A Snapshot of Committee Structures
Wisconsin Counties’
(September 2006)

By Dan Hill

This list below shows the variety of committee structures adopted by counties in Wisconsin. If nothing else, the document illustrates the power of the administrative home rule that the legislature provided counties. These powers granted in the statutes in 59.03(1), which, in part, reads “Every county may exercise any organizational or administrative power and in 59.04 which reads, “Construction of powers. To give counties the largest measure of self-government under the administrative home rule authority granted to counties in s. 59.03 (1), this chapter shall be liberally construed in favor of the rights, powers and privileges of counties to exercise any organizational or administrative power.” Using their administrative home rule powers, counties have chosen myriad organizational structures.

Some counties have chosen to systematically consolidate committees (for example, Ozaukee). Others have created “super committees” with oversight over sub-committees probably best illustrated by LaCrosseCounty. Still others have combined some but not all committees in what appears to be a case-by-case basis. ColumbiaCounty for example appears to have combined their Ag & Extension Education Committee with their Land Conservation Committee and Jackson has a committee that encompasses Executive, Finance, and Insurance.

Counties that appear, on the surface at least, to have made serious attempts at consolidation of administrative functions include but are not limited to: Adams, Dane, Kenosha, LaCrosse Outagamie, Ozaukee, and Waukesha.

Readers are cautioned against making broad generalizations based on this list. First, the list is not complete. The list was compiled by gleaning individual countyweb sites. Some counties do not make this information available on their web site. Also, subjective judgments had to be made when deciding what to include. For example, the list does not include—when known—one-person committees, special task forces, or extra-county commissions with county board representation (regional planning, TIF, lakes, economic development corporations, ITBEC, etc.).

County / Number of Committees and Commissions / Links to Committee Information
Adams / 7 standing committees / Adams’s Committees
Ashland / Unavailable
Barron / 16 standing committees and various others / Barron’s Committees
Bayfield / 17 standing committees and various others / Bayfield Committees
Brown / 6 oversight committees with jurisdiction over a number of departments and subcommittees / Brown Committees
Buffalo / 13 / Buffalo Committees
Burnett / 18 / Burnett Committees
Calumet / 24 / Calumet Committees
Chippewa / 27 standing committees and various others / Chippewa Committees
Clark / 28 standing and elected committees with various others / Clark Committees
Columbia / 36 standing committees / Columbia Committees
Crawford / unavailable
Dane / 11 standing committees with jurisdiction over various subcommittees / Dane Committees
Dodge / 32 standing committees / Dodge Committees
Door / 38 standing committees / Door Committees
Douglas / 34 standing committees / Douglas Committees
Dunn / 32 standing committees / Dunn Committees
Eau Claire / 36 standing committees / Eau Claire Committees
Florence / 17 standing committees / Florence Committees
Fond du Lac / 36 standing committees / Fond du Lac Committees
Forest / unavailable
Grant / 21 standing committees / Grant Committees
Green / 24 standing committees / Green Committees
GreenLake / 12 standing committees / Green Lake Committees
Iowa / 33 standing committees / Iowa Committees
Iron / unavailable
Jackson / 29 standing committees / Jackson Committees
Jefferson / 19 standing committees with jurisdiction over various subcommittees / Jefferson Committees
Juneau / 21 standing committees / Juneau Committees
Kenosha / 9 standing committees and subcommittees / Kenosha Committees
Kewaunee / 11 standing committees / Kewaunee Committees
Lafayette / 23 standing committees / Lafayette Committees
Langlade / 18 standing committees / Langlade Committees
La Crosse / 25 committees and subcommittees / La Crosse Committees
Lincoln / 21 standing committees / Lincoln Committees
Manitowoc / 10 standing committees / Manitowoc Committees
Marathon / 11 standing committees / Marathon Committees
Marinette / 44 committees and commissions / Marinette Committees
Marquette / 16 standing committees / Marquette Committees
Menominee / 7 standing committees / Menominee Committees
Milwaukee / 23 committees and subcommittees / Milwaukee Committees
Monroe / 18 standing committees / Monroe Committees
Oconto / 14 standing committees / Oconto Committees
Oneida / 24 standing committees / Oneida Committees
Outagamie / 8 standing committees / OutagamieCommittees
Ozaukee / 7 standing committees
8 statutory committees
8 special committees of the county board / Ozaukee Committees
Pepin / 11 standing committees / Pepin Committees
Pierce / 23 committees (6 elected, the remaining appointed) / Pierce Committees
Polk / 21 standing committees and boards / Polk Committees
Portage / 30 standing committees / Portage Committees
Price / 20 standing committees / Price Committees
Racine
Richland / 27 standing committees / Richland Committees
Rock / 22 committees / Rock Committees
Rusk / 19 committees / Rusk Committees
Sauk / 15 committees / Sauk Committees
Sawyer / 17 committees / Sawyer Committees
Shawano / 19 committees / Shawano Committees
Sheboygan / 10 committees / Sheboygan Committees
St. Croix / 5 elected, 7 appointed, and 11 sub-committees / St. Croix Committees
Taylor / unavailable / Taylor Committees
Trempealeau / 15 standing / Trempealeau Committees
Vernon / 29 standing / Vernon Committees
Vilas / unavailable / Vilas Committees
Walworth / 11 standing / Walworth Committees
Washburn / 32 / Washburn Committees
Washington / 41 / Washington Committees
Waukesha / 7 board committees; 20 other committees, commissions, and boards; and, many committees associated with human services and law enforcement / Waukesha Committees
Waupaca / 20 / WaupacaCommittees
Waushara / 26 / Waushara Committees
Winnebago / 37 / Winnebago Committees
Wood / 28 / Wood Committees
County / Committees
Adams /
  • Administrative & Finance Committee
  • Executive Committee
  • Health & Human Services Board
  • Planning & Development Committee
  • Public Safety & Judiciary Committee
  • Public Works Committee
  • Resource & Recreation
Link to list of standing committees with description of their duties.Includes information about duties and responsibilities of the individual committees.
Ashland
Barron /
  • Highway:
  • Ag Commission
  • Commission on Aging
  • Executive
  • Extension/Land Conservation
  • Health and Human Services
  • Housing Commission
  • Law Enforcement/ Emergency Management
  • Library Board
  • Long-Term Care/ADRC Committee
  • Program Prioritization
  • Property
  • Restorative Justice Board
  • Solid Waste
  • Veterans Services Commission
  • Zoning
Link to list of all elective and appointed committees and their membership.
Bayfield /
  • Block Grant
  • CDBG Advisory Committee
  • Development and Land Sales
  • Executive Committee
  • Forestry Committee
  • Health Board
  • Highway Committee
  • Human Services
  • Land Conservation
  • Land Use Plan Steering Committee - CountyBoard Members
  • Library Board
  • Personnel
  • Sheriff's, Emergency Government, Veterans & Child Support
  • Tri-County Corridor
  • Tourism & Recreation
  • U. W. Extension, Fair & Fencing
  • Zoning
Link to list of all elective and appointed committees and their membership.
Brown /
  • Executive
  • Administration
  • Public Safety
  • Human Services
  • Education and Research
  • Planning, Development & Transportation
Link to list of oversight committees and their respective departments and subcommittees.
Buffalo /
  • Finance Committee
  • Human Resources Committee
  • Zoning, Agriculture & Extension Committee
  • Health & Human Services, Veterans Committee
  • Highway Committee
  • Land Conservation Committee
  • Land Information Committee
  • Law Enforcement Committee
  • Local Emergency Planning Committee
  • Solid Waste and Recycling Committee
  • Western Dairyland Committee
  • Committee of the Board
  • Historical
Link to list of standing committees including agenda, minutes, and membership.
Burnett /
  • Agricultural & Extension
  • BurnettCounty Development Association
  • Emergency Planning
  • Finance
  • Forestry
  • Forestry/Recreation Oversight
  • Health & Human Services
  • Highway
  • Industrial Development Agency
  • Land
  • Land & Water Conservation
  • Law Enforcement
  • Parks, Recreation & Tourism
  • Personnel
  • Property
  • Strategic Planning
  • Traffic Safety Commission
  • Zoning
Link to listof standing committees including current and past minutes and meeting notices
Calumet /
  • Agriculture and Extension Education
  • Board of Health
  • Calumet Homestead Rehabilitation Board
  • Civil Rights Compliance
  • Rules of Order
  • CountyChildren with Disabilities Education Board
  • County Parks Commission
  • Legislative Services
  • Local Emergency Planning
  • Emergency Management
  • Finance
  • Health Department
  • Highway
  • Human Services
  • Information Services
  • Land & Water Conservation
  • Planning, zoning & Farmland Preservation
  • Protection of Persons & Property
  • Public Grounds & Property
  • Parks
  • Salary & Personnel
  • Revolving Loan Fund
  • Veterans Service
  • Zoning Board of Adjustments
Link to list ofcommittees with list of members.
Chippewa /
  • Buildings & Grounds
  • Law Enforcement
  • Legal
  • CountyLand, Forests & Parks
  • Finance, Budget & Claims
  • Zoning & Solid Waste Management
  • Veterans Service & Child Support
  • Personnel & Negotiations
  • Highway
  • Administrative
  • Information Systems
  • Agricultural & Extension
  • Economic & Industrial Development
  • Land Records
  • Committee on Aging
  • Transportation Coordinating Co
  • Insurance
  • Airport Commission
  • CountyLand Development
  • Community Options Program
  • Land Conservation
  • County Highway Safety Commission
  • Chippewa County Local Emergency Planning committee (LEPC)
  • Statutory Board Human Services Board
  • Board of Health
  • Veterans Service Commission
  • Zoning Board of Adjustment
Link to list of special and statutory committees
Clark /
  • Administrative Review Appeals Board
  • Affirmative Action Committee
  • Committee on Aging
  • Economic Development Committee
  • Committee on Aging Advisory Board
  • Community Department Board
  • ClarkCountyHealthCareCenter
  • Local Emergency Planning Commission
  • Executive Legislative & Judicial Committee
  • Fair Liaison Committee
  • Mining Committee
  • Forestry & Parks Planning and Land Committee
  • Board of Health
  • Personnel Committee
  • Planning & Zoning & Farmland Preservation Committee
  • Land Conservation Committee
  • Public Property Committee
  • Regional Planning Commission
  • Law Enforcement & Emergency Management Committee
  • Law Enforcement Grievance Committee
  • River Country RC&D Council
  • Veteran’s Affairs Committee
  • Tech Steering Committee
  • Agricultural & Extension Education Committee
  • Finance
  • Social Services Committee
  • Highway Committee
  • Housing Authority Committee
Link to list of standing and elected committees including membership.
Columbia /
  • Agriculture & Land Conservation
  • ColumbiaCareCenter
  • Executive
  • Finance
  • Health & Human Services
  • Highway
  • Human Resources
  • Judiciary
  • Land Information & Records
  • Management Information Services
  • Planning & Zoning
  • Property & Insurance
  • Solid Waste
  • Ad Hoc Highway Facility Committee
  • Commission on Aging
  • LawEnforcementBuilding Committee
  • Revolving Loan/Housing
  • Central Wisconsin Community Action
  • CountyLibrary Systems Board
  • Economic Development Corporation
  • Ethics Inquiry Board
  • Highway Safety Commission
  • Housing Authority
  • Intercounty Coordinating Committee
  • Lazy Lake Management District
  • Local Emergency Planning Committee
  • Local Library Boards
  • Long Term Support/Community Options Committee
  • Park Lake Management District
  • Public Health/Bioterrorism
  • South Central Agricultural Development Zone Committee
  • Tourism
  • Veterans Service Commission
  • WCA Legislative Committee
  • Wisconsin Counties Utility Tax Association
  • Zoning Board of Adjustments
Link to list of standing committees including location and contact information.
Crawford
Dane /
  • City-County Liaison Committee
  • Environment, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee
  • Executive Committee
  • Health & Human Needs Committee
  • Information Resources Management Committee
  • Land Conservation Committee
  • Personnel & Finance Committee
  • Public Protection & Judiciary Committee
  • Public Works & Transportation Committee
  • University Extension Committee
  • Zoning & Land Regulation
Including many councils, commissions, and boards.
Link to list of committees and subcommittees.
Dodge /
  • Agriculture & Extension
  • Audit
  • Board of Adjustment
  • Building
  • Civil Service
  • Community Action Council
  • Community Options Committee
  • Courtroom Security
  • Dodge CountyAging Advisory
  • Executive
  • Finance
  • Health Facilities
  • Highway
  • Housing Authority
  • Human Services Board
  • Information Technology
  • Insurance, Inventory & Purchasing
  • Inter-County Coordinating
  • JailBuilding
  • Land Conservation
  • Land Information
  • Law Enforcement
  • Library
  • Local Emergency Planning
  • Personnel & Labor Negotiations
  • Planning, Development & Parks
  • Railroad Consortium
  • Taxation
  • Veterans Service Commission
  • Waste Management Local Siting Committee
  • Waste Management Standing Committee
  • Workforce Development/LEO
Link to list of committees including members beginning on page 19.
Door /
  • Ad Hoc Veterans Memorial
  • Ad Hoc W-2 Children's Services Network
  • Ad Hoc W-2 Community Steering Committee
  • Administrative
  • Agriculture & Extension Education
  • Airport & Parks
  • Archives
  • AIDS Task Force
  • BayLakeRegionalHarbor Council Representative
  • Board of Health
  • Civil Service Commission
  • Communications Advisory Technical Subcommittee
  • Community Justice Coalition
  • Community Programs
  • Economic Development
  • Emergency Services/Communications
  • Ethics
  • Facility & Security Committee
  • Finance
  • Glacierland RC & D
  • Highway
  • Highway Safety Commission
  • Information Systems
  • JohnMillsPark Commission
  • LakeShore CAP Representative
  • Land Conservation
  • Law Enforcement & Judiciary
  • Legislative
  • Library Board
  • Local Emergency Planning Committee
  • Negotiating
  • Property
  • Resource Planning
  • Senior Resources Commission
  • Social Services
  • Veterans Service Commission
  • WI Development Fund Grant – Loan Review Committee
  • Zoning Board of Adjustment
Link to list of standing committees including staff, services and duties.
Douglas /
  • Executive
  • Administration
  • Buildings & Grounds
  • Judiciary, Legislative & Veterans
  • Law Enforcement
  • Zoning
  • Environment, Agriculture & Extension
  • Highway
  • Land & Development
  • Forest, Parks & Recreation
  • AgingResourceCenter
  • City-County Committee
  • Civil Service Commission
  • CommunicationCenter Board
  • Community Action Program
  • Convention & Visitors Bureau
  • CountySecurity & Facilities Committee
  • Gandy Dancer Trail Commission
  • Health & Human Services Board
  • Land Conservation Committee
  • Land Records Committee
  • Library Board
  • Library Board Planning Committee
  • Metro-Interstate Commission
  • Museum Board
  • Northwest Regional Planning Commission Board
  • Nutrition Education Committee
  • Recreational Trail Committee
  • Recycling/Solid Waste Management Committee
  • Rural Housing Association
  • Superior Speedway Board
  • Tri-County Recreational Corridor Commission
  • Veterans Commission
  • Wild Rivers Trail Commission
Link to list of standing and special committees.
Dunn /
  • Committee on Administration
  • Community Resources Committee
  • Executive Committee
  • Facilities
  • Committee
  • Health & Human Services Board
  • HealthCareCenter Committee
  • Highway Committee
  • Judiciary & Law Committee
  • Planning, Resources, & Development Committee
  • Ad Hoc Land Use Planning Committee
  • Area Agency On Aging
  • ChippewaValleyAirport Commission
  • Civil Service Rating Committee
  • Council on Aging
  • Dunn CountyHousing Authority
  • Economic Development Board of Directors
  • Elderly & Handicapped Transportation Advisory Committee
  • Ethanol Plant Advisory Committee
  • Fair Board
  • Historical Society Board
  • Indianhead Federated Library System Board
  • Legislative Committee
  • Library Planning Committee
  • Local Emergency Planning Committee
  • Long Term Support Planning Committee
  • Resource Conservation & Development Council
  • Solid Waste/Recycling Management Board
  • Traffic Safety & Emergency Medical Services Committee
  • Veterans Service Commission
  • W-2 Community Steering Committee
  • Zoning Board of Adjustment
Link to list of standing committees and special committees.
Eau Claire /
  • Administration
  • Finance & Budget
  • Highway Committee
  • Human Services Board
  • Judiciary & Law Enforcement
  • Parks & Forests
  • Personnel
  • Planning & Development
  • UW Extension Education
  • Beaver Creek Reserve Commission
  • Board of Land Use Appeals
  • ChippewaValleyRegionalAirport Commission
  • City-County Board of Health
  • Commission on Aging
  • CountyHousing Authority
  • CountyTraffic Safety Commission
  • Court Security Facilities Committee
  • Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation
  • Eau Claire County Industrial Development Agency
  • Election Board of Canvas
  • Emergency Medical Services Council
  • ExpositionCenter Facility Commission
  • Groundwater Advisory Committee
  • Indianhead Federated Library Board of Trustees
  • L.E. Phillips Senior Central Board of Directors
  • Lake Altoona Rehabilitation District Commission
  • Land Conservation Commission
  • Local Emergency Planning Committee
  • Metropolitan Planning Organization
  • Parks & Forests Advisory Board
  • Position Evaluation Board
  • RiverCounty Resources, Conservation & Development Council
  • Veterans Service Commission
  • West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
  • Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council
  • Wisconsin Municipal Mutual Insurance Corporation
Link to list of standing committees, boards and commissions including members and contact information.
Florence /
  • Aging
  • Audit & Budget
  • Bay LakeRegional
  • Planning
  • Building & Grounds
  • Economic Development
  • Forestry & Parks
  • Health
  • Highway
  • Human Services
  • Insurance/Long Term
  • Planning
  • Legislative Advisory
  • Personnel
  • Recycling
  • Variance Board
  • Zoning/Land Information
Link to list of standing committees and their members.
Fond du Lac /
  • Education, Agriculture, and Extension Education Committee
  • Facilities and Information Technology Committee
  • Finance, Taxation, and Personnel Committee
  • Highway Committee
  • Legislative Committee
  • Parks and Development Committee
  • Protection of Persons and Property Committee
  • Social Services Committee
  • Committee on Committees
  • Executive Committee
  • Land Conservation Committee
  • Advocap Board of Directors
  • Airport Zoning Board of Appeals
  • Ambulance Advisory Council
  • Care Management Organization Governing Board
  • City-Council Buildings Board
  • Commission on Aging
  • Coordinating Committee for the Integrated Services Project
  • East Wisconsin Counties Railroad Consortium Rail Board of Directors
  • Elderly Nutrition Program Committee
  • Fond du LacCounty Aging and DisabilityResourceCenter
  • Fond du LacCounty Board of Health Committee
  • Fond du Lac County Department of Community Programs Board
  • Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation
  • Fond du LacCounty Housing Authority
  • FoxValley Workforce Development Board
  • Land Records Committee
  • Local Emergency Planning Committee
  • Long Term Care Council
  • Natural Beauty Council
  • Professional Advisory Committee for the Home Health Program
  • Sanitation, Shoreland, & Flood Plain Zoning Board of Appeals
  • Traffic Safety Commission
  • UW-Fond du Lac Arboretum Advisory Committee
  • Veterans Service Commission
  • Winnefox Library System Board
Link to links for standing committees and committees, boards & commissions appointed members
Forest
Grant /
  • Agriculture Extension – Education Committee/Fair Board
  • Board of Health
  • Center on Aging
  • Computer
  • Economic Development
  • Employee Relations
  • Finance/Executive
  • Hidden Valley
  • Highway
  • Land Conservation
  • Land Use, Planning & Zoning
  • Law Enforcement & Emergency Management
  • Legislative
  • Local Emergency Planning
  • Orchard Manor/County Farm
  • Park Commission
  • Public Property
  • Social Services Board
  • Tourism & Resource Development
  • Unified Community Services Board of Directors*
  • Veterans Committee
Link to list of standing committees including members and description.
Green /
  • Agriculture & Extension Education
  • Auditing, Bonding & Claims
  • Board of Adjustment
  • Committee of Committees
  • Conservation & Parks
  • Emergency Medical Service Commission
  • Finance & Accounting
  • Health
  • Highway
  • Human Services Board
  • Land Conservation
  • Land Information
  • Land Use & Zoning
  • Law Enforcement
  • Local Emergency Planning
  • Personnel & Labor Relations
  • Property, Purchasing & Insurance
  • Rail Transit Commission
  • Reapportioning Committee
  • Resolutions, Legislative & Judicial
  • Solid Waste Management Board
  • Tourism
  • Tri-County Trails
  • Veterans Service Office & Emergency Management
Link to list of standing committees and lists of members.
GreenLake /
  • Administrative Committee
  • Ag/Extension Education & Fair Committee
  • Finance
  • Health & Human Services Board
  • Highway Committee
  • Information Technology Committee
  • Judicial/Law Enforcement & Emergency Management
  • Land Conservation Committee
  • Land Information Committee
  • Land Use Planning & Zoning Committee
  • Personnel Committee
  • Property & Insurance Committee
Link to list of committees including their members and other information.