A. Notice By Publication: In addition to all other forms of public notification currently utilized by the City, the City shall cause a public notice to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the City once per week for two (2) consecutive weeks in the month of April of each year. The notice shall be published in advertising format in the following form or in a substantially similar form:
CITY OF NAUVOO
PUBLIC NOTICE OF NUISANCE VIOLATIONS AND ABATEMENT
RELATING TO WEEDS, GRASS, AND OTHER VEGETATION
The City of Nauvoo asks that all property owners and occupants take notice of the following provisions set forth in Title 5, Chapter 2, of the Nauvoo City Code concerning weeds, grass, and other vegetation nuisances:
1. All noxious weeds are declared a nuisance.
2. All weeds and grass that are allowed to grow to a height of 10" or more are declared a nuisance.
3. All shrubbery and other vegetation that grows or stands or is uncontrolled on property so as to constitute an obstruction to the traveling public are declared a nuisance.
If the City observes such nuisances, it will enter the property to verify the violation and will send a written notice to the property owner and occupant that describes the nuisance and directs the owner and occupant to remove the nuisance by a specific date (for example, three days from receipt of notice). If the nuisance is not removed by that date, or if the person receiving notice does not contact City Hall before that date to explain his/her inability to comply by that date and to request a different date, the City may remove the nuisance. If the City removes the nuisance, the City's abatement costs will be the responsibility of the owner and occupant. If a second or subsequent violation occurs within a 12-month period, the City may take action to abate the nuisance without sending notice to the owner and occupant, and the same fines, costs, and penalties will be assessed. The City also may initiate an ordinance violation action in the Circuit Court of Hancock County, and shall be allowed to recover all fines, costs, and penalties, and any attorney fees incurred in the prosecution of the action.
B. Written Notice To Owner And Occupant: When a nuisance described in this chapter is reported to the City, the City (by a designated person or persons) shall issue to the owner and occupant of the property a written notice entitled "Notice to Abate Public Nuisance". The person issuing the notice shall provide a copy of it to the Nuisance Committee and to the City Clerk. The notice shall identify the property, describe the nature of the public nuisance or obstruction, and direct the owner and occupant to abate the public nuisance or obstruction by a specific date (for example, within 3 days from the date of receipt of the notice).
If a second or subsequent violation occurs within a 12-month period, the City may take action to abate the nuisance without sending notice to the owner and occupant, and the same fines, costs, and penalties will be assessed. The City also may initiate an ordinance violation action in the Circuit Court of Hancock County, and shall be allowed to recover all fines, costs, and penalties, and any attorney fees incurred in the prosecution of the action.
The "Notice to Abate Public Nuisance" shall contain the following warning, or a substantially similar warning:
WARNING
In addition to the public notice published in the newspaper during April of this year, and the City's other forms of public notification, this notice may serve as the City's sole notice to you that, if there are any additional occurrences of the growth of weeds and grass of ten inches (10") or more in height or any other public nuisance as defined in 5-2-1
of the Nauvoo City Code, the City may come upon your property to investigate and remove that public nuisance, and the owner and occupant will be assessed the cost of abatement without any additional or further notice.
C. Service Of Notice: If the property in violation is occupied, then the notice of violation shall be served upon the occupant by personal service or by mail (with delivery confirmation). If the occupant is not the owner, a copy of the notice also shall be served upon the owner by personal service or by mail (with delivery confirmation). However, if the property is unoccupied or vacant, then the notice shall be served upon the owner by mail (with delivery confirmation) at his last known address. If the owner's address is unknown, then the notice shall be served by posting it on the property. (Ord. 2012-7, 2-12-2013)