87.075 Special procedure.

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the department may, as provided in this section, at any time after directing the hearing upon the petition to proceed made under s. 87.05, issue an order stating that a flood control board shall be appointed as provided in s. 87.12, in which event such a board shall be forthwith appointed. If such an order is issued, the procedures stated in ss. 87.07, 87.08, 87.09, 87.10 and 87.11 and any other section predicated thereon may be dispensed with.

(2) An order may be issued under this section under the following circumstances:

(a) That the proposed project will be financed in whole or in part by funds to be received from municipalities, other governmental agencies or others.

(b) That the benefit to public health, safety, convenience and welfare which will result from the project is such as to justify the initial and subsequent cost of the project. In making this determination the department may consider and give effect to the nature and purpose for which funds have been or may be made available for the project.

(c) That the public interest requires that a flood control board should be appointed and commence functioning as provided in this section without following the normal procedure otherwise prescribed under this chapter.

(3) In making its determination under this section, the department may consider and base its determination in whole or in part upon any plans or study made by any governmental agency, as well as upon any other material deemed by it to be relevant to such determination.

(4) When a flood control board is appointed under this section it shall:

(a) Forthwith cause all necessary surveys and studies to be made and plans and specifications prepared for the project.

(b) Submit plans and specifications to the department for approval.

(c) Cause the project to be constructed under contract let by public bids in accordance with the plans and specifications as approved by the department. The flood control board may subsequently modify the plans and specifications as originally approved, subject to approval of the department.

(d) Operate and maintain the completed project.

(e) Annually on or before March 15, assess the cost of construction, maintenance and operation of the project against the municipalities involved in the proportion that the equalized assessed value of real property located in the floodplain of the portion of the waterway in each municipality involved, exclusive of public park lands, bears to the total of such equalized assessed value for all municipalities involved. Such assessment shall be based upon data furnished by local assessors who shall forward to the secretary of the flood control board all data requested, by certified mail, within 30 days from receipt of such request. In the event the local assessor shall fail to comply with such request within the time specified, the flood control board shall conduct whatever studies are necessary in its judgment to determine the equalized assessed value of affected lands within such municipality, and the cost of such studies shall be charged to such municipality. When the flood control board determines the amount each municipality is required to pay, it shall certify that amount to each respective municipality. It shall thereupon be the duty of each municipality to pay said amount to the flood control board not later than 60 days from receipt of such certificate. The municipality may raise the funds required in the manner provided in s. 87.076.

(5) The flood control board appointed under this section shall have all powers contained herein as well as other sections of this chapter. In the event of conflict between the provisions of this section and other sections of this chapter, the provisions of this section shall control.