Election by the voters of those officers so enumerated in
s. 61.19, unless otherwise provided pursuant to
s. 61.195.
61.197(1)(e)
(e) Selection under any of the above methods, the selection to be from an eligible list established pursuant to
s. 66.19.
61.197(1)(f)
(f) A corporation or an independent contractor may be appointed as the village assessor. The corporation or independent contractor so appointed shall designate the person responsible for the assessment. The designee shall file the official oath under
s. 19.01, and sign the affidavit of the assessor attached to the assessment roll under
s. 70.49. No person may be designated by any corporation or independent contractor unless he or she has been granted the appropriate certification under
s. 73.09. For purposes of this subsection, "independent contractor" means a person who either is under contract to furnish appraisal and assessment services or is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, business or profession in which the services are offered to the general public.
61.197(2)
(2) Such officers shall continue to be selected in the manner prevailing on April 15, 1939, provided one of the above plans was in force on that date. Such method shall be continued until changed in the manner provided by
s. 66.01. However, any village may require that selection be made from an eligible list as specified under
sub. (1) (e) by the enactment of an ordinary ordinance.
61.20
61.20
Election of trustees; terms; number. 61.20(1)
(1) Villages shall have 6 trustees, except as provided otherwise in
sub. (3), whose term of office shall be 2 years, 3 of whom shall be elected each year.
61.20(3)
(3) Villages having a population of 350 or less shall have 2 trustees, who together with the president shall constitute the village board, a majority of whom shall constitute a quorum. One trustee shall be elected each year for a term of 2 years.
61.20(4)
(4) Any village may by ordinance change the number of trustees, but such change in the number of trustees shall not affect the term of office of trustees elected prior to the adoption of such ordinance authorizing such change.
61.21
61.21
Clerk to notify officers-elect; oath of office. Within 5 days after the election or appointment of any village officer the village clerk shall notify the person so selected thereof, and every person elected or appointed to any office named in
s. 61.19 shall within 5 days after notice of election or appointment take and file the official oath, except that an elected assessor shall take and file the official oath within 5 days before June 1.
61.21 History
History: 1981 c. 20;
1983 a. 484.
61.22
61.22
Official bonds; officers not to be sureties. Every bond required of a village officer shall be executed with sufficient sureties in a sum fixed by the village board when not otherwise prescribed and be approved by the president. Whenever the village board deems any bond insufficient they may require an additional bond to be executed and filed in a sum and within a time not less than 10 days, to be fixed by them.
61.23
61.23
Terms; temporary vacancy. 61.23(1)
(1) Except as otherwise provided by law, the term of office of all village officers is 2 years. Persons serving in appointive offices shall serve until their respective successors are appointed and qualify. If any officer is absent or temporarily incapacitated from any cause the board may appoint some person to discharge the officer's duties until the officer returns or until such disability is removed.
61.23(2)
(2) The regular term of office of village president and trustees shall commence on the 3rd Tuesday of April in the year of their election. The regular terms of other officers shall commence on May 1 succeeding their election unless otherwise provided by ordinance or statute.
61.23 History
History: 1983 a. 484.
61.24
61.24
President. The president shall be by virtue of the office a trustee and preside at all meetings of the board and have a vote as trustee, sign all ordinances, rules, bylaws, regulations, commissions, licenses and permits adopted or authorized by the board and all orders drawn on the treasury except as provided by
s. 66.042. The president shall maintain peace and good order, see that the ordinances are faithfully obeyed, and in case of disturbance, riot or other apparent necessity appoint as many special marshals as the president shall deem necessary, who for the time being shall possess all the powers and rights of constables. The president shall have charge of the village jail, which the president shall conduct in the manner provided in
s. 62.09 (13) (c); but the president may delegate this duty to the constable or any police officer of the village.
61.24 History
History: 1979 c. 323 s.
33;
1991 a. 316.
61.25
61.25
Clerk. The village clerk shall execute and file an official bond. It shall be the village clerk's duty:
61.25(1)
(1) To perform any duties prescribed by law relative to elections, to keep subject to inspection all election returns required to be filed in the clerk's office, and to notify persons elected or appointed to village offices.
61.25(2)
(2) To transmit to the county clerk, within 10 days after election or appointment and qualification, a certified statement of the name and term for which elected or appointed, of the president, clerk, treasurer and assessor; and to the clerk of the circuit court immediately after their election or appointment and qualification, a like statement of the time and term for which elected or appointed of every municipal judge, chief of police, marshal or constable of the village.
61.25(3)
(3) To attend all meetings of the village board; to record and sign the proceedings thereof and all ordinances, rules, bylaws, resolutions and regulations adopted, and to countersign and keep a record of all licenses, commissions and permits granted or authorized by them, and for such purpose to keep the following books: A minute book, in which shall be recorded in chronological order full minutes of all elections, general or special, and the statements of the inspectors thereof; full minutes of all the proceedings of the board of trustees; the titles of all ordinances, rules, regulations and bylaws, with reference to the book and page where the same may be found. An ordinance book, in which shall be recorded at length, in chronological order, all ordinances, rules, regulations and bylaws. A finance book, in which shall be kept a full and complete record of the finances of the village, showing the receipts, the date, amount and sources thereof, and the disbursements, with the date, amount and object for which paid out; and to enter in either such other matters as the board prescribes, and such other books as the board directs.
61.25(4)
(4) To countersign and cause to be published or posted every ordinance, bylaw or resolution as required by law, and to have proper proof thereof made and filed.
61.25(5)
(5) To be the custodian of the corporate seal, and to file as required by law and to safely keep all records, books, papers or property belonging to, filed or deposited in the clerk's office, and deliver the same to the clerk's successor when qualified; to permit any person with proper care to examine and copy any of the same, and to make and certify a copy of any thereof when required, on payment of the same fees allowed town clerks therefor.
61.25(6)
(6) To draw and countersign all orders on the village treasury ordered by the board and none other.
61.25(8)
(8) To make a tax roll and deliver the same to the village treasurer; and to make and transmit to the county treasurer, on blanks provided by the department of revenue, a statement showing the total amount of all taxes levied therein.
61.25(9)
(9) To perform all other duties required by law or by any ordinance or other direction of the village board.
61.25(10)
(10) To notify the treasurer of the county in which the village is located, by February 20, of the proportion of property tax revenue and of the credits under
s. 79.10 that is to be disbursed by the taxation district treasurer to each taxing jurisdiction located in the village.
61.25 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: For an alternative system of approving claims under (6), see s.
66.044.
61.26
61.26
Treasurer. The village treasurer shall:
61.26(1)
(1) Execute and file an official bond which may be furnished by a surety company as provided by
s. 632.17 (2).
61.26(2)
(2) Receive all moneys belonging or accruing to the village or directed by law to be paid to the treasurer.
61.26(3)
(3) Deposit upon receipt the funds of the village in the name of the village in the public depository designated by the board. Failure to comply with this subsection shall be prima facie grounds for removal from office. When the money is deposited, the treasurer and bonders are not liable for the losses defined by
s. 34.01 (2), and the interest shall be paid into the village treasury.
61.26(4)
(4) Pay money only on the written order of the president, countersigned by the clerk and specifying the number thereof, the payee and the amount and the object for which drawn.
61.26(5)
(5) Keep just and accurate detailed accounts of all transactions under
sub. (4), showing when, to whom and for what purpose all payments are made, in books provided by the village board, and preserve all vouchers filed in the office.
61.26(6)
(6) Render an account and settlement of all official transactions to the board at its last meeting prior to the annual election, and at all other times when required by the board.
61.26(7)
(7) Deliver to the successor when qualified all books of account, papers and property of the office and all money on hand as treasurer.
61.26(8)
(8) Perform other duties as are required by law or the village board.
61.26(9)
(9) Keep but one fund in the treasury, except as otherwise provided.
61.26(10)
(10) Execute the bond required by
s. 70.67 and take receipt therefor, which the treasurer shall file in the office of the village clerk.
61.26(11)
(11) On receipt of the tax roll, and while acting as collector of taxes, exercise the same powers and perform the same duties as are by law conferred upon and required of town treasurers while acting in that capacity, and be subject to the same penalties and liabilities.
61.261
61.261
Deputy village treasurer. The village treasurer, subject to approval by a majority of all the members of the village board, may in writing, filed in the office of the clerk, appoint a deputy who shall act under the treasurer's direction and who during the temporary absence or disability of the treasurer or during a vacancy in such office shall perform the duties of treasurer. The deputy shall receive such compensation as the village board shall determine. The acts of such deputy shall be covered by official bond as the village board shall direct.
61.261 History
History: 1991 a. 316.
61.27
61.27
Assessor. In all villages not assessed by a county assessor the assessor shall take and file the official oath. The assessor shall begin under
s. 70.10 to make an assessment of all of the property in the village liable to taxation, as prescribed by law. The assessor shall return the assessment roll to the village clerk at the same time and in the same manner in which town assessors are required to do. The assessor's compensation shall be fixed by the village board. No person may assume the office of village assessor unless certified by the department of revenue under
s. 73.09 as qualified to perform the functions of the office of assessor. If a person who has not been so certified is elected to the office, the office shall be vacant and the appointing authority shall fill the vacancy from a list of persons so certified by the department of revenue.
61.28
61.28
Marshal. The village marshal shall execute and file an official bond. The marshal shall possess the powers, enjoy the privileges and be subject to the liabilities conferred and imposed by law upon constables, and be taken as included in all writs and papers addressed to constables. The marshal shall obey all lawful written orders of the village board; and arrest with or without process every person found in the village engaged in any disturbance of the peace or violating any law of the state or ordinance of the village. The marshal may command all persons present in that case to assist, and if any person, being so commanded, refuses or neglects to render assistance the person shall forfeit not exceeding $10. The marshal is entitled to the same fees prescribed for sheriffs in
s. 814.70 for similar services, unless a higher fee is applicable under
s. 814.705 (3); for other service rendered the village, compensation as the board fixes.
61.29(1)(b)
(b) Serve within his or her county any writ, process, order or notice, and execute any order, warrant or execution lawfully directed to or required by any court or officer to be executed by the constable.
61.29(1)(c)
(c) Attend any session of the circuit court in his or her county when required by the sheriff.
61.29(1)(d)
(d) Inform the district attorney of all trespasses on public lands of which the constable has knowledge or information.
61.29(1)(e)
(e) Impound cattle, horses, sheep, swine and other animals at large on the highways in violation of a village ordinance.
61.29(1)(f)
(f) Cause to be prosecuted all violations of law of which the constable has knowledge or information.
61.29(1)(g)
(g) Perform all other duties required by law.
61.29(1)(h)
(h) Keep his or her office in the village. No constable who keeps his or her office outside the limits of the village may receive fees for any service performed during the period the outside office is maintained.
61.29 History
History: 1983 a. 532.
61.31
61.31
Peace officers, who are. 61.31(1)
(1) The president and each trustee shall be officers of the peace, and may suppress in a summary manner any riotous or disorderly conduct in the streets or public places of the village, and may command assistance of all persons under the same penalty for disobedience provided in
s. 61.28.
61.31(2)
(2) Every village police officer shall possess the powers, enjoy the privileges, and be subject to the liabilities conferred and imposed by law upon village marshals.
61.32
61.32
Village board; meeting; salaries. The trustees of each village shall constitute a board designated the "Village Board of" (name of village) in which shall be vested all the powers of the village not specifically given some other officer. A majority of the members-elect shall constitute a quorum, but a less number may adjourn from time to time. The president shall preside at all meetings when present. In the president's absence the board may select another trustee to preside. Regular meetings shall be held at such time as may be prescribed by their bylaws. Special meetings may be called by any 2 trustees in writing, filed with the clerk, who shall thereupon seasonably notify all the trustees of the time and place thereof in the manner directed by the bylaws. All meetings shall be open to the public. The board shall keep a record of all its proceedings, and if there is a newspaper published in any village, the board shall cause the proceedings to be published therein as a class 1 notice, under
ch. 985. The proceedings for the purpose of publication shall include the substance of every official action taken by the governing body. If there is no newspaper published in the village, the board may cause the proceedings to be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the village, posted in several public places or publicized in some other fashion, in such manner as the board directs. Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring the republication of any proceeding, ordinance or other matter or thing which has already been published according to law, nor shall anything herein be construed to relieve any village from publishing any proceeding, ordinance or other matter or thing required by law to be published. Notwithstanding the provisions of
s. 985.08 (4), the fee for any such publication shall not exceed the rates specified in
s. 985.08 (1). The board has power to preserve order at its meetings, compel attendance of trustees and punish nonattendance and it shall be judge of the election and qualification of its members. The president and board of trustees of any village, whether operating under general or special law, may by a three-fourths vote of all the members of the village board determine that an annual salary be paid the president and trustees. Salaries heretofore established shall so remain until changed by ordinance and shall not be increased or diminished during their terms of office.
61.32 History
History: 1991 a. 316.
61.325
61.325
Trustee may be appointed president. A village trustee shall be eligible for appointment as village president to fill an unexpired term.
61.34
61.34
Powers of village board. 61.34(1)
(1)
General grant. Except as otherwise provided by law, the village board shall have the management and control of the village property, finances, highways, streets, navigable waters, and the public service, and shall have power to act for the government and good order of the village, for its commercial benefit and for the health, safety, welfare and convenience of the public, and may carry its powers into effect by license, regulation, suppression, borrowing, taxation, special assessment, appropriation, fine, imprisonment, and other necessary or convenient means. The powers hereby conferred shall be in addition to all other grants and shall be limited only by express language.
61.34(2)
(2) Cooperation with other municipalities. The village board, in behalf of the village, may join with other villages or cities in a cooperative arrangement for executing any power or duty in order to attain greater economy or efficiency, including joint employment of appointive officers and employes.
61.34(3)
(3) Acquisition and disposal of property. The village board may acquire property, real or personal, within or outside the village, for parks, libraries, recreation, beautification, streets, water systems, sewage or waste disposal, harbors, improvement of watercourses, public grounds, vehicle parking areas, and for any other public purpose; may acquire real property within or contiguous to the village, by means other than condemnation, for industrial sites; may improve and beautify the same; may construct, own, lease and maintain buildings on such property for instruction, recreation, amusement and other public purposes; and may sell and convey such property. Condemnation shall be as provided by
ch. 32.
61.34(3m)
(3m) Acquisition of easements and property rights. Confirming all powers granted to the village board and in furtherance thereof, the board is expressly authorized to acquire by gift, purchase or condemnation under
ch. 32 any and all property rights in lands or waters, including rights of access and use, negative or positive easements, restrictive covenants, covenants running with the land, scenic easements and any rights for use of property of any nature whatsoever, however denominated, which may be lawfully acquired for the benefit of the public or for any public purpose, including the exercise of powers granted under
ss. 61.35 and
62.23; and may sell and convey such easements or property rights when no longer needed for public use or protection.
61.34(4)
(4) Village finances. The village board may levy and provide for the collection of taxes and special assessments; may refund any tax or special assessment paid, or any part thereof, when satisfied that the same was unjust or illegal; and generally may manage the village finances. The village board may loan money to any school district located within the village or within which the village is wholly or partially located in such sums as are needed by such district to meet the immediate expenses of operating the schools thereof, and the board of the district may borrow money from such village accordingly and give its note therefor. No such loan shall be made to extend beyond August 30 next following the making thereof or in an amount exceeding one-half of the estimated receipts for such district as certified by the department of education and the local school clerk. The rate of interest on any such loan shall be determined by the village board.
