[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of
the Village of Orfordville 3-31-1992 as Title 8, Ch. 1 of the 1992 Code. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
The Village Board, acting as Board of Health, may make reasonable and general rules for the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter and for the prevention of the creation of health nuisances and the protection of the public health and welfare and may, where appropriate, require the issuance of licenses and permits. All such regulations shall have the same effect as ordinances, and any person violating any of such regulations and any lawful order of the Board shall be subject to the general penalty provided for in Chapter 1, General Provisions, § 1-5 of this Code.
No person shall deposit or cause to be deposited
in any public street or on any public ground or on any private property
not his own any refuse, garbage, litter, waste material or liquid
or any other objectionable material or liquid. When any such material
is placed on the person's own private property, it shall be properly
enclosed and covered so as to prevent the same from becoming a public
nuisance.
A.
The Village Clerk-Treasurer shall annually, on or
before May 15, publish as required by state law a notice that every
person is required by law to destroy all noxious weeds on lands in
the Village which he owns, occupies or controls. A joint notice with
other towns or municipalities may be utilized.
B.
If the owner or occupant shall neglect to destroy
any weeds as required by such notice, then the Weed Commissioner of
the Village shall give five days' written notice by mail to the owner
or occupant of any lands upon which the weeds shall be growing to
the effect that said Weed Commissioner, after the expiration of the
five-day period, will proceed to destroy or cause to be destroyed
all such weeds growing upon said lands and that the cost thereof will
be assessed as a tax upon the lands upon which such weeds are located
under the provisions of § 66.0407, Wis. Stats. In case the
owner or occupant shall further neglect to comply within such five-day
notice, then the Weed Commissioner shall destroy such weeds or cause
them to be destroyed in the manner deemed to be the most economical
method, and the expense thereof, including the cost of billing and
other necessary administrative expenses, shall be charged against
such lots and be collected as a special tax thereon.
C.
As provided for in § 66.0407(2), Wis. Stats.,
the Village shall require that all noxious weeds shall be destroyed
prior to the time in which such plants would mature to the bloom or
flower state. The growth of noxious weeds in excess of eight inches
in height from the ground surface shall be prohibited within the Village
corporate limits. Noxious weeds shall include any weed, grass or similar
plant growth which, if allowed to pollinate, would cause or produce
hayfever in human beings or would cause a skin rash through contact
with the skin.
(1)
Noxious weeds, as defined in this section and in § 184-6, shall include but not be limited to the following:
(a)
Cirsium Arvense (Canada Thistle).
(b)
Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Common Ragweed).
(c)
Ambrosia trifida (Great Ragweed).
(d)
Euphorbia esula (Leafy Spurge).
(e)
Convolvulus arvensis (Creeping Jenny) (Field
Bind Weed).
(f)
Tragopogon dubius (Goat's Beard).
(g)
Rhus radicans (Poison Ivy).
(h)
Cirsium vulgaries (Bull Thistle).
(i)
Pastinaca sativa (Wild Parsnip).
(j)
Arctium minus (Burdock).
(k)
Xanthium strumarium (Cocklebur).
(l)
Amaranthus retroflexus (Pigweed).
(m)
Chenopodium album (Common Lambsquarter).
(n)
Rumex Crispus (Curled Dock).
(o)
Cannabis sativa (Hemp).
(p)
Plantago lancellata (English Plantain).
A.
Defined. "Natural lawn" as used in this section shall include common species of grass and wildflowers native to North America which are designed and purposely cultivated to exceed 12 inches in height from the ground. Specifically excluded in natural lawns are the noxious grasses and weeds identified in § 184-4 of this chapter. The growth of a natural lawn in excess of 12 inches in height from the ground surface shall be prohibited within the Village corporate limits unless a natural lawn management plan is approved and a permit is issued by the Village as set forth in this section. Natural lawns shall not contain litter or debris and shall not harbor undesirable wildlife.
B.
Natural lawn management plan.
(1)
"Natural lawn management plan" as used in this section
shall mean a written plan relating to the management and maintenance
of a lawn which contains a legal description of the lawn upon which
the planted grass will exceed 12 inches in length, a statement of
intent and purpose for the lawn, a detailed description of the vegetational
types, plants and plant succession involved, and the specific management
and maintenance techniques to be employed.
(2)
Property owners who wish to plant and cultivate a
natural lawn must submit their written plan and related information
on the form provided by the Village. "Property owner" shall be defined
to include the legal title holder and/or the beneficial owner of any
such lot according to most current Village records. Natural lawn management
plans shall only indicate the planting and cultivating of natural
lawns on property legally owned by the property owner. Applicants
are strictly prohibited from developing a natural lawn on any Village-owned
property, including street rights-of-way. This shall include, at a
minimum, property located between the sidewalk and the street or a
strip not less than 10 feet adjacent to the street where there is
no sidewalk, whether the area is under public or private ownership.
In addition, natural lawns shall not be permitted within 10 feet of
the abutting property owner's property unless waived in writing by
the abutting property owner on the side so affected. Such waiver is
to be affixed to the lawn management plan.
(3)
Any subsequent property owner who abuts an approved
natural lawn may revoke the waiver, thereby requiring the owner of
the natural lawn to remove the natural lawn that is located in the
ten-foot section abutting the neighboring property owner. Such revocation
shall be put in writing and presented to the Village Clerk-Treasurer
by the subsequent abutting property owner. Upon receiving the written
request to revoke the original waiver, the Village Board shall contact
the owner of the approved natural lawn and direct the owner to remove
the natural lawn located in the ten-foot section abutting the neighboring
property owner. The Village Board shall revise the approved natural
lawn management permit accordingly. The owner of the approved natural
lawn shall be required to remove the ten-foot section abutting the
neighboring property owner within 20 days of receipt of the written
notification from the Village, provided that the notification is received
sometime between May 1 and November 1. Property owners who receive
notification from the Village between November 1 and April 30 shall
be required to remove the ten-foot section abutting the neighboring
property owner no later than May 20 following receipt of the notification.
C.
Application process.
(1)
Property owners interested in applying for permission
to establish a natural lawn shall obtain and complete an application
form available from the Village Clerk-Treasurer. The completed application
shall include a natural lawn management plan. Upon submitting a completed
application, a nonrefundable filing fee as set by the Village Board
will be assessed by the Village. Upon receiving payment, copies of
the completed application shall be mailed by the Village to each of
the owners of record, as listed in the office of the Village Assessor,
who are owners of the property situated wholly or in part within 300
feet of the boundaries of the properties for which the application
is made. If within 15 calendar days of mailing the copies of the complete
application to the neighboring property owners the Village receives
written objections from 51% or more of the neighboring property owners,
the Village Clerk-Treasurer shall immediately deny the application.
"Neighboring property owners" shall be defined as all those property
owners who are located within 300 feet of the proposed natural lawn
site.
(2)
If the property owner's application is in full compliance
with the natural lawn management plan requirements and less than 51%
of the neighboring property owners provide written objections, the
Village Clerk-Treasurer shall issue permission to install a natural
lawn.
D.
Application for appeal. The property owner may appeal
the Clerk-Treasurer's decision to deny the natural lawn permit request
to the Village Board at an open meeting. All applications for appeal
shall be submitted within 15 calendar days of the notice of denial
of the natural lawn management plan. The decision rendered by the
Village Board shall be final and binding.
E.
Safety precautions for natural grass areas.
(1)
When, in the opinion of the Fire Chief of the Department
serving the Village of Orfordville, the presence of a natural lawn
may constitute a fire or safety hazard due to weather and/or other
conditions, the Fire Chief may order the cutting of natural lawns
to a safe condition. As a condition of receiving approval of the natural
lawn permit, the property owner shall be required to cut the natural
lawn within three days upon receiving written direction from the Fire
Chief.
(2)
Natural lawns shall not be removed through the process
of burning unless stated and approved as one of the management and
maintenance techniques in the lawn management plan. The Fire Chief
shall review all requests to burn natural lawns and shall determine
if circumstances are correct and all applicable requirements have
been fulfilled to ensure public safety. Burning of natural lawns shall
be strictly prohibited unless a written permit to burn is issued by
the Fire Chief. The Fire Chief shall establish a written list of requirements
for considering each request to burn natural lawns, thereby ensuring
the public safety. In addition, the property owner requesting permission
to burn the natural lawn shall produce evidence of property damage
and liability insurance identifying the Village as a party insured.
A minimum amount of acceptable insurance shall be $300,000.[1]
F.
Revocation of an approved natural lawn management
plan permit. The Village President, upon the recommendation of the
Weed Commissioner, shall have the authority to revoke an approved
natural lawn management plan permit if the owner fails to maintain
the natural lawn or comply with the provisions set forth in this section.
Notice of intent to revoke an approved natural lawn management plan
permit shall be appealable to the Village Board. All applications
for appeal shall be submitted within 15 calendar days of receipt of
the written notice of intent to revoke the approved natural lawn management
plan. Failure to file an application for appeal within the 15 calendar
days shall result in the revoking of the natural lawn management plan
permit. All written applications for appeal filed within the requirement
of 15 calendar days shall be reviewed by the Village Board in an open
meeting. The decision rendered by the Village Board shall be final
and binding.
G.
Public nuisance defined; abatement after notice.
(1)
The growth of a natural lawn as defined in this section
shall be considered a public nuisance unless a natural lawn management
plan has been filed and approved and a permit is issued by the Village
as set forth in this section. Violators shall be served with a notice
of public nuisance by certified mail to the last known mailing address
of the property owner.
(2)
If the person so served with a notice of public nuisance
violation does not abate the nuisance within 10 days, the enforcement
officer may proceed to abate such nuisance, keeping an account of
the expense of the abatement, and such expense shall be charged to
and paid by such property owner. Notice of the bill for abatement
of the public nuisance shall be mailed to the owner of the premises
and shall be payable within 10 calendar days from receipt thereof.
Within 60 days after such costs and expenses are incurred and remain
unpaid, the Village Clerk-Treasurer shall enter those charges onto
the tax roll as a special tax as provided by state statute.
(3)
The failure of the Village Clerk-Treasurer to record
such claim or to mail such notice or the failure of the owner to receive
such notice shall not affect the right to place the Village expense
on the tax rolls for unpaid bills for abating the public nuisance
as provided for in this section.
A.
Purpose. This section is adopted due to the unique
nature of the problems associated with lawns, grasses and noxious
weeds being allowed to grow to excessive length in the Village of
Orfordville.
B.
Public nuisance declared. The Village Board finds that lawns, grasses and noxious weeds on nonagricultural lots or parcels of land, as classified under Chapter 320, Zoning, within the Village of Orfordville which exceed 12 inches in length adversely affect the public health and safety of the public in that they tend to emit pollen and other discomforting bits of plants, constitute a fire hazard and a safety hazard in that debris can be hidden in the grass, interfere with the public convenience and adversely affect property values of other land within the Village. For that reason, any nonagricultural lawn, grass or weed on a lot or other parcel of land which exceeds six inches in length is hereby declared to be a public nuisance, except for property located in a designated floodplain area and/or wetland area or where the lawn, grass or weed is part of a natural lawn approved pursuant to § 184-5 above.
C.
Nuisances prohibited. No person, firm or corporation shall permit any public nuisance as defined in Subsection B above to remain on any premises owned or controlled by him within the Village.
D.
Inspection. The Weed Commissioner or his designee shall inspect or cause to be inspected all premises and places within the Village to determine whether any public nuisance as defined in Subsection B above exists.
E.
G.
Village's option to abate nuisance. In any case where
the owner, occupant or person in charge of the property shall fail
to cut his lawn, grass or weeds as set forth above, then and in that
event the Village may elect to cut said lawn, grass or weeds as follows:
(1)
The written notice required in Subsection E shall inform said person that in the event of his failure to abate the nuisance within the prescribed time, the Village shall abate the same and the cost thereof shall be assessed to the property owner as a special charge.
(2)
The Village shall cut or cause to be cut all grass
and weeds from the subject's property and shall charge the expenses
of so doing at a rate as established by resolution by the Village
Board. The charges shall be set forth in a statement to the Village
Clerk-Treasurer who, in turn, shall mail the same to the owner, occupant
or person in charge of the subject premises. If said statement is
not paid in full within 30 days thereafter, the Village Clerk-Treasurer
shall enter the charges in the tax roll as a special tax against said
lot or parcel of land, and the same shall be collected in all respects
like other taxes upon real estate or as provided under § 66.0907(3)(f),
Wis. Stats.
A.
Whenever public sewer or water service has become
available to any building used for human habitation or human occupancy,
the Village Board shall notify in writing the owner, agent or occupant
thereof to connect such facilities thereto. If such person to whom
the notice has been given shall fail to comply for more than 10 days
after notice, the Village Board shall cause the necessary connections
to be made and the expenses thereof to be assessed as a special tax
against the property pursuant to § 281.45, Wis. Stats.
B.
The Village Board may extend the time for connection
hereunder or may grant other temporary relief where strict enforcement
would work an unnecessary hardship without corresponding public or
private benefit.
C.
This section is enacted pursuant to § 281.45,
Wis. Stats.
