(A) After the Housing Administrator has issued an order and the Town Council has adopted an ordinance ordering a dwelling to be repaired or vacated and closed as provided in § 151.19 above, and the owner has vacated and closed the dwelling and kept the dwelling vacated and closed for a period of one year pursuant to the ordinance or order, the Town Council of the town may find that the owner has abandoned the intent and purpose to repair, alter or improve the dwelling in order to render it fit for human habitation and that the continuation of the dwelling in its vacated and closed status would be inimical to the health, safety, morals and welfare of the town in that the dwelling would continue to deteriorate, would create a fire and safety hazard, would be a threat to children and vagrants, would attract persons intent on criminal activities, would cause or contribute to blight and the deterioration of property values in the area, and would render unavailable property and a dwelling which might otherwise have been made available to ease the persistent shortage of decent and affordable housing in this state and township; then in those circumstances, the Town Council may, after the expiration of the one-year period, enact an ordinance and serve the ordinance on the owner, requiring the owner to either:
(1) Repair or demolish and remove the dwelling within 90 days, if the repair necessary to render the dwelling fit for human habitation would cost less than 50% of the present value of the dwelling; or
(2) Demolish and remove the dwelling within 90 days if the repair necessary to render the dwelling fit for human habitation would cost in excess of 50% of the present value of the dwelling.
(B) The ordinance shall be recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds in the county and shall be indexed in the name of the property owner in the grantor index. If the owner fails to comply with this chapter, the Housing Administrator shall effectuate the purpose of the ordinance.
(Ord. passed - -2007)