(A) If an Enforcement Officer determines that a building condition requires the vacation, securing, repair, or removal of a building, the abating of a nuisance condition, or the relocation of the occupants of the building, the Enforcement Officer shall:
(1) Give notice of the nuisance to the owner of the building by personal service or by certified mail (with a duplicate copy addressed to such owner or occupant as shown in the most recent tax roll or utility records of the city and deposited in the U. S. Mail, postage paid). A copy will also be provided or sent to at least one known occupant, (if the building is occupied);
(2) Provide detail in such notice of the standard(s) violated under this chapter and the necessary action to abate the nuisance (a copy of an Enforcement Officer’s report is sufficient for this purpose);
(3) Advise such owner or occupant of the date and time of the public hearing at which a determination will be made by the Council Hearing Panel as to whether the nuisance exists and whether the building complies with the standards of this chapter;
(4) Include a statement in such notice that the owner, lienholder or mortgagee will be required to submit at the hearing proof of the scope of any work that may be required to comply with this ordinance and the time it will take to reasonably perform the work;
(5) Provide a copy of such notice of nuisance, details thereof, the required action necessary to abate the nuisance, and the date and time of the hearing to any mortgagee or lienholder of record after a diligent effort to discover such mortgagee or lienholder.
(B) If the city mails a notice in accordance with this section to a property owner, occupant, lienholder, mortgagee or registered agent and the United States Postal Service returns the notice as “refused” or “unclaimed,” the validity of the notice is not affected, and the notice is considered delivered.
(C) The city satisfies the requirements of this chapter to make a diligent effort, to use its best efforts, or to make a reasonable effort to determine the identity and address of an owner, an occupant, a lienholder, or a mortgagee if the city searches the following records:
(1) County real property records of Van Zandt County;
(2) Appraisal district records of Van Zandt County;
(3) Records of the Secretary of State;
(4) Assumed name records of Van Zandt County;
(5) Tax records of the city; and
(6) Utility records of the city.
(Ord. 2016-07, passed 4-19-2016)