(1)    A county, town, village, city or tribal government likely to be substantially affected by potential or proposed mining may designate an existing committee, or establish a committee, for purposes of:

      (a)    Facilitating communications between operators and itself.

      (b)    Analyzing implications of mining.

      (c)    Reviewing and commenting on reclamation plans.

      (d)    Developing solutions to mining-induced growth problems.

      (e)    Recommending priorities for local action.

      (f)    Formulating recommendations to the investment and local impact fund board regarding distribution of funds under s. 70.395 (2) (g).

      (g)    Negotiating a local agreement under s. 293.41 (3).

   (2)   A county, town, village, city or tribal government affected in common with another county, town, village, city or tribal government by a proposed or existing mine may cooperatively designate or establish a joint committee, but may also maintain a separate committee under sub. (1). Committees under this section may include representatives of affected units of government, business and industry, manpower, health, protective or service agencies, school districts, or environmental and other interest groups or other interested parties.

   (3)   Persons giving notice under s. 293.31 (1) shall thereafter appoint a liaison person to any committee established under sub. (1) or (2), and shall provide such reasonable information as is requested by the committee. Operators and persons giving notice under s. 293.31 shall thereafter make reasonable efforts to design and operate mining operations in harmony with community development objectives.

   (4)   Committees established under sub. (1) or (2) may be funded by their appointing authority, and may, through their appointing authority, submit a request for operating funds to the investment and local impact fund board under s. 70.395. Committees established under sub. (1) shall be eligible for funds only if the county, town, village or city is also a participant in a joint committee, if any, established under sub. (2). The investment and local impact fund board may not grant funds for the use of more than one committee established under sub. (1) in relation to a particular mining proposal unless a joint committee has been established under sub. (2). The investment and local impact fund board shall grant operating funds to any committee that submits a request and is eligible under this subsection and s. 70.395 (2) (fm). Committees may hire staff, enter into contracts with private firms or consultants or contract with a regional planning commission or other agency for staff services for mining-related purposes or the purposes under s. 70.395 (2) (fm).