(2) DEFINITION. “Rural planning” as used in this section means planning for the health, general welfare, and amenity of the settler; planning for the establishment of the best possible transportation facilities; planning for the creation and development of the most logical community centers where country people can come together for social and business relations; planning for the setting aside of country parks, recreation fields, county fairgrounds, community woodlands, places of local and historic interest, and for the reservation of land for public uses along river fronts, lake shores, fine outlooks from hilltops, and for the preservation of our native landscape. (3) DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, TRADE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION, DUTY. The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall stimulate interest and disseminate information along lines of rural planning and shall cooperate with county rural planning committees in carrying out their duties as provided by sub. (7). (4) COUNTY COMMITTEE. In each county there shall be a county rural planning committee. The committee shall consist of the chairperson of the county board and the chairperson of the county highway committee, and 2 others, to be appointed by the chairpersons every 4 years for a term of 4 years and until a successor is elected and qualified. Terms of appointed members expire on July 1. The chairperson of the county board shall be chairperson of the committee. (6) EXPENSES. Elected members shall be freeholders of the county and have a general interest in and knowledge of rural plan- ning. All members shall be reimbursed by the county for their actual and necessary expenses incurred while acting as members of such committee. The county board may set a per diem for such members for days attended at committee meetings or spent in the interests of rural planning and, in counties where the rural planning committee operates a county park or parks which bring a financial return to the county, the county board may provide a salary for the secretary of the rural planning committee. (7) DUTIES. The county rural planning committee shall: (a) Keep itself informed of the progress of rural planning in this and other counties. (b) Report to the county, town or village boards upon the architectural design of any public building or bridge, the geographical location of community centers, the location or design of any statue or memorial, works of art and mural decorations in public buildings when such are proposed, to the end that such matters may be made in the highest degree effective, permanent, dignified and fitting through proper design, form and situation. (c) Advise regarding the planting and protection of trees, shrubs and flowers along all highways within the county to the end that they shall be so located as not to interfere with the maintenance of said highway, and that only trees, shrubs and flowers native to Wisconsin be used for this purpose. (d) Consider and provide for the establishment of community parks and woodlands, proportioned and situated so as to provide ample and equal facilities for the establishment of community parks and residents of the county. (e) Propose to the county board the setting aside of places of historic interest and the protection and preservation of unique and picturesque scenery along rivers, lakes and streams, or other scenery or features remarkable, to the end that they may be continued and preserved. (f) It may under the direction of the county board, operate a county park or parks for tourist camping and general public amusement, and may establish fees, concession privileges and grants and employ such help as is needed to operate the park or parks for the best county interests. The county board shall establish rules and regulations governing the conduct and behavior of patrons in and on any such park and shall provide for penalties for infractions of these rules and regulations. When such parks have bathing beaches in connection with them, the county board shall make rules and regulations governing the operation of motor boats in or near such beaches, and provide penalties for infraction of such rules and regulations. The board shall also establish rules, regulations and penalties for infractions thereof, for all roads in county parks and all such roads shall be part of the county highway system. (8) REPORTS TO COUNTY BOARD. The county board may call upon such committee to report with recommendations upon any matter relating to rural planning, and such committee shall make its report within 30 days after such request is made unless a longer or shorter period is specified. But such committee may at any time, on its own motion, make recommendations on any phase of rural planning to the county board. (9) COMMITTEE SECRETARY; PLANNING EXPERTS. Such committee with the consent of the county board may appoint as secretary a person of skill and experience in rural development and may with the consent of such board employ consulting rural planning experts for the making of plans or maps of the county or any portion thereof showing location, design or treatment of proposed projects referred to in this section, as occasion may require. (10) ACQUISITION OF LAND. Any county in which there does not exist a county park commission acting through its rural planning committee may acquire by gift, grant, devise, donation, purchase, condemnation or otherwise, with the consent of the county board, a sufficient tract or tracts of land for the reservation for public use of river fronts, lake shores, picnic groves, outlook points from hilltops, places of special historic interest, memorial grounds, parks, playgrounds, sites for public buildings, and reservations in and about and along and leading to any or all of the same, and to develop and maintain the same for public use. The power of condemnation may not be used for the purpose of establishing or extending a recreational trail; a bicycle way, as defined in s. 340.01 (5s); a bicycle lane, as defined in s. 340.01 (5e); or a pedestrian way, as defined in s. 346.02 (8) (a). (11) ENFORCE HIGHWAY LITTERING LAW. Such committee shall work out plans to enforce the provisions of s. 287.81 (2) (a) and (2m) prohibiting the depositing of solid waste on or along highways. (12) COOPERATION OF STATE DEPARTMENTS. The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection, the department of administration, the department of natural resources and the agricultural extension division of the University of Wisconsin shall cooperate with the several county rural planning committees in carrying out this section. (13) COUNTY RURAL PLANNING COMMITTEE, WHEN UNNECESSARY. Any county wherein there exists a county park board and any county which shall create a park commission under s. 27.02 shall not create a county rural planning committee but in such county the county park board or commission shall exercise and be possessed of all the powers and duties imposed upon the county rural planning committee by this section.
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