84.40 Department; relation to nonprofit corporations.
(1) As used in this section, unless the context requires otherwise:
(a) “Existing highways and other improvements," in relation to any conveyance, lease or sublease made under sub. (2) (a), (b) and (c), means any portion of the national system of interstate and defense highways in this state, including all bridges, tunnels, overpasses, underpasses, interchanges, lighting, approaches, signing, weighing stations, administration, storage and other buildings, facilities or appurtenances which in the judgment of the department are needed or useful for interstate highway purposes, and all improvements and additions thereto which were erected, constructed or installed prior to the making of such conveyance, lease or sublease.
(b) “New highways and other improvements," in relation to any conveyance, lease or sublease made under sub. (2) (a), (b) and (c), means any portion of the national system of interstate and defense highways in this state, including all bridges, tunnels, overpasses, underpasses, interchanges, lighting, approaches, signing, weighing stations, administration, storage and other buildings, facilities or appurtenances which in the judgment of the department are needed or useful for interstate highway purposes, and all improvements and additions thereto or to existing interstate highways and other improvements which are erected, constructed or installed after the making of such conveyance, lease or sublease.
(c) “Nonprofit-sharing corporation" means a nonstock corporation which was in existence on May 1, 1967 and was organized under ch. 181 or corresponding prior general corporation laws.
(2) In order to provide new highways or improve existing highways and to enable the construction and financing thereof, to refinance any indebtedness created by a nonprofit corporation for new highways or making additions or improvements to existing highways located on public right-of-way available for highway purposes or on lands owned by the nonprofit corporation, or for any one or more of said purposes, but for no other purpose unless authorized by law, the department:
(a) Subject to any prior action under s. 13.48 (14) (am) or 16.848 (1), may sell and convey to a nonprofit-sharing corporation any public right-of-way available for highway purposes and any existing highways or other improvements thereon owned by the state or under the jurisdiction of the department for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as the department deems in the public interest.
(b) May lease to a nonprofit-sharing corporation, for terms not exceeding 30 years each, any public right-of-way available for highway purposes and any existing highways or improvements thereon owned by the state or under the jurisdiction of the department upon such terms, conditions and rentals as the department deems in the public interest.
(c) May lease or sublease from such nonprofit-sharing corporation, and make available for public use, any such public right-of-way available for highway purposes and existing highways and other improvements conveyed or leased to such corporations under pars. (a) and (b), and any new highways or other improvements constructed upon such public right-of-way available for highway purposes or upon any other land owned by such corporation, upon such terms, conditions and rentals, subject to available appropriations, as the department deems in the public interest. With respect to any property conveyed to such corporation under par. (a), such lease from such corporation may be subject or subordinated to one or more mortgages of such property granted by such corporation.
(d) Shall enter into lease and sublease agreements under par. (c) for highway projects only when the projects meet the department's standard specifications for road and bridge construction and when arrangements are made that all construction be under the direct supervision of the department.
(e) May establish, operate and maintain highways and other improvements leased or subleased under par. (c).
(f) Shall submit the plans and specifications for all such new highways or other improvements and all conveyances, leases and subleases and purchase agreements made under this subsection to the governor for approval before they are finally adopted, executed and delivered.
(g) May pledge and assign, subject to available appropriations, all moneys provided by law for the purpose of the payment of rentals pursuant to leases and subleases entered into under par. (c) as security for the payment of rentals due and to become due under any lease or sublease of such highways and other improvements made under par. (c).
(h) Shall, upon receipt of notice of any assignment by any such corporation of any lease or sublease made under par. (c), or of any of its rights under any such lease or sublease, recognize and give effect to such assignments, and pay to the assignee thereof rentals or other payments then due or which may become due under any such lease or sublease which has been so assigned by such corporation.
(i) May purchase and acquire from such nonprofit-sharing corporation any right-of-way available for highway purposes and any new highways and other improvements for which leases and subleases have been executed pursuant to par. (c) upon such terms and conditions as the department deems in the public interest.
(3) All lease and sublease agreements executed under this section and all contracts entered into pursuant to the lease and sublease agreements shall be processed, governed by and performed in accordance with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations. Sections 66.0901, 84.015, 84.03 and 84.06 are applicable to all contractual instruments for the construction of highway projects subject to lease and sublease in the same manner as they are applicable to the department.
(4) All conveyances, leases and subleases made under this section shall be made, executed and delivered in the name of the department and signed by the secretary or the secretary's designees.
History: 1977 c. 29 ss. 948, 1654 (8) (a); 1981 c. 314; 1993 a. 490; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2013 a. 20.