A. Prohibited Generally: Any person who shall dig in, build upon or in any manner obstruct or injure any of the streets, alleys, sidewalks, or other public property within the village, except by authority of the village board, shall be subject to a fine as provided in section 1-4-1 of this code for every such offense. (1914 Code § 10-13; amd. 2016 Code)
B. Obstructing Vision At Intersections: It shall be unlawful for the owner, lessee or person in possession, charge or control of any premises to permit any tree or shrub to grow or other obstruction to be erected or maintained in such a manner as to unreasonably obstruct the line of sight of traffic or traffic lights at intersections within the village. Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this subsection, or any rule or regulation made in compliance herewith, shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine as provided in section 1-4-1 of this code for each offense. (Ord. 266A, 1-7-1946; amd. 2016 Code)
C. Buildings, Fences And Hedges:
1. No person shall erect or place any fence or building, wholly or in part, upon any street, alley, sidewalk, park, or other public ground. Any building, fence or other obstruction upon any street, alley, sidewalk, or public ground in the village shall be deemed a nuisance, and it shall be lawful for any member of the board of trustees or the chief of police to cause the same to be removed or taken down in such a manner as shall be deemed best; and every person who shall oppose or resist the execution of the orders of said member of the board or of the chief of police in the premises shall forfeit and pay a fine as provided in section 1-4-1 of this code. (1914 Code § 18-8; amd. 2016 Code)
2. No porch, gallery, stoop, steps, cellar door, stair, rail, or platform erected, or to be erected, within the village shall be allowed to extend upon or into any sidewalk; and no bow window shall extend into or over any sidewalk more than two feet (2') nor less than eight feet (8') above the grade line, nor shall any cellar door, at its outer edge, rise or project above the surface of the sidewalk. (1914 Code § 18-13)
3. No hedge fence shall be permitted to extend over or into any part of any public highway in the village. It is hereby made the duty of the owner, occupant, or agent of any premises upon which there is a hedge fence in violation of the provisions of this subsection, to remove that part of said fence extending over or into the highway as aforesaid within ten (10) days after written notice to do so is served upon him by the chief of police. If any owner, occupant, or agent shall fail or refuse to comply with the provisions of this subsection, he shall be fined as provided in section 1-4-1 of this code for each offense. If service of said notice cannot be made upon the owner, occupant, or agent of said premises, or if there is not compliance with said notice within ten (10) days after the service thereof, that part of the fence which is in violation shall be removed under the direction of the Chief of Police, and the expense of removal shall be recovered by the Village from the owner of said premises in any court of competent jurisdiction. (1914 Code § 18-14; amd. 2016 Code)
D. Permit To Obstruct:
1. Whoever shall, within the limits of the Village, do any act in any way interfering with the use by the public of any street, alley or public grounds in the Village without first obtaining permission therefor from the Village Board shall be deemed guilty of an offense. This subsection is intended to and does apply as well to those persons and corporations who have heretofore, by negotiation, secured privileges in the Village, as to every other person. And any person, persons or corporations by themselves, servants or agents violating any of the provisions of this subsection, shall be fined as provided in section 1-4-1 of this Code. (1914 Code § 10-22; amd. 2016 Code)
2. a. Any person, company or corporation who shall encumber or obstruct, or cause to be encumbered or obstructed, any street, alley, or other public place in the Village by placing therein or thereon any building materials, or any article or thing whatsoever, without having first obtained written permission from the Village President or the Director of Public Works, shall be subject to a fine as provided in section 1-4-1 of this Code for each offense.
b. The party obtaining such permission shall first give bond in such penal sum as the Village President or the Director of Public Works may direct, conditioned that he shall comply with all the conditions mentioned in said permit, and shall cease to encumber or obstruct said street, alley or other public place, after the expiration of the time mentioned in said permit, and shall thereupon, without cost to the Village, restore said street to as good condition in all respects as before his use, occupation, encumbrance or obstruction thereof, and shall remove all material and debris from the space so occupied, and shall indemnify and save harmless the Village and its officers against and from all costs, judgments and decrees which may be recovered against the Village, or any of its officers, in any proceeding arising from or growing out of the use or obstruction of said street as aforesaid, or by reason of any excavation, opening or obstruction, or other impediment left in said street, or by reason of any accident or casualty occurring before the completion of said work in consequence of said obstruction or impediment. (1914 Code § 18-4; amd. 2016 Code)
E. Removal Of Obstructions: Any member of the Village Board, the Village President, or Chief of Police is hereby authorized to order any article or thing whatsoever which may encumber or obstruct any highway, street or alley within the Village to be removed. Any such encumbrance or obstruction remaining more than six (6) hours in any highway, street or alley as aforesaid shall be deemed a nuisance, and it shall be the duty of the Chief of Police to abate the same forthwith. (1914 Code § 18-5)