60.23 Miscellaneous powers.

880 words·~4 min read·/wi/chapter-60/60-23-5

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

60.23 Miscellaneous powers. The town board may:

(1)Joint participation. Cooperate with the state, counties and other units of government under s. 66.0301 , including cooperative arrangements involving the acquisition, development, remodeling, construction, equipping, operation and maintenance of land, buildings and facilities for regional projects, whether or not located in the town.

(2)Utility districts. Establish utility districts under s. 66.0827 and provide that any convenience or public improvement in the district be paid for under that section.

(3)Appropriations for civic and other functions. If authorized under s. 60.10

(b), appropriate reasonable amounts of money for gifts or donations to be used to:

(a)Further civic functions and agricultural societies.

(b)Advertise the attractions, advantages and natural resources of the town.

(c)Attract industry.

(d)Establish industrial complexes.

(e)Establish, maintain and repair ecological areas.

(f)Provide for the organization, equipment and maintenance of a town museum or a municipal band, or for the employment of other bands to give concerts and municipal entertainment in the town.

(g)Construct or otherwise acquire, equip, furnish, operate and maintain, with the county in which the town is located, a county-town auditorium. The provisions of s. 66.0925 , as they apply to cities, shall apply to towns, and the powers and duties conferred and imposed by s. 66.0923 upon mayors, councils and specified city officials are hereby conferred upon town board chairpersons, town boards and town officials performing duties similar to the duties of such specified city officials respectively, except those provisions or powers that conflict with statutes relating to towns and town boards.

(4)Town industrial development agency. In order to promote and develop the resources of the town, appropriate money for and create a town industrial development agency or appoint an executive officer and provide staff and facilities for a nonprofit organization organized to act under this subsection. A town industrial development agency created under this subsection may:

(a)Develop data regarding the industrial needs of, advantages of and sites in the town.

(b)Engage in promotional activities to acquaint prospective purchasers with industrial products manufactured in the town.

(c)Coordinate its activities with the county planning commission, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, and private credit development organizations.

(d)Engage in any other activity necessary for the continued improvement of the town’s industrial climate.

(5)Cooperation in county planning. Cooperate with the county in rural planning under ss. 27.019 , 59.54

(4)and

(4m)and 59.69 .

(6)Conservation of natural resources. If authorized by the town meeting under s. 60.10

(a), appropriate money for the conservation of natural resources or for payment to a bona fide nonprofit organization for the conservation of natural resources within the town or beneficial to the town. No payment may be made to a nonprofit organization unless the organization submits and the town board approves a detailed plan of the work to be done. The plan shall include the name of the owner of any property on which work is to be performed.

(8)Emergency pest and disease control. Appropriate money for the control of insects, weeds or plant or animal diseases if:

(a)An emergency arises within the town due to insects, weeds or plant or animal diseases; and

(b)The board determines that any delay resulting from calling a special town meeting to authorize the town board to appropriate money for this purpose under s. 60.10

(c)would result in serious harm to the general welfare of the town.

(9)Resident health care providers in certain towns. In a town comprised entirely of one or more islands, annually appropriate money to retain a physician or, if no physician is available, a physician assistant, naturopathic doctor, or nurse practitioner, as a resident within the town.

(10)Bowling centers, dance halls, roadhouses, places of amusement, pool tables and amusement devices. Regulate, including the licensing of, bowling centers, dance halls, roadhouses, other places of amusement, billiard and pool tables and amusement devices maintained in commercial facilities. If a license is required, the board shall establish the term of the license, not to exceed one year, and the license fee. The board may suspend or revoke, for cause, a license issued under this subsection. Any person violating a regulation adopted under this subsection shall forfeit to the town an amount established by the town board.

(12)Reimbursement of school districts for providing transportation in hazardous areas. Reimburse a school district for costs incurred by the district under s. 121.54

(9)in transporting pupils who reside in the town.

(13)Exchange tax credit for county land. Authorize the town treasurer to exchange any credit the town has with the county, arising from delinquent real estate taxes, for county-owned land.

(14)Associations of towns. Appropriate money to purchase membership in any association of town boards for the protection of town interests and improvement of town government.

(15)Vacation of alleys. Vacate any alley in the town under s. 66.1003 . The town board may not vacate, under this subsection, an alley adjacent to land fronting a state or county trunk highway.

(16)Cemeteries. Provide for cemeteries under subch. II of ch. 157 .

(17)Change street names. Name, or change the name of, any street in the town under s. 82.03

(7).