(A) The owner of any lot, part of lot or parcel of land within the city abutting upon any street or alley shall keep the sidewalk in repair in front of his or her respective lot, part of lot or parcel of land, and it shall be the duty of the Building Inspector of the city to have the sidewalk kept in repair.
(B) When the Building Inspector finds any sidewalk out of repair, he or she shall give the owner of the lot, part of lot or parcel of land in front of which the sidewalk is out of repair, notice in writing to repair the same within three days.
(C) If the owner shall fail or refuse to repair the sidewalk within the time specified in the notice or if the owner is a nonresident of the city, the Building Inspector shall proceed to repair the same.
(D) When repairs have been made by the Building Inspector as provided in division (C) of this section, the costs and expenses thereof shall be assessed against the lot, part of lot or parcel of land abutting on the sidewalk where the repairs are made, and the owner shall be given ten days’ notice in writing, if he or she is a resident of the city, to be served by the police, and if he or she is not a resident of the city, then by registered letter, of the fact that the repairs have been made, the amount of the expenses thereof, that the same has been assessed against his or her lot, part of lot or parcel of land and that he or she shall have the right to appear before the Common Council at the time and place to be specified in the notice and make any objection that he or she may have to the assessment. Upon hearing the objections, if any be made, the Common Council may alter or amend the assessment as justice may require or may confirm the same as originally made, and the same shall be a lien upon the lot, part of lot or parcel of land from the date.
(E) If the assessment is not paid within 20 days from the date of it confirmation, then the city shall proceed to foreclose the same in any court of competent jurisdiction as a mortgage is foreclosed, and in the action shall recover, in addition to the assessment, 6% interest thereon from the date of its confirmation, the costs of the proceedings and a reasonable fee for its attorney.
(Prior Code, § 23-31) (Ord. passed 7-27-1896; Ord. 80-14, passed 8-25-1980)