Legal Articles

The information you obtain on the League’s website is general in nature and is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as and should not be construed as legal advice. Moreover, it is not a substitute for legal advice. While the League’s attorneys are a general resource for our member municipalities, we do not represent any municipalities. Please consult your municipal attorney for matters specifically pertaining to your municipality.

  1. Roles and Authority of Governing Body Members

    Governing Bodies 409 Silverman/Davis, The Municipality, June 2019

  2. Charging or Increasing Recycling Fees Does Not Impact a Community’s Levy Limit

    Taxation 1058 Curt Witynski, The Municipality, June 2019

  3. Summertime and (Pre-Mosquitos) the Living Is Easy

    Employees 272R3, Licensing & Regulation 400, Miscellaneous 21 Claire Silverman, The Municipality, May 2019

  4. Business Purpose Unnecessary for “Agricultural” Classification

    Taxation 1057 Maria Davis, The Municipality, May 2019

  5. Bonding/Insurance Requirements for Municipal Officials

    Fidelity Bonds 33 R-2 Claire Silverman, The Municipality, April 2019

  6. Comprehensive Plan Amendments

    Commissions 185 Claire Silverman, The Municipality, April 2019

  7. Court Declines Invitation to Revamp Governmental Immunity

    Courts 369, Liability 435 Claire Silverman, The Municipality, March 2019

  8. Panhandling Ordinances after Reed and Norton

    Licensing/Regulation 399, Ordinances/Resolutions 511: Legal comment discussing the constitutionality of panhandling ordinances in the wake of Reed v. Town of Gilbert, 135 S.Ct. 2218 (2015) and Norton v. City of Springfield, 806 F.3d 411 (7th Cir. 2015). Maria Davis, The Municipality, March 2019

  9. Nuisance Concerts Separate Events

    Liability 434, Nuisances 160: Concerts constituting a nuisance are considered separate events for purposes of the 120-day notice timeline in Wisconsin Statute § 893.80(1d). Yacht Club at Sister Bay Condo Assn., Inc. v. Village of Sister Bay, 2019 WI 4. Maria Davis, The Municipality, March 2019

  10. Wisconsin Cities Have Class!

    Municipal Corporations 59: Provides overview of Wis. Stat. sec. 62.05 which classifies cities as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th class cities based on population as well as procedure for altering classification and some differences between the different classes. Claire Silverman, The Municipality, March, 2019

  11. Municipal Employees are Employees at Will

    Employees 350 Luis Arroyo, The Municipality, February 2019

  12. WI Fair Employment Act: New Amendments Address Arrest & Conviction Discrimination in Licensing

    Licensing & Regulation 398 Richie/Gustafson, The Municipality, February 2019

  13. New Records Schedule Approved for Municipalities

    Public Records 151 Andrew Baraniak, The Municipality, January 2019

  14. FRSA Preempts Ordinance Prohibiting Trains from Obstructing RR Crossings

    The Wisconsin Court of Appeals recently held that the Federal Railroad Safety Act (FRSA) and regulations promulgated pursuant to that act preempt a City of Weyauwega ordinance prohibiting any train from obstructing, for more than 10 minutes. . . . Claire Silverman, the Municipality December 2018

  15. Local Government Emergency Powers

    Is your municipality prepared to deal with an emergency? Recent disasters in communities across the state, like flooding and explosions, highlight the importance of being prepared to cope with local emergencies. Claire Silverman, the Municipality December 2018

  16. Municipal Publication Requirements

    This article provides a basic overview of municipal publication requirements and addresses common questions that arise with regard to those requirements. Claire Silverman, the Municipality November 2018
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