(a) No owner, tenant, or person in physical control of any lot within the Village shall allow grasses, weeds or vegetation to attain a height of six inches or more. Nor shall any person allow ragweed, daisies, goldenrod, burdock, yellow dock, thistles or any other weed or vegetable capable of exhaling offensive or noxious odors or from which there is carried by the wind any injurious, offensive or annoying pollen, dust, seed or particles or which may conceal filthy deposits, to grow on such lot or parcel of land and fail to have the same closely mowed, cut or removed. This section shall not apply to cultivated flowers, gardens, undeveloped wooded areas or farmland except that no such areas may obstruct the vision of motorists and pedestrian traffic on or near public roads.
(b) The Chief of Police shall cause to be served a notice requiring the grasses, weeds or vegetation to be cut within five (5) days. The notice shall be served on the property owner, tenant or person in physical control of the property by regular mail with a certificate of mailing or may be hand delivered to such person or may be served residentially by leaving a copy at the affected property.
(c) If after the expiration of five (5) days from the date of service of notice, the lot or parcel of land has not been cut, the Chief of Police shall so inform the Administrator, and the Administrator shall cause such weeds, grasses or vegetation to be cut. The Administrator may directly employ the necessary labor or may retain an independent contractor to perform the task.
(d) The owner, tenant, or person in physical control of the property shall be charged as follows:
(1) If the services are provided by an independent contractor, for all costs incurred by the Village for notifications, plus all services billed by the contractor and applicable to the property.
(2) If the services are provided by Village employees, the costs for providing the service shall ordinarily be, as follows:
A. $100 for the first hour; and
B. $100 for each subsequent hour or partial hour; provided, however that:
If special circumstances should exist requiring the acquisitions of special equipment or requiring special means of performing the work, such cost shall be determined by an hourly rate to be established by the Administrator, based on the actual costs incurred to perform the work, acquire the special equipment, perform inspections, deliver the notices, and collection and enforcement actions.
In any event the minimum cost bill shall be $100 per parcel.
(e) A statement of the costs shall be mailed to the owner or responsible party of such land by certified mail, return receipt requested. Such cost shall be paid within seven days after the receipt of the notice, or, upon approval by Council, such amount shall be certified to the County Auditor to be placed on the tax duplicate, becoming a lien on such property to be collected as other taxes and returned to the Village’s General Fund.
(Ord. 2023-16. Passed 7-10-23.)