(a) No owner of any lot or parcel of land situated within the corporate limits of the City, whether the same is improved or unimproved, vacant or occupied, shall permit the existence of any nuisance.
(b) The owner of any lot or parcel of land situated within the corporate limits of the City, whether the same is improved or unimproved, vacant or occupied, within five calendar days’ written notice to do so, shall abate any nuisance found upon such lot or parcel or upon any street, public place or tree lawn abutting such lot or parcel.
(c) (1) The City Health Commissioner shall cause a notice to appear in a newspaper of general circulation to be published on or about March 15 of each calendar year, informing the property owners within the City of the requirements contained in Section 1759.02. This notice shall contain the following information:
A. All properties within the City must be maintained in accordance with Section 1759.02, which prohibits nuisances on private property.
B. Should the owner of the property fail to comply with Section 1759.02, the City shall cause the abatement of the nuisance at the owner’s expense. The City may place a lien on the property for the amount owed in accordance with Ohio R.C. 731.54.
C. Contact information for the appropriate City Department.
(2) A. Those properties found to be in violation of Section 1759.02 shall have a placard conspicuously placed on the property for a period of five calendar days. Said placard shall be of a size, shape and color to be clearly visible and shall contain the following information:
1. The nature of the code violation.
2. An order to abate the nuisance within five calendar days.
3. A statement indicating that the City shall abate the nuisance at the owner’s expense should the property fail to comply with the order. The City may place a lien on the property for the amount owed in accordance with Ohio R.C. 731.54.
4. The penalties provided for removing the placard before bringing the property into compliance.
5. Contact information of the appropriate City agency.
(d) In the event that the owner does not abate the nuisance within five calendar days of service of notice to do so, the City Health Commissioner or designee is authorized to enforce the provisions of this section and shall abate or cause to abate the nuisance. The Commissioner shall report to Council all expenses involved in the abatement of such nuisance, including but not limited to the cost of service as provided for in Section 1759.04. All expenses and labor costs incurred shall be paid out of the General Fund.
(e) Whenever any nuisance is abated by the City pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, the City shall assess the cost of such abatement to the owner or person having control of the real estate upon which the nuisance was abated. Notice of such assessment shall be sent by either priority service with delivery confirmation or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the owner or person having control of the real estate at his last known address to pay the cost of such abatement. If payments of such costs are not received by the City within thirty days after mailing of such notice, the City may collect the cost, including administrative and related costs, pursuant to Section 1759.04. In the alternative, the City may seek a judgment against the owner for the cost of abating the nuisance in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(f) The City Health Commissioner shall provide such administrative policy necessary to enforce this section.
(Ord. 18-2008. Passed 3-25-08.)