(a) If any property owner fails to comply with the order provided in Section 551.02, the Director shall cause the removal of the noxious weeds, grass exceeding eight (8) inches in height, or litter. The Director may do so through City employees, the Canton City Board of Health, or outside labor.
(b) The Director must record the expenses for removal, inspection, record research, notification, and administrative charges. The Director must send a statement of those expenses to the owner of the property at the address used by the Stark County Auditor for real estate tax billing purposes. Administrative charges will be set by the Director and may be adjusted annually.
(c) If not paid within thirty (30) days, Council, by ordinance, will certify the total amount of those expenses, the owner of the property, and a sufficient description of the premises, to the Stark County Auditor to be placed on the tax duplicate and to be a lien
on the property from the date of entry, and to be collected as other taxes and assessments and returned to the General Fund according to Ohio R.C. 731.54 or any other appropriate fund.
(d) Additionally, the Director may place any delinquent amounts due under this Chapter with a third party agent, including but not limited to, a law firm or collection agency. Any such delinquent account shall be assessed a collection fee, equal to the fee charged by the third party, as set forth in the third party's contract with the City. The resulting balance due on the account shall be the principal balance due, plus interest penalties, late fees and/or other permissible fines or charges, and the collection fee. The assessment of the collection fee shall be made by the third party at the time the account is placed by the City with said third party. Additionally, any court costs incurred in relation to all delinquent accounts shall also be added to the total balance due.
(Ord. 74-2019. Passed 4-29-19.)