(A) The Housing Officer shall make periodic inspections of any dwelling vacated as unfit for human habitation or any other vacant structure. Whenever an inspection of the structure discloses that the structure by reason of its being a rat harborage or for any other reason has become a public nuisance or a hazard to the health, safety or welfare of the public, the Housing Officer shall issue a written notice requiring the owner, within a reasonable time specified in the notice, to rectify the conditions constituting the nuisance, or to remove or demolish the structure. Such removal or demolition shall not be ordered unless the cost of such repair, alteration or improvement shall exceed 50% of the market value of the structure. If requested by the two interested parties, a board of three appraisers shall be appointed to decide the market value. Each party shall select one appraiser; who in turn shall select the third. Any fee engendered through action shall be borne by the property owner. At the time of action, service of the notice shall be made in accordance with § 150.57.
(B) If the owner fails to rectify the said conditions and the cost of rectifying the same shall be less than 50% of the market value of the structure, the Housing Officer may cause such repairs, alterations or improvements to be made. The amount of such cost of alterations or improvements, or vacating, closing, removal or demolition shall be a municipal lien against the real property upon which the cost was incurred. If the structure is removed or demolished by order of the Housing Officer, he or she shall sell the materials of such structure for the best price attainable, and shall credit the proceeds of such sale against the cost of removal or demolition, and any such balance remaining shall be disbursed to the owner.
(Ord. 1060, passed 5-16-1966; Ord. 1066, passed 9-19-1966)