[Adopted as Sec. 9.08 of the prior Code]
The purpose of this article is to protect the health, safety, general welfare and property of citizens and landowners in the Town of Rome. The Town has an abundance of deer which can create many problems including threats to traffic safety, damage to real and personal property, damage to plant life and, through the spread of disease including chronic wasting disease, a threat to public safety. The effect of these problems on persons and property is more pronounced in areas of higher residential density. The Town Board, therefore, determines that it is necessary and appropriate to prohibit the feeding of deer in areas of the Town of Rome zoned "LD" Lake District in an effort to reduce the elements of attraction for deer, especially in residential areas. By reducing the elements of attraction for deer, the intensity of the deer population, especially in residential areas, should be reduced.
No person may, within any area of the Town zoned "LD" Lake District, place or permit to be on the ground, or within five feet of the ground surface, any grain, fodder, salt licks, fruit, vegetables, nuts, hay or other edible material (including feed for birds), which may reasonably be expected to result in deer feeding, unless such items are screened or protected in a manner that prevents deer from feeding on them. Living fruit trees and other live vegetation shall not be considered as deer feeding.
Any person convicted of violating this article shall be fined not less than $30 nor more than $100 for each such violation. Each day a violation exists shall be considered a separate violation.
For the purpose of this article, the following terms, phrases, words, and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein. If not defined herein, the word, term or phrase shall have the definition commonly accepted including a relevant definition contained in the Wisconsin Statutes. When not inconsistent with the context, the words used in the present tense include the future, words in the plural number include the singular number and words in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory:
FINE
Shall be the equivalent of the word "forfeiture," and vice versa.
OWNER
Includes the plural as well as the singular and may mean either a natural person, firm, association, partnership, private corporation, public or quasi-public corporation, or combination of these who shall hold title to a building, structure or property, or who shall be in actual possession of, or have charge, or control of building, structure, or property as agent of the title holder, or who shall be trustee or guardian of the estate or person of the title holder.
PERSON
Includes a corporation, firm partnership, association, organization and any other group acting as a unit as well as individuals, including a personal representative, receiver or other representative appointed according to law. Whenever the term "person" is used in any section of this article prescribing a penalty or fine, as to partnerships or associations, the work shall include the partners or members thereof, and as to corporations, shall include the officers, agents or members thereof who are responsible for any violation of such section.
PUBLIC NUISANCE
A thing, act, occupation, condition or use of property, which shall continue for such length of time as to substantially annoy, injure or endanger the comfort, health, repose or safety of the public; in any way render the public insecure in life or in the use of property; greatly offend the public morals or decency; unlawfully and substantially interfere with, obstruct or tend to obstruct or render dangerous for passage any street, alley, highway, navigable body of water or other public way or the use of public property.
TOWN
The Town of Rome, Adams County, Wisconsin, or any duly appointed designate thereof, including, but not limited to, the Town Board and Town committees.
TOWN BOARD or BOARD
The present governing body of the Town or any successors to the legislative power of said body, or any duly appointed designate thereof.