For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED VEHICLE. Any motor vehicle or other vehicle in a state of disrepair, rendering the vehicle incapable of being driven in its condition; or any motor vehicle or other vehicle that has not been moved or used for seven consecutive days or more and is apparently deserted. However, ABANDONED VEHICLES shall not include a motor vehicle that is kept within a building when not in use or vehicles on the premises of a place of business lawfully engaged in repair, wrecking or junking of motor vehicles.
CONTROL AUTHORITY. The County Board and its designated departments and personnel.
CHRONIC NUISANCE PROPERTY. Any property upon which two or more nuisance activities or conditions, as defined in this section, have occurred during any three year period may be deemed a CHRONIC NUISANCE PROPERTY. Such CHRONIC NUISANCE PROPERTY status shall result
either from: (i) two or more distinct types of nuisance conditions or activities on such property, even if arising from the same factual circumstances or investigation; (ii) two or more separate factual events that have been separately investigated by an enforcement officer involving the same nuisance condition or activity; or (iii) a combination of two or more conditions, activities, or events as described in (i) and (ii).
DEBRIS. Refers to trash, litter, etc. DEBRIS does not refer to abandoned or derelict vehicles.
DERELICT VEHICLE. Any inoperable, unregistered, discharged motor vehicle, regardless of title, have lost its character as a substantial property and left unattended without justification on the owner's land.
DWELLING. Any enclosed structure wholly or partly used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking, and eating.
GARBAGE. The organic waste and residue of animal, fruit, or vegetable matter arising from or attending the preparation of meats, fish, fowl, or fruit or vegetable matter pertaining to food which might feed rodents, vermin, or other insects.
JUNK. Includes but is not limited to worn-out, wrecked, and/or abandoned automobiles, trucks, tractors, machinery of any kind, or any parts thereof: white goods, refrigerators; stoves; metal drums or other containers; scrap metal, both ferrous and non-ferrous, and any other equipment that is worn out, abandoned, or wrecked.
JUNKYARD. Two or more apparently inoperable or unlicensed vehicles on a property.
LITTER. Any discarded, used, or consumed substance or waste, including but not limited to garbage, trash, refuse, debris, rubbish, grass clippings, or other lawn or garden waste, newspapers, magazines, glass, metal, plastic, or paper containers or other packaging construction material, furniture, or anything else of an unsightly or unsanitary nature which has been discarded, abandoned, or otherwise disposed of improperly.
MANURE. The excrement of all domestic animals and stable bedding.
NOXIOUS WEEDS. Any plant so designated by the provisions of the State Noxious Weed Law (50 ILCS 100/1 et seq.).
OWNER. Any person or persons who, alone or jointly:
(1) Shall have legal title to any premises; or
(2) Shall have charge, care, or control of any premises as owner, agent, administrator, trustee, guardian, or lessee.
PERSONS. Any person, person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, organization, or entity of any kind.
REFUSE. Waste; includes trash, rubbish, garbage, debris, and junk.
RUBBISH. All non-putrescible waste such as rags, ashes, waste from minor household repairs, sawdust, paper sacks, boxes, packing materials, and all refuse from dwellings except sewage, dirt, and manure.
UNFIT STRUCTURE. Any structure which is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary, unsafe, vermin-infested, or used for illegal purposes that it creates a hazard to the safety or welfare of residents, occupants, or the public.
WASTE. Refuse.
WEEDS. Includes any weeds, underbrush, and grass.
(Ord. O-25-11-92, passed 11-10-1992; Ord. O-59-4-13-06, passed 4-13-2006; Ord. O-80-12-09, passed 12-10-2009; Ord. O-105-7-13, passed 7-11-2013; Ord. O-138-07-21, passed 7-8-2021)