(a) If the owner, lessee, agent or tenant having charge of, or responsibility for, the maintenance of the lots or lands fails to comply with the written notice described in Section 559.02, the Mayor or his designee shall thereupon cause the weeds, grass or other vegetation to be cut and destroyed, and for such purposes he may, at his discretion, hire the necessary labor and equipment or use City forces and equipment to carry out the provisions of this section. All expenses incurred shall, when approved by the Mayor, be paid out of municipal funds not otherwise appropriated.
(b) The owner of such lot or land shall be notified in writing of expenses incurred by the Mayor or his designee to cut and destroy such weeds, grass, and other vegetation. The notification shall be sent by ordinary U.S. Mail addressed to the owner at the address listed in the Crawford County tax records.
(c) In the event the owner of such lot or land shall fail to pay such expenses within fourteen days of notification, such expenses shall be certified by the Mayor to the County Auditor and shall be entered upon the tax duplicate as a lien upon such lot or lands and shall be collected as other taxes and assessments and returned to the General Fund of the City.
(d) The expenses of cutting and destroying such weeds, grass and other vegetation shall include the following costs to the City:
(1) Administration and supervision;
(2) Transportation of equipment;
(3) Equipment rental;
(4) Equipment operation;
(5) Incidental labor.
(e) The authority provided by this section for the Mayor or his designee to enter upon private property to cut weeds, grass, or other vegetation and cause the cost thereof to be certified to the County Auditor as a lien upon such lot or lands shall be in addition to the penalty provided in Section 559.99.
(Ord. 2006-45. Passed 7-11-06.)