City Clerk-Ward Officer in Merrill, Lincoln County, Wisconsin

The municipal clerk's basic duties are set forth in the Wisconsin statutes, in secs 61.25 (villages) and 62.09(11) (cities). Although the wording of the statutes governing village and city clerks are very similar, they are not identical. While you may wish to consult the statutes for the specific details, basic statutory duties include the following: care and custody of the corporate seal and municipal papers and records and transfer of those records to the clerk's successor;2 allowing inspection of those records as permitted by Wisconsin's public records law; attending common council or village board meetings and keeping a full record of the proceedings;3 maintaining a minute book with governing body proceedings; countersigning all ordinances and resolutions adopted and publishing or posting as required by law and recording proof thereof; maintaining an ordinance book noting all ordinances adopted, in chronological order, with information pertinent to the adoption; maintaining records of all licenses and permits granted, as well as recording all bonds; notifying persons elected or appointed to municipal offices; notifying other governmental offices of elections as necessary; administering oaths and affirmations; drawing and countersigning orders on the municipal treasury in accordance with statutory requirements and maintaining accounts thereof in the appropriate books;