59.01 Body corporate; status. Each county in this state is a body corporate, authorized to sue and be sued, to acquire and hold, lease or rent real and personal estate for public uses or purposes, including lands acquired under ch. 75, to sell, lease and convey the same, including the authority to enter into leases […]
59.02 Powers, how exercised; quorum. (1) The powers of a county as a body corporate can only be exercised by the board, or in pursuance of a resolution adopted or ordinance enacted by the board. (2) Ordinances may be enacted and resolutions may be adopted by a majority vote of a quorum or by such […]
59.03 Home rule. (1) Administrative home rule. Every county may exercise any organizational or administrative power, subject only to the constitution and to any enactment of the legislature which is of statewide concern and which uniformly affects every county. (2) Consolidation of municipal services, home rule, metropolitan district. (a) Subject to s. 59.794 (2) and […]
59.04 Construction of powers. To give counties the largest measure of self-government under the administrative home rule authority granted to counties in s. 59.03 (1), this chapter shall be liberally construed in favor of the rights, powers and privileges of counties to exercise any organizational or administrative power. History: 1985 a. 29; 1995 a. 201 […]
59.05 County seat; change. (1) The county seat shall be fixed and designated by the board at the first regular meeting after the organization of any county; and no county seat shall be changed except as provided in this section. (2) If a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 is filed with the […]
59.06 County property. (1) How held. County property shall be held by the clerk in the name of the county. All property, real or personal, conveyed to the county or to its inhabitants or to any person for the use of the county or its inhabitants is county property. Such conveyances have the same effect […]
59.07 Claims against counties; actions on. (1) No action may be brought or maintained against a county upon a claim or upon a cause of action unless the claimant complies with s. 893.80. This subsection does not apply to actions commenced under s. 19.37, 19.97 or 281.99. (2) No action may be brought or maintained […]
59.08 Consolidation of counties; procedure; referendum. (1) Any 2 or more adjoining counties may consolidate into a single county by complying with the requirements and procedure herein specified. (2) The boards of any 2 or more adjoining counties desiring to consolidate their respective counties into a single county may enter into a joint agreement for […]
