§ 26-9. Destruction of noxious weeds.

(a)

Notice. Unless delegated to the county, the town clerk-treasurer 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 town which he owns, occupies or controls. A joint notice with other towns or municipalities may be utilized.

(b)

Noxious weeds. In this section the term "noxious weeds" means Canadian thistle, leafy spurge, field bindweed, marijuana that is not grown or cultivated for lawful commercial purposes, English charlock or wild mustard, goats-beard, quack or quitch grass, harmful barberry, field dodder, Indian mustard, oxeye daisy, snapdragon or butter and eggs, and perennial sow thistle.

(c)

Destruction of weeds. If the owner or occupant shall neglect to destroy any weeds as required by such notice, then the weed commissioner of the town 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.

(d)

Charge for cutting noxious weeds. Whenever the town is required to cut noxious weeds, a billing for such charge shall be sent to the property owner, and in the event the charge is not paid within 30 days from the date of billing, interest may accrue thereon at the rate of 1½ percent per month from and after the due date. The charge of the town for such service, including interest and a processing charge established by resolution, shall be added to the next succeeding tax bill for the real estate taxes as a special assessment, to be paid together with the real estate taxes levied and assessed against the property. The amount of the charge for cutting noxious weeds shall be established by resolution.

(Prior Code, § 8-1-4)