(a) Civil Enforcement.
(1) Any person may submit a verbal or written complaint alleging a violation of this chapter.
(2) Upon receipt of a complaint, the jurisdiction shall conduct a brief investigation of the substance of the complaint, including a meeting with the landowner involved.
(3) Based upon the determination that there is a violation of this chapter, the jurisdiction shall conduct an informal reconciliation with the violator. As part of such informal reconciliation, the jurisdiction shall:
A. Notify the violator by mail of the violation of this chapter and a desire of the jurisdiction to correct the violation through informal reconciliation. The statement shall also indicate that should the violator refuse to allow the recommended corrective actions within the time set forth by the jurisdiction, action may be taken to correct the violation and the violator will be billed for the cost of taking the corrective action.
B. Make a good faith effort to meet the violator and resolve/correct the violation.
If after taking the steps above and after a period of fifteen days following the mailing of the notice of the violation, the jurisdiction in good faith determines that the violator is unwilling to participate in informal reconciliation and take the corrective actions prescribed, the jurisdiction shall notify the violator by mail of the termination of the informal reconciliation.
The jurisdiction may take corrective actions deemed necessary following seven (7) days after notifying violator by mail of the notice of termination of the informal reconciliation, and bill the violator for the reasonable cost of such action.
(b) Criminal Enforcement. In addition to civil enforcement proceeding, a person who is alleged to have violated this chapter may be prosecuted for the commission of a crime. Violation of this chapter is a misdemeanor of the first degree, and shall be punishable as provided by law. Further, each day the violation continues shall be a separate and distinct offense.
(Ord. 2024-09. Passed 7-5-24.)