66.0803(1)(a)(a) A town, village or city may construct, acquire or lease any plant and equipment located in or outside the municipality, including interest in or lease of land, for furnishing water, light, heat or power, to the municipality or its inhabitants; may acquire a controlling portion of the stock of any corporation owning private waterworks or lighting plant and equipment; and may purchase the equity of redemption in a mortgaged or bonded waterworks or lighting system, including cases where the municipality in the franchise has reserved right to purchase. The character or duration of the franchise, permit or grant under which any public utility is operated does not affect the power to acquire the public utility under this subsection. Two or more public utilities owned by the same person or corporation, or 2 or more public utilities subject to the same lien or charge, may be acquired as a single enterprise. The board or council may agree with the owner or owners of any public utility or utilities on the value of the utility or utilities and may contract to purchase or acquire at that value, upon those terms and conditions mutually agreed upon between the board or council and the owner or owners.
66.0803(1)(b)
(b) A resolution, specifying the method of payment and submitting the question to a referendum, shall be adopted by a majority of all the members of the board or council at a regular meeting, after publication at least one week previous in the official paper.
66.0803(1)(c)
(c) The notice of the referendum shall include a general statement of the plant and equipment proposed to be constructed, acquired or leased and of the manner of payment.
66.0803(1)(d)
(d) Referenda under this section may not be held oftener than once a year, except that a referendum held for the acquisition, lease or construction of any of the types of property enumerated in
par. (a) does not bar the holding of one referendum in the same year for the acquisition and operation of a bus transportation system by the municipality.
66.0803(1)(e)
(e) The provisions of
pars. (b) to
(d) do not apply to the acquisition of any plant, equipment or public utility for furnishing water service when the plant, equipment or utility is acquired by the municipality by dedication or without monetary or financial consideration. After a public utility is constructed, acquired or leased under this subsection,
pars. (b) to
(d) do not apply to any subsequent construction, acquisition or lease in connection with that public utility.
66.0803(2)(a)(a) A city, village or town may by action of its governing body and with a referendum vote provide, acquire, own, operate or engage in a municipal bus transportation system where no existing bus, rail or other local transportation system exists in the municipality. A city, village or town in which there exists any local transportation system by similar action and referendum vote may acquire, own, operate or engage in the operation of a municipal bus transportation system upon acquiring the local transportation system by voluntary agreement with the owners of the system, or pursuant to law, or upon securing a certificate from the department of transportation under
s. 194.23.
66.0803(2)(b)
(b) A street motor bus transportation company operating pursuant to
ch. 194 shall, by acceptance of authority under that chapter, be deemed to have consented to a purchase of its property actually used and useful for the convenience of the public by the municipality in which the major part of the property is situated or operated.
66.0803(2)(c)
(c) A city, village or town providing or acquiring a motor bus transportation system under this section may finance the construction or purchase in any manner authorized for the construction or purchase of a public utility.
66.0803 Annotation
This section is not a restriction upon the authority granted the department of natural resources by s. 144.025 (2) (r) [now 281.19 (5)] to order the construction of a municipal water system, but constitutes merely an alternative by which a municipality may voluntarily construct or purchase a water utility. Village of Sussex v. Dept. of Natural Resources,
68 Wis. 2d 187,
228 N.W.2d 173.
66.0803 Annotation
Section 66.065, which requires a municipality to obtain voter approval through a referendum prior to the construction or acquisition of a waterworks, does not apply when a municipality is ordered to construct a public water supply system pursuant to s. 144.025 (2) (r) [now 281.19 (5)]. 60 Atty. Gen. 523.
66.0805
66.0805
Management of municipal public utility by commission. 66.0805(1)(1) Except as provided in
sub. (6), the governing body of a city shall, and the governing body of a village or town may, provide for the nonpartisan management of a municipal public utility by creating a commission under this section. The board of commissioners, under the general control and supervision of the governing body, shall be responsible for the entire management of and shall supervise the operation of the utility. The governing body shall exercise general control and supervision of the commission by enacting ordinances governing the commission's operation. The board shall consist of 3, 5 or 7 commissioners.
66.0805(2)
(2) The commissioners shall be elected by the governing body for a term, beginning on the first day of October, of as many years as there are commissioners, except that the terms of the commissioners first elected shall expire successively one each year on each succeeding first day of October.
66.0805(3)
(3) The commission shall choose a president and a secretary from its membership. The commission may appoint and establish the compensation of a manager. The commission may command the services of the city, village or town engineer and may employ and fix the compensation of subordinates as necessary. The commission may make rules for its proceedings and for the government of the department. The commission shall keep books of account, in the manner and form prescribed by the department of transportation or public service commission, which shall be open to the public.
66.0805(4)(a)(a) The governing body of the city, village or town may provide that departmental expenditures be audited by the commission, and if approved by the president and secretary of the commission, be paid by the city, village or town clerk and treasurer as provided by
s. 66.0607; that the utility receipts be paid to a bonded cashier appointed by the commission, to be turned over to the city, village or town treasurer at least once a month; and that the commission have designated general powers in the construction, extension, improvement and operation of the utility. Actual construction work shall be under the immediate supervision of the board of public works or corresponding authority.
66.0805(4)(b)
(b) If water mains have been installed or extended in a municipality and the cost of installation or extension has been in some instances assessed against the abutting owners and in other instances paid by the municipality or a utility, the governing body of the municipality may provide that all persons who paid the assessment against any lot or parcel of land may be reimbursed the amount of the assessment regardless of when such assessment was made or paid. Reimbursement may be made from such funds or earnings of the municipal utility or from such funds of the municipality as the governing body determines.
66.0805(5)
(5) Two or more public utilities acquired as a single enterprise may be operated under this section as a single enterprise.
66.0805(6)
(6) In a 2nd, 3rd or 4th class city, a village or a town, the council or board may provide for the operation of a public utility or utilities by the board of public works or by another officer or officers, in lieu of the commission provided for in this section.
66.0805 Annotation
When a city council creates board under sub. (1), the council is prohibited by sub. (3) from fixing the wages of the utility's employees. Schroeder v. City of Clintonville,
90 Wis. 2d 457,
280 N.W.2d 166 (1979).
66.0807
66.0807
Joint operation of public utility or public transportation system. 66.0807(1)
(1) In this section, "privately owned public utility" includes a cooperative association organized under
ch. 185 for the purpose of producing or furnishing utility service to its members only.
66.0807(2)
(2) A city, village or town served by a privately owned public utility, motor bus or other systems of public transportation rendering local service may contract with the owner of the utility or system for the leasing, public operation, joint operation, extension and improvement of the utility or system by the municipality; or, with funds loaned by the municipality, may contract for the stabilization by municipal guaranty of the return upon or for the purchase by instalments out of earnings or otherwise of that portion of the public utility or system which is operated within the municipality and any territory immediately adjacent and tributary to the municipality; or may contract for the accomplishment of any object agreed upon between the parties relating to the use, operation, management, value, earnings, purchase, extension, improvement, sale, lease or control of the utility or system property. The provisions of
s. 66.0817 relating to preliminary agreement and approval by the department of transportation or public service commission apply to the contracts authorized by this section. The department of transportation or public service commission shall, when a contract under this section is approved by it and consummated, cooperate with the parties in respect to making valuations, appraisals, estimates and other determinations specified in the contract to be made by it.
66.0807 History
History: 1977 c. 29 s.
1654 (9) (g);
1981 c. 347 s.
80 (2);
1985 a. 187;
1993 a. 16,
246; 1999 a 150 ss. 171, 237; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0807.
66.0809
66.0809
Municipal public utility charges. 66.0809(1)
(1) Except as provided in
sub. (2), the governing body of a town, village or city operating a public utility may, by ordinance, fix the initial rates and shall provide for this collection monthly, bimonthly or quarterly in advance or otherwise. The rates shall be uniform for like service in all parts of the municipality and shall include the cost of fluorinating the water. The rates may include standby charges to property not connected but for which public utility facilities have been made available. The charges shall be collected by the treasurer or other officer or employee designated by the city, village or town.
66.0809(2)
(2) If, on June 21, 1996, it is the practice of a governing body of a town, village or city operating a public utility to collect utility service charges using a billing period other than one permitted under
sub. (1), the governing body may continue to collect utility service charges using that billing period.
66.0809(3)
(3) Except as provided in
subs. (4) and
(5), on October 15 in each year notice shall be given to the owner or occupant of all lots or parcels of real estate to which utility service has been furnished prior to October 1 by a public utility operated by a town, city or village and payment for which is owing and in arrears at the time of giving the notice. The department in charge of the utility shall furnish the treasurer with a list of the lots or parcels of real estate for which utility service charges are in arrears, and the notice shall be given by the treasurer, unless the governing body of the city, village or town authorizes notice to be given directly by the department. The notice shall be in writing and shall state the amount of arrears, including any penalty assessed pursuant to the rules of the utility; that unless the amount is paid by November 1 a penalty of 10% of the amount of arrears will be added; and that unless the arrears, with any added penalty, are paid by November 15, the arrears and penalty will be levied as a tax against the lot or parcel of real estate to which utility service was furnished and for which payment is delinquent. The notice may be served by delivery to either the owner or occupant personally, or by letter addressed to the owner or occupant at the post-office address of the lot or parcel of real estate. On November 16 the officer or department issuing the notice shall certify and file with the clerk a list of all lots or parcels of real estate, giving the legal description, for which notice of arrears was given and for which arrears remain unpaid, stating the amount of arrears and penalty. Each delinquent amount, including the penalty, becomes a lien upon the lot or parcel of real estate to which the utility service was furnished and payment for which is delinquent, and the clerk shall insert the delinquent amount and penalty as a tax against the lot or parcel of real estate. All proceedings in relation to the collection of general property taxes and to the return and sale of property for delinquent taxes apply to the tax if it is not paid within the time required by law for payment of taxes upon real estate. Under this subsection, if an arrearage is for utility service furnished and metered by the utility directly to a mobile home unit in a licensed mobile home park, the notice shall be given to the owner of the mobile home unit and the delinquent amount becomes a lien on the mobile home unit rather than a lien on the parcel of real estate on which the mobile home unit is located. A lien on a mobile home unit may be enforced using the procedures under
s. 779.48 (2). This subsection does not apply to arrearages collected using the procedure under
s. 66.0627.
66.0809(4)
(4) A municipal utility may use the procedures under
sub. (3) to collect arrearages for electric service only if one of the following applies:
66.0809(4)(a)
(a) The municipality has enacted an ordinance that authorizes the use of the procedures under
sub. (3) for the collection of arrearages for electric service provided by the municipal utility.
66.0809(4)(b)
(b) In 1996, the municipality collected arrearages for electric service provided by the municipal utility using the procedures under s.
66.60 (16), 1993 stats.
66.0809(5)(a)(a) This subsection applies only if all of the following conditions are met:
66.0809(5)(a)1.
1. Water or electric utility service is provided to a rental dwelling unit.
66.0809(5)(a)1m.
1m. The water or electric utility service is provided by a town sanitary district created under
subch. IX of ch. 60 that has sewerage connections serving more than 700 service addresses, by a public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district under
subch. IV of ch. 33 that has sewerage connections serving more than 700 service addresses or by a municipal public utility.
66.0809(5)(a)2.
2. The owner of the rental dwelling unit notifies the utility in writing of the name and address of the owner.
66.0809(5)(a)3.
3. The owner of the rental dwelling unit notifies the utility in writing of the name and address of the tenant who is responsible for payment of the utility charges.
66.0809(5)(a)4.
4. If requested by the utility, the owner of the rental dwelling unit provides the utility with a copy of the rental or lease agreement in which the tenant assumes responsibility for the payment of the utility charges.
66.0809(5)(b)
(b) If this subsection applies, a municipal public utility may use
sub. (3) to collect arrearages incurred after the owner of a rental dwelling unit has provided the utility with written notice under
par. (a) only if the municipality complies with at least one of the following:
66.0809(5)(b)1.
1. In order to comply with this subdivision, a municipal public utility shall send bills for water or electric service to a customer who is a tenant in the tenant's own name. Each time that a municipal public utility notifies a customer who is a tenant that charges for water or electric service provided by the utility to the customer are past due for more than one billing cycle, the utility shall also serve a copy of the notice on the owner of the rental dwelling unit in the manner provided in
s. 801.14 (2). If a customer who is a tenant vacates his or her rental dwelling unit, and the owner of the rental dwelling unit provides the municipal public utility, no later than 21 days after the date on which the tenant vacates the rental dwelling unit, with a written notice that contains a forwarding address for the tenant and the date that the tenant vacated the rental dwelling unit, the utility shall continue to send past-due notices to the customer at his or her forwarding address until the past-due charges are paid or until notice has been provided under
sub. (3).
66.0809(5)(b)2.
2. In order to comply with this subdivision, if a customer who is a tenant has charges for water or electric service provided by the utility that are past due, the municipal public utility shall serve notice of the past-due charges on the owner of the rental dwelling unit within 14 days of the date on which the tenant's charges became past due. The municipal public utility shall serve notice in the manner provided in
s. 801.14 (2).
66.0809(5)(c)
(c) A municipal public utility may demonstrate compliance with the notice requirements of
par. (b) 1. or
2. by providing evidence of having sent the notice by U.S. mail.
66.0809(5)(d)
(d) If this subsection applies and a municipal public utility is permitted to collect arrearages under
sub. (3), the municipal public utility shall provide all notices under
sub. (3) to the owner of the property.
66.0809 History
History: 1999 a. 150 ss.
184,
186.
66.0811
66.0811
Municipal public utility revenues. 66.0811(1)
(1) A city, village or town owning a public utility is entitled to the same rate of return as permitted for privately owned utilities.
66.0811(2)
(2) The income of a municipal public utility shall first be used to make payments to meet operation, maintenance, depreciation, interest, and debt service fund requirements, local and school tax equivalents, additions and improvements, and other necessary disbursements or indebtedness. Beginning with taxes levied in 1995, payable in 1996, payments for local and school tax equivalents shall at least be equal to the payment made on the property for taxes levied in 1994, payable in 1995, unless a lower payment is authorized by the governing body of the municipality. Income in excess of these requirements may be used to purchase and hold interest bearing bonds, issued for the acquisition of the utility; bonds issued by the United States or any municipal corporation of this state; insurance upon the life of an officer or manager of the utility; or may be paid into the general fund.
66.0811(3)
(3) A city, town or village may use funds derived from its water plant to meet operation, maintenance, depreciation, interest and debt service funds; new construction or equipment or other indebtedness for sewerage construction work other than that which is chargeable against abutting property; or the funds may be placed into the general fund to be used for general city purposes or in a special fund to be used for special municipal purposes.
66.0811 History
History: 1999 a. 150 ss.
187,
188,
239.
66.0813
66.0813
Provision of utility service outside of municipality by municipal public utility. 66.0813(1)
(1) A town, town sanitary district, village or city owning water, light or power plant or equipment may serve persons or places outside its corporate limits, including adjoining municipalities not owning or operating a similar utility, and may interconnect with another municipality, whether contiguous or not, and for these purposes may use equipment owned by the other municipality.
66.0813(2)
(2) Plant or equipment, except water plant or equipment or interconnection property in any municipality interconnected, situated in another municipality is taxable in the other municipality under
s. 76.28.
66.0813(3)(a)(a) Notwithstanding
s. 196.58 (5), a city, village or town may by ordinance fix the limits of utility service in unincorporated areas. The ordinance shall delineate the area within which service will be provided and the municipal utility has no obligation to serve beyond the delineated area. The delineated area may be enlarged by a subsequent ordinance. No ordinance under this paragraph is effective to limit any obligation to serve that existed at the time that the ordinance was adopted.
66.0813(3)(b)
(b) Notwithstanding
s. 196.58 (5), a municipality that operates a utility that provides water service may enter into an agreement with a city or village to provide water service to all or a part of that city or village. The agreement shall delineate the area within which service will be provided and the municipal water utility shall have no obligation to serve beyond the area so delineated. The agreement is not effective to limit any obligation to serve which may have existed at the time the agreement was entered into.
66.0813(4)
(4) An agreement by a city, village or town to furnish utility service outside its corporate limits to unincorporated property used for public, educational, industrial or eleemosynary purposes fixes the nature and geographical limits of that utility service unless altered by a change in the agreement, notwithstanding
s. 196.58 (5). A change in use or ownership of property included under that agreement does not alter terms and limitations of that agreement.
66.0813(5)
(5) An agreement under
sub. (4) under which a city or village agrees to furnish sewerage service to a prison, which is located in an area that has been incorporated since that agreement was made, may be amended to provide that the city or village will also furnish water service to the prison. An agreement amended under this subsection fixes the nature and geographical limits of the water and sewer service unless altered by a change in the agreement, notwithstanding
s. 196.58 (5). A change in use or ownership of property included under an agreement amended under this subsection does not alter the terms and limitations of that agreement.
66.0813(6)
(6) A town, village or city owning a public utility, or the board of any municipal public utility appointed under
s. 66.0805, may enter into agreements with any other towns, villages or cities owning public utilities, or any other boards of municipal public utilities, for mutual aid in the event of an emergency or disaster in any of their respective service areas. The agreements may include provisions for the movement of employees and equipment in and between the service areas of the participating municipalities for the purpose of rendering aid and for the reimbursement of a municipality rendering aid by the municipality receiving the aid.
66.0813 History
History: 1999 a. 150 ss.
189,
240.
66.0815
66.0815
Public utility franchises and service contracts. 66.0815(1)(a)(a) A city, village or town may grant to any person the right to construct and operate a public utility in the city, village or town, subject to reasonable rules and regulations prescribed by ordinance.
66.0815(1)(b)
(b) The board or council may submit the ordinance when passed and published to a referendum.
66.0815(1)(c)
(c) An ordinance under
sub. (1) may not take effect until 60 days after passage and publication unless sooner approved by a referendum. Within the 60-day period electors equal in number to 20% of those voting at the last regular municipal election may file a petition requesting [for] a referendum. The petition shall be in writing and filed with the clerk and as provided in
s. 8.37. The petition shall conform to the requirements of
s. 8.40[[, except that each signer shall also state his or her ]]. Each signer shall state his or her residence and signatures shall be verified by the affidavit of an elector. The referendum shall be held at the next regular municipal election, or at a special election within 90 days of the filing of the petition. The ordinance may not take effect unless approved by a majority of the votes cast. This paragraph does not apply to extensions by a utility previously franchised by the village, city or town.
66.0815 Note
NOTE: Par. (c) is shown as affected by two acts of the 1999 legislature and as merged by the revisor under s. 13.93 (2) (c). The single bracketed language was inserted by
1999 Wis. Act 150 , but was rendered surplusage by
1999 Wis. Act 182. The double bracketed language was rendered surplusage by the interaction of Acts 150 and 182. Corrective legislation is pending.
66.0815(1)(d)
(d) If a city or village at the time of its incorporation included within its corporate limits territory in which a public utility, before the incorporation, had been lawfully engaged in rendering public utility service, the public utility possesses a franchise to operate in the city or village to the same extent as if the franchise had been formally granted by ordinance adopted by the governing body of the city or village. This paragraph does not apply to any public utility organized under this chapter.
66.0815(2)(a)(a) A city, village or town may contract for furnishing light, heat, water or motor bus or other systems of public transportation to the municipality or its inhabitants for a period of not more than 30 years or for an indeterminate period if the prices are subject to adjustment at intervals of not greater than 5 years. The public service commission has jurisdiction over the rates and service to any city, village or town where light, heat or water is furnished to the city, village or town under any contract or arrangement, to the same extent that the public service commission has jurisdiction where that service is furnished directly to the public.
66.0815(2)(b)
(b) When a city, village or town has contracted for water, lighting service or motor bus or other systems of public transportation to the municipality the cost may be raised by tax levy. In making payment to the owner of the utility a sum equal to the amount due the city, village or town from the owner for taxes or special assessments may be deducted.
66.0815(2)(c)
(c) This subsection applies to every city, village and town regardless of any charter limitations on the tax levy for water or light.
66.0815(2)(d)
(d) If a privately owned motor bus or public transportation system in a city, village or town fails to provide service for a period in excess of 30 days, and the owner or stockholders of the privately owned motor bus or public transportation system have announced an intention to abandon service, the governing body of the affected municipality may without referendum furnish or contract for the furnishing of other motor bus or public transportation service to the municipality and its inhabitants and to the users of the defaulting prior service for a period of not more than one year. This paragraph does not authorize a municipality to hire, directly or indirectly, any strikebreaker or other person for the purpose of replacing employees of the motor bus or public transportation system engaged in a strike.
66.0817
66.0817
Sale or lease of municipal public utility plant. A town, village or city may sell or lease any complete public utility plant owned by it in the following manner:
66.0817(1)
(1) A preliminary agreement with the prospective purchaser or lessee shall be authorized by a resolution or ordinance containing a summary of the terms proposed, of the disposition to be made of the proceeds, and of the provisions to be made for the protection of holders of obligations against the plant or against the municipality on account of the plant. The resolution or ordinance shall be published at least one week before adoption, as a class 1 notice, under
ch. 985. The resolution or ordinance may be adopted only at a regular meeting and by a majority of all the members of the governing body.
66.0817(2)
(2) The preliminary agreement shall fix the price of sale or lease, and provide that if the amount fixed by the department of transportation or public service commission is greater, the price shall be that fixed by the department or commission.
66.0817(3)
(3) The municipality shall submit the preliminary agreement when executed to the department of transportation or public service commission, which shall determine whether the interests of the municipality and its residents will be best served by the sale or lease, and if it so determines, shall fix the price and other terms.
66.0817(4)
(4) After the price and other terms are fixed under
sub. (3), the proposal shall be submitted to the electors of the municipality. The notice of the referendum shall include a description of the plant and a summary of the preliminary agreement and of the price and terms as fixed by the department of transportation or public service commission. If a majority voting on the question votes for the sale or lease, the board or council may consummate the sale or lease, upon the terms and at a price not less than fixed by the department of transportation or public service commission, with the proposed purchaser or lessee or any other with whom better terms approved by the department of transportation or public service commission can be made.
66.0817(5)
(5) Unless the sale or lease is consummated within one year of the referendum, or the time is extended by the department of transportation or public service commission, the proceedings are void.
66.0817(6)
(6) If the municipality has revenue or mortgage bonds outstanding relating to the utility plant and which by their terms may not be redeemed concurrently with the sale or lease transaction, an escrow fund with a domestic bank as trustee may be established for the purpose of holding, administering and distributing that portion of the sales or lease proceeds necessary to cover the payment of the principal, any redemption premium and interest which will accrue on the principal through the earliest retirement date of the bonds. During the period of the escrow arrangement the funds may be invested in securities or other investments as described in
s. 66.0603 (1m).
66.0817(7)
(7) For the purpose of this section, the department of transportation has jurisdiction over transportation systems and the public service commission has jurisdiction over public utilities as defined in
s. 196.01.
66.0819
66.0819
Combining water and sewer utilities. 66.0819(1)
(1) A town, village, or city may construct, acquire, or lease, or extend and improve, a plant and equipment within or without its corporate limits for the furnishing of water to the municipality or to its inhabitants, and for the collection, treatment, and disposal of sewage, including the lateral, main and intercepting sewers, and all necessary equipment. The plant and equipment, whether the structures and equipment for the furnishing of water and for the disposal of sewage are combined or separate, may by ordinance be constituted a single public utility.
66.0819(2)
(2) The provisions of this chapter and
chs. 196 and
197 relating to a water system, including those provisions relating to the regulation of a water system by the public service commission, apply to a consolidated water and sewage disposal system as a single public utility. In prescribing rates, accounting and engineering practices, extension rules, service standards or other regulations for a consolidated water and sewage disposal system, the public service commission shall treat the water system and the sewage disposal system separately, unless the commission finds that the public interest requires otherwise.
66.0819(3)
(3) A town, village or city which owns or acquires a water system and a plant or system for the treatment or disposal of sewage may by ordinance consolidate the systems into a single public utility. After the effective date of the ordinance the consolidated utility is subject to this section as though originally acquired as a single public utility.
