Section 23.0962. Grant to a nonprofit conservation organization for Black Point Estate.

 

(1)  If the department of administration acquires as a gift the property, known as Black Point Estate, that is located on Lake Geneva in the county of Walworth, town of Linn, in fractional Sec. 8, T. 1 N., R. 17 E., and if the joint committee on finance approves the gift under s. 20.907 (1) , the department of natural resources shall make a grant of $1,800,000, from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (5) (cq) , to a nonprofit conservation organization that meets all of the following requirements:

(a) The nonprofit conservation organization is a nonprofit corporation, a charitable trust or other nonprofit association that is described in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is exempt from federal tax under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

(b) The nonprofit conservation organization has, as its primary purpose, the preservation of the property known as Black Point Estate.

(c) The nonprofit conservation organization has a board of directors that consists of representatives of the state, of the family who donated Black Point Estate to the state, of local units of government that have an interest in Black Point Estate and of civic organizations that have an interest in Black Point Estate.

(d) The nonprofit conservation organization acquires a conservation easement in the property, the terms of which are subject to approval of the department of natural resources, to be held by the organization for the purpose of preserving Black Point Estate.

(e) The nonprofit conservation organization makes a commitment, with guarantees determined to be adequate by the department of natural resources, to use the grant under this section and any additional funds donated to the organization to fund an endowment for the operation and maintenance of Black Point Estate.

(2)  If the nonprofit conservation organization does not use the grant under this section in the manner required under sub. (1) (e) , the nonprofit conservation organization shall reimburse the department in an amount equal to the grant.

(3)  

(a) In this subsection:

1. “Local governmental unit" means county or town.

2. “Special zoning permission" has the meaning given in s. 59.69 (15) (g) .

(b) Notwithstanding s. 18.04 (1) and (2) , the building commission may authorize public debt to be contracted, and the department may make a grant from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (5) (cq) , for the property known as Black Point Estate only if all of the following apply:

1. A substantially completed application for any necessary special zoning permission for the property has been submitted before December 1, 1999, to the applicable local governmental unit.

2. The necessary special zoning permission, based on the application submitted before December 1, 1999, is granted.

1997 a. 27 ; 1999 a. 9 .