(A) When it shall come to the attention of the City of Mt. Vernon, IN (hereinafter referred to as city) that weeds grass, or other rank vegetation are growing upon real estate within the corporate limits of the city, in violation of this chapter, the city code enforcement officer, or other designated city officer shall issue a ten-day written notice to cut and remove those weeds, grass, or other rank vegetation and the notice shall be served upon the landowner by personal service or by first class mail, at the last known address of the landowner. The notice must be served to the owner of record, in a sole ownership of the property, or at least one of the owners in a multi-owner property. The address to be used is as indicated in the records of the County Auditor as of the date of the notice.
(B) The notice shall list the location of the real estate concerned, require abatement of the violation within ten days of the date of the notice and briefly describe the enforcement and collection procedures. The notice shall also notify the owner that a fine shall be assessed as follows for each parcel of real estate in violation of this chapter.
(1) First failure by owner or the occupant to abate a violation within the five day period during a calendar year: $25 fine;
(2) Second failure by owner or the occupant to abate a violation within the five day period during a calendar year: $100 fine;
(3) Third failure by owner or the occupant to abate a violation within the five day period during a calendar year: $250 fine.
(4) Fourth and each subsequent failure by owner or the occupant to abate a violation within the five day period during a calendar year: $750 fine.
(C) If an initial notice of the violation of this section issued under § 98.03(A) was provided by first class mail or personal service, a continuous abatement notice may be posted at the property at the time of abatement instead of issued by first class mail or equivalent service as required under § 98.03(A). A continuous abatement notice serves as notice to the real property owner the each subsequent violation during the same year of which the initial notice of the violation was provided may be abated by the municipality or its contractors.
(Ord. 1118, passed 6-12-67; Am. Ord. 95-26, passed 12-11-95; Am. Ord. 13-22, passed 10-3-13; Am. Ord. 2016-3A, passed 3-17-16)