(A) The City Manager or his/her designee, shall annually cause a notice to be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the city, stating that weeds and grass are growing on lands within the limits of the city. Such notice shall not be required to describe the lands or to specify the name of the owner of such lands. However, such notice shall constitute notice to any owner, occupant, or any other person or entity having charge of such land upon which weeds and grass are grown that the same must be cut and destroyed within five days after such publication. Such notice shall further specify that such weeds and grass shall be cut from time to time thereafter and as often as needed to maintain a height of seven inches or less, without further notice or publication in order to prevent spreading or maturing of weeds and grass. Such notice shall be published one time per year in order to constitute notice hereunder.
(B) Upon notice presented to the City Manager or his designee, that weeds and grass are growing on land in violation of the requirements of division (A) of this section, the Manager or his/her designee shall in addition to the publication set forth in division (A) of this section cause a placard to be conspicuously placed on the property. Said placard shall be of a size, shape and color to be clearly visible and shall contain, at a minimum, the following information:
(1) That it is a Notice to Cut Grass and Weeds;
(2) An order to cut or remove the weeds or grass within five days of placement of the placard;
(3) A statement indicating that should the property owner fail to comply with the order, the city will cause the weeds or grass to be cut or removed at the owner's expense, and the city may place a lien on the property for the amount owned for removal together with an administrative fee of $250.00;
(4) That there are penalties provided for removing the placard before bringing the property into compliance; and
(5) Contact information of the appropriate city department.
(C) Such placard shall remain on the property until the property is brought into compliance by the owner, occupant or person in charge, who shall be guilty of a minor misdemeanor if the property is not brought into compliance within five days of the date of the notice.
(1) Removal of the placard before the property complies with § 96.50 by any person not authorized by the City Manager or his designee shall constitute a separate minor misdemeanor, separate and in addition to any other violations of this section.
(2) Any person convicted of additional violations of this section for the same property for which they are in charge, during the same calendar year, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree for each additional violation.
(3) Any person convicted of wrongfully removing the placard as described in division (C)(1) of this section, within two years of a prior conviction of the same offense, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth decree.
(Ord. 21-1961, passed 10-3-61; Am. Ord. 10-1978, passed 5-15-78; Am. Ord. 7-1984, passed 4-16-84; Am. Ord. 29-1984, passed 9-4-84; Am. Ord. 18-2004, passed 7-26-04; Am. Ord. 20-2019, passed 7-1- 19)