General powers of the drainage board

Wis. Stat. § 88.21 — under APPOINTMENT, POWERS AND DUTIES OF DRAINAGE BOARD.

Wis. Stat. § 88.21

88.21 General powers of the drainage board. In addition to other powers expressly granted or necessarily implied, the drainage board may: (1) Adopt and use a corporate seal. (2) Sue and be sued and compromise suits and controversies. (3) Bring all necessary actions for the collection of moneys and forfeitures belonging to a district under its jurisdiction and for the protection and preservation of all works and property thereof. (4) Obtain injunctions to prevent unlawful interference with the performance of its duties or exercise of any of its powers. (5) Employ legal counsel, engineers and other assistants. Any engineer employed by the board shall be selected from a list of professional engineers approved by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection. The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall furnish each drainage board, upon request, a list of professional engineers whom it considers qualified by training and experience to give competent advice in drainage matters. (6) Purchase or condemn such lands, whether within or outside a district, as are necessary for the construction, cleaning out, repair and maintenance of the drainage system and its works. Condemnation shall be as provided by ch. 32. (8) Level or permit the leveling of spoil banks and excavated materials to allow cultivation or use for roadway or other lawful purposes if such use will not interfere with the proper functioning of the drains. (9) Purchase or lease and maintain and operate the equipment and machinery necessary to construct, maintain or repair the drains within the districts under its jurisdiction, including the control of weeds or brush through use of herbicides. (10) Purchase, construct, maintain and operate all levees, bulkheads, reservoirs, silt basins, holding basins, floodways, floodgates and pumping machinery necessary to the successful drainage or protection of any district or of any considerable area thereof, whether located within or outside the district. (11) Call district meetings to report on the affairs of the district and to obtain the opinions and suggestions of landowners in the district with regard to the affairs of the district. (12) Adopt rules and issue orders, which shall be published as a class 1 notice under ch. 985. In addition, any order that pertains to a specific named person or property shall be served on