[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of Vernon 7-1-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-05. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Pursuant to Wis. Stats., Chapter 755, there is hereby created and established a Municipal Court designated "Joint Municipal Court for the Town of Eagle, the Village of Eagle, the Town of Mukwonago, the Village of North Prairie, and the Village of Vernon" (such parties referred to hereinafter as the "member municipalities" and such court referred to hereinafter as the "Joint Municipal Court") presided over by a Municipal Judge.
To be eligible for the office of Municipal Judge, a person must be a qualified elector in one of the member municipalities.
The Municipal Judge shall be elected at large at the spring election every four years starting with year 2016, per Wis. Stats., § 755.02. The term of four years shall commence on May 1 succeeding his or her election. Electors of the member municipalities shall be eligible to vote for the Municipal Judge of the Joint Municipal Court. The current Municipal Judge for the Joint Municipal Court shall serve as Municipal Judge for the Joint Municipal Court until the end of his term.
The Municipal Judge shall receive a salary and fringe benefits, including, but not limited to, Municipal Judge training pursuant to Wis. Stats., § 755.18, as determined by the governing bodies of the member municipalities, with the majority approval of the joint municipal budget; subject to Wis. Stats., § 755.04, which shall be in lieu of fees and costs. The salary shall be paid quarterly. No salary shall be paid to the Municipal Judge for any time during his or her term for which he or she has not executed and filed the official bond and oath as required by § 16-5.
The Municipal Judge shall, after election or appointment to fill a vacancy, take and file the official oath as prescribed in Wis. Stats., § 757.02(1), pursuant to Wis. Stats., § 755.03, with the Clerk of Circuit Court for Waukesha County, and at the same time shall execute and file an official bond in the penal sum of $3,000, the cost of which shall be paid by the member municipalities.
The Court Clerk shall, before entering upon the duties of the office, take and file the official oath as prescribed in Wis. Stats., § 19.01, with the Municipal Court Judge. The Municipal Court Judge and, at the same time, shall execute and file an official bond in the penal sum of $3,000. The Municipal Court Judge will then distribute copies of the Clerk's oath to the Clerks of the municipal members, and at the same time, shall execute and file an official bond in the penal sum of $3,000, the cost of which shall be paid by the member municipalities.
The Municipal Judge shall have jurisdiction as provided by the statutes and laws of the State of Wisconsin and pursuant to Wis. Stats., § 755.045.
A. 
The Joint Municipal Court shall be open as determined by order of the Municipal Judge.
B. 
The Joint Municipal Court shall be held in the courtroom located in the Village of North Prairie Village Hall, provided that the Joint Municipal Judge may order that the Joint Municipal Court may be held in an alternate public building within the Town of Eagle, the Village of Eagle, the Town of Mukwonago, the Village of North Prairie, or the Village of Vernon.
C. 
The procedure in Joint Municipal Court shall be as provided by the statutes and laws of the State of Wisconsin.
D. 
The Municipal Judge or Municipal Court Clerk shall collect all forfeitures, fees, penalties, assessments, and costs in any action or proceeding before the Joint Municipal Court and shall pay over all such monies to the Village of North Prairie Treasurer not later than the fifth business day following official receipt thereof in Joint Municipal Court.
The Municipal Judge may impose a sanction as authorized under Wis. Stats., § 800.12 for contempt of court as defined in Wis. Stats., § 800.12(1).
The governing body shall appoint a representative to serve on the Joint Municipal Court Committee that is described in the intergovernmental agreement between the member municipalities. Such representative shall serve for the term and be subject to such conditions as established by the governing body upon making the appointment. Such representative serves at the pleasure of the governing body and may be removed without cause at any time.