200.11 Powers and duties.
200.15 Addition of territory.
SUBCHAPTER II
DISTRICTS INCLUDING 1ST CLASS CITIES
200.23 Establishing a district and a commission.
200.27 Commission; organization.
200.29 Boundary; name; corporate status.
200.31 General duties of the commission.
200.35 Sewerage construction, operation and maintenance.
200.37 Connections to the sewerage system.
200.39 Contract sewerage service.
200.41 Noncontractual sewerage service.
200.43 Acquisition of property.
200.45 Rules; special orders; special use permits.
200.49 Minority business development and training program.
200.51 Commission employees.
200.57 Minority financial advisers and investment firms and disabled veteran-owned businesses.
200.59 User charges for sewer operation.
200.61 Judicial review of compliance schedules.
200.65 Validation of debt; liability for diverting funds.
DISTRICTS GENERALLY
200.01
200.01
Metropolitan sewerage districts, definitions. Unless the context requires otherwise, for the purposes of this subchapter, the following terms have the designated meanings:
200.01(1)
(1) "Commission" means a metropolitan sewerage district commission.
200.01(2)
(2) "Department" means the department of natural resources.
200.01(3)
(3) "District" means a metropolitan sewerage district.
200.01(4)
(4) "Municipality" means town, village, city or county.
200.01 History
History: 1971 c. 276,
307;
1999 a. 150 s.
315; Stats. 1999 s. 200.01.
200.03
200.03
Applicability. This subchapter applies to all areas of the state except those areas included in a metropolitan sewerage district created under
ss. 200.21 to
200.65.
200.03 History
History: 1971 c. 276;
1981 c. 282 s.
47;
1999 a. 150 s.
316; Stats. 1999 s. 200.03.
200.05(1)(1) Proceedings to create a district may be initiated by resolution of the governing body of any municipality setting forth:
200.05(1)(b)
(b) A general description of the territory proposed to be included in the district;
200.05(1)(c)
(c) A general description of the functions which are proposed to be performed by such district;
200.05(1)(d)
(d) A general description of the existing facilities and works which are proposed to be placed under jurisdiction of the district; and
200.05(1)(e)
(e) Such other facts and statements as are deemed by the governing body to be relevant to the standards of
sub. (4) (a) to
(c).
200.05(2)
(2) A governing body which adopts a resolution under
sub. (1) shall immediately transmit a copy thereof to the department.
200.05(3)
(3) Upon receipt of the resolution, the department shall:
200.05(3)(a)
(a) Schedule a public hearing in the county of the petitioning municipality, providing at least 30 days' written notice of the hearing and a copy of the resolution by mail to the clerk of all affected municipalities, town sanitary or utility districts, and to the affected regional planning commissions and state agencies; and publish an official notice of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the proposed district as a class 1 notice under
ch. 985;
200.05(3)(b)
(b) Conduct the hearing to permit any person to present any oral or written pertinent and relevant information relating to the purposes and standards of this subchapter; and
200.05(3)(c)
(c) Undertake research and collect other information and request advisory reports from regional planning commissions, other state agencies and citizen groups.
200.05(4)
(4) Within 90 days following the hearing, the department shall either order or deny creation of the proposed district. An order creating the district shall be issued by the department if:
200.05(4)(a)
(a) The territory consisting of at least one municipality in its entirety and all or part of one or more other municipalities can be identified and can be determined to be conducive to fiscal and physical management of a unified system of sanitary sewage collection and treatment;
200.05(4)(b)
(b) The formation of the district will promote sewerage management policies and operation and will be consistent with adopted plans of municipal, regional and state agencies; and
200.05(4)(c)
(c) The formation of the district will promote the public health and welfare and will effect efficiency and economy in sewerage management, based upon current generally accepted engineering standards regarding prevention and abatement of environmental pollution and federal and state rules and policies in furtherance thereof.
200.05(5)
(5) An order creating the district shall state the name and boundaries of the district, which may be different than those originally proposed if each municipality affected by the district received written notice of the hearing under
sub. (3) (a) and if each municipality which jointly or separately owns or operates a sewerage collection and disposal system which has territory included in the revised district boundaries has filed with the department a certified copy of a resolution of its governing body consenting to the inclusion of that territory within the revised district. No territory of a city, village or town jointly or separately owning or operating a sewerage collection and disposal system may be included in the district unless it has filed with the department a certified copy of a resolution of its governing body consenting to inclusion of such territory within the proposed district. The order shall be effective on the date issued and the existence of the district shall commence on such date.
200.05(6)
(6) No resolution for the formation of a district encompassing the same or substantially the same territory shall be made by any municipality for one year following the issuance of an order denying the formation under this subchapter.
200.05(7)
(7) The orders of the department under this section shall be subject to review under
ch. 227.
200.05 History
History: 1971 c. 276;
1993 a. 246;
1999 a. 150 s.
317; Stats. 1999 s. 200.05.
200.07
200.07
Dissolution. If a district has been inactive for at least 2 years and if the department receives certified copies of a resolution recommending the dissolution of the district adopted by the governing bodies of every municipality owning or operating the district, upon a finding that all outstanding indebtedness of the district has been paid and all unexpended funds returned to the municipality which supplied them, or that adequate provision has been made therefor, the department shall either order or deny dissolution of the district.
200.07 History
History: 1983 a. 27;
1999 a. 150 s.
318; Stats. 1999 s. 200.07.
200.09(1)(1) A district formed under this subchapter shall be governed by a 5-member commission appointed for staggered 5-year terms. Except as provided in
sub. (11), commissioners shall be appointed by the county board of the county in which the district is located. If the district contains territory of more than one county, the county boards of the counties not having the greatest population in the district shall appoint one commissioner each and the county board of the county having the greatest population in the district shall appoint the remainder. Of the initial appointments, the appointments for the shortest terms shall be made by the counties having the least amount of population, in reverse order of their population included in the district. Commissioners shall be residents of the district. Initial appointments shall be made no sooner than 60 days and no later than 90 days after issuance of the department order forming a district or after completion of any court proceedings challenging such order.
200.09(2)
(2) Each member of the commission shall take and file the official oath.
200.09(3)
(3) A majority of such commission shall constitute a quorum to do business; and in the absence of a quorum, those members present may adjourn any meeting and make announcement thereof. All meetings and records of the commission shall be published.
200.09(4)
(4) Such commission, when all of its members have been duly sworn and qualified, shall have charge of all the affairs of the district.
200.09(5)
(5) Such commission shall organize by electing one of its members president and another secretary.
200.09(6)
(6) The secretary shall keep a separate record of all proceedings and accurate minutes of all hearings.
200.09(7)
(7) A per diem compensation may be paid to commissioners in an amount the commission specifies by resolution. Any change in the per diem amount after its initial establishment applies only to subsequently appointed or reappointed commissioners. Commissioners shall be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred as commissioners in carrying out the work of the commission.
200.09(8)
(8) The treasurer of the city, village or town having the largest equalized valuation within the district shall act as treasurer of the district, shall receive such additional compensation therefor as the commission may determine, and shall at the expense of the district furnish such additional bond as the commission may require. Such treasurer shall keep all moneys of the district in a separate fund to be disposed of only upon order of the commission signed by the president and secretary.
200.09(9)
(9) Chapter 276, laws of 1971, shall apply to every metropolitan sewerage district that had been operating, prior to April 30, 1972, under ss.
66.20 to
66.209, 1969 stats. Commissioners for such districts who were in office on April 30, 1972 shall continue to serve until their respective terms are completed. The county board of the county having the greatest population in the district shall appoint 2 additional members to each such commission no sooner than 60 days and no later than 90 days after April 30, 1972. One such member shall have a 5-year term and one such member shall have a 4-year term. The county board of those counties having population within the district that did not appoint the preceding 2 members if any shall, each in turn according to their population in the district, appoint successors to each of the 3 commissioners who held office on April 30, 1972, until their allotted number of appointments, as specified under
sub. (1) is filled. The governor may adjust terms of the successors to the 3 original commissioners in order that the appointment schedules are consistent with this section.
200.09(10)
(10) Sections 200.01 to
200.15 do not affect the continued validity of contracts and obligations previously entered into by a metropolitan sewerage district operating under
ss. 66.20 to 66.209, 1969 stats., before April 30, 1972, nor the validity of the district.
200.09(11)(a)(a) Notwithstanding
sub. (1) the governing bodies of cities, towns and villages comprising a sewerage district may make the initial appointments of the commissioners under this section.
200.09(11)(am)1.1. If the governing bodies of each city, town and village comprising a district pass a resolution authorizing the election of commissioners to terms succeeding the initial appointments, commissioners shall be chosen to fill vacant seats at spring elections, as defined in
s. 5.02 (21), of the district at large. Each commissioner may hold office until a successor is elected and qualified, except as provided in
s. 17.27 (1m). Any commissioner elected for a regular or unexpired term shall take office after filing the official oath on the 4th Monday in April.
200.09(11)(am)2.
2. No resolution passed under
subd. 1. may authorize election of commissioners sooner than 6 months after the date of passage. The commission shall immediately notify the government accountability board under
s. 5.05 upon passage of a resolution under
subd. 1.
200.09(11)(am)3.
3. If the governing bodies of each city, town, and village comprising the district pass a resolution to discontinue election of commissioners, each commissioner may hold office until a successor is appointed and qualified. The commission shall immediately notify the government accountability board under
s. 5.05 upon passage of a resolution under this subdivision.
200.09(11)(b)
(b) This subsection shall apply only if all the governing bodies of the cities, villages and towns comprising the sewerage district agree by resolution to elect its provisions.
200.11
200.11
Powers and duties. 200.11(1)(a)(a)
Corporate status. The district shall be a municipal body corporate and shall be authorized in its name to contract and to be contracted with, and to sue and to be sued. The commission may employ persons or firms performing engineering, legal or other necessary services, require any employee to obtain and file with it an individual bond or fidelity insurance policy, and procure insurance. A commission may employ engineers or other employees of any municipality as its engineers, agents or employees.
200.11(1)(b)
(b)
Plans. The commission shall prepare and by resolution adopt plans and standards of planning, design and operation for all projects and facilities which will be operated by the district or which affect the services to be provided by the district. Commissions may and are encouraged to contract with regional or area-wide planning agencies for research and planning services. The commission's plans shall be consistent with adopted plans of a regional planning commission or area-wide planning agency organized under
s. 66.0309.
200.11(1)(c)
(c)
Research. The commission may project and plan scientific experiments, investigations and research on treatment processes and on the receiving waterway to ensure that an economical and practical process for treatment is employed and that the receiving waterway meets the requirements of regulating agencies. The commission may conduct such scientific experiments, investigations and research independently or by contract or in cooperation with any public or private agency including any political subdivision of the state or any person or public or private organization.
200.11(1)(d)
(d)
Rules. The commission may adopt rules for the supervision, protection, management and use of the systems and facilities operated by the district. Such rules may, in the interest of plan implementation, restrict or deny the provision of utility services to lands which are described in adopted master plans or development plans of a municipality or county as not being fit or appropriate for urban or suburban development. Rules of the district shall be adopted and enforced as provided by
s. 200.45. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, such rules or any orders issued thereunder, may be enforced under
s. 823.02 and the violation of any rule or any order lawfully promulgated by the commission is declared to be a public nuisance.
200.11(1)(e)
(e) Annual report. The commission shall prepare annually a full and detailed report of its official transactions and expenses and of all presently planned additions and major changes in district facilities and services and shall file a copy of such report with the department of natural resources, the department of health services and the governing bodies of all cities, villages and towns having territory in such district.
200.11(2)
(2) Metropolitan sewerage collection and treatment. The commission shall plan, project, construct and maintain within the district interceptor and other main sewers for the collection and transmission of sewage. The commission shall also cause the sewage to be treated, disposed or recycled and may plan, project, construct and maintain works and facilities for this purpose.
200.11(3)
(3) Connections with system. The commission may require any person or municipality in the district to provide for the discharge of its sewage into the district's collection and disposal system, or to connect any sanitary sewerage system with the district's disposal system wherever reasonable opportunity therefor is provided; may regulate the manner in which such connections are made; may require any person or municipality discharging sewage into the system to provide preliminary treatment therefor; may prohibit and impose a penalty for the discharge into the system of any substance which it determines will or may be harmful to the system or any persons operating it; and may, with the prior approval of the department, after hearing upon 30 days' notice to the municipality involved, require any municipality to discontinue the acquisition, improvement or operation of any facility for disposal of any wastes or material handled by the commission wherever and so far as adequate service is or will be provided by the commission. The commission shall have access to all sewerage records of any municipality in the district and shall require all such municipalities to submit plans of existing systems and proposed extensions of local services or systems. The commission or its employees may enter upon the land in any municipality within the district for the purpose of making surveys or examinations.
