City of Markesan, WI Nuisances

Detract from the surrounding area and properties.

Become a possible fire hazard, as determined by the Fire Chief.

Become a health hazard due to their pollen or a potential cover for disease-carrying rodents and other small animals.

Are of infectious or poisonous nature in or adjacent to a populated area, regardless of height.

(5)

Become a potential hazard to vehicular traffic in vision clearance triangles.

Water pollution. The pollution of any public well or cistern, stream, lake, canal or other body of water by sewage, creamery or industrial wastes or other substances.

Noxious odors, etc. Any use of property, substances or things within the City emitting or causing any foul, offensive, noisome, nauseous, noxious or disagreeable odors, gases, effluvia or stenches repulsive to the physical senses of ordinary persons which annoy, discomfort, injure or inconvenience the health of any appreciable number of persons within the City.

Street pollution. Any use of property which shall cause any nauseous or unwholesome liquid or substance to flow into or upon any street, gutter, alley, sidewalk or public place within the City.

Pesticide application. The application, or causing of the application, of any pesticide, as defined in § 94.67(25), Wis. Stats., in such a manner as to endanger the health of persons within the City.

§ 252-4 Public nuisances offending morals and decency.

The following acts, omissions, places, conditions and things are hereby specifically declared to be public nuisances offending public morals and decency, but such enumeration shall not be construed to exclude other nuisances offending public morals and decency coming within the definition of § 252-2 of this article.

Disorderly houses. All disorderly houses, bawdy houses, houses of ill fame, gambling houses and buildings or structures kept or resorted to for the purpose of prostitution, promiscuous sexual intercourse or gambling.

Gambling devices. All gambling devices and slot machines.

Unlicensed sale of liquor and beer. All places where intoxicating liquor or fermented malt beverages are sold, possessed, stored, brewed, bottled, manufactured or rectified without a permit or license as provided for by this Code.

Continuous violation of City ordinances. Any place or premises within the City where City ordinances or state laws relating to public health, safety, peace, morals or welfare are openly, continuously, repeatedly and intentionally violated.

Illegal drinking. Any place or premises resorted to for the purpose of drinking intoxicating liquor or fermented malt beverages in violation of state laws or this Code.

§ 252-5 Public nuisances affecting peace and safety.

The following acts, omissions, places, conditions and things are hereby declared to be public nuisances affecting peace and safety, but such enumeration shall not be construed to exclude other nuisances affecting public peace or safety coming within the definition of § 252-2 of this article:

Signs, billboards, etc. All signs and billboards, awnings and other similar structures over or near streets, sidewalks, public grounds or places frequented by the public so situated or constructed as to endanger the public safety.

Illegal buildings. All buildings erected, repaired, altered or maintained in violation of the provisions of this Code relating to materials and manner of construction of buildings and structures within the City.

Unauthorized traffic signs. All unauthorized signs, signals, markers or devices placed or maintained upon or in view of any public highway or railway crossing which purport to be or may be mistaken as an official traffic control device, railroad sign or signal or which, because of its color, location, brilliance or manner of operation, interferes with the effectiveness of any device, sign or signal.

Obstruction of intersections. All trees, hedges, billboards or other obstructions which prevent persons driving vehicles on public streets, alleys or highways from obtaining a clear view of traffic when approaching an intersection or pedestrian crosswalk.

Tree limbs. All limbs of trees which project over and less than 10 feet above any public sidewalk or less than 14 feet above a street or other public place.

Dangerous trees. All trees which are injurious to public health or safety because of a diseased or damaged condition, and the storage of cut elm wood, unless such wood is debarked or sprayed with an effective elm-bark-beetle-destroying insecticide.

Fireworks. All use, possession or display of fireworks, except as provided by the laws of the state and Chapter 182, Fireworks, of the Code of the City of Markesan.

Dilapidated buildings. All buildings or structures so old, dilapidated or out of repair as to be dangerous, unsafe, unsanitary or otherwise unfit for human use.

Wires and cables over streets. All wires and cables over streets, alleys or public grounds which are strung less than 18 feet above the surface thereof.

Noisy animals or fowl. The keeping or harboring of any animal or fowl which, by frequent or habitual howling, yelping, barking, crowing or making of other noises, shall greatly annoy or disturb a neighborhood or any considerable number of persons within the City.

Obstructions of streets; excavations. All obstructions of streets, alleys, sidewalks or crosswalks and all excavations in or under the same, except as permitted by this Code or which, although made in accordance with this Code, are kept or maintained for an unreasonable or illegal length of time after the purpose thereof has been accomplished, or do not conform to the permit.

Snow, ice and debris removal. All debris not removed, and all snow and ice not removed or sprinkled with salt, ashes, sawdust or sand, as provided in Chapter 330, Streets and Sidewalks, of the Code of the City of Markesan.

Refrigerators. All abandoned refrigerators or iceboxes from which the doors and other covers have not been removed or which are not equipped with a device for opening from the inside.

Open pits, basements, etc. All open and unguarded pits, wells, excavations and basements.

Gasoline storage tanks. No aboveground or underground gasoline tanks of five gallons or more shall be located in any residential district.

[Amended 4-14-2015 by Ord. No. 233]

Flammable liquids violations. Repeated or continuous violations of this Code or the laws of the state relating to the storage of flammable liquids.

§ 252-6 Junk, certain vehicles, recreational equipment and firewood.

Public nuisances declared. The following are hereby declared to be public nuisances wherever they may be found within the City:

Any motor vehicle, truck body, tractor or trailer as enumerated in Subsections C and D below and as defined in the definitions of "disassembled, inoperable, junked or wrecked motor vehicles, truck bodies, tractors, trailers," "unlicensed motor vehicles, truck bodies, tractors or trailers" and "motor vehicle" in Subsection B below.

Any junk stored contrary to Subsection E below.

Any recreational equipment stored contrary to Subsection F below.

DISASSEMBLED, INOPERABLE, JUNKED OR WRECKED MOTOR VEHICLES, TRUCK BODIES, TRACTORS, TRAILERS

Any firewood used or stored contrary to Subsection G below.

Definitions. The words, phrases and terms used in this section shall be interpreted as follows:

Motor vehicles, truck bodies, tractors or trailers in such state of physical or mechanical ruin as to be incapable of propulsion or being operated upon the public streets or highways.

IN THE OPEN

Land which may be viewed from public streets or adjoining property.

JUNK

Worn out or discarded material of little or no value including, but not limited to, household appliances or parts thereof, machinery and equipment or parts thereof, vehicles or parts thereof, tools, discarded building materials or any other unsightly debris, the accumulation of which has an adverse effect upon the neighborhood or City property values, health, safety or general welfare.

MOTOR VEHICLE

As defined in § 340.01(35), Wis. Stats.

RECREATION EQUIPMENT

Boats, canoes, ice shacks, boat and utility trailers, mobile homes, campers, off-highway vehicles and snowmobiles.

UNLICENSED MOTOR VEHICLES, TRUCK BODIES, TRACTORS OR TRAILERS

Motor vehicles, truck bodies, tractors or trailers which do not bear lawful current license plates.

Storage of inoperable vehicles, etc.

Restricted. No person shall accumulate, store or allow any disassembled, inoperable, junked or wrecked motor vehicles, truck bodies, tractors or trailers in the open upon any public or private property in the City for a period exceeding 10 days.

Exceptions.

Any business engaged in automotive sales or repair located in a properly zoned district.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Original Sec. 10.06(3)(b)2, Junkyards licensed under Chapter 12 of this Code, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 4-14-2015 by Ord. No. 233.

Storage of unlicensed vehicles, etc.

Restricted. No person shall accumulate, store or allow any unlicensed motor vehicle, truck body, tractor or trailer in the open upon any public or private property in the City for a period exceeding 10 days.

Exceptions.

Any business engaged in the sale, repair or storage of such unlicensed vehicles in a properly zoned district.

Garden tractors and mowers may be stored in the rear yard not less than 10 feet from any property line.

Storage of junk prohibited. No person, except a junk dealer licensed under Chapter 206, Junk Dealers, of the Code of the City of Markesan, shall accumulate, store or allow any junk outside of any building on any public or private real estate located in the City.

Storage of recreational equipment regulated. No person shall store any recreational equipment on any street right-of-way or within the front setback, excluding the driveway, for a period of more than 48 hours.

Storage of firewood.

Regulated. No person shall store firewood on any residential premises except for use on the premises. No firewood pile may be located within the front setback.[2]

[2]

Editor's Note: Original Sec. 10.06(7)(b), an exception regarding firewood, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 4-14-2015 by Ord. No. 233.

Variance.

Application. In the event any person shall encounter great practical difficulty in complying with the provisions of Subsection F or G above because of lot size, location of buildings or topography, such person may file an application for a variance with the Building Inspector on a form supplied by the Inspector.

Limitations. Any variance granted by the Building Inspector shall be limited, as follows:

Recreation vehicles. Recreation vehicles may be parked in the driveway within the front setback between May 1 and September 15 of each year, provided that the sidewalk is not blocked.

Firewood. Firewood may be neatly stacked within the front setback between August 1 and June 1 of the next year.

Grant or denial of application. The Building Inspector shall review the application and view the premises. He shall grant or deny the variance in accordance with the provisions of this subsection.

Appeal. Any person aggrieved by any determination of the Building Inspector under this subsection may file a written appeal with the Common Council within 30 days.

Issuance of citation; action to abate. Whenever the Building Inspector or the Police Chief shall find any such vehicle, junk or recreational equipment, as defined in Subsection B above, accumulated, stored or remaining in the open upon any property within the City contrary to the provisions of Subsections C, D, E and F above, or firewood stored contrary to Subsection G above, he shall notify the owner of said property on which such vehicle, junk, recreation equipment or firewood is located of the violation of this section. If such vehicle, junk, recreational equipment or firewood is not removed within 10 days, the Building Inspector or the Police Chief shall cause a citation to be issued to the property owner or the occupant of the property upon which such vehicle, junk, recreational equipment or firewood is located. In addition, action to abate such nuisance may be commenced, as provided in § 252-7 of this article.

Penalty. Any person who shall be adjudicated to have violated any of the provisions of this section shall be subject to a forfeiture as provided in § 1-3 of the Code of the City of Markesan.

[Amended 4-14-2015 by Ord. No. 233]

§ 252-7 Abatement of public nuisances.

Enforcement. It shall be the duty of the Chief of Police, the Building Inspector, the City Forester and/or a health inspection authority to enforce those provisions of this article that come within their jurisdiction, including the issuance of citations, and they shall make periodic inspections and inspections upon complaint to insure that such provisions are not violated. No action shall be taken under this section to abate a public nuisance unless the inspection authority shall have inspected or caused to be inspected the premises where the nuisance is alleged to exist and have satisfied himself that a nuisance does, in fact, exist.

[Amended 4-14-2015 by Ord. No. 233; 6-9-2015 by Ord. No. 235]

Summary abatement.

Notice to owner. If the inspecting officer shall determine that a public nuisance exists within the City and that there is great and immediate danger to the public health, safety, peace, morals or decency, the Mayor may direct the Chief of Police to serve notice on the person causing, permitting or maintaining such nuisance or upon the owner or occupant of the premises where such nuisance is caused, permitted or maintained and to post a copy of said notice on the premises. Such notice shall direct the person causing, permitting or maintaining such nuisance or the owner or occupant of the premises to abate or remove such nuisance within 24 hours and shall state that unless such nuisance is so abated, the City shall cause the same to be abated and will charge the cost thereof to the owner, occupant or person causing, permitting or maintaining the nuisance, as the case may be.

Abatement by City. If the nuisance is not abated within the time provided or if the owner, occupant or person causing the nuisance cannot be found, the officer having the duty of enforcement shall cause the abatement or removal of such public nuisance.

Abatement by court action. If the inspecting officer shall determine that a public nuisance exists on private premises, but that the nature of such nuisance is not such as to threaten great and immediate danger to the public health, safety, peace, morals or decency, he shall serve notice on the person causing or maintaining the nuisance and the owner of the property to remove the same within 10 days. If such nuisance is not removed within 10 days, he shall report such fact to the Mayor, who may direct the City Attorney to commence an action in Lakeside Municipal Court for the abatement of the nuisance.

[Amended 4-14-2015 by Ord. No. 233]

Other methods not excluded. Nothing in this article shall be construed as prohibiting the abatement of public nuisances by the City or its officials in accordance with the laws of the state, nor as prohibiting an action to be commenced in the Circuit Court seeking a forfeiture as provided in § 252-12 of this article.

Cost of abatement. In addition to any other penalty imposed by this article for the erection, contrivance, creation, continuance or maintenance of a public nuisance, the cost of abating a public nuisance by the City shall be collected as a debt from the owner, occupant or person causing, permitting or maintaining the nuisance, and if notice to abate the nuisance has been given to the owner, such cost shall be assessed against the real estate as a special charge.

§ 252-8 Weed control.

Noxious weeds and rank growth prohibited. No owner or occupant of any lot or parcel shall allow such property to become overgrown with any weeds or grass so as to constitute a public nuisance, as defined in § 252-3H of this article.

Notification. The Mayor shall annually, on or before May 15, publish a Class 2 notice, under Ch. 985, Wis. Stats., that every person is required by law to destroy all noxious weeds and other rank growth of vegetation, as defined in § 252-3H of this article, on land in the City which he owns, occupies or controls.

Enforcement. If a property owner fails to control the growth of such weeds or rank growth of vegetation on his property, the Weed Commissioner shall serve upon him notice of once per calendar year as to this fact. If such owner fails to abate this nuisance within five days after service of the notice, the Commissioner shall take action to abate such public nuisance.

[Amended 4-26-2018 by Ord. No. 240]

Costs. If the City causes a nuisance to be removed as provided in Subsection C above, the actual cost thereof, together with an administrative fee equal to 10% of the actual cost, shall be charged to the property owner. Any damage to city equipment will also be charged to the property owner. If such charges are not paid by November 1 of the year in which they are billed, such charges, together with an additional administrative fee for collection equal to 10% of the total such charges and fees, shall be extended on the next succeeding tax roll as a tax charged against the property affected and collected in the same manner as are other taxes, pursuant to § 66.0517, Wis. Stats.

[Amended 4-14-2015 by Ord. No. 233; 4-26-2018 by Ord. No. 240]

§ 252-9 Diseased and infected tree control.

Public nuisances declared. The following are hereby declared to be public nuisances wherever they may be found within the City.

Any living or standing tree or part thereof infected with Dutch Elm disease or other tree diseases.

Any dead, diseased or infected tree or part thereof, including logs, branches, stumps, firewood or other material from which the bark has not been removed and burned or sprayed with an effective fungicide or insecticide.

Nuisances prohibited. No person shall permit any public nuisance, as defined in Subsection A above, to remain on any premises owned or controlled by him within the City.

Inspection. The City Forester may enter upon private premises at all reasonable times for the purpose of carrying out any of the provisions of this section.

Abatement of disease nuisances.

Whenever the City Forester shall find, with reasonable certainty on examination or inspection, that any public nuisance, as defined in this section, exists within the City, he shall cause it to be sprayed, removed, burned or otherwise abated in such manner as to destroy or prevent as fully as possible the spread of the disease fungus or the insect pests or vectors known to carry such disease.

Before abating any such nuisance on private premises or in any terrace strip between the lot line and the curb, the Forester shall proceed as follows:

If the Forester shall determine that danger to other trees from said nuisance is not imminent, he shall make a written report of his findings to the Common Council, who shall proceed as provided in § 27.09(4), Wis. Stats.

If the Forester shall determine that danger to other trees within the City is imminent, he shall notify the owner or abutting owner of the property on which such nuisance is found, in writing, if he can be found; otherwise by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the City that the nuisance must be abated as directed in the notice within a specified time, which shall not be less than 10 days from the date of such notice unless the Forester shall find that immediate action is necessary to prevent spread of infection. If the owner fails to comply with the notice within the time limited, the Forester shall cause the abatement thereof.

No damage shall be awarded to the owner for destruction of any tree, wood or material or any part thereof pursuant to this section.

Spraying of trees.

Whenever the Forester shall determine that any tree or material within or near the City is infected with a disease, he may cause to be sprayed all trees within a one-thousand-foot radius thereof with an effective spray, provided such spraying shall be performed prior to July 15 or after October 15 of any year.

Before causing the spraying of any tree on private property in accordance with this section, the Forester shall notify the owner, as provided in Subsection D(2)(b) above.

Assessment of costs of abatement and spraying.

The entire cost of abating any public nuisance, as defined in Subsection D above, or of spraying any tree in accordance with Subsection E above may be charged to and assessed against the parcel or lot abutting on the street, alley, boulevard or parkway upon or in which such tree is located or the parcel or lot upon which such tree stands in accordance with § 66.0627, Wis. Stats.

OUTDOOR SOLID-FUEL-FIRED HEATING DEVICE

The Forester shall keep strict account of the costs of work done under this section and shall report monthly to the Clerk-Treasurer all work done for which assessments are to be made, stating and certifying the description of the land, lots, parts of lots or parcels of land and the amounts chargeable to each. The Clerk-Treasurer shall include in his report to the Common Council the aggregate amounts chargeable to each lot or parcel so reported, and such amounts shall be levied and assessed against such parcels or lots in the same manner as other special taxes.

§ 252-10 Control of trees and shrubs over public ways.

Trimming required. The owner or occupant of any private property shall not permit any tree, bush, hedge or shrub to intrude onto a public street or sidewalk from such adjacent private property, nor shall such owner or occupant permit boughs or branches to overhang such public ways at a height of less than 10 feet over the sidewalk or at a height of less than 14 feet over the street.

Notification. The City Forester shall, during June of each year, publish a notice that every person is required to control trees and shrubs over public ways on land in the City which he occupies or owns.

Enforcement. If an occupant or owner fails to comply with the provisions of Subsection A above, the City Forester shall serve upon such occupant or owner, personally or by certified mail, notice as to this fact. If such occupant or owner fails to abate this nuisance within 10 days after service of the notice, the City Forester shall take action to abate such public nuisance.

Costs. If the City causes a nuisance to be removed as provided in Subsection C above, the actual cost thereof, together with an administrative fee equal to 10% of the actual cost, shall be charged to the occupant. If such charges are not paid by November 1 of the year in which they are billed, such charges, together with an additional administrative fee for collection equal to 10% of the total of such charges and fees, shall be extended on the next succeeding tax roll as a special charge for current services against the property affected and collected in the same manner as are other taxes, pursuant to § 66.0627, Wis. Stats.

[Amended 4-14-2015 by Ord. No. 233]

§ 252-11 Outdoor solid-fuel-fired heating devices.

[Added by Ord. No. 222]

Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

Any equipment, device or apparatus, or any part thereof, which is installed, affixed, or situated outdoors, or which is designed to be installed, affixed, or situated outdoors, for the primary purpose of the combustion of solid fuel, e.g. wood, corn, coal, etc., to produce heat or energy which is used as a component of a heating system that is manufactured for outside use, but is installed within a building or structure, e.g., an outdoor furnace installed in a garage, breezeway or shed, shall be bound by this section.

New devices prohibited. No outdoor solid-fuel-fired heating devices shall be installed, erected, replaced, or used in the City.

Existing devices limited. If there are any such devices, the owners of such devices shall register their devices with the Clerk-Treasurer within 60 days of the passage of this section or be forever barred from the use of said devices in the City. All outdoor solid-fuel-fired heating devices as provided in Subsection A above which currently exist within the City and which become registered as required herein, or as provided in Subsection B above which are annexed into the City after the effective date of this section, shall comply with the following requirements:

All devices shall meet the emissions standards currently required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Such emissions standards currently required by the EPA are adopted herein by reference, together with any future amendments or modifications.

The devices shall not burn any of the following materials:

Rubbish or garbage, including, but not limited to, food waste, food wraps, packaging, animal carcasses, paint or painted materials, furniture, shingles, construction or demolition debris, or other household or business waste.

Waste oil or other oily wastes, except used oil burned in a heating device for energy recovery subject to and in compliance with the restrictions of Wis. Admin. Code Ch. NR 679.

(c)

Asphalt and products containing asphalt.

(d)

Treated or painted wood, including, but not limited to, plywood, composite wood products or other wood products that are painted, varnished, or treated with preservatives.

(e)

All plastic material, including, but not limited to, nylon, PVC, ABS polystyrene and urethane foam, and synthetic fabrics, plastic films, and plastic containers.

(f)

Rubber, including tires and synthetic rubberlike products.

(g)

Newspapers, corrugated cardboard, container board, office paper, and other materials that must be recycled in accordance with Chapter 323, Solid Waste, Article II, Recycling, except as follows:

[1]

Paper and cardboard products may be used as a starter fuel for a fire that is permitted under the section.

[2]

Small quantities of confidential papers from a residence may be burned for the purpose of maintaining confidentiality.

No existing device may be replaced with a new device.

The device shall be operated in accordance with the manufacturer's directions and specifications.

Nuisance prohibited. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, any outdoor solid-fuel-fired heating device which becomes hazardous, harmful, obnoxious, offensive, or a nuisance, is prohibited. Nothing in this section shall limit or restrict the rights or remedies of the City or private persons who are harmed or affected by any device.

Penalties and injunction.

Penalty. Any person, firm or corporation who violates, disobeys, omits, neglects, or refuses to comply with, or who resists the enforcement of any of the provisions of this article shall be subject to the penalty provided in § 1-3 of this Code. Each day that a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense.

[Amended 4-14-2015 by Ord. No. 233]