(A) Whenever the city enters a building and causes any work to be performed to abate a nuisance, or if the building is not vacated, secured, repaired, removed, or demolished, or if the occupants are not relocated within the allotted time, the city may take such action at its own expense, and a charge will be made to the property owner, or agent to recover the costs associated with the abatement. The charge shall be the actual cost of abatement, plus applicable sales taxes.
(B) An administrative fee of $200 shall be assessed for each such charge.
(C) If the actual charge and the administrative fee are not paid to the city within 30 days after billing, the city shall file a lien against the property. The lien shall be filed in the Deed Records of Van Zandt County, Texas. The charges shown on the lien shall bear interest at the rate of 10% per annum from the due date until paid. The lien shall be collected under the same terms and provisions of law as the city’s ad valorem taxes. The lien may be extinguished prior to foreclosure if the owner or other person having an interest in the legal title to the building reimburses the city for its expenses. If the notice is given pursuant to § 151.10, and the opportunity to abate the nuisance or repair, remove, or demolish the building is afforded to each mortgagee or lienholder under said § 151.10 of this chapter, the lien is a privileged lien subordinate only to tax liens as authorized by Texas Local Government Code Section 214.001(o).
(Ord. 2016-07, passed 4-19-2016)