24.40 Easements; annexation.
(1g) In this section, “telecommunications service” has the meaning given in s. 182.017 (1g) (cq).
(1r) Every board, commission, department and agency of the state having real estate belonging to the state under its control may grant easements in said property for public utility or telecommunications service through, over, under, along or to said property, including without limitation by enumeration the necessary poles, wires, structures, lines, fiber, conduits, pipes or pipe lines for heat, light, water, gas, sewer, power, telecommunications service, telegraph and transmission of messages.
(2) Every such board, commission, department and agency may petition or join in a petition for and on behalf of the state as the owner of such property to annex or detach the same or any part or parts thereof to or from an adjoining municipality.
(3) Notwithstanding s. 28.02 (5) or any contrary rule promulgated by the department, if the department grants an easement under sub. (1r) for the construction of broadband infrastructure in underserved areas, as designated under s. 196.504 (2) (d), the department may not require any appraisal or the payment of any fee to grant the easement.
History: 1985 a. 297 s. 76; 2017 a. 59; 2017 a. 364 s. 49.
The state is specifically authorized to petition for annexation by sub. (2), which would be rendered meaningless if the petition had to be rejected or an annexation ordinance declared invalid on the grounds that the city could establish no commercial, residential, or mercantile need for the land. Some demonstrable need must be shown or the annexation is of necessity arbitrary and capricious. In cases of direct annexation a showing of benefits to the annexed land can be considered in the overall question of need under the rule of reason. The benefits to the state were abundant in this case where city recreational facilities and better quality fire, emergency police, and rescue service would be provided to the annexed land. Town of Lafayette v. City of Chippewa Falls, 70 Wis. 2d 610, 235 N.W.2d 435 (1975).
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