2013 Wisconsin Act 358

59.45 (1) (a) 2. Make, personally or by a deputy, a record, in books or on drawings and plats that are kept for that purpose, of all corners that are set and the manner of fixing the corners and of all bearings and the distances of all courses run, of each survey made personally, by deputies or by other professional land surveyors and arrange or index the record so it is an easy to use easy-to-use reference and file and preserve in the office the original field notes and calculation thereof. Within 60 days after completing any survey, the county surveyor shall make a true and correct copy of the foregoing record, in record books or on reproducible papers to be furnished by the county and kept in files in the office of the county surveyor to be provided by the county. In a county with a population of 500,000 or more where there is no county surveyor, a copy of the record shall also be filed in the office of the regional planning commission which acts in the capacity of county surveyor for the county.

358,10 Section 10. 59.45 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

59.45 (1) (b) Surveys for individuals or corporations may be performed by any professional land surveyor who is employed by the parties requiring the services, providing that within 60 days after completing any survey the professional land surveyor files a true and correct copy of the survey in the office of the county surveyor. In counties with a population of 500,000 or more the copy shall be filed in the office of the register of deeds and in the office of the regional planning commission which acts in the capacity of county surveyor for the county.

358,11 Section 11. 59.45 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

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

358,12 Section 12. 59.46 of the statutes is amended to read:

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

358,13 Section 13. 59.72 (3m) (a) 4m. of the statutes is amended to read:

59.72 (3m) (a) 4m. The county surveyor or a registered professional land surveyor employed within the county.

358,14 Section 14. 59.73 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

59.73 (2) Subdividing sections. Whenever a county surveyor or professional land surveyor is required to subdivide a section or smaller subdivision of land established by the United States survey, the county surveyor or professional land surveyor shall proceed according to the statutes of the United States and the rules and regulations made by the secretary of the interior in conformity to the federal statutes. While so engaged a professional land surveyor and the professional land surveyor's assistants shall not be liable as a trespasser and shall be liable only for any actual damage done to land or property.

358,15 Section 15. 59.74 (2) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

59.74 (2) (b) 1. Whenever it becomes necessary to destroy, remove, or cover up in such a way that will make it inaccessible for use, any landmark, monument of survey, or corner post within the meaning of this subsection, the person including employees of governmental agencies who intend to commit such act shall serve written notice at least 30 days prior to the act upon the county surveyor of the county within which the landmark is located. Notice shall also be served upon the municipality's engineer if the landmark is located within the corporate limits of a municipality. The notice shall include a description of the landmark, monument of survey, or corner post and the reason for removing or covering it. In this paragraph, removal of a landmark includes the removal of railroad track by the owner of the track. In a county having a population of less than 500,000 where there is no county surveyor, notice shall be served upon the clerk. In a county with a population of 500,000 or more where there is no county surveyor, notice shall be served upon the executive director of the regional planning commission which acts in the capacity of county surveyor for the county. Notwithstanding par. (c), upon receipt of the notice the clerk shall appoint a registered professional land surveyor to perform the duties of a county surveyor under subd. 2.

358,16 Section 16. 59.74 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

59.74 (2) (c) In those counties where there are no county surveyors a petition can be made to the board by any resident of this state requesting the board to appoint a professional land surveyor to act in the capacity of the county surveyor. The board, upon receipt of this petition, shall appoint a professional land surveyor to act in the capacity of the county surveyor. In counties with a population of 500,000 or more, the board may appoint a governmental agency to act in the capacity of county surveyor.

358,17 Section 17. 59.74 (2) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

59.74 (2) (g) Every professional land surveyor and every officer of the department of natural resources and the district attorney shall enforce this subsection.

358,18 Section 18. 59.74 (2) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:

59.74 (2) (h) Any registered professional land surveyor employed by the department of transportation or by a county highway department, may, incident to employment as such, assume and perform the duties and act in the capacity of the county surveyor under this subsection with respect to preservation and perpetuation of landmarks, witness monuments, and corner posts upon and along state trunk, county trunk, and town highways. Upon completing a survey and perpetuating landmarks and witness monuments under par. (b) 2., a professional land surveyor employed by the state shall file the field notes and records in the district office or main office of the department of transportation, and a professional land surveyor employed by a county shall file the field notes and records in the office of the county highway commissioner, open to inspection by the public, and in either case a true and correct copy of the field notes and records shall be filed with the county surveyor. In a county with a population of 500,000 or more where there is no county surveyor, a copy of the field notes and records shall also be filed in the office of the regional planning commission which acts in the capacity of county surveyor for the county.

358,19 Section 19. 59.74 (2) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:

59.74 (2) (j) The county surveyor may employ other professional land surveyors to assist in this work and may accept reference checks for these corners from any professional land surveyor.

358,20 Section 20. 59.75 of the statutes is 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 professional land surveyor appointed by the board.

358,21 Section 21. 60.84 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 60.84 (1r) and amended to read:

60.84 (1r) Survey, contract for. The town board may contract with the county surveyor or any registered professional land surveyor to survey all or some of the sections in the town and to erect monuments under this section as directed by the board.

358,22 Section 22. 60.84 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:

60.84 (1g) Definition. In this section, "professional land surveyor" means a professional land surveyor licensed under ch. 443.

358,23 Section 23. 60.84 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

60.84 (2) Bond. Before the town board executes a contract under sub. (1) (1r), the county surveyor or professional land surveyor shall execute and file with the town board a surety bond or other financial security approved by the town board.

358,24 Section 24. 60.84 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

60.84 (3) (a) Monuments shall be set on section and quarter-section corners established by the United States survey. If there is a clerical error or omission in the government field notes or if the bearing trees, mounds, or other location identifier specified in the notes is destroyed or lost, and if there is no other reliable evidence by which a section or quarter-section corner can be identified, the county surveyor or professional land surveyor shall reestablish the corner under the rules adopted by the federal government in the survey of public lands. The county surveyor or professional land surveyor shall set forth his or her actions under this paragraph in the certificate U.S. public land survey monument record under sub. (4).

358,25 Section 25. 60.84 (3) (c) (intro.) and 1. of the statutes are amended to read:

60.84 (3) (c) (intro.) To establish, relocate, or perpetuate a corner, the county surveyor or professional land surveyor shall set in the proper place a monument, as determined by the town board, consisting of any of the following:

1. A stone or other equally durable material, not less than 3 feet long and 6 inches square, with perpendicular, dressed sides and a square, flat top. As prescribed by the town board, the top shall be engraved with either of the following:

a. A cross formed by lines connecting the corners of the top; or.

b. If the monument is set at a section corner, the number of the section or, if set at a quarter-section corner, "1/4S"; or.

358,26 Section 26. 60.84 (3) (c) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

60.84 (3) (c) 3. An equivalent monument agreed upon by all parties of the contract.

358,27 Section 27. 60.84 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

60.84 (4) Certificate U.S. public land survey monument record. The county surveyor or professional land surveyor shall prepare a certificate U.S. public land survey monument record setting forth a complete and accurate record of any survey monument erected on section and quarter section corners under this section, including the exact bearings and distances of each monument from each other monument nearest it on any line in the town. The certificate U.S. public land survey monument record and a map of any additional monuments set shall be recorded in the office of the register of deeds or filed in the office of the county surveyor of the county in which the surveyed land is located and of the adjoining county if a monument is located on the county line.

358,28 Section 28. 66.0309 (11) of the statutes is amended to read:

66.0309 (11) Matters referred to regional planning commission. The officer or public body of a local governmental unit within the region having final authority may refer to the regional planning commission, for its consideration and report, the location or acquisition of land for any of the items or facilities which that are included in the adopted regional master plan. Within 20 days after the matter is referred to the regional planning commission or a longer period as may be stipulated by the referring officer or public body, the commission shall report its recommendations to the referring officer or public body. The report and recommendations of the commission shall be advisory only. A state agency may authorize the regional planning commission with the consent of the commission to act for the agency in approving, examining, or reviewing plats, under s. 236.12 (2) (a) (ap). A regional planning commission authorized by a local unit on November 1, 1980, to act for the local unit in approving plats may continue to so act until the commission withdraws its consent or the local unit its approval. A local unit may authorize a regional planning commission, with the consent of the commission, to conduct an advisory review of plats.

358,29 Section 29. 70.27 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

70.27 (2) Certification, approval, recording. Such plat, when completed and certified as provided by this section, and when approved by the governing body, shall be acknowledged by the clerk thereof and recorded in the office of the register of deeds. No plat may be recorded in the office of the register of deeds unless it is produced on media that is acceptable to the register of deeds.

358,30 Section 30. 70.27 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

70.27 (5) Surveys, reconciliations. The surveyor making the plat shall be a professional land surveyor licensed under ch. 443 and shall survey and lay out the boundaries of each parcel, street, alley, lane, roadway, or dedication to public or private use, according to the records of the register of deeds, and whatever evidence that may be available to show the intent of the buyer and seller, in the chronological order of their conveyance or dedication, and set temporary monuments to show the results of such survey which shall be made permanent upon recording of the plat as provided for in this section. The map shall be at a scale of not more than 100 feet per inch, unless waived in writing by the department of administration under s. 236.20 (2) (L). The owners of record of lands in the plat shall be notified by certified letter mailed to their last-known address, in order that they shall have opportunity to examine the map, view the temporary monuments, and make known any disagreement with the boundaries as shown by the temporary monuments. It is the duty of the professional land surveyor making the plat to reconcile any discrepancies that may be revealed, so that the plat as certified to the governing body is in conformity with the records of the register of deeds as nearly as is practicable. When boundary lines between adjacent parcels, as evidenced on the ground, are mutually agreed to in writing by the owners of record, such lines shall be the true boundaries for all purposes thereafter, even though they may vary from the metes and bounds descriptions previously of record. Such written agreements shall be recorded in the office of the register of deeds. On every assessor's plat, as certified to the governing body, shall appear the volume, page, and document number of the metes and bounds description of each parcel, as recorded in the office of the register of deeds, which shall be identified with the number by which such parcel is designated on the plat, except that lots which have been conveyed or otherwise acquired but upon which no deed is recorded in the office of register of deeds may be shown on an assessor's plat and when so shown shall contain a full metes and bounds description.

358,31 Section 31. 70.27 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

70.27 (6) Monuments, plat requirements. The provisions of s. 236.15 as to monuments, and the provisions of s. 236.20 as to form and procedure, insofar as they are applicable to the purposes of assessors' plats, shall apply. Any stake or monument found and accepted as correct by a professional land surveyor laying out an assessor's plat shall be indicated as "stake found" or "monument found" when mapping the plat and such stake or monument shall not be removed or replaced even though it is inconsistent with the standards of s. 236.15.

358,32 Section 32. 70.27 (7) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

70.27 (7) Certificate. (intro.) When completed, the assessor's plat shall be filed with the clerk of the governing body that ordered the plat. On its title page shall appear the sworn certificate of the professional land surveyor who made the plat, which shall state and contain:

358,33 Section 33. 70.27 (7) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

70.27 (7) (d) A statement that the professional land surveyor has fully complied with the provisions of this section in filing the same.

358,34 Section 34. 84.095 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

84.095 (5) Surveyor's Professional land surveyor's certificate. A plat prepared for filing or recording under this section shall include a certificate of a professional land surveyor registered licensed under s. 443.06 that the plat is a correct representation of the project described and that the identification and location of each parcel can be determined from the plat. This subsection does not apply to plats prepared by the department.

358,35 Section 35. 157.061 (13m) of the statutes is created to read:

157.061 (13m) "Professional land surveyor" means a professional land surveyor licensed under ch. 443.

358,36 Section 36. 157.07 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

157.07 (1) A cemetery authority shall cause to be surveyed and platted by a professional land surveyor registered in this state those portions of the lands that are from time to time required for burial, into cemetery lots, drives, and walks, and record a plat or map of the land in the office of the register of deeds. The plat or map may not be recorded unless laid out and platted to the satisfaction of the county board of the county, and the town board of the town in which the land is situated, or, if the land is situated within a 1st class city, then only by the common council of that city.

358,37 Section 37. 157.07 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

157.07 (2) The plat or map location of the lands shall show the exact location of the tract being subdivided with reference to a corner or corners established in the United States public land survey by bearings and distances be indicated on the plat or map by bearing and distance from a boundary line of a government lot, quarter section, recorded private claim, or federal reservation in which the subdivision is located. The monumentation at the ends of the boundary line shall be described and the bearing and distance between them shown, and the plat or map shall show a small scale drawing of the section or government subdivision of the section in which the cemetery plat is situated, with the cemetery plat indicated. The plat or map shall include the certificate of the professional land surveyor containing the name of the cemetery authority, the date of the survey, the professional land surveyor's stamp or seal and signature, and the professional land surveyor's statement that the survey is true and correct to the professional land surveyor's best knowledge and belief.

358,38 Section 38. 157.07 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

157.07 (3) The plat or map shall be made on a durable white media that is 22 inches wide by 30 inches long, or on any other media that is acceptable to the register of deeds, with a permanent nonfading black image. Seals or signatures that are reproduced on images that comply with this subsection have the force and effect of original seals and signatures. When more than one sheet is used for any one plat or map, they shall be numbered consecutively and each sheet shall contain a notation showing the whole number of sheets in the plat, and its relation to the other sheets. The sheets may be provided by the county through the register of deeds on terms determined by the county board. The professional land surveyor shall leave a binding margin of 1.5 inches on the left side of the 30-inch length and a one-inch margin one inch on all other sides.

358,39 Section 39. 236.02 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:

236.02 (2m) "Correction instrument" means an instrument drafted by a licensed professional land surveyor that complies with the requirements of s. 236.295 and that, upon recording, corrects a subdivision plat or a certified survey map.

358,40 Section 40. 236.02 (9b) of the statutes is created to read:

236.02 (9b) "Professional land surveyor" means a professional land surveyor licensed under ch. 443.

358,41 Section 41. 236.025 of the statutes is created to read:

236.025 Ordinary high water marks. (1) For purposes of ss. 236.15 (1) (ag) and (d) and 236.20 (2) (g), a professional land surveyor may do any of the following:

(a) Incorporate into a map, plat, or survey an ordinary high water mark that has been determined by the department of natural resources or otherwise determined pursuant to law.

(b) Approximate the ordinary high water mark and incorporate that mark into a map, plat, or survey.

(2) For purposes of sub. (1) (b), the location of the approximate ordinary high water mark shall be the point on the bank of a navigable stream or on the shore of a lake up to which the presence and action of surface water is so continuous as to leave a distinctive mark by erosion, destruction of terrestrial vegetation, or other easily recognized characteristics. If the approximate location of the ordinary high water mark is difficult to determine, a professional land surveyor may consider other points on the bank or shore for purposes of approximating the location of the ordinary high water mark.

(3) For purposes of this section, a map, plat, or survey that shows an approximate ordinary high water mark shall state on its face that the mark is shown for reference only.

358,42 Section 42. 236.03 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

236.03 (2) This chapter does not apply to cemetery plats made under s. 157.07 and assessors' plats made under s. 70.27, but such assessors' plats shall, except in counties having a population of 500,000 or more, comply with ss. 236.15 (1) (a) (ac) to (g) and 236.20 (1) and (2) (a) to (e), unless waived under s. 236.20 (2) (L).

358,43 Section 43. 236.11 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 236.11 (2) (a) and amended to read:

236.11 (2) (a) The subdivider or subdivider's agent shall submit to the body or bodies having authority to approve plats an electronic copy of the final plat or a copy of the final plat that is capable of legible reproduction. The approving authority or authorities shall approve or reject the final plat within 60 days of its submission, unless the time is extended by agreement with the subdivider or subdivider's agent. When the approving authority is a municipality and determines to approve the plat, it shall give at least 10 days' prior written notice of its intention to the clerk of any municipality whose boundaries are within 1,000 feet of any portion of such proposed plat but failure to give such notice shall not invalidate any such plat. If a plat is rejected, the reasons therefor shall be stated in the minutes of the meeting and a copy thereof or a written statement of the reasons shall be supplied to the subdivider or subdivider's agent. If the approving authority fails to act within 60 days and the time has not been extended by agreement and if no unsatisfied objections have been filed within that period, the plat shall be deemed approved, and, upon demand, a certificate to that effect shall be made on the face of the plat by the clerk of the authority which that has failed to act.

358,44 Section 44. 236.11 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

236.11 (2) (b) The approval of the approving authority or authorities may be based on the copy submitted under par. (a) but the approval must be inscribed on the recordable plat document. Before inscribing its approval, the approving authority shall require the subdivider or subdivider's agent to certify the respects in which the recordable plat document differs from the copy, if any. An approving authority must approve all modifications in the final plat before it gives final approval to the plat. No approving authority may inscribe its final approval on a plat before the affixing of the certificate by the department under s. 236.12 (3).

358,45 Section 45. 236.12 (2) (intro.) and (a) of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 236.12 (2) (ap) and amended to read:

236.12 (2) (ap) Within 2 days after a preliminary or final plat is submitted for approval, legible copies, together with a list of the authorities to which the plat must be submitted for approval under s. 236.10 or objection under this subsection, furnished by the subdivider at the subdivider's expense, shall be sent, by the clerk or secretary of the approving authority to which the plat is submitted, to the following agencies which have authority under par. (ac), the department shall transmit an electronic copy of the plat, or, if the department prefers, 2 legible hard copies of the plat, to each state agency authorized to object to the plat: (a) Two copies for each of the state agencies required to review the plat to the department which shall examine the plat for compliance with ss. 236.15, 236.16, 236.20 and 236.21 (1) and (2) under this paragraph. If the subdivision abuts or adjoins a state trunk highway or connecting highway, the department shall transmit 2 a copy or copies of the plat to the department of transportation so that the agency may determine whether it has any objection to the plat on the basis of its rules as provided in s. 236.13. If the subdivision is not served by a public sewer and provision for that service has not been made, the department shall transmit 2 a copy or copies of the plat to the department of safety and professional services so that that the agency may determine whether it has any objection to the plat on the basis of its rules as provided in s. 236.13. In lieu of this procedure the agencies may designate local officials to act as their agents in examining the plats for compliance with the statutes or their rules by filing a written delegation of authority with the approving body.

358,46 Section 46. 236.12 (2) (ac) of the statutes is created to read:

236.12 (2) (ac) The subdivider or subdivider's agent shall submit an electronic copy of the preliminary or final plat, or a copy of the preliminary or final plat that is capable of clearly legible reproduction, to the department, which shall examine the plat for compliance with ss. 236.15, 236.16, 236.20, and 236.21 (1) and (2).

358,47 Section 47. 236.12 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

236.12 (2) (b) Four copies Within 2 days after a preliminary or final plat is submitted under par. (ac), the department shall transmit an electronic copy of the plat, or, if the department prefers, 4 legible hard copies of the plat, to the county planning agency, if the agency employs on a full-time basis a professional engineer, a planner, or other person charged with the duty of administering planning legislation and adopts a policy requiring submission so that the body may determine if it has any objection to the plat on the basis of a conflict with park, parkway, expressway, major highways, airports, drainage channels, schools, or other planned public developments. If no county planning agency exists, then 2 copies to the county park commission except that in a county with a county executive or county administrator, 2 copies to the county park manager, if the subdivision abuts a county park or parkway so that the body may determine if it has any objection to the plat on the basis of a conflict with the park or parkway development.

358,48 Section 48. 236.12 (3) and (6) of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 236.12 (3) and amended to read:

236.12 (3) Within 20 days of after the date of receiving the copies of the plat any agency having authority to object under sub. (2) shall notify the subdivider or subdivider's agent and all approving or objecting authorities other agencies having the authority to object of any objection based upon failure of the plat to comply with the statutes or rules which that its examination under sub. (2) is authorized to cover, or, if there is no objection, it shall so certify on the face of a copy of the plat and return that copy to the approving authority from which it was received. The plat shall not be approved or deemed approved until any objections have been satisfied. If the objecting agency fails to act within the 20-day limit it shall be deemed to have no objection to the plat. No approving authority may inscribe its approval on a plat prior to the affixing of the certificates under either sub. (4) or (6). (6) In lieu of the procedure under subs. (2) to (5), the subdivider or the subdivider's agent may submit the original plat to the department which shall forward 2 copies to each of the agencies authorized by sub. (2) to 9 department shall have the required number of copies made at the subdivider's expense. Within 20 days of the date of receiving the copies of the plat any agency having authority to object under sub. (2) shall notify the subdivider, and all agencies having the authority to object, of any objection based upon failure of the plat to comply with the statutes or rules which its examination under sub. (2) is authorized to cover, or, if there is no objection, it shall so certify on the face of a copy of the plat and return that copy to the department. After each agency and the department have certified that they have no objection or that their objections have been satisfied, the department shall so certify on the face of the plat. If an agency fails to act within 20 days from the date of the receipt of on which it received the copy or copies of the plat, and the department fails to act within 30 days of receipt of the original from the date on which it received the copy of the plat, it shall be deemed that there are no objections to the plat and, upon demand, it the department shall be so certified certify on the face of the plat by the department.

358,49 Section 49. 236.12 (4) of the statutes is repealed.

358,50 Section 50. 236.12 (5) of the statutes is repealed.

358,51 Section 51. 236.12 (8) of the statutes is renumbered 236.12 (4m) and amended to read: