(a) The owner, occupant or person having the charge, management of any lot or parcel of land situated within the City, improved or unimproved, occupied or vacant, shall within 72 hours of being notified, by the Building Commissioner or the individual designated by the Commissioner, in writing to do so, cut or destroy, or cause to be cut or destroyed any and all high, obstructive, offensive, unsightly, noxious or poisonous weeds or grasses, vines, limbs, branches, bushes, shrubs or briars, except ornamental grasses and plants, growing upon any such lot or parcel of land. Weeds and grasses shall not be permitted to exceed a height of six inches. The written notice may be served upon the owner, occupant or person having the charge or management of any lot or parcel by hand delivery, regular U.S. Express Mail or posting the notice at the property.
(b) After an owner, occupant or person charged with the management of any lot or parcel fails to abate and conditions or in violation of division (a) herein fails to abate the conditions cited in the time allowed, then having been notified by the Building Commissioner, or the individual designated by the Commissioner, of a property in violation of subsection (a) the Director of Public Service or an individual designated by the Director is hereby authorized to cause to be cut or destroyed any such noxious or poisonous weeds or grasses, vines, limbs, branches, bushes, shrubs or briars, which are in violation of subsection (a). The Director may either contract with a contractor or may utilize City personnel to cut or destroy any such noxious or poisonous weeds or grasses, vines, limbs, branches, bushes, shrubs or briars in violation of Chapter 1365.
(c) When the Building Commissioner, or the individual designated by the Commissioner, determines that it is necessary to cut or destroy noxious or poisonous weeds or grasses, vines, limbs, branches, bushes, shrubs, or briars on any lot or parcel in the City, the owner will be charged at a rate established by the Director of Public Service. The minimum shall be three hundred dollars ($300.00) for each occurrence. Once the City establishes cutting it will continue to be cut and charged until written notification from the owner has been received from the Building Commissioner that arrangements have been made for proper maintenance.
(d) In the event that a notice issued pursuant to subsection (a) hereof is not complied with and the City must cut or destroy any such noxious or poisonous weeds or grasses, vines, limbs, branches, bushes, shrubs, or briars the City shall charge the owner, occupant or person in the charge or management of any lot or parcel within the City the cost of cutting or destroying such noxious or poisonous weeds or grasses, vines, limbs, branches, bushes, shrubs or briars. The Director of Finance shall notify by regular U.S. Certified Mail the owner, occupant or person in charge or management of any lot or parcel to pay the cost of cutting the noxious or poisonous weeds or grasses, vines, limbs, branches, bushes, shrubs, or briars said payment to be due and payable to the City within seven days of the mailing of the notice. If the same is not paid within 30 days of the mailing of the notice, the amount due may be certified to the County Fiscal Officer for collection as other taxes and assessments are collected in accordance with Ohio R.C. 731.54. Alternatively the Director of Law is hereby authorized to seek the recovery of such costs by civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction against the property owner.
(Ord. 9899-2014. Passed 4-15-14; Ord. 9922-2014. Passed 6-17-14.)