[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Amery 10-6-2004 as § 7-8-7 of the 2004 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter:
BLASTING
A method of loosening, moving or shattering masses of solid matter by use of explosive compounds to prepare stone for crushing, to prepare stone for building and/or ornamental use, or to prepare property for development.
PERSON
Any individual, partner, corporation, company, trustee or association, together with the respective servants, agents and employees thereof.
ROCK CRUSHER
Any device, machine, apparatus or equipment used either individually or in conjunction with any other device, machine, apparatus or equipment for the purpose of crushing, grinding, breaking or pulverizing rock or stone.
No person within the City shall operate a rock crusher or perform blasting in such a manner so that any dust, dirt or vibration from such operation shall, in any way, damage or injure any person or property within the City. All blasting within the City shall be performed according to the requirements of Ch. SPS 307, Wis. Adm. Code, and all subsequent amendments thereto.
A. 
Permit required. No person within the City shall operate a rock crusher or perform blasting who does not possess a proper permit therefor from the City.
B. 
Applications. All applications for permits hereunder shall be made in writing upon the written form provided by the City and distributed by the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer. All applications for permits hereunder shall be signed by the applicant and filed with the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer at least 60 days prior to the permit period. The City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer shall immediately refer all applications for permits hereunder to the City Engineer. The City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer shall issue a permit hereunder only after first receiving the recommendation of the City Engineer, the duly executed certified check for the permit fee as hereinafter provided and the submittal of the plan of operation, if required, as approved by the City Engineer.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
C. 
Certified check. Each application for a permit hereunder shall be accompanied by a certified check in the sum of the required permit fee as hereinafter provided, or a renewal thereof, the same to be payable to the City.
D. 
Plan of operation. Each application for a permit to perform blasting or operate a rock crusher hereunder or renewal thereof shall be accompanied by a plan of operation which shall include methods of screening from adjacent properties, hours of operation, hours of blasting and operation of rock crusher, dust and noise control, blasting procedures, location and height of stockpiles, whether a rock crusher will be needed and how often, water supply, drainagecourse, maximum depth, legal description of property in question and other information the City Engineer deems pertinent to the proposed operation. Such plan of reorganization shall be approved by the City Engineer.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
E. 
Insurance. Each application for a blasting permit shall be accompanied by a certificate of insurance identifying the City of Amery as a party insured in the amount of $500,000 for damage to property, and $500,000 for injury to one person and $1,000,000 for injury to more than one person caused by the blasting.
All requests for renewals of permits hereunder shall be made at least 60 days prior to the expiration date of the permit and must comply with all requirements of § 184-3 above.
A. 
Energy ratio. The allowable vibration of any blast at the nearest occupied or used building off the subject premises shall not exceed an energy ratio of 0.5 or resultant particle velocity of 1.35 inches per second based on the following formula:
Energy ratio = 0.5 = 10.823 f2A2 where: f = frequency in cycles per second, A = amplitude or displacement in inches
Energy ratio = 0.274 V2 (V = resultant particles velocity expressed in inches per second)
B. 
Measurement of blasts. The operator of the quarry operation, when requested to do so by the City Engineer, shall measure and submit data to substantiate compliance with the above formula and the operator of the quarry operation, when requested to do so by the City Engineer, shall measure air blast. This verification shall be performed by a seismological engineering firm acceptable to the City or by the City Engineer. Instrumentation shall be by seismograph similar to VME Seismolog Model "B" and approved seismograph sound-measuring equipment or approved equivalents. All expenses for these tests shall be paid by the quarry operator.
C. 
Blasting log. A log in duplicate shall be kept of each blast on forms similar to the one on file with the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer. The original copy of this blasting log shall be filed with the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer within 48 hours after the blast, and a copy shall be kept on file at the quarry office.
D. 
Cover material. Operators of quarries for building and/or ornamental stone removal shall cover Primacord, other detonating cord or surface-laid blasting devices with at least one foot of dirt or other suitable cover material.
The permit fee for any permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall be as set forth below. No permit fee shall be prorated. All permits issued hereunder shall expire on December 31 following the date of issue:
A. 
Quarries using blasting to supply buildings and/or ornamental stone: as prescribed in the Schedule of Fees per blasting period.
B. 
Gravel crushing operations using portable or fixed crushing equipment less than 30 days per year: as prescribed in the Schedule of Fees per year.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a penalty as provided in § 1-5 of this Code of Ordinances. However, upon conviction for the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter by the holder of a permit issued hereunder, and in addition to the forfeiture provided, such permit shall thereupon be cancelled, revoked, rescinded and terminated.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
Before renewal of any permit issued under this chapter is refused or any permit is revoked, cancelled, rescinded or terminated, the permittee shall be given written notice of any charges or violations against him/her or the reasons proposed for nonrenewal or revocation and shall have an opportunity to be heard before the City Council.