(a) Dutch Elm and other tree diseases a public nuisance. Whereas the Village Board has determined that there are many trees growing on public and private premises within the village, 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 Dutch Elm disease, which is spread by the elm bark beetles Scolvtus multistriatus (Eichb.) or Hylurgopinus rufipes (Marsh.), 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 and the elm bark beetles which carry such disease to be public nuisances.
(b) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates, or requires, a different meaning.
PERSON. Person, firm, or corporation.
PUBLIC NUISANCE.
a. Fatal or deleterious tree diseases.
b. Elm bark beetles Scolvtus multistriatus (Eichb.) or Hylurgopinus rufipes (Marsh.); Dutch Elm disease.
c. Any living or standing elm tree or part thereof infected with the Dutch Elm disease fungus or in a weakened condition which harbors any of the elm bark beetles, Scolvtus multistriatus (Eichb.) or Hylurgopinus rufipes (Marsh.).
d. Any dead elm tree or part thereof, including logs, branches, stumps, firewood, or other elm material from which the bark has not been removed and burned or sprayed with an effective elm bark beetle destroying concentrate.
e. Any other deleterious or fatal tree disease.
f. 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, park, or other public or private place, including the terrace strip between the curb and lot line.
g. Any tree or part thereof which is infested by the eastern tent caterpillar or other defoliating larvae.
PUBLIC PROPERTY. Owned or controlled by the village, 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.
(c) Inspection.
(1) The Village Forester shall inspect or cause to be inspected all premises and places within the village to determine whether any public nuisance exists thereon. He or she shall also inspect or cause the inspection of any elm tree reported or suspected to be infested with the Dutch Elm disease or any elm bark bearing materials reported or suspected to be infested with elm bark beetles.
(2) Whenever necessary to determine the existence of Dutch Elm disease or elm bark beetles 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 Forester who shall forward them to the State Department of Agriculture at Madison for analysis to determine the presence of such nuisances.
(3) The Forester, and his or 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; duty of forester.
(1) The Forester shall order, direct, supervise, and control the abatement of public nuisances as defined in this section by spraying, removal, burning, or by other means which he or she determines to be necessary to prevent as fully as possible the spread of Dutch Elm disease fungus, other deleterious tree diseases, or the insect pests or vectors known to carry such diseases.
(2) Whenever the Forester, after inspection or examination, shall determine that a public nuisance as herein defined exists on public property in the village, he or she shall immediately abate or cause the abatement of such nuisance in such manner as to destroy or prevent as fully as possible the spread of Dutch Elm disease, other deleterious tree diseases, or the inspect pests or vectors known to carry such disease fungus.
(3) a. When the Forester shall determine with reasonable certainty that a public nuisance exists upon private premises, he or she shall immediately serve or cause to be served, personally or by registered mail upon the owner of such property, if he or she 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 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 publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the village.
b. If, after hearing held pursuant to this subsection (d)(3)b., 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 days after such hearing, the Forester shall proceed to abate the nuisance and cause the cost thereof to be assessed 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 additional days.
(e) Spraying.
(1) 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 elm bark beetles, he or she may cause all trees within a 1,000-foot radius thereto to be sprayed with an effective disease destroying concentrate or other insecticide, following prior authorization by the Village Board.
(2) In order to facilitate the work and minimize the inconvenience to the public of any spraying 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, 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 sprayed at least 24 hours in advance of spraying. When any residue or concentrate from municipal spraying operations can be expected to be deposited on any public street, the Forester shall also notify the Street Superintendent who shall take all necessary steps to make and enforce temporary parking and traffic regulations on such streets as conditions require. Temporary “no parking” notices shall be posted in each block of any affected street at least 24 hours in advance of spraying operations.
(3) When appropriate warning notices and temporary “no parking” notices have been given and posted in accordance with subsection (b) above, the village shall not allow any claim for damages to any vehicle caused by such spraying operations.
(4) When trees on private property are to be sprayed, the Forester shall notify the owner of such property and proceed in accordance with the requirements of subsection (d)(3) above.
(Prior Code, § 6-4-5)