As used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section unless expressly stated otherwise:
DEBRIS: Means and includes, but is not limited to, building materials, such as lumber, windows, cement blocks, piping, wiring, junk, trash, abandoned, discarded, or unused objects or equipment such as furniture, stoves, refrigerators, freezers, cans or containers, and ashes.
GARBAGE: Wastes resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking, and consumption of food, or wastes from the handling, storage, and sale of produce.
NUISANCE: Any thing, act, omission, occupation or condition which shall exist or continue for such a length of time as to:
A. Substantially annoy, injure or endanger the health, safety, peace or welfare of the public;
B. In any way render the public insecure in life or property;
C. Greatly offend the public morals or decency;
D. Unlawfully and substantially interfere with, obstruct or render dangerous for passage any street, sidewalk, alley, navigable body of water or other public way or place; or
E. Cause diminution in the value of neighboring property or to the detriment of the property of others.
OWNER: The record titleholder of the property on which the nuisance exists as reflected in the office of the Woodford County recorder of deeds.
PERSON: Any individual, partnership, corporation or any other legal entity, or manager or person in control thereof, including any lessee, tenant, occupant or person in control of the property on which the nuisance exists.
PROPERTY: The real estate on which the nuisance exists.
REASONABLE NOTICE TO ABATE: Service of a notice to abate on the person or owner by: a) personal service, as authorized by law or this chapter for personal service of ordinance violations and complaints; b) certified mail addressed to the owner at the address to which the most recent tax bill was sent for the general taxes on the property for the taxable year immediately preceding the service of the notice to abate; or c) as otherwise permitted by law. Any notice to abate served on a person or owner shall include the name of the person or owner, the date or approximate dates of the violation(s), a short description of the violation(s), the location of the violation(s), a reference to the provision(s) of this chapter violated, the date by which the violation(s) must be abated, and any other information that may be required to apprise the person or owner of the violation or as required by law.
REFUSE: Combustible trash, including, but not limited to, paper, cartons, boxes, barrels, wood, felled tree branches, yard trimmings or waste, wood furniture, and bedding; noncombustible trash, including, but not limited to, metal, tin cans, metal furniture, small quantities of rock and pieces of concrete, glass, crockery, and other mineral wastes; street rubbish, including, but not limited to, street sweepings, dirt, leaves, catch basin dirt, and contents of litter receptacles; but "refuse" does not mean earth and waste from building operations, nor shall it include solid wastes resulting from industrial processes and manufacturing operations such as food processing wastes, boiler house cinders, scraps, and shavings.
REPEAT OFFENDER: An owner or person who receives two (2) or more notices to abate within any twelve (12) month period.
UNSAFE OR DILAPIDATED STRUCTURE: Any structure or building that, because of its general condition, construction, inadequate maintenance, lack of or missing doors or windows, abandonment, partial demolition or destruction, or any other cause is:
A. Dangerous to the public health, safety and welfare and may cause or aid in the spread of disease or injury to the occupants thereof or of neighboring buildings;
B. Especially liable to fire, and constitutes or creates a fire hazard;
C. Especially liable to cause injury or damage by collapsing or by a collapse or fall of any part of such structure, or is otherwise structurally unsafe; or
D. Available to and frequented by vagrants, transients, malefactors or disorderly persons who are not lawful occupants of such structure.
VILLAGE: The village of Germantown Hills, Illinois.
VILLAGE OFFICER: Any police, fire, health, zoning and building officer and/or inspector, or any other village official. (Ord. 695, 3-22-2012; amd. 2012 Code)