(A) It shall be unlawful for the owner, occupant, or person having control or management of any land within the city to permit a public nuisance, health hazard, or source of filth to develop thereon.
(B) Whenever a nuisance situation is discovered, the authorized city officials shall give ten days’ written notice to remedy the nuisance situation. The notice shall be mailed to the last known address of the owner of property, as it appears on the current tax assessment roll. Upon the failure of the owner of the property to comply, the Code Enforcement Officer is authorized to issue a citation.
(C) The city shall have a lien against the property for the reasonable value of labor and materials used in remedying the nuisance situation. The affidavit of the authorized city official shall constitute prima facie evidence of the amount of the lien and the regularity of the proceedings pursuant to KRS 65.8840 and this section, and shall be recorded in the office of the County Clerk. The lien shall be notice to all persons from the time of its recording and shall bear interest at the rate established by the City Council thereafter until paid. The lien created shall take precedence over all subsequent liens, except state, county, school board, and city taxes, except as provided in KRS 65.8840(10) and may be enforced by judicial proceeding. In addition to this remedy or any other remedy authorized by law, the owner of a property upon which a lien has been attached pursuant to this section shall be personally liable for the amount of the lien, including all interest, civil penalties, and other charges and the city may bring a civil action against the owner and shall have the same remedies as provided for the recovery of a debt owed.
(Am. Ord. 006-99, passed 7-12-99; Am. Ord. 14-021, passed 11-1-21)
Statutory reference:
For similar provisions under state law, see KRS 381.770