Source: https://www.ecode360.com/12455100
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 12:27:06+00:00

Document:
§ 283-1 Rules and regulations.
§ 283-2 Abatement of health nuisances.
§ 283-3 Deposit of deleterious substances.
§ 283-4 Destruction of noxious weeds.
§ 283-5 Regulation of natural landscapes.
§ 283-6 Regulation of length of lawn and grasses.
§ 283-7 Compulsory connection to City sewer and water system.
§ 283-8 Unhealthy, hazardous or unsightly materials on public or private property.
§ 283-11 Discharge of clear waters.
§ 283-12 Burial of animal carcasses.
Hazardous materials and infectious agents — See Ch. 279.
Housing standards — See Ch. 292.
Property maintenance — See Ch. 378.
Solid waste — See Ch. 412.
Water and sewers — See Ch. 460.
The City Council, 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 City Council shall be subject to the general penalty provided for in this Code.
Editor's Note: See Ch. 1, § 1-3.
Defined. A health nuisance is any source of filth or cause of sickness.
Duty to abate. The City Council shall abate health nuisances pursuant to Ch. 823, Wis. Stats., which is adopted by reference and made a part of this section.
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/her 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.
The City Administrator 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 City which he/she owns, occupies or controls. A joint notice with other towns or municipalities may be utilized.
If the owner or occupant shall neglect to destroy any weeds as required by such notice, then the Weed Commissioner of the City 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.
As provided for in § 66.0407, Wis. Stats., the City 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 10 inches in height from the ground surface shall be prohibited within the City of Weyauwega corporate limits. Noxious weeds shall include any weed, grass or similar plant growth which, if allowed to pollinate, would cause or produce hay fever in human beings or would cause a skin rash through contact with the skin.
Dandelions (over 10 inches in height).
Natural landscape defined. "Natural landscape" as used in this section (also known as "natural lawns") shall include common species of grass and wildflowers native to North America which are designed and purposely cultivated to exceed 10 inches in height from the ground. Specifically excluded in natural landscapes are the noxious grasses and weeds identified in § 283-4 of this chapter. The growth of natural landscapes in excess of 10 inches in height from the ground surface shall be prohibited within the City of Weyauwega corporate limits unless a natural landscape management plan is approved and a permit is issued by the City as set forth in this section. Natural landscapes shall not contain litter or debris and shall not harbor undesirable wildlife.
"Natural landscape management plan" as used in this section shall mean a written plan relating to the management and maintenance of a natural landscape which contains the street address or a legal description of the property where the proposed natural landscape is being requested, a statement of intent and purpose for the natural landscape, a detailed description of the vegetational types, plants and plant succession involved, and the specific management and maintenance techniques to be employed.
Property owner to submit plan; City property excluded.
Property owners who wish to plant and cultivate a natural landscape must submit their written plan and related information to the City. "Property owner" shall be defined to include the legal title holder and/or the beneficial owner of any such lot according to most current City records. Natural landscape management plans shall only indicate the planting and cultivating of natural landscapes on property legally owned by the property owner.
Applicants are strictly prohibited from developing a natural landscape on any City-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 landscapes shall not be permitted within five 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 natural landscape management plan. Such waiver may be revoked, in writing, by the abutting property owner at a later time, a copy to be filed with the permittee and the City Administrator.
Any subsequent property owner whose property abuts an approved natural landscape may revoke the waiver, thereby requiring the owner of the natural landscape to remove the natural landscape that is located in the five-foot section abutting the neighboring property. Such revocation shall be put in writing and presented to the City Administrator by the subsequent abutting property owner. Upon receiving the written request to revoke the original waiver, the City Council shall contact the owner of the approved natural landscape and direct the owner to remove the natural landscape located in the five-foot section abutting the neighboring property. The City Council shall revise the approved natural landscape permit accordingly. The owner of the approved natural landscape shall be required to remove the five-foot section abutting the neighboring property within 20 days of receipt of the written notification from the City, provided that the notification is received sometime between May 1 and November 1. Property owners who receive notification from the City between November 1 and April 30 shall be required to remove the five-foot section abutting the neighboring property no later than May 20 following receipt of the notification.
Property owners interested in applying for permission to establish a natural landscape shall file an application with the City Administrator. The completed application shall include a natural landscape management plan. Upon submitting a completed application, a nonrefundable filing fee as set by the City Council will be assessed by the City. Upon receiving payment, copies of the completed application shall be mailed by the City to each of the owners of record, as listed in the office of the City 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 City receives written objections from 51% or more of the neighboring property owners, the City shall deny the application. "Neighboring property owners" shall be defined as all those property owners who are located within 300 feet of the proposed natural landscape site.
If the property owner's application is in full compliance with the natural landscape management plan requirements and less than 51% of the neighboring property owners provide written objections, the City Council may issue permission to install a natural landscape. Such permit shall be valid for two years. Permit renewals shall follow the procedures in this section.
Safety precautions for natural grass areas.
When, in the opinion of the Chief of the Fire Department serving the City of Weyauwega, the presence of a natural landscape may constitute a fire or safety hazard due to weather and/or other conditions, the Fire Chief may order the cutting of natural landscapes to a safe condition. As a condition of receiving approval of the natural landscape permit, the property owner shall be required to cut the natural landscape within three days upon receiving written direction from the Fire Chief.
Natural landscapes shall not be removed through the process of burning unless stated and approved as one of the management and maintenance techniques in the landscape management plan and appropriate City open burning permits have been obtained. The Fire Chief shall review all requests to burn natural landscapes and shall determine if circumstances are correct and all applicable requirements have been fulfilled to ensure public safety. Burning of natural landscapes 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 landscapes, thereby ensuring the public safety. In addition, the property owner requesting permission to burn the natural landscapes shall produce evidence of property damage and liability insurance identifying the City as a party insured. A minimum amount of acceptable insurance shall be $300,000.
Revocation of an approved natural landscape permit. The Weed Commissioner shall have the authority to revoke an approved natural landscape permit if the owner fails to maintain the natural landscape or comply with the provisions set forth in this section. Notice of intent to revoke an approved natural landscape permit shall be appealable to the City Council. All applications for appeal shall be submitted within 15 calendar days of receipt of the written notice of intent to revoke the approved natural landscape permit. Failure to file an application for appeal within the 15 calendar days shall result in the revoking of the natural landscape permit. All written applications for appeal filed within the required 15 calendar days shall be reviewed by the City Council in an open meeting. The decision rendered by the City Council shall be final and binding.
Public nuisance defined; abatement after notice.
The growth of a natural landscape as defined in this section shall be considered a public nuisance unless a natural landscape management plan has been filed and approved and a permit is issued by the City 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.
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 City Administrator shall enter those charges onto the tax roll as a special tax as provided by state statute.
The failure of the City Administrator 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 City expense on the tax rolls for unpaid bills for abating the public nuisance as provided for in this section.
Any person, firm or corporation who or which does not abate the nuisance within the required time period or who or which otherwise violates the provisions of this section shall be subject to the general penalty found in § 1-3.
In addition to any penalties herein provided, the City may issue stop-work orders upon owners of lots where work is unfinished under a previously issued permit for any violation of this section.
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 City of Weyauwega.
Public nuisance declared. The City Council finds that lawns, grasses and noxious weeds on nonagricultural lots or parcels of land, as classified under the City Zoning Code, within the City of Weyauwega which exceed eight inches in length adversely affect the public health and the 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 City. For that reason, any nonagricultural lawn, grass or weed on a lot or other parcel of land which exceeds eight 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 § 283-5 above.
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/her within the City.
Inspection. The Weed Commissioner or his/her designee shall inspect or cause to be inspected all premises and places within the City to determine whether any public nuisance as defined in Subsection B above exists.
Abatement of nuisance. If the owner or occupant shall neglect to cut any lawns as required herein, then the Weed Commissioner of the City shall give 48 hours' written notice by mail to the owner or occupant of any lands upon which the lawn is growing in violation herewith to the effect that said Weed Commissioner, after the expiration of the forty-eight-hour notice, will proceed to mow or have mown the lawn to meet the requirements of this section and that the cost of said mowing will be assessed as a tax upon the lands upon which said lawn is growing pursuant to the provisions of § 66.0407, Wis. Stats. In case the owner or occupant shall further neglect to comply with said forty-eight-hour notice, then the Weed Commissioner shall mow or have mown said lawns to comply with this section in the most economical method and shall include the cost of said mowing and the cost of billing and administrative expenses and shall charge said costs against the property to be collected as a special tax thereon.
Due process hearing. If the owner believes that his/her grasses or weeds are not a nuisance, he/she may request a hearing before the City Council. The request for said hearing must be made in writing to the City Administrator's office within the 48 hours set forth in the Weed Commissioner's notice. Upon application for the hearing, the property owner must deposit a twenty-five-dollar bond. If a decision is rendered in the property owner's favor, the $25 will be returned to the property owner. If the property owner fails to appear for the hearing or if the decision is rendered against the property owner, the deposit shall be forfeited and applied to the cost of City personnel abating the nuisance, if necessary. When a hearing is requested by the owner of the property, a hearing by the City Council shall be held at the Council's next regular meeting. The property in question will not be mowed by the City until such time as the hearing is held by the City Council. At the hearing, the owner may appear in person or by his/her attorney, may present witnesses in his/her own behalf and may cross-examine witnesses presented by the City as well as subpoena witnesses for his/her own case. At the close of the hearing, the City Council shall make its determination in writing specifying its findings, facts, and conclusions. If the City Council determines that a public nuisance did exist, the City Council shall order the Weed Commissioner to mow the property in question, unless the property has been mowed by the owner within 48 hours of the City Council's decision. If the owner does not abate the nuisance within the prescribed 48 hours, the Weed Commissioner shall cause the same nuisance to be abated and cost in excess of the forfeited fee assessed accordingly.
The written notice required in Subsection E shall inform said person that in the event of his/her failure to abate the nuisance within the prescribed time, the City shall abate the same and the cost thereof shall be assessed to the property owner as a special charge.
The City 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 City Council. The charges shall be set forth in a statement to the City Administrator 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 City Administrator 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.
When required. Whenever a sewer or water main becomes available to any building used for human habitation, the owner of the property upon which the building is located shall connect the building to such main or mains in the manner prescribed by law, except that the City Council may defer connection to such water or sewer main or mains for those properties which have existing septic systems or wells whose construction was permitted by the City of Weyauwega, but such deferment shall not exceed five years from the date of installation of such main or mains.
Notice. Whenever a sewer or water main becomes available to any building used for human habitation, the Building Inspector shall notify the owner or his/her agent in writing by registered mail addressed to the last known address of the owner or his/her agent.
City may cause connection at expense of owner. If the owner or his/her agent fails to comply with the notice of the Building Inspector within three months of service or mailing thereof, the Building Inspector may cause connection to be made, and the expense thereof shall be assessed as a special tax against the property.
Privies, cesspools, etc., prohibited after connection with sewer. After connection of any building used for human habitation to a sewer main, no privy, cesspool or waterless toilet shall be used in connection with such human habitation.
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 460, Water and Sewers.
Whenever the Building Inspector, Fire Inspector or other authorized City official shall, upon inspection of any premises within the City of Weyauwega, find that there is deposited, placed, stored or remaining on said premises any garbage, junk, rubbish, rubble, trash, abandoned construction materials, rotting yard and orchard waste, merchandise or parts, accumulation of grease or food wastes in a grease trap or other place or depository which presents a risk of clogging or blocking a sewer system, or any other unhealthy, hazardous or unsightly material or thing which creates a fire or health hazard or which is detrimental to the appearance, neatness and cleanliness of the immediate neighborhood or the City of Weyauwega in general, such official shall issue his/her written order to the owner and/or occupant of the premises to remove said garbage, junk, rubbish, rubble or trash, abandoned, outmoded, or nonsalable merchandise or parts, construction materials, rotting yard and orchard waste, accumulation of grease or food wastes in a grease trap or other place or depository which presents a risk of clogging or blocking a sewer system, or other unhealthy, hazardous or unsightly materials or things.
Said written order shall provide that such removal shall be accomplished within 10 days after service of said order upon the owner or occupant of the premises involved. Such written order, in addition to specifying and describing the material or things to be removed, shall also set forth on the face thereof the provisions of Subsection B.
Prosecution of violators under this section shall not preclude other enforcement actions allowed by law, including other actions under this Code of Ordinances.
Appeal. Any person feeling himself/herself aggrieved by any order of a City official under this section may, within 10 days from the date of receipt of such order, appeal such order to the City Council.
Collected and piled for immediate pickup and disposal by the City or by private means.
Nonconforming uses. It shall not be a defense to the provisions of this section that the owner or occupant of the premises involved has a nonconforming use under the provisions of the City Zoning Code, but the provisions of this section shall be complied with notwithstanding that the owner or occupant of any given premises is using or occupying such premises under a valid nonconforming use.
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 378, Property Maintenance, Art. I, Junked Vehicles and Appliances.
Wire screening of such thickness and spacing as to afford reasonable protection against the entrance of rodents.
Whenever any person or persons shall be in actual possession of or have charge, care or control of any property within the City, as executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or agent, such person or persons shall be deemed and taken to be the owner or owners of such property within the true intent and meaning of this section and shall be bound to comply with the provisions of this section to the same extent as the owner, and notice to any such person of any order or decision of the Building Inspector or his/her designee shall be deemed and taken to be a good and sufficient notice, as if such person or persons were actually the owner or owners of such property, except that whenever an entire premises or building is occupied as a place of business, such as a store, factory, warehouse, rooming house, junkyard, lumberyard or any other business under a single management, the person, firm or corporation in charge of such business shall be considered the owner or manager.
Any place where rodents can live and nest without fear of frequent molestation or disturbance.
A container constructed of concrete or metal, or the container shall be lined with metal or other material that is impervious to rodents, and openings into the container such as doors shall be tight-fitting to prevent the entrance of rodents.
Consists of closing openings in building foundations and openings under and around doors, windows, vents and other places which could provide means of entry for rodents with concrete, sheet iron, hardware cloth or other types of rodent-proofing material approved by the City.
Elimination of rodent harborages. Whenever accumulations of rubbish, boxes, lumber, scrap metal, car bodies or any other materials provide rodent harborage, the person, firm or corporation owning or in control of such materials shall cause the materials to be removed or the materials shall be stored so as to eliminate the rodent harborage. Lumber, boxes and similar materials shall be neatly piled. These piles shall be raised at least a foot above the ground. When the owner of the materials cannot be found after a reasonable search, the owner or manager of the premises on which the materials are stored shall be responsible for disposal, or proper piling, of the materials.
Elimination of rodent feeding places. No person, firm or corporation shall place, or allow to accumulate, any materials that may serve as a food for rodents in a site accessible to rodents. Any waste material that may serve as food for rodents shall be stored in rodent-proof containers. Feed for birds shall be placed on raised platforms, or such feed shall be placed where it is not accessible to rodents.
Extermination. Whenever rodent holes, burrows or other evidence of rodent infestation is found on any premises or in any building within the City, it shall be the duty of the owner or manager of such property to exterminate the rodents or to cause the rodents to be exterminated. Within 10 days after extermination, the owner or manager shall cause all of the rodent holes or burrows in the ground to be filled with earth or other suitable material.
Rodent-proofing. It shall be the duty of the owner or manager of any building in the City of Weyauwega to make such building reasonably rodent-proof, to replace broken basement windows and, when necessary, to cover the basement window openings with hardware cloth or other suitable material for preventing rodents from entering the building through such window openings.
Purpose and intent. The purpose of this section is to promote the recycling of yard wastes and certain kitchen wastes through composting and to establish minimum standards for proper compost maintenance.
The organic waste produced from the growing, trimming, and removal of grass, branches (not exceeding one inch in diameter), bushes, shrubs, plants, leaves and garden debris.
Any uncooked plant matter not contaminated by or containing meat, fish and/or dairy products.
All compost piles shall be enclosed in a freestanding compost bin. Each compost bin shall be no larger in volume than 125 cubic feet and shall be no taller than 42 inches.
All compost bins shall be so maintained as to prevent the attraction or harborage of rodents and pests. The presence of rodents in or near a compost bin shall be cause for the City to proceed under § 283-9.
All compost bins shall be so maintained as to prevent unpleasant odors.
No compost bin shall be allowed to deteriorate to such condition as to be a blighting influence on the surrounding property or neighborhood or the City in general.
All compost bins shall be located not less than three feet from a property line or principal building or dwelling and three feet from any detached accessory building.
A variance from these setback requirements may be applied for if the property owner(s) can show a hardship exists which prohibits compliance. In addition, any variance application must include a signed written approval of the variance request from the adjacent property owner(s). Variances can be granted by the Building Inspector on an annual basis upon the proper application being submitted by the property owner(s). Screening and/or fencing of compost bins may be required as a condition of a variance being granted.
No compost bin shall be located in any yard except a rear yard, as defined in the City Zoning Code. A compost bin may be located in a side yard as defined in the City Zoning Code subject to the annual variance procedure contained in Subsection C(5)(b) and must be screened from view to the street.
Editor's Note: See Ch. 530, Zoning.
Those composting bins which existed prior to the adoption of this section shall be given one year to comply with the requirements set forth herein.
Cooked food scraps of any kind or type.
Fish, meat or other animal products.
Large items that will impede the composting process.
Coffee grounds and used tea leaves.
Uncooked plant matter not contaminated by or containing meat, fish and/or dairy products.
Owner responsibility. Every owner or operator shall be responsible for maintaining all property under his or her control in accordance with the requirements of this section.
Municipal exception. Any municipal composting site maintained by the City shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.
See Chapter 210, Building Construction, § 210-13.
No person, firm or corporation shall bury or cause to be buried on or in any public street or on any public ground or on any private property belonging to said person, firm or corporation any dead animal, animal carcass or any parts thereof within the City of Weyauwega, except that a resident of the City of Weyauwega, upon receiving a permit from the Supervisor of Public Works, may bury a domestic household pet on said person's, firm's or corporation's own private property.
Any person, firm or corporation who or which violates this section shall be subject to the general forfeiture provisions of this Code of Ordinances. In addition, said person, firm or corporation shall be required to remove any animal or animal carcass buried in violation of this section.
Editor's Note: See § 1-3.

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