Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-09-01
Principal Changes In Laws.

ties.
Principal Changes In Laws.
The principal changes made in the
state highway laws are as follows:
Examination of candidates for
the position of county highway COM
missiOners by the state highway COM
mission is done away with. The coun-
ty board elects the county highway
commissioner as it sees fit, and is not
held to any eligible list, as has been
the case the past two years.
2-The county highway commission
er in general does all construction and
maintenance work, as at present, ex-
cept that the road and bridge commit
tee appointed either from or outside
the board will act as board Of direc-
tors acting jointly with the state high
way commission in controlling the gen
eral conduct of the work in each cOun-
ty.
3-The method of distribution of the
state highway fund is entirely chang
ed. At it's November session each
county board is notified by the state
highway commission of its share OF
this state highway fund, which is the
proportion of the state highway fund :
that its valuation is of the total vaIua-
! ton of the state The county board
sets aside the state highway money
either for it's own work or for work
in the towns and villages, or both. as
i it sees fit and if the fund is not entire
+ ly exhausted, by calls made on it at the
Il inc fOlI n
credit of the county until the first day
of the following July, to be called for
by the county board at any time up to
that date. If not used by the county,,
the balance does not go to apy4county
-but reverts to the state treasury to be
used in making up the state highway,
fund the succeedingy ear. This new
method of distribution, practically pre-
vents any county from receiving aid
from any other county, unless some
counties allow part of their funds to
lapse, in which case the state treas ny
benefits.
"A change in the bonding fea re
provides that either a town or CO... ty
may issue bonds in anticipation of pay
ments from the state highway fund,
thus rendering the state funds also M
mediately available in case of bond IS
sues for state aid road or bridge con-
structiOn.
State and county aid for road and
bridge construction in cities OF the
fourth class, having population OF
500 or less is discontinued
6-The power of village board to
vote taxes is discontinued, and the
rights placed with the electors of a
village, the same as electors of towns.
Applications by towns and vii
lagos for state and county aid may
now be filed with the county clerk at
any time before the first day of the an
nual meeting of the county board, in
stead of September l. Accordingly
towns and villages may vote taxes up
to the first day of the annual meeting
instead of up to September 1 as for
merly. This will give an opportunity
to hold special meetings on primary
day and general election day, if de-
sired
S-The powers of the counties to
make road improvements by county
board action, disregarding the towns,
is made more specific, and it is provid-
ed that if this work is done in amounts
/ of $500 or over, the state will pay 40
| per cent, and the county so per cent.
9-Specific power is given the coun-
j ty boards to do county and state con-
struction, and to make friendly ar
rangements with towns, subscribers,
/ individuals, and abutting property
owners to help pay for the cost.
1O-County tax limit for all state aid
purposes is reduced from three mills
| to two mills-MadisOn Journal.