(A) The county shall possess a lien on property owned by the person found by a final, non-appealable order as set out herein above, or by a final judgment of the court to have committed a violation of a county ordinance for all civil fines assessed for the violation and for all charges, fees and abatement costs incurred by the county in connection with the enforcement of the ordinance. An affidavit of the Code Enforcement Officer shall constitute prima facie evidence of the amount of the lien and the regularity of the proceedings pursuant to KRS 65.8801 to 65.8840.
(B) The lien shall be recorded in the office of the County Clerk and shall be notice to all persons from the time of its recording and shall bear interest at 12% per annum thereafter until paid. The lien shall continue for ten years following the date of the non-appealable final order or final court judgment.
(C) Subject to the provisions herein below, the lien shall take precedence over all other liens on the property, except state, school board, and county taxes and may be enforced by judicial proceedings, including a foreclosure action.
(D) In addition to the remedy prescribed above, the person found to have committed the violation shall be personally responsible for the amount of all civil fines assessed for the violation and for all charges, fees, and abatement costs incurred by the county in connection with the enforcement of the applicable code. The county may bring a civil action for the collection of delinquent liens and other costs incurred by the county in the enforcement of the ordinance, and the county shall have the same remedies as provided for the recovery of a debt.
(Ord. 2024-11, passed 9-9-2024)