Should any owner of any lot within the city, who shall allow weeds, rubbish, brush or any other unsightly, objectionable or unsanitary matter to grow or accumulate thereon, fail and/or refuse to cut down and/or remove the weeds, rubbish, brush or other unsightly, objectionable or insanitary matter, as the case may be within ten days after notice to the owner to do so in writing, or by letter addressed to the owner at his or her post office address, or within ten days after notice by publication as many as two times within the ten consecutive days in any newspaper in the city, if personal service may not be had as aforesaid or if the owner’s address be not known, then the city may do such cutting down and/or removing the weeds, rubbish, brush or any other unsightly, objectionable, or insanitary matter, or cause the same to be done, and may pay therefore and charge the expenses incurred in doing the work or having the work done or improvements made to the owner of the lot or real estate, and, if the work is done or improvements made at the expense of the city, the expense shall be assessed on the real estate or lot or lots upon which the expense was incurred.
(1985 Code, § 11-506)