[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of New Glarus as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 9-5-2006]
Under § 19.21(4)(a), Wis. Stats., municipalities shall notify the State Historical Society of Wisconsin (SHSW) prior to destroying records.
A. 
Retention period. Refers to the time that the identified records must be kept until destruction.
B. 
Authority. Source which specifies the period of time for retaining records.
WMRM
Wisconsin Municipal Records Manual
§ 
State Statutes
SCR
Supreme Court Rule
PSC
Public Service Commission
NR
Natural Resources
C. 
State Historical Society of Wisconsin (SHSW) notice. Refers to whether or not the State Historical Society of Wisconsin has waived the required statutory notification prior to destruction of records.
W
(waived) means records are not historical and the required sixty-day notification is waived
N
(nonwaived) means the records may have secondary historical value and therefore SHSW notification is required on a case-by-case basis prior to destruction
N/A
means not applicable and refers to those circumstances where a local unit of government is retaining a record permanently
A. 
Elected officials. The following public records may be destroyed after the expiration of the designated retention period:
Records
Period of Retention
Authority
SHSW Notice
All records in their possession unless delegated in writing to the Town Clerk or his/her designee
1 year following termination of term
§ 19.33(1)
N
B. 
Clerk's office records. The following public records may be destroyed after the expiration of the designated retention period:
Records
Period of Retention
Authority
SHSW Notice
Meeting agendas
7 years
WMRM
W
Minutes books
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Audio tapes
90 days if made solely for the purpose of drafting the minutes
WMRM and § 19.21(7)
W
Ordinances
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Resolutions
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Municipal Code
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Affidavits of publication
3 years
WMRM
W
Affidavits of publication for ordinances and resolutions for budget amendments
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Claims
7 years
W
Lawsuits
Permanent
N/A
Insurance policies and certificates of insurance
Permanent
N/A
Oaths of office
7 years after term of oath ends
WMRM
W
Title insurance policies
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Easements
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Leases
7 years following termination of lease
WMRM
W
Liquor and beer applications and licenses
4 years
§ 125.04(3)(i)
W
Other applications and licenses/permits issued by Town Clerk
4 years
WMRM
W
Dog licenses reports to County Clerk
7 years
WMRM
W
Proceedings of Board of Review on audio tapes or as stenographic notes, including transcriptions
7 years (after final action by Board of Review or completion of appeal)
§ 70.47(8)(f)
W
Notice of determinations of Board of Review
7 years (after final action by Board of Review or completion of appeal)
§ 70.47(8)(f)
W
Legal opinions
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Contracts
7 years
WMRM
W
C. 
Election records. All materials and supplies associated with an election may be destroyed according to the following schedule, unless there is a recount or litigation pending with respect to the election:
Records
Period of Retention
Authority
SHSW Notice
Unused ballots and materials
3 business days after the canvass is completed
§ 7.23(1)(a)
W
Voter serial number slips
3 business days after the canvass is completed
§ 7.23(1)(a)
W
Ballots (state, county and local)
30 days after the election
§ 7.23(1)(h)
W
Ballots (federal offices)1
EVT (22 months after election)
§ 7.23(1)(f)
W
Application for absentee ballots
90 days after the election (22 months after the election for federal offices)
§ 7.23(1)(f) and (k)
W
Forms associated with election, such as tally sheets, inspectors' statements and nomination papers
90 days after the election (22 months after the election for federal offices)
§ 7.23(1)(f) and (k)
W
Official canvass statements
10 years after the election
§ 7.23(1)(i)
W
Registration and poll lists, nonpartisan primaries and election
2 years after the election for which they were created
§ 7.23(1)(e)
W
Registration and poll lists, partisan primaries and general elections
4 years after the election
§ 7.23(1)(e)
W
Canceled registration cards
4 years after cancellation
§ 7.23(1)(c)
W
Election notices
1 year after the election (22 months for federal election)
§ 7.23(1)(f) and (j)
W
Proofs of publication and correspondence relative to publications
1 year after the election (22 months for federal election)
§ 7.23(1)(f) and (j)
W
Campaign registration statement
6 years after termination by the registrant
§ 7.23(1)(d)
W
Campaign finance reports
6 years after date of receipt
§ 7.23(1)(d)
W
Notes:
1
Federal offices are President of the United States, United States Senator and Congress.
D. 
Finance Department records. The following public records may be destroyed after the expiration of the designated retention period:
Records
Period of Retention
Authority
SHSW Notice
Bank statements, deposit books, slips and stubs
7 years
WMRM.
W
Bonds and/or coupons
7 year after maturity
WMRM
W
Canceled checks and check stubs
7 years
WMRM
W
Payroll records and reports and employee time cards
7 years
WMRM
W
Employment records
7 years following termination
WMRW
W
Applications for employment and resumes of persons not hired
1 year after filling of position
W
Receipt forms
7 years
WMRM
W
Special assessment records
7 years
WMRM
W
Tax levy certification of the school district clerk
3 years (after audited)
WMRM
W
Certificates of apportionment
3 years (after audited)
WMRM
W
State shared aid payment notices
6 years (after audited)
WMRM
W
Final worksheet for determining allowable levy
5 years (after audited)
WMRM
W
Statement of taxes
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Statement of new special assessments
5 years (after audited)
WMRM
W
Statement of new sewer service charges
5 years (after audited)
WMRM
W
General property tax credit certification
5 years (after audited)
WMRM
W
Explanation of property tax credit certification
5 years (after audited)
WMRM
W
Real property tax roll
15 years
WMRM
N
Personal property tax roll
15 years
WMRM
N
Financial reports (other than annual reports)
7 years
WMRM
W
E. 
Public Works Department records. The following public records may be destroyed after the expiration of the designated retention period:
Records
Period of Retention
Authority
SHSW Notice
Notice to contractors
7 years (after completion of project)
2 years (unsuccessful bidders)
WMRM
W
Bid bond
7 years (after completion of project)
2 years (unsuccessful bidders)
WMRM
W
Bidders proof of responsibility
7 years (after completion of project)
2 years (unsuccessful bidders)
WMRM
W
Bids
7 years (after completion of project)
2 years (unsuccessful bidders)
WMRM
W
Bid tabulations
2 years
WMRM
W
Performance bond
7 years (after completion of project)
WMRM
W
Contract
7 years (after completion of project)
WMRM
W
Street vacation and dedications
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Benchmark books
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Section corner monument logs
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Water, storm and sanitary sewer main maps
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
F. 
Assessing Division records. The following public records may be destroyed after the expiration of the designated retention period:
Records
Period of Retention
Authority
SHSW Notice
Master property record folders
5 years after life of structure
WMRM
W
Index to owners
Until superseded
WMRM
W
Wisconsin real estate transfer returns
5 years after information is transferred to master property record folders
WMRM
W
Tax exemption reports
10 years
WMRM
W
Notice of increased assessment
5 years unless assessment is appealed; retain 7 years after final Board of Review action or appeal completion
WMRM
W
Assessor's final report supplement, real and personal property
5 years
WMRM
W
Assessor's final report, real and personal property
5 years
WMRM
W
Certified survey maps
Permanent
WMRM
W
Final subdivision plats
Permanent
WMRM
W
Annexation plats
Permanent
WMRM
W
Assessor's plats
Permanent
WMRM
W
Conditional use grants
Permanent
WMRM
W
G. 
Engineering Division records. The following public records may be destroyed after the expiration of the designated retention period:
Records
Period of Retention
Authority
SHSW Notice
Annual reports
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Field notes
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Benchmark books (horizontal and vertical survey control in SE Wis.)
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Section corner monument logs
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Town Official Maps
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Water, storm and sanitary sewer main maps
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Profile and grade books
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Excavation plans of private utilities
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Index to maps
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Applications and permits
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
As-builts (sewer and water)
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Structure plans for municipal buildings and bridges
Life of structure
WMRM
W
Permits for excavation of streets, including private utility companies
3 years
WMRM
W
Fuel usage reports
2 years
WMRM
W
Heavy equipment and vehicle (maintenance records)
Life of equipment
WMRM
W
Vehicle maintenance histories
Life of vehicle
WMRM
W
Storm sewer maps
Until superseded by as-builts
WMRM
W
Quarter section maps
Until superseded
WMRM
W
H. 
Building Inspection Department records. The following public records may be destroyed after the expiration of the designated retention period:
Records
Period of Retention
Authority
SHSW Notice
Address file
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Certificates of occupancy
Until superseded
WMRM
W
Energy calculation worksheets
3 years
WMRM
W
State-approved commercial building plans
4 years
WMRM
W
Permit fee receipts
7 years
WMRM
W
Permit ledger
7 years
WMRM
W
Quarter section maps, copies
Until superseded
WMRM
W
Building plans
1 year after built
Uniform Dwelling Code
W
Applications and permits
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Code compliance inspection reports
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Weights and measures field reports
3 years
WMRM
W
I. 
Park records. The following public records may be destroyed after the expiration of the designated retention period:
Records
Period of Retention
Authority
SHSW Notice
Master park plan
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Plats
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Aerial photographs
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Reservation requests
30 days; if payment receipts are attached 7 years
WMRM
W
Master reservation book
2 years
WMRM
W
J. 
Planning and Development Department records. The following public records may be destroyed after the expiration of the designated retention period:
Records
Period of Retention
Authority
SHSW Notice
Comprehensive Master Plan
Permanent
WMRM
N/A
Neighborhood plans
7 years
WMRM
W
Stormwater plans
7 years
WMRM
W
Design manual and guides
7 years
WMRM
W
K. 
Public records not identified in this Records Retention Schedule shall be retained seven years in accordance with § 19.21(5)(c), Wis. Stats., and may then be destroyed, subject to SHSW authorization.
[Amended 12-4-2007]
[Adopted 7-8-2020]
This ordinance adopts by reference § 70.47 (7)(af), Wis. Stats. Income and expense information provided by property owner to an assessor for the purposes of establishing the valuation for assessment purposes by the income method of valuation shall be confidential and not a public record open to inspection or copying under § 19.35(1), Wis. Stats.
An officer may make disclosure of such information under the following circumstances:
A. 
The assessor has access to such information in the performance of her/her duties;
B. 
The Board of Review may review such information when needed, in its opinion, to decide upon a contested assessment;
C. 
Another person or body has the right to review such information due to the intimate relationship to the duties of an office or as set by law;
D. 
The officer is complying with a court order;
E. 
The person providing the income and expense information has contested the assessment level at either the Board of Review or by filing a claim for excessive assessment under § 74.37, Wis. Stats., in which case the base records are open and public.