(a) Cutting Required. Any person owning or having charge of land within the Village shall keep such property free and clear from noxious weeds, rank vegetation and tall grass, and shall be required to cut such weeds, rank vegetation, and grass on the lots owned or controlled by that person.
(b) Notice to Cut; Service or Publication. Upon information that noxious weeds are growing on lands in the Village, the Administrator shall investigate. If the noxious weeds are of a height in excess of six inches, the Administrator or person authorized by the Administrator shall cause written notice to be served on the owner or person having charge of such land that such weeds must be cut and destroyed within five days after service of such notice. If the owner or person having charge of such land is a nonresident whose address is known, such notice shall be sent to his address by registered mail; if unknown, it shall be sufficient to publish such notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in the County. Only one notice to the property owner, as provided for in this section, shall be necessary in any one growing season.
(c) Agricultural Use. Any land that is undeveloped and that is actively being farmed for agricultural purposes is excluded from the cutting provisions of subsection (a) hereof, so long as the land remains cultivated and crops are growing on the land.
(d) Failure to Comply; Work Done by Village. If the owner or person having charge of such lands fails to comply with the notice, the Administrator shall cause the noxious weeds to be cut and destroyed. All expenses and/or labor costs incurred shall be paid from the general fund.
(e) Lien for Costs. The Finance Director shall make a report to the County Auditor of its action under this section with a statement of the charges for services, the amount paid for labor, the fees for serving these notices, and a proper description of the premises. Such amounts, when allowed, shall be entered upon the tax duplicate and be a lien upon such lands from and after the date of entry and be collected as other taxes and returned to the Village with the General Fund.
(Ord. 07-16. Passed 6-11-07.)