Chapter 198, MUNICIPAL POWER AND WATER DISTRICTS

198.01 Definitions. In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) “Board of directors,” “directors” or “board” means the board of directors of a municipal power district selected as provided in this chapter, duly constituted and organized and acting as a board. (2) …

198.02 District, creation, powers. A municipal power district may be created as provided in this chapter and when so created shall be considered a municipal corporation and may exercise the powers granted in this chapter. Any 2 or more municipalities, whether contiguous or otherw…

198.025 Plan for district. It shall be the duty of the commission upon request of the governing body of any city, village or town to work out with the municipality, or with any group of municipalities interested with it in the creation of a municipal power district, a feasible wo…

198.03 Procedure for organizing district; initiation. The procedure for organizing, incorporating, and creating a municipal power district under the provisions of this chapter is as follows: (1) INITIAL RESOLUTION. The governing bodies of one-half or more of the municipalities pr…

198.04 Procedure for organizing district; 2nd step. (1) NOTICE TO COMMISSION. Upon receipt of the certified copies of the resolutions adopted under s. 198.03 (1) or the petition presented under s. 198.03 (2), the county clerk shall immediately notify the commission in writing tha…

198.05 Subdistricts, boundaries. Every petition or resolution provided for in s. 198.03 shall divide the proposed district into 5 subdistricts, giving each a number, except as provided in s. 198.07 (3). In the event that the boundaries of the district as originally proposed are c…

198.06 Referendum. (1) NOTICE OF ELECTION, PUBLICATION. Upon the establishment of subdistricts the county clerk shall give notice of an election to be held within the proposed district for the purpose of determining whether the proposed district shall be created. Such notice shal…

198.07 Board of directors, boundaries. (1) The government of each district shall be vested in a board of 5 directors. (2) The boundaries of the subdistricts shall be drawn so that each shall contain approximately an equal number of voters, except that no municipality shall contai…

198.08 Directors. (1) DIRECTOR FOR EACH SUBDISTRICT. There shall be a director for each subdistrict who shall be appointed by the chief executives of the municipalities included within said subdistrict. (2) APPOINTMENT; MEETING OF MUNICIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. Within 10 days afte…

198.09 Vacancies, declared, filled. A director’s death, resignation, inability to continue for any cause to act as director or change of residence from the subdistrict in which the director was selected shall vacate that director’s office. The board shall by resolution declare th…

198.10 Taxation. (1) TAXABLE PROPERTY, TAXES. All real property situated in and all personal property the situs of which for purposes of general property taxation is in the district shall be subject to taxation in and by the district for a direct annual tax sufficient to pay the …

198.11 Compensation and expenses of directors. (1) Each director of the district shall receive compensation from the district for the director’s services as a director at the rate of $10 for each day that the director attends meetings of the board or of any committee of the board…

198.12 Corporate powers of district. 198.12(1)(1) Same as municipalities. Any district organized under the provisions of this chapter, shall have the right of perpetual succession, may sue and be sued, may take by eminent domain, grant, purchase, gift, devise, or lease or otherwi…

198.13 Acquisition of private utilities; dissolution of power district. (1) Upon the completion of the creation and incorporation of any district every right existing by virtue of any law or by virtue of any franchise or indeterminate permit, granted by the state directly or thro…

198.14 Powers of district board. The board of directors of any district shall have power and authority: (1) SEAL. To adopt a corporate seal for the district and prescribe the style thereof. (2) MODE OF EXERCISE. To exercise by vote, ordinance or resolution all of the general powe…

198.145 District legislature, ordinances, officers. (1) The board of directors shall constitute the legislative body of such district and determine all questions of policy. (2) The enacting clause of all ordinances shall be as follows: “The board of directors of .... municipal po…

198.15 Board procedure. (1) CHAIRPERSON, DUTIES. The board shall elect one of their number chairperson for a term of one year, and a vice chairperson for a like term to act during the absence or disability of the chairperson. The principal duties of the chairperson of the board o…

198.16 General manager. (1) ELECTION, ELIGIBILITY. The general manager shall be the chief executive officer of the district. The general manager shall be chosen by the board of directors solely on the basis of the general manager’s executive and administrative qualifications and …

198.165 District clerk, treasurer, attorney, duties. (1) The principal duties of the clerk of the district shall be to act as clerk of the board of directors and to record and sign all minutes of meetings of the board, including all resolutions and ordinances adopted by the board…

198.167 Certified public accountant; annual report. The directors of the district shall employ annually the commission or a certified public accountant licensed or certified under ch. 442 approved by said commission who shall be qualified to, and who shall with all due diligence,…

198.17 Eminent domain procedure. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Declaration” means a resolution or ordinance adopted by the directors of a district under sub. (1g) which identifies the utility which the district seeks to acquire. (b) “Owner” means the owner of a utility, …

198.18 District bonds. (1) ISSUE, GENERAL LIABILITY. Bonds of the district may be issued to raise funds with which to purchase any permanent property for the district, to refund any valid, subsisting bonded debt of the district and for the purpose of paying and discharging any pl…

198.19 Annexation of territory. (1) Any territory, constituting one or more municipalities contiguous to a district may be annexed to and become a part of such district to all intents and purposes and with like effect as though originally included therein upon such terms and cond…

198.20 Consolidation of districts. (1) Any 2 power districts may be consolidated by ordinance, passed by a two-thirds vote of all of the members of the board of each power district, fixing the terms of the consolidation and ratified by the electors at a referendum held in each di…

198.21 District obligations inviolate. Any provision of this chapter may be altered, amended or repealed at any time by the legislature, but no amendment, repeal or alteration shall ever be enacted which shall release any district from any liability which it shall incur for the a…

198.22 Municipal water districts. (1) CREATION. Municipal water districts may be created as provided for in this section and when created shall be considered municipal corporations and may exercise the powers herein granted. (2) DEFINITIONS. The provisions of ss. 198.01 to 198.04…