(a) Civil. In instances where a property owner or tenant fails to remedy any orders issued pursuant to this Chapter in the time period prescribed, the City Engineer or his designee may assess the person or entity that received the notice a penalty in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500.00) to one thousand dollars ($1000.00) per acre (or portion thereof) per day until the violation is corrected. This penalty is in addition to any other actions that may be taken by the City.
(b) Criminal. Any violation of the provisions of this chapter or failure to comply with any of its requirements shall constitute a fourth degree misdemeanor. Each day such violation continues shall be considered a separate offense. Nothing herein contained shall prevent the City from taking such other lawful action as is necessary to prevent or remedy any violation.
(c) In any instance where the City incurs any expenses or fines, including but not limited to legal costs and fees, because of any person or entity's non-compliance with any provision of this Chapter, the expenses incurred, plus an administrative fee equal to the expenses incurred shall be recovered from the person or entity.
(d) Any amounts owed to the City of Mount Vernon pursuant to any provision of this Chapter, whether for work completed by the City or for assessed penalties or expenses, may be certified by the City Engineer or his designee as a lien against the property with the Knox County Auditor for collection in the same manner as property taxes and assessments.
(e) Rules and regulations to be promulgated for the administration of this chapter will specify an appeals process for any levied fines.
(Ord. 2019-35. Passed 11-12-19.)