Opinion No. Oag 11-78, (1978)

JOHN W. STEVENS, Corporation Counsel, Marathon County

You request my opinion whether the county highway committee has power to examine, settle and pay liability claims against the county without final action by the county board.

You state that the county highway committee, elected pursuant to sec. 83.015, Stats., has a policy of examining, approving and paying out of highway department funds, claims against the highway department. If the committee determines that the highway department is at fault, and if the claim is for less than $250.00, the claim is referred to its insurance carrier with…