(a) The Village Administrator, Clerk, or highest elected official, as appropriate, 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 village which he or she owns, occupies, or controls. A joint notice with other towns or municipalities may be utilized.
(b) If the owner or occupant shall neglect to destroy any weeds as required by such notice, then the Weed Commissioner of the village 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 the 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 Wis. Stats. § 66.0407. 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.
(c) (1) As provided for in Wis. Stats. § 66.0407(1)(b), the village 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 eight inches in height from the ground surface shall be prohibited within the village corporate limits. Noxious weeds shall include any weed, grass, or similar plant growth which, if allowed to pollinate, would cause or produce hayfever in human beings or would cause a skin rash through contact with the skin. Noxious weeds, as defined in this section and in § 8-1-6, shall include, but not be limited to, the following.
a. Cirsium arvense (Canada Thistle).
b. Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common Ragweed).
c. Ambrosia trifida (Great Ragweed).
d. Euphorbia esula (Leafy Spurge).
e. Convolvulus arvensis (Creeping Jenny, Field Bind Weed).
f. Tragopogon dubius (Goat’s Beard).
g. Rhus radicans (poison ivy).
h. Cirsium vulgaries (Bull Thistle).
i. Pastinaca sativa (Wild Parsnip).
j. Arctium minus (Burdock).
k. Xanthium strumarium (Cocklebur).
l. Amaranthus retroflexus (Pigweed).
m. Chenopodium album (Common Lambsquarter).
n. Rumex Crispus (Curled Dock).
o. Cannabis sativa (Hemp).
p. Plantago lancellata (English Plantain).
(2) Noxious grasses, as defined in this section and in § 8-1-6, shall include but not be limited to the following.
a. Agrostia alba (Redtop).
b. Poa pratensis (Kentucky Blue).
c. Sorghum halepense (Johnson).
d. Setaria (Foxtail).
(3) Noxious weeds are also the following plants and other rank growth.
a. Ragweed.
b. Thistles.
c. Smartweed.
d. Dandelions (over eight inches in height).
e. Milkweed (over eight inches in height).
(Prior Code, § 8-1-4)
Statutory reference:
Similar provisions, see Wis. Stats. § 66.96