(a) Public Auction. If a vehicle is to be disposed of at public auction, it shall be sold only by the Chief of Police, or a licensed auctioneer, after giving notice of the sale by advertisement, published once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the County. Prior to the sale, the owner or person in control of the lot which the Chief of Police designated as the place of storage for a vehicle ordered to be removed by the Chief of Police shall file with the Clerk of Courts of Knox County an affidavit showing compliance with the requirements of this section and the section under which the vehicle was impounded or ordered into storage. Upon presentation of the affidavit, the Clerk of Courts shall issue a certificate of title, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, to the owner or person in control of the lot which the Chief of Police designated as the place of storage for a vehicle ordered to be removed by the Chief of Police. The certificate of title shall be issued without charge only to the Chief of Police.
(b) Sale to Junk Yard. The owner or person in control of the lot which the Chief of Police designated as the place of storage for a vehicle ordered to be removed by the Chief of Police may order the sale of unclaimed vehicles to a junk yard or scrap metal processing facility as defined in Section 359.01, or to any other facility owned by or under contract with the City. If the vehicle is to be disposed of to a junk yard or other facility, the owner or person in control of the lot which the Chief of Police designated as the place of storage for a vehicle ordered to be removed by the Chief of Police shall execute in triplicate an affidavit, as prescribed by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, describing the motor vehicle and the manner in which it was disposed of, and that all requirements of the section under which it was impounded or ordered into storage have been complied with. The owner or person in control of the lot which the Chief of Police designated as the place of storage for a vehicle ordered to be removed by the Chief of Police shall retain the original of the affidavit for his records, and shall furnish two copies to the owner of the junk yard or other facility. Upon presentation of a copy of the affidavit by the owner of the junk yard or other facility, the Clerk of Courts shall issue to such owner a certificate of title, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances. Whenever the owner of a junk yard or other facility receives an affidavit for the disposal of a motor vehicle as provided in this section, such owner shall not be required to obtain an Ohio certificate of title to the motor vehicle in his own name if, within ten days of the receipt of the affidavit, the vehicle is dismantled or destroyed and both copies of the affidavit are delivered to the Clerk of Courts.
(c) Proceeds of Sale. Any moneys accruing from the disposition of an unclaimed motor vehicle impounded on any lot owned by the City of Mount Vernon and controlled by the Mount Vernon Police Department that are in excess of the expenses resulting from the removal and storage of the vehicle shall be credited to the General Fund of the City.
(Ord. 2020-22. Passed 7-27-20.)