Section 200.33. Local sewers.

 

(1)   Duties of municipalities.

(a) Each municipality shall construct, operate and maintain local sewers and appurtenant facilities and shall repair and rehabilitate local sewers and appurtenant local facilities.

(b) Except as provided in sub. (2) , ss. 200.21 to 200.65 do not authorize the commission to operate, maintain, rehabilitate or preserve local sewers or appurtenant local facilities constructed by a municipality or to separate combined storm and sanitary sewers.

(c) This subsection does not prohibit the commission from operating, maintaining, rehabilitating or preserving its sewerage system.

(2)   Separating combined sewers.

(a) Except as provided in pars. (b) to (d) and subject to s. 281.41 , no commission may separate combined storm and sanitary sewers.

(b)

1. If the commission undertakes abatement of combined sewer overflows, it shall use the most cost-effective method available.

2. If partial or complete separation of combined storm and sanitary sewers is the most cost-effective method of abating combined sewer overflows, the commission may separate the combined sewers.

3. If 2 or more methods of abating combined sewer overflows are approximately equally cost-effective, the commission shall select the method of abatement that involves separating the fewest linear feet of combined storm and sanitary sewers.

(c) If separation of a combined storm and sanitary sewer is authorized under par. (b) , the commission shall adopt an authorizing resolution before commencing the separation. The resolution shall include a statement that any person aggrieved may petition for judicial review under par. (d) . Before adopting the resolution, the commission shall first obtain the consent of the governing body of the city, village or town in which the combined storm and sanitary sewer is located and shall hold a public hearing on the proposed resolution. The commission shall mail a notice that states the time and place of the hearing and is accompanied by a copy of the proposed resolution to the clerk of each municipality at least 30 days before the hearing. The notice shall include a statement that judicial review of the commission's decision is available, as provided in par. (d) . The commission shall also publish a copy of the notice and the proposed resolution as a class 2 notice under ch. 985 within the district. The date of the first publication shall be at least 30 days prior to the date of the hearing.

(d) Any person aggrieved by the decision of the commission to separate a combined storm and sanitary sewer may file a petition for judicial review in the circuit court for the county in which the district is located. Nothing in this paragraph affects any review under s. 281.41 .

1981 c. 282 , 391 ; 1995 a. 227 ; 1999 a. 150 s. 582 ; Stats. 1999 s. 200.33.