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(6) To hold such meetings as are deemed necessary. Stated regular meetings must be held quarterly. The president or a majority of the members may call a special meeting;

(7) To employ bookkeepers, engineers, architects, and attorneys, and such other help as may be deemed necessary:

(8) To lease the institution and works, or such part thereof as may be agreed upon, to or from any association, corporation, individual. or individuals (ibid.).

Definitions. The term "auditorium" includes any building, completely equipped, devoted to the use of public gatherings for any legal and peaceable purposes whatever. The terms "recreational buildings and grounds and works" or "institution and works" include any building or buildings, coliseum, stadium, and grounds and areas for the use of the public for recreation or for the playing of any legal games or contests, or public playgrounds, playfields, athletic fields, golf courses and facilities, swimming pools, bathing beaches, bathhouses, beach facilities, anchorage harbors, docks and wharves for watercraft, water areas for water sports, amphibian ramps, water anchorage for hydroplanes, landing fields for aircraft where air circuses can be held, municipal camps, gymnasiums, skating rinks, ski slides, community and social centers (ibid.).

PUBLIC FORESTS

Power to acquire lands. Any county, city, or incorporated town may purchase or acquire by gift or devise any lands lying within the limits of the county or lying within the limits of the county in which the city or town is located, and may own, hold, and maintain the lands for the purpose of a permanent public forest (ch. 26, art. 3).

Petition; tax; bonds.-Upon petition of not less than 50 resident freeholders, asking that an annual tax levy be made for the purpose of raising revenue to purchase and acquire lands for a permanent public forest, and after a hearing on such petition, the proper officials must make an order fixing the amount to be paid for the lands and the amount of the tax to be levied upon the assessed property. They may provide for a temporary loan or for the issuing of bonds to provide funds for the purchase. No lands may be purchased or acquired which are situated outside the limits of the county, and no lands may be purchased or acquired by any city or town when the lands are situated at a greater distance than 10 miles from its nearest boundary. If any lands are given or devised with the condition that the land be owned, held, and maintained for the purpose of a permanent public forest, the proper county or municipal officers must first approve such gift or devise (ibid.).

Reforestation; use of revenues. Any lands acquired, if not at the time of acquirement growing in timber, must be planted to trees within a period of 10 years, the cost of which is to be met by taxation. All revenue derived by the sale of timber or otherwise must be first applied to the upkeep and maintenance of the public forest, the remainder to be used by the county or municipality as it may determine (ibid.).

Use for recreation.-All lands so acquired must be protected at all times from fire and grazing, and be kept and maintained as a permanent public forest. All lands must be open to the use of the public

for recreational purposes so far as such recreational purposes do not interfere with or prevent the use of the lands to the best advantage as a public forest (ibid.).

Supervision and maintenance. Such public forests are under the supervision of the board of commissioners in the case of a county; of the common council in the case of a city, and of the board of trustees in the case of an incorporated town, which bodies are authorized, either separately or in cooperation, to employ necessary personnel to protect and care for such forests properly (ibid.).

TOWNSHIPS

PARKS

Townships of certain population.-The_trustee and advisory board of any township wherein no incorporated city or town is situate, and having a population of not more than 1,500 inhabitants, may lease, purchase, accept by gift, or otherwise acquire any land within the township for park purposes, and make the necessary improvements thereon (ch. 96, art. 10).

Petition; cost limitation.-Whenever a petition be presented by not less than 51 percent of the resident taxpayers and voters, praying that certain lands described therein be leased, purchased, accepted, or otherwise acquired, and that a township park be established thereon, or that certain designated improvements be made, the advisory board must appropriate from the general fund such sum of money necessary, and the trustee must lease, purchase, acquire, accept, and so establish such park or make improvements as prayed for. The cost of the grounds, or the cost of the improvements may not in any 1 year exceed one-fifth of 1 percent of the current taxable value of all property (ibid.).

Improvements; maintenance; bonds; tax.-Whenever a park has been so established, the trustee must thereafter cause it to be maintained; and may, without petition, make improvements and erect, install, construct, and maintain facilities for the comfort, convenience, and accommodation of the public. The sum so expended annually may not exceed the sum of 3 cents on each $100 of all taxable property, to be payable from the general fund. If such fund is insufficient to meet the expense of acquiring or so improving, the trustee must call a special meeting of the advisory board which must meet and determine that an emergency exists for the issuance of warrants, and thereupon authorize the trustee to issue and sell the warrants or bonds of the township. Bonds are to be so drawn as to become due and payable not less than 2 years or more than 10 years after date. The advisory board must annually levy a sufficient tax to pay the principal and accrued interest as they become due. There must also be annually levied a tax of not less than 3 cents on the $100 of taxable property to be used in the maintenance, improvement, and upkeep of the park. No moneys in excess of the amount so collected may be expended except on petition by 51 percent of the taxpayers, as hereinbefore provided (ibid.).

Rules and regulations. Any park so established must be open to and for the comfort of the public, in accordance with rules prescribed by the township trustee (ibid.).

Sale of park property. Whenever a petition signed by not less than 50 percent of the resident taxpayers and voters is presented to the trustee praying that any lands or other property used for park purposes be disposed of and that such park be no longer maintained, he must appoint three disinterested appraisers to appraise the property, and the property must thereupon be disposed of, either at public or private sale, for not less than the appraised value. All money accruing from the sale, less appraisement and sale expenses, is to be paid into the township general fund (ibid.).

Certain townships. The township trustee, by and with the consent of the township advisory board, of any township of not less than 8,500 inhabitants and containing an incorporated town of not less than 3,500 inhabitants, is authorized to purchase, or to acquire by eminent domain or otherwise, any land or lands within the township for park purposes, or to accept any lands granted, devised, bequeathed, or otherwise conveyed to it for park purposes; also to make necessary improvements thereon, to maintain and operate the same, and to dispose of all or any part of such lands which may thereafter be found unnecessary for park purposes (ibid.).

Petition; remonstrance.-Whenever the trustee, by and with the consent of the advisory board, deems it advisable to acquire lands for park purposes, a resolution to that effect, declaring that such acquisition would be held in the public interest, must be adopted by the advisory board, provided that there has been previously filed with the trustee a petition asking for such acquisition, signed by not less than 100 resident taxpayers of real estate. A time must be fixed for the filing of remonstrances and notice thereof must be given by publication. If it be found that the number of signers of any remonstrance exceeds the number of signers of the petition, then the trustee may give notice in the same manner of a date within which a supplementary petition may be filed asking for such acquisition. If it be found that the number of signatures to the original and supplementary petitions exceeds the number of signers to the remonstrance, the trustee may proceed with the acquisition of lands and the improvement and operation. If the number signing the remonstrance is greater than the number signing the original and supplemental petition, the trustee is without power to proceed. However, no remonstrance may prevent the acquisition of lands or inhibit the power of the trustee, by and with the consent of the advisory board, unless at least 20 percent of the resident taxpayers who are voters execute such remonstrance (ibid.).

Acquisition of lands; powers of trustee; bonds; tax. The trustee is empowered to acquire any property, land, privilege, immunities, or other species of interest reasonably necessary for such park, or for the purpose of improving, maintaining, or operating the same, and to institute condemnation suit in the name of the township. In order to provide money for any of the purposes contemplated, the advisory board may authorize the trustee to issue township bonds. The total bonds issued and outstanding at any time for such purposes may not exceed $90,000 and are to run for not less than 10 years or more than 20 years. The advisory board must annually levy a sufficient tax to pay the principal and interest on the bonds as they mature. The tax is to be levied on all property within the corporate limits of the town

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ship, including cities and towns. The cost of care, upkeep, repair, maintenance, and improvement is to be paid out of the general fund. The annual levy for such fund must be increased each year by an amount sufficient to provide funds to maintain the park. The trustee, in the expenditure of the funds raised by bond issue, must see that expenditures effect as great a saving as possible of public money, which otherwise would be expended for poor relief, and may offer to persons who are able-bodied and capable of work opportunities to work upon such improvement. In case of refusal without good excuse, the trustee is to deem such refusal as prima facie evidence that such person is not entitled to poor relief (ibid.).

Certain townships.-The trustee, by and with the consent of the advisory board of any township having within its borders a population of not less than 84,000 inhabitants, and having an assessed valuation of more than $190,000,000 of taxable property, may purchase or otherwise acquire lands within the township, located either without or within the corporate limits of cities and towns, for park purposes, or accept lands granted, devised, bequeathed, or otherwise conveyed to the township for park purposes, and make the necessary improvements thereon. At least 50 percent of the lands acquired by purchase must be located outside the corporate limits of any city or town, and all lands so acquired must be contiguous (ibid.).

Petition; remonstrance. If the trustee and advisory board refuse to purchase or otherwise acquire any lands for park purposes, or decline to accept lands granted or othrwise conveyed, or refuse to make the necessary improvements thereon, any 200 resident taxpayers and voters may petition that certain described lands be purchased, accepted, or otherwise acquired and that a park be established thereon, or that certain designated improvements be made. Notice of the filing of the petition must be given by publication, naming a date for hearing. Upon the conclusion of the hearing the petition must be approved unless 20 percent of the resident taxpayers remonstrate in writing, in which event the petition must be dismissed (ibid.).

The

Expenses; bonds; tax.-All expenses incurred in the purchase, improvement, maintenance, and care of the park are to be paid out of general funds. If the expense is too great to be borne by the general fund, bonds may be issued to procure funds for such purposes. The total bonded indebtedness for park purposes may not at any time exceed $300,000. Bonds are to run for not more than 10 years. advisory board must annually levy a sufficient tax to pay at least onetenth of the bonds, with accrued interest. The cost of the care, repair, maintenance, and improvement of the park is to be paid out of general funds. The advisory board must increase the levy of such fund each year by an amount sufficient to provide such funds (ibid.).

SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Playgrounds; establishment; land for. The board of school trustees or commissioners in cities of the first, second, third, and fourth classes may establish, maintain, and equip playgrounds to be used by the public during the summer vacation period, use such of the public school buildings and grounds as may be required, and lease or purchase grounds either adjacent to the school grounds or else

where in the city. Ground may also be condemned and paid for out of school revenues (ch. 74, pt. II, art. 13).

Control of grounds.-Such boards are to have full control and custody of all such grounds, including the policing and preservation of order, and may adopt rules, regulations, and bylaws for control of the grounds and the conduct of children and other persons while on and using the same, and may enforce the rules, etc., by suitable penalties. Such boards may select and pay for directors and assistants, who, while on duty, are vested with the powers and authority of police officers. The compensation of directors and assistants is to be fixed by the board and paid out of school revenues (ibid.).

Playground commission.—In cities having a board of park commissioners and a board of school commissioners, the duties devolving upon the school trustees during the summer school vacation period are to be assumed by a playground commission consisting of five citizens, two of whom must be members of the school board or designated by it, and two of whom must be members of the park board or designated by it. The fifth member is to be appointed by the mayor, to serve for a term of 4 years. The park board may contribute any sum toward the expense of establishing, equipping, and maintaining the playgrounds (ibid.).

LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS

Establishment of parks.-Whenever any number of persons, not less than seven, have incorporated for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a public library in any city or county, they may establish and conduct a public park either in connection therewith or separate therefrom (ch. 63, art. 4).

GENERAL

Swamp lands for parks; acquisition. Any number of natural persons, unincorporated associations, or private corporations, empowered by their articles of association to do so, or any combination of such, or such private combination, together with any incorporated town, city, township, or county, or any incorporated town, city, township, or county, may purchase swamp, saline, and meander lands owned by the State and bordering on lakes and streams, for public park and forest purposes (ch. 93, art. 13).

Same; petition; patent.-A petition must be filed with the circuit or superior court in the county in which such land is located, describing the lands, the approximate value, stating that the land is to be used as a public park or forest, and demanding that the State auditor have the land surveyed and appraised, and that the Governor cause a patent to be issued (ibid.).

Same; authority of municipality; transfer to State.-Any municipality so receiving land may establish, improve, develop, and maintain the same as other parks or forests, and may accept gifts, bequests, and devises of any and all kinds of property for the enlargement, improvement, development, use, and maintenance of the The land may also be transferred to the Department of Conservation as and for a State park or forest (ibid.).

same.

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