(A) Complaints of violations of this chapter are generally received from the public, city staff, or observed by city Citation Officers. When a complaint is received, a Citation Officer is assigned the complaint. The Citation Officer shall document the complaint and determine if it is valid or unfounded. If found to be valid, the resident is notified of the violation through a warning or citation. A hearing disputing the warning/citation may be requested at this time. If a hearing is not requested, the Citation Officer will reinspect the violation in seven days. If the violation has been corrected and the property owner was given a warning, the case is closed and no further action is required. If the property owner was provided a citation, it becomes final and the property owner must pay their fine. All fines will be paid through the Clerk’s Office and the City Clerk shall manage the collection of delinquent fines. Once delinquent fines/liens have exceeded $3,000 in total, the Clerk’s Office will notify the City Administrator, who will conduct a financial analysis to determine if foreclosure proceedings should be pursued.
(B) City Council shall be notified of each foreclosure analysis on a case-by-case basis.
(1) In the case the city proceeds to foreclosure proceedings, the city shall be represented at the Master Commissioner Sale by the City Administrator or staff designee.
(2) If foreclosure is initiated by others (bank, county, etc.). the City Clerk’s Office shall provide all necessary information to get the city paid by the Kenton Circuit Court, including involving the City Attorney in the filing of an answer/counter claim.
(C) The City Clerk’s Office shall collect all fines and negotiate payments, if applicable, with permission of the City Administrator and the Mayor.
(D) The City Clerk’s Office shall initiate the filing of liens when appropriate. The City Clerk’s Office shall complete the lien paperwork and work in conjunction with the City Attorney, and submit it to the City Administrator for final approval.
(Ord. 2509, passed 12-1-2020; Ord. 2549, passed 10-4-2022; Ord. 2561, passed 6-6-2023) Penalty, see § 104.99