(A) Depending on the type of violation that has been discovered, the city reserves the right to offer amnesty to any residential property owner as they see fit. In the event that amnesty is offered, the city shall give written notice to the owner of the property where such source is located or to the occupant thereof by first class mail or hand delivery. It shall be sufficient if the notice is addressed to and mailed or delivered to the person or persons in whose name application was made for water service for that location.
(B) The person or persons so noticed shall, within 60 days of the date of mailing or delivery of such notice, deliver to the offices of the Florence Public Services Department, 8100 Ewing Boulevard, Florence, Kentucky, 41042, a plan, prepared by a licensed plumber, to correct the violation and eliminate the source of illicit activity. The plan shall include a detailed description of the work to be performed, a drawing showing the illicit connection or discharge and the method of its elimination, and a cost estimate for the work.
(C) The staff of the Florence Public Services Department shall review each plan and approve or deny same within ten days after receipt. Notice of this action shall be promptly communicated to the person submitting the plan.
(D) After receipt of the approval of the plan, the person submitting same shall have 60 days in which to complete the work outlined in the plan and notify Florence Public Services Department of such completion. Upon receipt of notice of completion, the Department staff shall inspect the completed work.
(E) If the work is timely completed, conforms to the approved plan, and corrects the violation, the City will reimburse the first $1,000 of the documented cost of repair. After the first $ 1,000, the City will match one-half of the total cost of repair up to a maximum of $2,000.
(F) In cases of extreme financial hardship, property owners may apply to the City for assistance in paying their share of the costs of correcting the violation. The City shall review such applications and consider the owner’s financial resources, income and ability to pay the owner’s share of the costs. If the City determines that a case of financial hardship exists, the City may-advance the owner’s share of the cost of correction. In such cases, the owner shall repay the amount so advanced in equal installments over the succeeding five-year period. Such installments shall be placed on the water bill as a separate charge. The City shall have a lien on the property for any costs so advanced and any installments unpaid when due, shall bear interest at the same rate charged for unpaid City taxes. If such installments are unpaid for a period of 30 days, the City may declare the remaining balance so advanced due and payable and may enforce its lien to collect same.
(G) Any person failing to respond to the notice of violation mailed or delivered pursuant to division (B) of this section, within the prescribed 60-day period, or failing to correct the violation, shall be subject to proceedings before the Code Enforcement Board, such violations being designated civil offenses for which the Code Enforcement Board may issue remedial orders and impose civil fines as set out in Ordinance No. 0-07-02, which is incorporated herein by reference.
(H) The Director of the Florence Public Services Department may, for good cause shown, grant an extension of any of the deadlines set out in this section, provided that request for the extension is received prior to the expiration of the deadline. The extension shall be issued in writing and shall specify the date of its termination.
(Ord. O-11-14, passed 8-12-14)