(a) Tree Diseases a Public Nuisance. Whereas the Village Board, upon the recommendation of the Village Forester or other appropriate expert, has determined that there are many trees growing on public and private premises within the Village of Edgar, the loss of which would substantially depreciate the value of public and private property, impair the use and enjoyment of public and private premises and erode the tax base of the Village, and that the health and life of such trees is threatened by fatal diseases such as, but not limited to, oak wilt disease, Dutch Elm disease [which is spread by the elm bark beetles Scolytus multistriatus (Eichb.) or Hylurgopinus rufipes (Marsh.)] and emerald ash borer disease, the Village Board hereby declares its intention to control and prevent the spread of such disease, and the insect pests and vectors which carry such diseases and specifically declares Dutch Elm disease, oak wilt disease and emerald ash borer disease to be public nuisances.
(b) Definitions. As used in this Section, unless otherwise clearly indicated by the context:
(1) Public Nuisance.
a. Fatal or deleterious tree diseases.
b. Elm bark beetles Scolytus multistriatus (Eichb.) or Hylurgopinus rufipes (Marsh.); Dutch Elm disease and other insect pests and vectors which carry tree diseases.
c. Any living or standing tree or part thereof infected with the Dutch Elm disease fungus or in a weakened condition which harbors any of the elm bark beetles, Scolytus multistriatus (Eichb.) or Hylurgopinus rufipes (Marsh.), oak wilt disease, emerald ash borer insects, or other insect pests and vectors.
d. Any dead 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 insect or disease destroying concentrate.
e. Any tree or part thereof which by reason of its condition and location is hazardous or dangerous to persons and property using or upon any public street, sidewalk, alley, terrace, park or other public or private place, including the terrace strip between curb and lot line.
f. Any tree or part thereof which is infested by the eastern tent caterpillar or other defoliating larvae.
(2) Public property.
Owned or controlled by the Village of Edgar, including without limitation because of enumeration, public sites, parks, playgrounds, streets, alleys, sidewalks, boulevards, and the terrace strip between the lot line and the curb or improved portion of any public way.
(3) Person.
Person, firm or corporation.
(c) Inspection.
(1) Inspection Responsibility.
The Village Forester may inspect or cause to be inspected all premises and places within the Village of Edgar to determine whether any public nuisance exists thereon. The Forester shall also inspect or cause the inspection of any public tree reported or suspected to be infested with the Dutch Elm, oak wilt, emerald ash borer disease or other fatal tree disease, or any bark bearing materials reported or suspected to be infested with disease.
(2) Testing.
Whenever necessary to determine the existence of a deleterious tree disease or insects in any tree, the person inspecting such tree shall remove or cut specimens from the tree in such manner as to avoid fatal injury thereto and deliver such specimens to the Village Forester who shall forward them to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Relations (WisDATCP) for analysis to determine the presence of such nuisances.
(3) Right to Enter Premises.
The Forester and his/her agents or employees shall have authority to enter upon private premises at reasonable times for the purpose of carrying out any of the provisions of this Section.
(d) Abatement of Nuisances on Public Property; Duty of Forester.
(1) Abatement of Nuisances.
Following authorization by the Village Board, the Forester shall order, direct, supervise and control the abatement of public nuisances as defined in this Section by trimming, treating, removal, burning or by other means which he/she determines to be necessary to prevent as fully as possible the spread of deleterious tree diseases or the insect pests or vectors known to carry such diseases. Whenever the Forester after inspection or examination shall determine that a public nuisance as herein defined exists on public property in the Village of Edgar, the Forester shall immediately abate or cause the abatement of such nuisance on public property in such manner as to destroy or prevent as fully as possible the spread of deleterious tree diseases, or the inspect pests or vectors known to carry such disease fungus.
(2) Procedures - Tree Nuisances on Private Property.
a. When the Forester shall determine with reasonable certainty that a public nuisance exists upon private premises, the Forester shall immediately serve or cause to be served personally or by certified mail upon the owner of such property, if the owner can be found, or upon the occupant thereof, a written notice of the existence of such nuisance and of a time and place for a hearing, not less than fourteen (14) days after service of such notice, on the abatement action to be taken. Such notice shall describe the nuisance and recommend procedures for its abatement, and shall further state that unless the owner shall abate the nuisance in the manner specified in the notice, or shall appear at the hearing to show that such nuisance does not exist or does not endanger the health of trees in the Village, the Forester shall cause the abatement thereof at the expense of the property served. If the owner cannot be found, such notice shall be given by posting or publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the Village of Edgar.
b. If, after hearing held pursuant to this Subsection, it shall be determined by the Village Board that a public nuisance exists, it shall forthwith order the immediate abatement thereof. Unless the property owner abates the nuisance as directed within five (5) days after such hearing, the Forester shall proceed to abate the nuisance and cause the cost thereof to be imposed as a special charge against the property in accordance with the procedures provided in this Section. The Forester may extend the time allowed the property owner for abatement work but not to exceed ten (10) additional days.
(e) Treating.
(1) Determination.
Whenever the Forester shall determine that any tree or part thereof is infected with a deleterious or fatal tree disease or is in a weakened condition or harbors insects, the Forester may cause all trees within a one thousand (1,000) foot radius thereto to be treated with an effective disease destroying concentrate or other insecticide, following prior authorization by the Village Board.
(2) Notice.
In order to facilitate the work and minimize the inconvenience to the public of any treatment operations conducted under this Section, the Forester shall cause to be given advance public notice of such operations by newspaper, radio, television, public service announcements, website notice or other effective means and shall also cause the posting of appropriate warning notices in the areas and along the streets where trees are to be treated at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of treatment. When any residue or concentrate from municipal treatment operations can be expected to be deposited on any public street, the Forester shall also notify the Village office which shall direct necessary steps to make and enforce temporary parking and traffic regulations on such streets as conditions require. Temporary "no parking" notices may be posted in each block of any affected street at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of spraying operations.
(3) Liability Limits.
When appropriate warning notices and temporary "no parking" notices have been given and posted, the Village shall not allow any claim for damages to any nearby vehicle caused by such treatment operations.
(4) Private Property Situations.
When trees on private property are to be treated, the Forester shall notify the owner of such property and proceed in accordance with the requirements of Subsection (e)(2) above.