[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Oconto Falls 7-9-1996 by Ord. No. 96-008 (Ch. 40). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Adult entertainment establishments — See Ch. 160.
Animals — See Ch. 168.
Outdoor burning — See Ch. 202.
Housing standards and property maintenance — See Ch. 278.
Intoxicating liquor and fermented malt beverages — See Ch. 292.
Peace and good order — See Ch. 365.
Solid waste — See Ch. 413.
Tobacco products — See Ch. 436.
No person shall erect, contrive, cause, continue, maintain, or permit to exist any public nuisance within the City.
A public nuisance is a thing, act, occupation, condition, or use of property which continues for such length of time as to:
A. 
Substantially annoy, injure, or endanger the comfort, health, repose, or safety of the public.
B. 
In any way render the public insecure in life or in the use of property.
C. 
Greatly offend the public morals or decency.
D. 
Unlawfully and substantially interfere with, obstruct, or tend to obstruct or render dangerous for passage any street, alley, highway, navigable body of water or other public way, or the use of public property.
E. 
Cause or allow repeated violations of City ordinances related to Chapter 348, Nuisances, or Chapter 365, Peace and Good Order.
[Added 8-10-2021 by Ord. No. 21-001]
The following acts, omissions, places, conditions, and things are specifically declared to be public health nuisances, but such enumeration shall not be construed to exclude other health nuisances within the definition of § 348-2 of this chapter:
A. 
All decayed, harmfully adulterated or unwholesome food or drink sold or offered for sale to the public.
B. 
Carcasses of animals, birds, or fowl not intended for human consumption or food which are not buried or otherwise disposed of in a sanitary manner within 24 hours after death.
C. 
Accumulations of decayed animal or vegetable matter, trash, rubbish, rotting lumber, bedding, packing material, scrap metal, or any materials whatsoever in which flies, mosquitoes, disease-carrying insects, rats, or other vermin may breed.
D. 
Standing water at any point on any property within the City, except water impounded on farm land for agricultural purposes.
E. 
Privy vaults and garbage cans which are not flytight.
F. 
All noxious weeds and other rank growth of vegetation.
G. 
All animals running at large.
H. 
The escape of smoke, soot, cinders, noxious acids, fumes, gases, fly ash, industrial dust or other atmospheric pollutants within the City limits or within one mile therefrom in such quantities as to endanger the health of persons of ordinary sensitiveness or to threaten or cause substantial injury to property in the City.
I. 
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.
J. 
Any use within the City of property, substances, or things emitting or cause any foul, offensive, noisome, nauseous, noxious, or disagreeable odors, gases, effluvia, or stenches extremely 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.
K. 
Any use of property which causes any nauseous or unwholesome liquid or substance to flow into or upon any street, gutter, alley, sidewalk, or public place within the City.
L. 
The construction and operation of a tank or tanks for the storage of tallow in the City whereby nauseous, offensive, or unwholesome odors are allowed to be emitted. The Police Department, after the necessary fact finding, shall make a report to the Council on such emission of nauseous, offensive, or unwholesome odors. If a majority of the Council adopts such report, it may order the commencement of an action in the name of the state on the relation of the City for an injunction to prevent the nuisance or may order the commencement of an action for the abatement or removal thereof.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
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 within the provisions of § 348-2 of this chapter:
A. 
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.
B. 
All buildings and structures erected, repaired, or altered within the City in violation of the provisions of any ordinances relating to materials and manner of construction.
C. 
All unauthorized signs, signals, markings, 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 official traffic control devices or railroad signs or signals or which, because of their color, location, brilliance, or manner of operation, interfere with the effectiveness of any such device, sign, or signal.
D. 
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.
E. 
All use or display of fireworks, except as provided by state law and City ordinances.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 254, Fireworks.
F. 
All buildings or structures so old, dilapidated, or out of repair as to be dangerous, unsafe, unsanitary, or otherwise unfit for human use.
G. 
All loud, discordant, and unnecessary noises or vibrations of any kind.
H. 
All obstructions of streets, alleys, sidewalks, or crosswalks and all excavations in or under the same, except as permitted by City ordinance, or which, although made in accordance with such ordinances, are kept or maintained for an unreasonable or illegal length of time after the purpose thereof has been accomplished.
I. 
All open and unguarded pits, wells, excavations, or unused basements freely accessible from any public street, alley, or sidewalk.
J. 
Any unauthorized or unlawful use of property abutting on a public street, alley, or sidewalk, or of a public street, alley, or sidewalk, which causes large crowds or people to gather, thereby obstructing traffic and free use of the streets or sidewalks.
K. 
All exhibitions within the City of a motion picture, show, or other presentation at an outdoor drive-in theater which motion picture, show, or other presentation in whole or in part depicts nudity, sexual conduct, or sadomasochistic abuse, in such manner that the material is visible from any public street, sidewalk, thoroughfare, or other public place where it may be observed by minors or unconsenting adults and which, due to its content, creates traffic and parking problems on City streets or creates violations of the City of Oconto Falls Code. For the purposes of this subsection, a motion picture rating "X" by the film industry shall be prima facie evidence that the film in whole or in part depicts nudity, sexual conduct, or sadomasochistic abuse and is therefore harmful to minors and in violation of this chapter.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
L. 
All use or maintenance of building exteriors or surrounding premises which limits the use or enjoyment of neighboring property or which causes or tends to cause diminution of the value of the property of others in the neighborhood in which such premises is located by reason of:
(1) 
Exterior storage of scrap lumber, junk, trash, or other debris, including, without limitation of enumeration, discarded objects or equipment such as motor vehicles, furniture, appliances, farm or manufacturing equipment, building materials, or litter.
(2) 
Exterior patchwork, repair, or reconstruction that results in a multi-textured or multicolored effect or appearance not consonant with the decor, architectural design, or aesthetics of the rest of such building.
M. 
Any placement or diverting of any unreasonable amount of snow or ice onto the property of another which is so situated as to endanger the public health or safety or creates an unnecessary physical or financial burden.
A. 
Summary abatement.
(1) 
Notice to owner. If the inspecting officer determines that a public nuisance exists within the City and that there is a danger to public health, safety, peace, morals, or decency, notice may be served by the inspecting officer or an authorized deputy on the person causing, maintaining, or permitting such nuisance or on the owner or occupant of the premises where such nuisance is caused, maintained, or permitted, and a copy of such notice shall be posted on the premises. Such notice shall direct the person causing, maintaining, or permitting such nuisance, or the owner or occupant of the premises, to abate or remove such nuisance within a period not less than 24 hours or greater than seven days and shall state that unless such nuisance is so abated, the City will cause the same to be abated and will charge the cost thereof to the owner, occupant, or person causing, maintaining, or permitting the nuisance, as the case may be.
(2) 
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.
B. 
Abatement by court action. If the inspecting officer determines that a public nuisance exists on private premises but the nature of such nuisance is not such as to threaten great and immediate danger to the public health, safety, peace, morals, or decency, the inspector or sanitarian shall file a written report of such findings with the Mayor, who, upon direction of the Council, shall cause an action to abate such nuisance to be commenced in the name of the City in the Circuit Court of Oconto County in accordance with the provisions of Ch. 823, Wis. Stats.
C. 
Court order. Except where necessary under Subsection A, an officer hereunder shall not use force to obtain access to private property to abate a public nuisance but shall request permission to enter upon private property if such premises are occupied and, if such permission is denied, shall apply to any court having jurisdiction for an order assisting the abatement of the public nuisance.
D. 
Other methods not excluded. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting the abatement of public nuisances by the City or its officials in accordance with state law.
In addition to any other penalty imposed by this chapter 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 attaining 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.
The Chief of Police, Health Officer, Administrator - Clerk/Treasurer or designee, and Building Inspector shall enforce those provisions of this chapter that come within the jurisdiction of their offices, and they shall make periodic inspections and inspections upon complaint to ensure that such provisions are not violated. No action shall be taken under this chapter to abate a public nuisance unless the officer has inspected or caused to be inspected the premises where the nuisance is alleged to exist and is satisfied that a nuisance does in fact exist.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be subject to a penalty as provided in § 1-9 of this Code together with the costs of prosecution and remedy of the violation.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).