It is unlawful to allow or maintain on any lot or upon the parking or alley abutting, thereon, any growth of weeds or rank vegetable growth, including noxious weeds or other weeds or vegetable growth that may conceal filthy deposits. The owner, occupant or agent of the owner of any premises in the City shall prevent the growth of and shall destroy all weeds and other noxious growths not to exceed ten (10) inches upon any premises and the parkings and alleys adjacent thereto, before the weeds and noxious growths become a breeding place for mosquitoes or the harboring place for filthy deposits, so as to be dangerous to the health of the community.
1. Exemptions. Any cultivated agricultural commodities which are planted and harvested within the City, provided the same are regularly maintained and otherwise free from the type of offensive vegetation that would constitute a health, safety or fire hazard, and regularly maintained native grass preserves approved by the City Forester are exempt from this section.
2. Abatement. When it is called to the Forester’s attention that any growth prohibited by this section exists, the Forester shall give a notice to the owner of the area or the adjacent areas where the weeds are present, stating that if the growth is not removed within five (5) days after the receipt of the notice, the offensive growth will be removed by the City. The City Park and Recreation Department after removal of the weeds shall return to the Clerk an itemized statement of the cost thereof which shall be not less than fifty ($50.00) dollars per lot together with the legal description of the property on which the weeds were cut. Upon filing the costs, the Clerk shall first endeavor to collect the amount due and, if not collected within thirty (30) days, shall certify the costs to the County Treasurer to be collected with and in the same manner as general property taxes. The notice shall be served by certified mail or by actual service by a member of the Police Department. The ownership of property under this section shall be conclusively determined by ownership as revealed by the plat books of the County Auditor and service on one (1) or two (2) or more co-owners shall constitute adequate service for the purpose of this section.