A. Upon discovering on any premises the growth of grass or weeds in violation of section 3-4-2 of this chapter, the mayor shall give written notice to the owner or occupant of said parcel of land to abate said nuisance within three (3) days. Said notice shall be in substantially the following form: (Ord. 09-99, 7-12-1999)
NOTICE
To the Owner or Occupant of the following described parcel of real estate:
You are hereby notified that there exists on the above described real estate a growth of grass and/or weeds in violation of title 3, chapter 4 of the Athens City Code. You are further notified that if said growth of grass and/or weeds is not removed within three (3) days after your receipt of this Notice, then the City of Athens, acting through an agent or employee, will enter upon said premises and will have the same cut and removed at your cost and expense, which will be $150 per hour ( minimum 1 hour billed) for each occurrence. If you desire a hearing regarding this matter, please contact Athens City Hall and a hearing will be arranged prior to action by the City. Moreover, failure to abate this nuisance may subject you to a fine for each day that said growth is permitted by you to remain. Upon completion of the abatement by the City of Athens, the city office manager or duly authorized designee shall prepare and deliver an invoice for all charges attributable to abatement and related activity. In the event the said notice is not paid by the close of business on the twentieth day following the date of the invoice, the city attorney shall prepare and file a lien against the property where said abatement occurred.
In the event that the growth is removed within said three (3) days after receipt of this Notice, then the City will not take any further action against you. Please avoid any action by the City of Athens by immediately addressing this nuisance. If you have any questions regarding the matter, please call Athens City Hall.
(Ord. 09-99, 7-12-1999; amd. 2017 Code)
B. If the owner or occupant of the premises is not known or cannot be found, service of the foregoing notice shall be effected by posting a copy thereof on the premises at least five (5) days before the date affixed for cutting the grass and/or weeds, and mailing a copy by certified mail, return request requested, to the last known address of the person owning said land. Failure of such mailed notice to be delivered or received shall not affect the right of the city to proceed to abate the nuisance. (Ord. 09-99, 7-12-1999; Ord. 07-2019, 8-1-2019)