[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of Coloma as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Brush, grass and weeds — See Ch. 198.
Building construction — See Ch. 207.
Fire prevention ad protection — See Ch. 252.
Health and sanitation — See Ch. 286.
Nuisances — See Ch. 354.
Peace and good order — See Ch. 376.
Trees and shrubs — See Ch. 424.
Junked vehicles and appliances on private property — See Ch. 435, Art. II.
Zoning — See Ch. 480.
[Adopted 6-30-1994 as Title 9, Ch. 7, of the 1994 Code]
A. 
It is hereby found and declared that premises exist within the Village limits which are blighted because there exist thereon blighted buildings or structures either due to faulty design or construction or to failure to maintain them in a proper state of repair or to improper management or due to the accumulation thereon of junk, wood, brick, cement block or other unsightly debris, refrigerators, furnaces, appliances, machinery or parts thereof, structurally unsound fences and other such items which tend to depreciate property values and to jeopardize or be detrimental to the health, safety, morals or welfare of the Village residents.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 435, Vehicles, Junked or Abandoned, Art. II, Junked Vehicles and Appliances on Private Property.
B. 
It is hereby further found and declared that such blighted premises, buildings or structures contribute to the development of, or increase in, disease, infant mortality, crime and juvenile delinquency; that conditions existing on such blighted premises are dangerous to the public health, safety, morals and general welfare of the residents; that conditions existing on such blighted premises necessitate excessive and disproportionate expenditure of public funds for public health, public safety, crime prevention, fire protection and other public services; that the conditions existing on such blighted premises cause a drain upon public revenue and impair the efficient and economical exercise of governmental functions in such areas.
C. 
It is hereby further found and declared that the elimination of blighted premises and the prevention of occurrence of blighted premises in the future is in the best interests of the citizens of this Village and that the accomplishment of this end will be fostered and encouraged by the enactment and enforcement of this section. It is hereby declared to be essential to the public interest and it is intended that this section be liberally construed to effectuate the purpose heretofore stated.
The following definitions shall only apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this section:
DWELLING
Any building or structure, which is wholly or partly used or intended to be used for living or sleeping by human occupants and includes any appurtenances thereto.
DWELLING UNIT
Any habitable room or group of adjoining habitable rooms located within a dwelling and forming a single unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating of meals.
EXTERMINATION
The control and elimination of insects, rodents or other pests by eliminating their harborage places; by removing or making inaccessible, materials that may serve as their food; by poisoning, spraying, fumigating, trapping; or any other approved pest control methods.
NUISANCE
A. 
Any public nuisance known in common law or in equity jurisprudence.
B. 
Any attractive nuisance which may prove detrimental to children whether in a building or upon an unoccupied lot. This includes any abandoned wells, shafts, basements and excavations; or any abandoned refrigerators, furnaces, machinery or parts thereof, structurally unsound fences and structures; or any lumber, trash, fences, debris or vegetation which may prove a hazard for inquisitive minors.
C. 
Whatever is dangerous to human life or is detrimental to health.
D. 
Dwelling or nondwelling structures which tend to depreciate property values and jeopardize or be detrimental to the health, safety, morals or welfare of the Village residents due to faulty design or construction or to failure to maintain them in a proper state of repair or to improper management.
OCCUPANT
Any person living, sleeping or eating or having actual possession of a dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit.
OPERATOR
Any person who has charge, care or control of a building or part thereof in which dwelling or rooming units are let.
OWNER
Any person who alone or jointly or severally with others shall be the legally recorded holder of the title with or without actual possession thereof, or who has charge, care or control of any dwelling or dwelling unit as agent, owner, or as executor, administrator, trustee or guardian of the estate of the owner. The term "owner" under this section shall also include the legally recorded holder of a land contract vendee interest.
PERSON
Includes any individual, firm, corporation, partnership or association.
PREMISES
Any lot, plot or parcel of land either occupied or unoccupied by any dwelling or nondwelling structure.
The responsibilities of the occupants are as follows:
A. 
To keep the exterior of the dwelling and nondwelling structures and premises he/she controls and occupies in a clean and sanitary condition.
B. 
To maintain the dwelling unit in a clean and sanitary condition as provided in Article II, Unfit Dwellings, of this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
A. 
The responsibility of the owners are as follows:
(1) 
To exterminate in the following cases:
(a) 
When infestation exists in two or more units of a multiple unit structure.
(b) 
When infestation exists in shared or public areas of a multiple unit structure.
(c) 
When infestation exists in a single unit of a multiple unit or in a single unit structure when infestation is due to failure of the owner to maintain the dwelling in a ratproof and reasonably insect-proof condition.
(2) 
To perform the responsibilities of the occupant when premises are vacant.
(3) 
In addition to the above, no owner shall permit any premises to exist or any dwelling or nondwelling structure or fence to exist on any premises which does not comply with the following requirements:
(a) 
Maintenance of structures. Every foundation, exterior wall, roof, window, exterior door, basement hatchway and every other entranceway of every dwelling or nondwelling structure shall be so maintained as to prevent the structure from becoming a harborage for rats and shall be kept in a reasonably good state of maintenance and repair.
(b) 
Protection of exterior wood surfaces. All exterior wood surfaces of all dwelling or nondwelling structures shall be properly protected from the elements and against decay by paint or other approved protective coating applied in a workmanlike manner.
(c) 
Maintenance of fences. Every fence shall be kept in a reasonably good state of maintenance and repair or shall be removed.
(d) 
Pest control. Every premise shall be so maintained as to prevent the premises from becoming a harborage for rats and insect pests. Whenever infestation with rodents or pests exists in any premises upon which no structure or nondwelling structures are located, extermination thereof shall be the responsibility if the owner.
B. 
General cleanliness. The accumulation or storage of junk, wood, brick, cement block or other unsightly debris, old automobiles or parts thereof, trucks, tractors, refrigerators, furnaces, washing machines, stoves, machinery or parts thereof, such as may tend to depreciate property values in the area to create a nuisance or hazard shall not be allowed on any lot or parcel or land within the limits of the Village except as may be allowed by permit approved by the Village Board or except when such materials are properly housed and out of public view.
When the Building Inspector, Waushara County Public Health Department and/or Fire Inspector determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a violation of any provision which affects the safety of any such occupants or the safety of the general public, he/she shall give notice of such alleged violation to the person or persons responsible therefor and to any known agent of such persons, as hereinafter provided. Such notice shall:
A. 
Be put in writing.
B. 
Include a statement of the reasons why it is being issued.
C. 
Allow a reasonable time for the performance of any act it requires.
D. 
Be served upon the owner or his/her agent or the occupant as the case may require; provided that such notice shall be deemed to be properly served upon such owner or agent, or upon such occupant, if a copy thereof is served upon him/her personally or if a copy thereof is sent by registered mail to his/her last known address or if a copy thereof is posted in a conspicuous place in or about the premises affected by the notice or if he/she is served with such notice by any other method authorized or required under the laws of this state.
E. 
Such notice must contain an outline of remedial action which, if taken, will effect compliance with the provisions of this article.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
A. 
Enforcement. The Chief of Police, the Fire Chief, the Building Inspector and Waushara County Public Health Department shall enforce those provisions of this section that come within the jurisdiction of their offices and they shall make periodic inspections and inspections upon complaint to insure that such provisions are not violated. No action shall be taken under this section to abate a public nuisance unless the officer shall have inspected or caused to be inspected the premises where the nuisance is alleged to exist and has satisfied himself/herself that a nuisance does in fact exist.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
B. 
Summary abatement. If the inspecting officer shall determine that a public nuisance exists within the Village and that there is great and immediate danger to the public health, safety, peace, morals or decency, the Village President may direct the proper officer to cause the same to be abated and charge the cost thereof to the owner, occupant or person causing, permitting or maintaining the nuisance as the case may be.
C. 
Abatement after notice. If the inspecting officer shall determine that a public nuisance exists on private premises but that the nature of such nuisance is not such as to threaten great and immediate danger to the public health, safety, peace, morals or decency, he/she shall serve notice on the person causing or maintaining the nuisance to remove the same within 10 days. If such nuisance is not removed within said 10 days, the proper officer shall cause the nuisance to be removed as provided in Subsection B.
D. 
Other methods not excluded. Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the abatement of public nuisances by the Village or its officials in accordance with the laws of the State of Wisconsin.
In addition to any other penalty imposed by this article for the erection, contrivance, creation, continuance or maintenance of a public nuisance, the cost of abating a nuisance by the Village shall be collected as a debt from the owner, occupant or person causing, permitting or maintaining the nuisance, and if notice to abate the nuisance has been given to the owner, such cost shall be assessed against the real estate as a special charge.
[Adopted 6-30-1994 as Title 10, Ch. 2, of the 1994 Code]
A. 
Cleanliness. Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall keep in a clean and sanitary condition that part of the dwelling, dwelling unit and premises thereof which he/she occupies or controls.
B. 
Disposal of rubbish. Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall dispose of all his/her rubbish in a clean and sanitary manner by placing it in rubbish containers required by this Code.
C. 
Disposal of garbage. Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall dispose of all his/her garbage and any other organic waste, which might provide food for rodents, in a clean and sanitary manner by placing it in the garbage disposal facilities or garbage storage containers as required by this Code.
D. 
Extermination of pests. Every occupant of a dwelling containing a single dwelling unit shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents or other pests therein or on the premises, and every occupant of a dwelling unit in a dwelling containing more than one dwelling unit shall be responsible for such extermination within the unit occupied by him/her whenever his/her dwelling unit is the only one infested, except that whenever infestation is caused by failure of the owner to maintain a dwelling in a ratproof or insect-proof condition, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner.
E. 
Use and operation of supplied plumbing fixtures. Every occupant of a dwelling unit shall keep all supplied plumbing fixtures therein in a clean and sanitary condition and shall be responsible for the exercise of reasonable care in the proper use and operation thereof.
F. 
Destruction, mutilation and defacing of property. Every occupant of a dwelling unit, rooming unit or nursing unit shall be responsible for the repair or replacement of any part of required residential real estate, required supplied fixtures and equipment, required supplied furnishings and any other required property of an owner, when such has been willfully or wantonly damaged, mutilated or defaced by such occupant.
A. 
Any dwelling or dwelling unit, which the Waushara County Public Health Department shall find to have any of the following defects, shall be condemned as unfit for human habitation, occupancy or use:[1]
(1) 
One which is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary, difficult to heat, unsafe, or vermin infested, that it creates a hazard to the health or welfare of the occupants or of the public; or
(2) 
One which lacks illumination, ventilation or sanitary facilities, adequate to protect the health or welfare of the occupants or of the general public; or
(3) 
One which because of its general condition or location is unsanitary or otherwise dangerous to the health or welfare of the occupants or of the general public, any dwelling or dwelling unit may be condemned as unfit for human habitation by the Waushara County Public Health Department if the owner or occupant failed to comply with any order based on the provisions of this section or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, provided that such dwelling or dwelling unit is, in the opinion of the Waushara County Public Health Department, unfit for human habitation by reason of such failure to comply.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
B. 
Procedure for condemnation. The condemnation of dwellings and dwelling units as unfit for human habitation, occupancy or use shall be carried out in accordance with § 66.0413, Wis. Stats., and the Waushara County Public Health Department shall be, and is hereby, designated as an "other designated officer" under the provisions of § 66.0413, Wis. Stats.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
The Waushara County Public Health Department is charged with the responsibility for the enforcement of this article. However, it is hereby declared that the intent of this article can be most effectively carried out by the cooperation of all Village departments concerned and all such departments shall cooperate with the Waushara County Public Health Department in the enforcement of this article.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
The provisions of this article shall not abrogate the responsibility of any person to comply with any of the provisions of the Wisconsin State Building Code and the Uniform Dwelling Code.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).