(A) Annual inspection. The forester and/or tree inspector shall inspect, as often as necessary, all public and private places within the city to determine whether any of the conditions described in § 94.03 exists thereon. The forester and/or tree inspector shall investigate all reported incidents of infection or infestation by oak wilt fungus or any other epidemic disease of shade trees. The term PRIVATE PLACE means every place except private homes and buildings.
(B) Right of entry. The forester and/or tree inspector or the City Board’s duly authorized agents may enter upon all public and private places at any reasonable time for the purpose of carrying out any of the duties assigned herein. Before making any inspection on private property within the city, the forester and/or tree inspector shall give five days’ written notice of the inspection to all affected residents and property owners.
(C) Disease determination. Whenever possible, diagnosis shall be based upon accepted field symptoms. The forester and/or tree inspector may, upon finding indications of oak wilt, take such other steps as may be appropriate to confirm the diagnosis. These steps may include analysis of twig and stem samples from oak trees, or parts thereof, suspected of being infected, laboratory isolation, and confirmation of the presence of the fungi shall be done by the Department of Agriculture disease diagnosis laboratory or other laboratories capable of performing the services approved by the state’s Commissioner of Agriculture.
(Ord. 52, passed 7-18-1995)