(A) Notice shall be given to an owner or occupant of a lot or parcel of land located within the Village of Buckland by the Village Mayor, or Chief of Police, or their designate to immediately cut the grass or cut noxious or harmful weeds and vines growing on the subject premises, or remove litter from the premises. This notice shall be in writing, delivered personally or by certified mail return receipt requests. Should the address of the record owner be unknown and the premises unoccupied, it shall be sufficient to publish the notice once in a newspaper of general circulation within Auglaize County, Ohio. The owner or occupant shall cut the noxious or harmful weeds and vines within 5 days of receipt of notice or of publication, whichever is applicable.
(B) Should the property owner or occupant fail to cut the grass or cut such noxious or harmful weeds or vines or remove the litter within the 5-day period the owner or occupant shall be issued a criminal citation for violating the requisites of this subchapter.
(C) Should any owner or occupant of a parcel or lot be served with more than 1 notice to cut noxious or harmful weeds or vines in any 180-day period, each notice beyond the first shall be deemed a violation of this subchapter subjecting the owner or occupant to a criminal citation regardless of their subsequent compliance with this section.
(D) In the event the owner or occupant of a lot or parcel does not cut grass or cut the noxious or harmful weeds and vines, or remove the litter, the Village Mayor or his or her designate may cause the grass or noxious or harmful weeds and vines to be cut and removed, or litter to be removed, and charge the expense thereof to the owner or occupant of the subject lot or parcel. Should the village be unpaid by the owner or occupant, the village may certify the unpaid amount to the County Auditor and the same shall act as a lien upon the subject lot or parcel to be collected as a special assessment and/or may civilly collect the unpaid bill from the owner or occupant in a court of law. Should it be necessary to proceed with a special assessment or a civil action an additional fee of $50 will be assessed for the purpose of defraying the cost of the certification or litigation.
(Ord. 221-01, passed 11-8-2001) Penalty, see § 174.99