Section 281.56. Financial assistance program; sewerage systems.

 

(1)  The financial assistance program established under this section is to be used only if the applicant is unable to receive assistance in a timely manner from the federal government and supplementary funding program established under s. 281.55 . Receipt of aid under this section makes the applicant ineligible for aid under s. 281.55 .

(2)  There is established a state program of assistance to municipalities and unincorporated areas for the purpose of financing the construction of water pollution abatement and sewage collection systems. The program shall be administered by the department which shall make such rules as are necessary for the proper execution of the program.

(3)  

(a) The department shall establish criteria to determine those municipalities and projects which are eligible for the state program and to determine appropriate priorities by rule among the projects.

(b) All municipalities having a population of less than 10,000 are eligible for agreements under sub. (6) based on the criteria in this paragraph. The criteria shall consider the health hazards of existing conditions, the adequacy of the existing water pollution abatement system, per capita costs of the project, property valuation of the municipalities as equalized by the state, income of the residents in the municipalities, the availability of federal funds for the project and the borrowing capacity of the municipality. Highest priority shall initially be given to projects which have completed all necessary planning and engineering and any other factors which the department considers important. Municipalities commencing projects not completed prior to June 29, 1974 are eligible for agreements under sub. (6) .

(4)  Municipalities which desire to participate in the state program shall submit application for participation to the department. The application shall be in such form and include such information as the department prescribes.

(5)  The department shall review applications for participation in the state program. It shall determine those applications which meet the criteria it established under sub. (3) and shall arrange the applications in appropriate priority order.

(6)  

(a) Upon approval of an application, the department may enter into an agreement with the municipality to pay from the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (tm) an amount not to exceed 50 percent of the estimated reasonable costs of the approved project. The agreement shall be for such duration and subject to such terms as the department may prescribe. The department shall not grant any municipality more than 10 percent of the funds available under s. 20.866 (2) (tm) for a given year.

(b) In this subsection “ estimated reasonable costs" include the costs of preliminary planning to determine the economic and engineering feasibility of a proposed sewerage system, the engineering, architectural, legal, fiscal and economic investigations and studies, surveys, designs, plans, working drawings, specifications, procedures and other action necessary to the construction of the project and the erection, building, acquisition, alteration, remodeling, improvement or extension of system facilities and the inspection and supervision of the construction of such facilities.

(7)  The department shall review and approve the plans and specifications of all facilities designed and constructed by agreement under this section.

(8)  After June 30, 1978, the department may not enter into any agreements or contracts under this section, but the department shall continue to make payments on existing agreements and contracts until the terms of the agreements and contracts are fully satisfied.

1973 c. 333 ; 1977 c. 418 ; 1995 a. 227 s. 422 ; Stats. 1995 s. 281.56. Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 126 , Wis. adm. code.