(A) If the Town Board shall have adopted an ordinance, or the Town Manager or his or her designee shall have issued an order, ordering an abandoned structure to be repaired, altered, or improved as provided in § 150.35, and if the owner has vacated and closed such structure and kept such structure vacated and closed for a period of six months pursuant to the ordinance or order, then if the Town Board shall find that the owner has abandoned the intent and purpose to repair, alter, or improve the structure and that the continuation of the structure in its vacated and closed status would be inimical to the health, safety, morals, and welfare of the town in that the structure would continue to deteriorate, would create a fire and safety hazard, would be a threat to children and vagrants, would attract persons intent on criminal activities, and would cause or contribute to blight and the deterioration of property values in the area, then in such circumstances the Town Board may, after the expiration of such one-year period, enact an ordinance and serve such ordinance on the owner, setting forth the following:
(1) If it is determined that the repair of the structure can be made at a cost not exceeding 50% of the then current value of the structure, the ordinance shall require that the owner either repair or demolish and remove the structure within 90 days.
(2) If it is determined that the repair of the structure cannot be made at a cost not exceeding 50% of the then current value of the structure, the ordinance shall require that the owner demolish and remove the structure within 90 days.
(B) An ordinance adopted pursuant to this section shall be recorded in the office of the register of deeds of the county and shall be indexed in the name of the property owner in the grantor index. If the owner fails to comply with this ordinance, the Town Manager shall effectuate the purpose of the ordinance. The cost to repair or demolish and remove the dwelling shall be a lien against the real property upon which such cost was incurred. Such lien shall be filed, have priority, and be collected in the same manner as the lien for special assessments established by G.S. Chapter 160A, Article 10.
(Ord. 04-05-19, passed 5-9-05; Am. Ord. 07-08-20, passed 1-14-08)