A. Nuisance Declared And Prohibited: All signs that have been constructed or erected or are being maintained in violation of the provisions of this chapter ("illegal sign") are hereby declared to be a public nuisance. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, maintain, or possess an illegal sign located on any property in the Village.
B. Notice Requirements:
1. Whenever an illegal sign is found to exist, the Village Building Commissioner shall cause notice of such nuisance ("illegal sign notice") to be served upon: a) the owner and the occupant of the property where the illegal sign is located; and b) the holder of the relevant sign permit (collectively the "notice recipients").
2. In the illegal sign notice, the Building Commissioner shall order the notice recipients to abate the nuisance within the applicable period of time set forth below (the "response period"):
a. For permanent illegal signs, within fourteen (14) days after mailing or personal delivery of the illegal sign notice;
b. For temporary illegal signs, within forty eight (48) hours after mailing or personal delivery of the illegal sign notice; or
c. For signs that are unsafe or insecure or otherwise constitute an immediate danger to public health, safety, peace, morals, or decency, within twenty four (24) hours after mailing or personal delivery of the illegal sign notice.
3. The illegal sign notice shall also:
a. Notify the notice recipients that unless the sign nuisance is abated within the response period, the Village may proceed to abate the nuisance, assess all direct and indirect costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith, including the cost of collection ("abatement costs"), jointly and severally against the notice recipients, and pursuant to and to the fullest extent provided by Illinois law, impose a lien for the abatement costs on the property on which the illegal sign is located;
b. Include a copy of this chapter and identify the illegal sign and the property on which it is located; and
c. Be personally served or sent by registered mail to each of the notice recipients.
C. Opportunity To Abate Nuisance; Failure To Abate: Within the response period, the notice recipients shall cause the nuisance to be removed or otherwise abated. If the notice recipients neglect or refuse to abate the nuisance as required by the illegal sign notice, the Village Building Commissioner shall promptly employ such Village resources as are necessary to abate or remove the nuisance. If the Village Building Commissioner shall cause the abatement of any nuisance, the abatement costs shall be assessed jointly and severally against the notice recipients.
D. Lien Authorized: In the event that the abatement costs incurred by the Village to abate the public nuisance pursuant to this section are not paid in full upon billing, the Village Clerk may, pursuant to and to the fullest extent provided by Illinois law, file a lien for any unpaid abatement costs against the property on which any such public nuisance is located. (Ord. 96-27, 9-24-1996)