Board of commissioners; composition
Wis. Stat. § 33.55
in effect(1) The board of commissioners shall consist of the following persons, all of whom shall be residents of the river county:
(a) The county executive of Racine County or his or her designee.
(b) The county executive of Waukesha County or his or her designee.
(bg) The county executive of Kenosha County or his or her designee.
(br) The county executive of any county admitted to the commission under s. 33.53 (7) (o) or his or her designee.
(c) The mayor of the city of Waukesha or his or her designee.
(d) The town board chairperson of the town of Waukesha or his or her designee.
(e) The village president of the village of Waterford or his or her designee.
(f) The town board chairperson of the town of Waterford or his or her designee.
(g) The village president of the village of Big Bend or his or her designee.
(h) The town board chairperson of the town of Vernon or his or her designee.
(i) The town board chairperson of the town of Mukwonago or his or her designee.
(j) The village president of the village of Mukwonago or his or her designee.
(p) The village president of the village of Rochester or his or her designee.
(q) The town board chairperson of the town of Burlington or his or her designee.
(r) The mayor of the city of Burlington or his or her designee.
(s) The town board chairperson of the town of Wheatland or his or her designee.
(t) The town board chairperson of the town of Salem or his or her designee.
(u) The village president of the village of Silver Lake or his or her designee.
(v) The mayor, village president, or town board chairperson of any city, village, or town, respectively, designated as a river municipality by the commission under s. 33.53 (7) (o) or his or her designee.
(w) One nonvoting representative from the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, who shall be appointed by the chairperson of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission.
(x) One nonvoting representative from the department of natural resources, who shall be appointed by the secretary of natural resources.
(1m) If an elected official who is a member of the commission or his or her designee, if designated, is unable to attend a meeting of the commission, the elected official may authorize another resident of the river county to attend the meeting and exercise the duties of the member.
(2)
(a) If a commissioner listed under sub. (1) (a) to (j) is an elected official, his or her term on the commission runs concurrently with his or her term in office. If the elected official resigns from the commission during his or her term in office, the elected official shall appoint a designee to take his or her place on the commission within 90 days of his or her resignation.
(b) If a commissioner listed under sub. (1) (a) to (v) is appointed to the commission by an elected official, as the designee of an elected official, his or her term on the commission begins and ends on dates determined by the appointing river county or river municipality. Vacancies occurring during the term of the designee of an elected official shall be filled within 90 days of the vacancy by another designee who is appointed by the elected official, or the elected official may become the commissioner. The river county or river municipality shall inform the board of commissioners in writing that a new designee is appointed no more than 90 days after the appointment.
(d) The term of a commissioner appointed under sub. (1) (w) or (x) begins and ends on dates determined by the appointing authority. Vacancies occurring during the term of the appointee shall be filled by the appointing authority within 90 days of the vacancy. The appointing authority shall inform the board of commissioners in writing that a new commissioner is appointed no more than 90 days after the appointment.
(3) A number equal to a majority of voting commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If an elected official under sub. (1) (a) to (v) notifies the board of commissioners in writing that he or she will not participate in the commission and will not appoint a designee or authorize an alternate under sub. (1m), that person may not be included in the number of voting commissioners for purposes of determining the number that constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.
(4) The board of commissioners shall meet at least quarterly, and at other times on the call of the chairperson or on the petition of 5 commissioners.
(5) Any action by the board of commissioners requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting.
(6) Annually, the board of commissioners shall elect a chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary from its members, and these officers shall have the following duties:
(a) The chairperson shall preside at all meetings and all public hearings held by the board of commissioners.
(b) The vice chairperson shall preside at any meeting or any public hearing held by the board of commissioners at which the chairperson is unable to preside.
(c) The secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the board of commissioners and hearings held by it.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/33.55Fetched: 10/7/2026