(a) As used in this section,
TOTAL COST means any costs incurred due to the use of employees, materials, or equipment of the municipality, any costs arising out of contracts for labor, materials or equipment, and costs of service of notice or publication required under this chapter.
(b) The municipality may collect the total cost of removing, repairing or securing insecure, unsafe, structurally defective, abandoned, deserted, or open and vacant buildings or other structures, of making emergency corrections of hazardous conditions, or of abating any nuisance by any of the following methods:
(1) The Clerk of Council may certify the total costs, together with a proper description of the lands to the County Auditor who shall place the costs upon the tax duplicate. The costs are a lien upon such lands from and after the date of entry. The costs shall be collected as other taxes and returned to the municipality.
(2) The municipality may commence a civil action to recover the total costs from the owner.
(Ord. 96-4, passed 1-16-1996)