(A) A statement of charges assessed by the responding agencies and/or the county for oil or hazardous materials emergency response shall be mailed to the responsible party and/or their insurance company, and shall be due and payable within 30 days of the date of assessment. If the responsible party contests charge, he shall have ten days from receipt of the assessment to give notice of appeal, in writing, to the County Administration Office. A hearing shall be held and a written decision made by the County Manager within 15 days thereafter. If the responsible party is not satisfied with the decision of the County Manager, the matter will be placed on the agenda for the next regular meeting of the Board of Com- missioners for further consideration. A final decision shall be made within 30 days thereafter.
(B) Any unpaid charge shall bear interest from the due date at the highest rate permitted by law. Further, if the owner of the real property upon which the abatement of the emergency took place is determined in any report to be responsible for the discharge of oil or hazardous material therein, then, and in that event; any charge not paid within 30 days from the date or assessment shall be a lien upon the land or premises where the abatement took place, and shall be collected as unpaid taxes pursuant to the authority of G.S. § 153A-140. The county shall charge for the removal, abatement, or remedy of hazardous material emergencies in amounts adequate to reimburse the county and local emergency services agencies for actual costs incurred by the county for removal, abatement, or remedy.
(C) Charges shall be adopted and amended from time to time by action of the Board of County Commissioners.
(Ord. passed 8-21-00)