59.14 Publication of ordinances and proceedings.
(1) Whenever a board enacts an ordinance under this chapter the clerk shall immediately publish the ordinance either in its entirety, as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, or as a notice, as described under sub. (1m) (b); and the clerk shall procure and distribute copies of the ordinance to the several town clerks, who shall file it in their respective offices.
(1m)
(a) In this subsection, “summary" means a brief, precise, and plain-language description that can be easily understood.
(b) A notice of an ordinance that may be published under this subsection shall be published as a class 1 notice under ch. 985 and shall contain at least all of the following:
1. The number and title of the ordinance.
2. The date of enactment.
3. A summary of the subject matter and main points of the ordinance.
4. Information as to where the full text of the ordinance may be obtained, including the phone number of the county clerk, a street address where the full text of the ordinance may be viewed, and a website, if any, at which the ordinance may be accessed.
(2) The board shall, by ordinance or resolution, provide for publication in one or more newspapers in the county as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, a certified copy of all its proceedings had at any meeting, regular or special; said publication to be completed within 60 days after the adjournment of each session.
(3) The board may at any meeting, regular or special, provide by resolution for the publication in pamphlet form by the lowest and best bidder therefor, of a sufficient and designated number of copies of its duly certified proceedings, for general distribution.
(4) The board may order public notices relating to tax redemption and other affairs of the county to be published in a newspaper printed in any other than the English language, to be designated in such order, whenever the board considers it necessary for the better information of the inhabitants of the county, and it shall appear from the last previous census that one-fourth or more of the adult population of the county is of a nationality not speaking the English language, and that there shall have been a newspaper published in the county continuously for one year or more in the language spoken by that nationality; but all of the notices shall also be published in a newspaper published in the English language as provided by law. The compensation for all of the publications shall be paid by the county ordering the publications, and shall be the same as that prescribed by law for publication in the English language; and no extra charge shall be allowed for translation in any case. No irregularity, mistake or informality in any such publication shall affect the validity or regularity of any tax redemptions or other legal proceedings.
History: 1987 a. 378; 1995 a. 201 s. 244; Stats. 1995 s. 59.14; 2007 a. 72; 2017 a. 365 s. 112.
Discussing sub. (1) in reference to the effect of the failure to distribute and the requirements of distribution and publication. 62 Atty. Gen. 81.
Discussing codification and publication of ordinances. 70 Atty. Gen. 124.
A county with a population of less than 250,000 is not required to designate an official newspaper. A county is not required to seek bids for the publication of legal notices. Even if a county does not competitively bid the publication of its own proceedings as provided in sub. (3), it may print its own proceedings or post them on its website. A county may not, in lieu of publication in a printed newspaper or posting on a physical bulletin board, post its legal notices on its official website. OAG 2-08.
Structure Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
59.01 - Body corporate; status.
59.02 - Powers, how exercised; quorum.
59.04 - Construction of powers.
59.07 - Claims against counties; actions on.
59.08 - Consolidation of counties; procedure; referendum.
59.10 - Boards: composition; election; terms; compensation; compatibility.
59.11 - Meetings; adjournment; absentees.
59.12 - Chairperson; vice chairperson; powers and duties.
59.13 - Committees; appointment; compensation.
59.14 - Publication of ordinances and proceedings.
59.19 - Administrative coordinator.
59.20 - County offices and officers.
59.21 - Official oaths and bonds.
59.22 - Compensation, fees, salaries and traveling expenses of officials and employees.
59.24 - Clerks of counties containing state institutions to make claims in certain cases.
59.26 - Sheriff; undersheriff; deputies.
59.28 - Peace maintenance; powers and duties of peace officers, cooperation.
59.29 - Transportation, apprehension of criminals.
59.30 - Not to act as attorney.
59.31 - Service on sheriff; how made.
59.32 - Fees received by sheriff.
59.34 - Coroner, medical examiner duties; coroner, medical examiner compatibility.
59.36 - Coroner and medical examiner; fees.
59.365 - Moratorium on fee increases.
59.37 - Service when no coroner.
59.38 - Medical examiner and assistants.
59.39 - Coroner or medical examiner as funeral director, limitation.
59.41 - Not to act as attorney.
59.43 - Register of deeds; duties, fees, deputies.
59.44 - County abstractor; appointment; duties; fees.
59.45 - County surveyor; duties, deputies, fees.
59.46 - Penalty for nonfeasance.
59.47 - County auditors; powers; duties.
59.52 - County administration.
59.53 - Health and human services.
59.54 - Public protection and safety.
59.56 - Cultural affairs; education; recreation.
59.57 - Economic and industrial development.
59.60 - Budgetary procedure in certain counties.
59.61 - Financial transactions.
59.62 - Investment authority delegation.
59.63 - Treasurer's disbursement of revenue.
59.64 - Claims against county.
59.65 - Publication of financial report.
59.69 - Planning and zoning authority.
59.691 - Required notice on certain approvals.
59.692 - Zoning of shorelands on navigable waters.
59.693 - Construction site erosion control and storm water management zoning.
59.694 - County zoning, adjustment board.
59.697 - Fees for zoning appeals.
59.698 - Zoning, building inspector.
59.70 - Environmental protection and land use.
59.71 - Special counties; record keeping.
59.73 - Surveys; expressing bearings, subdividing sections.
59.74 - Perpetuation of section corners, landmarks.
59.75 - Certificates and records as evidence.
59.76 - Registration of farms.
59.792 - Milwaukee County; sewage, waste, refuse.
59.796 - Milwaukee County; opportunity schools and partnership program.
59.80 - Milwaukee County; city-county crime commission.
59.82 - Milwaukee County Research and Technology Park.
59.84 - Expressways and mass transit facilities in populous counties.
59.86 - Agreements and ancillary arrangements for certain notes and appropriation bonds.
59.87 - Employee retirement system liability financing in populous counties; additional powers.