Whenever said owners fail to abate said nuisance, then the city shall remove the said personalty to a location of its selection, the expenses therefor to be billed to said owners, jointly and severally, said bill to be recoverable in a suit at law. When said personalty has been removed and placed in storage by the city, as provided for herein, said personalty shall be sold by the city after the lapse of such time as is provided by law. If the proceeds of such sale are insufficient to pay the costs of abatement, said owners shall be liable to the city for the balance of the costs, jointly and severally, to be recoverable in a suit of law. If the proceeds are in excess of costs, the balance shall be paid to said owners, or deposited in the city treasury for their use. (1975 Code § 6-4-6)