197.05 Compensation determined by commission; notice; title.
(1) Upon receipt of the notice under s. 197.03, the commission shall set a time and place for a public hearing upon the matters of the just compensation to be paid for the property of the public utility, wherever situated, actually used and useful for the convenience of the public, and of all other terms and conditions of the purchase. The commission shall give the interested municipality and public utility not less than 30 days' notice of the time and place at which the hearing will be held, and the matters to be considered and determined at the hearing. The municipality shall publish in the county in which the public utility is located a class 3 notice, under ch. 985, of the hearing.
(2) The commission shall, by order, fix and determine and certify to the governing body of the municipality, to the public utility and to any bondholder, mortgagee, lienor or any other person having or claiming to have any interest in the public utility appearing at the hearing, just compensation to be paid for the taking of the property of the public utility actually used and useful for the convenience of the public and all other terms and all conditions of purchase that the commission shall ascertain to be reasonable.
(3)
(a) The compensation and other terms and the conditions of purchase certified by the commission under sub. (2) shall constitute the compensation and terms and conditions to be paid, followed and observed in the purchase of the plant from the public utility. Upon the filing of the order issued under sub. (2) with the clerk of the municipality the absolute title of the property taken shall vest in the municipality. As to any property to be taken that is located outside of Wisconsin, the circuit court is vested with power to require the public utility company to convey the property to the municipality.
(b) Municipalities in adjoining states that have determined to acquire a public utility, part of which is located in Wisconsin, are authorized to acquire and to hold and operate any part of the public utility located in Wisconsin, provided the adjoining state gives a similar power to Wisconsin municipalities.
History: 1997 a. 254.