[Amended 3-1-2023 by Ord. No. A-560]
Pursuant to Chapter 755, Wisconsin Statutes, there is hereby
created and established a Municipal Court designated "Joint Municipal
Court for the Member Municipalities as defined in the Eastern Columbia
County Joint Municipal Court Agreement" (hereinafter aka "Joint Municipal
Court" or "Eastern Columbia County Joint Municipal Court") presided
over by a Municipal Judge.
The Municipal Court Committee shall be comprised of one representative
of each member municipality that chooses to appoint a voting representative
to the Committee who shall be appointed by the Mayor, President or
Chairman of the member municipality, subject to confirmation by the
respective governing body. The Chairman of the Committee will be a
representative from a member municipality and will rotate on an annual
basis, alphabetically. starting with the representative from Rio for
2019. If a representative cannot fulfill or chooses not to fulfill
the obligation of Committee Chairperson for any reason, then the position
of Chairperson goes to the next municipality, alphabetically.
[Amended 3-1-2023 by Ord. No. A-560]
Pursuant to Chapter 755, Wisconsin Statutes, the office of Municipal
Judge is hereby created. Eligibility for the office of Municipal Judge
shall be as follows. To be eligible for the office of Municipal Judge,
a person must be a qualified elector in any of the member municipalities
as defined in the Eastern Columbia County Joint Municipal Court Agreement.
[Amended 3-1-2023 by Ord. No. A-560]
The appointed Judge must run for the election at large the following
spring election, for a four-year term, commencing on May 1 succeeding
his or her election. Electors of the member municipalities as defined
in the Eastern Columbia County Joint Municipal Court Agreement shall
be eligible to vote for the Municipal Judge of the Joint Municipal
Court.
Pursuant to Chapter 755, Wisconsin Statutes, the office of the
Clerk of the Municipal Court is hereby created. Said Clerk shall take
the position upon hire by the Municipal Court Committee and written
appointment by the Judge. Training and compensation of said Clerk
shall be as determined by the governing bodies of member municipalities.
The Municipal Judge shall receive a fixed salary and Municipal Judge's training pursuant to § 755.18, Wisconsin Statutes, the salary to be determined by the governing bodies of member municipalities, subject to § 755.04, Wisconsin Statutes, which shall be in lieu of fees and costs. The salary shall be paid quarterly. No salary shall be paid to the Municipal Judge for any time during his or her term for which he or she has not executed and filed the official bond and oath as required by §
38-7 of this chapter.
The Municipal Judge shall, after election or appointment to
fill a vacancy, take and file the official oath as prescribed in § 757.02(1),
Wisconsin Statutes, pursuant to § 755.03, Wisconsin Statutes,
with the Clerk of Circuit Court for Columbia County, and at the same
time shall execute and file an official bond.
[Amended 3-1-2023 by Ord. No. A-560]
The Municipal Court Clerk shall, before entering upon the duties
of the office, take and file the official oath as prescribed in § 19.01,
Wisconsin Statutes, with the Clerk of the member municipality where
the court is currently located and at the same time shall execute
and file an official bond. The Court Clerk will provide file copies
to the other member municipalities.
The Municipal Judge shall have jurisdiction as provided by the
statutes and laws of the State of Wisconsin and pursuant to § 755.045,
Wisconsin Statutes.
The Municipal Judge may impose a sanction as authorized under
§ 800.12(2), Wisconsin Statutes, for contempt of court as
defined in § 785.01(1), Wisconsin Statutes, in accordance
with the procedures under § 785.03, Wisconsin Statutes.