(A) Findings. Yard waste such as leaves, grass clippings, and soil/sediment can cause significant water quality problems when blown or directed into the city's stormwater drainage system. Water quality problems include algal blooms and aquatic weed growth, oxygen depletion, fish kills, and impaired aquatic habitat. In addition, when the stormwater system is clogged with yard waste it can cause street and property flooding.
(B) Restrictions on debris.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to rake, sweep, blow, wash, direct or place any debris, including but not limited to yard waste, grass clippings, leaves, sediment, trash, or debris of any kind into the storm drainage system of the city, including any streets, storm drains, ditches, swales, streams, lakes, culverts, rights-of-way, dedicated easements, or in any other area where it might impede the flow of water through the storm drainage system of the city.
(2) It shall be the duty of all property owners within the city to take adequate precautions on their property to ensure positive drainage on their property. Such drainage may be provided either through natural or artificial drains found to be adequate by the City Engineer. The owner shall keep all ditches, drains, swales, and drainage routes free from obstructions which would impede the flow of water.
(3) The following are preferred best management practices (BMPs) for yard waste and debris:
(a) Prevent yard waste and debris from entering the street, storm drain, ditch, or other parts of the drainage system.
(b) Direct or blow yard waste back onto a lawn or landscape area.
(c) Sweep, rake, and/or collect yard waste instead of hosing/sweeping off of driveways, sidewalks or other impervious surfaces.
(d) Leave grass clippings on the lawn to decompose quickly and act as a natural fertilizer and soil conditioner (‘grass cycle’).
(e) Compost yard debris for use in the lawn, garden, or landscape.
(f) Collect and contain yard waste for city collection service according to specific yard waste collection policies. Do not use the city trash cart for yard waste or debris.
(4) Any condition in violation of this section shall constitute a public nuisance, subject to civil penalties as describe in division (C) below.
(C) Penalties.
(1) Civil penalties described herein apply only to violations of this section.
(2) Civil penalties shall be assessed upon determination of a violation of this section. The enforcement official of the city may immediately and without prior notice cause a citation in the amount of $50 to be issued to the violator either hand delivered or posted in the U.S. mail service by first class mail addressed to the last known address of the violator as contained in the records of Granville County. The citation shall set out the nature of the violation, the section of the City Code violated, the date of the violation, and shall contain an order to immediately cease the violation. The violator shall be deemed to have been served upon the mailing of the citation or upon hand delivery of the citation.
(3) Citations may be issued for each day the offense continues until the prohibited activity is ceased or abated.
(4) Continuing violation abatement procedure. If the owner of any property fails to comply with a notice of violation given pursuant to this section, within two days after the service of the notice, the city may have the condition described in the notice abated, removed, or otherwise corrected. All expenses incurred thereby shall be chargeable and paid by the owner of the property, and shall be collected as taxes and levies are collected. All such expenses shall constitute a lien against the property on which the work was done.
(Ord. 2012-O-05, passed 9-25-12)