The following regulations of weed, grass and vegetation control are hereby established in the Village:
(a) Weed Cutting Required. Any person owning or having charge of land within the Municipality shall keep such land free and clear from all noxious weeds and rank vegetation and shall also be required to control all weeds, grasses and vegetation, except trees, shrubs, acceptable flowers and farm crops, by cutting or other effective legal means of control, at least twice in every year, once between the first of June and the first of July, and once between the first of August and the first of September, and at any other time as is necessary to keep the growth of such weeds, grasses and vegetation under twelve inches high. For the purposes of this section, “noxious” shall be deemed to mean hurtful or offensive and “rank” shall be deemed to mean luxuriant in growth.
(b) Notice to Owner to Cut Noxious Weeds; Service. Upon receiving information that noxious weeds or rank vegetation is growing on lands in the Municipality and is about to spread or mature seeds, or that the height of the same exceeds twelve inches, the Administrator shall cause written notice to be served on the owner or person having charge of such land that such weeds or vegetation must be cut and destroyed within five days after service of the notice. If the owner or person having charge of such land is a nonresident whose address is known, such notice shall be sent to his address by certified mail; if unknown, it shall be sufficient to publish the notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in Licking County.
(c) Fees for Service and Return. The Chief of Police, any police officer or the Fiscal Officer may make service and return of the notice, and shall be allowed the same fee as that provided for return of summons in civil cases before a magistrate.
(d) Procedure When Owner Fails to Comply with Notice. If the owner or person having charge of such lands fails to comply with such notice, the Administrator shall cause the noxious weeds or other vegetation to be cut and destroyed. All expenses and labor costs incurred shall, when approved by Council, be paid out of municipal funds not otherwise appropriated.
(e) Written Return to County Auditor; Amount a Lien Against Property. The Administrator shall make a written return to the County Auditor of his action with a statement of the charges for his services, the amount paid for labor, the fees of the officers serving such notices and a proper description of the premises. Such amounts, when allowed, shall be entered upon the tax duplicate and be a lien upon such lands from and after the date of entry and be collected as other taxes and returned to the Municipality with the General Fund.
(f) Penalty. Whoever violates any provision of this section shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00). A separate offense shall be deemed to be committed each day during or on which an offense occurs or continues.
(Ord. 27-99. Passed 8-4-99.)