(a) Abandonment Defined. If any sign shall become abandoned, in a manner defined herein, such sign is declared a public nuisance by reason that continued lack of use results in lack of reasonable and adequate maintenance, thereby causing deterioration and creating a blighting influence on nearby properties. An abandoned sign shall be any sign that meets any of the following conditions:
(1) Any sign associated with the abandoned nonconforming use.
(2) Any sign that remains after the termination of a business. A business shall be considered terminated if it has ceased operations for at least one hundred and twenty (120) consecutive days.
(b) Determination of Abandonment. When the Zoning Inspector finds, upon investigation, that a sign has been abandoned, the Zoning Inspector shall notify the owner of said sign and the owner of the property upon which such sign is located, of any findings. Such notice shall advise the owner of the sign that said sign has been declared abandoned and must be removed within thirty (30) days from the date of mailing of said notice. The owner of the sign or the owner of the property may appeal such decision as provided in Section 1175.15.
(c) Right to Remove. If the sign is not removed as ordered, the sign may be removed by the Municipality at the expense of the lessee or owner. If the Municipality is not reimbursed for the cost of removal within thirty (30) days of such removal, the amount thereof shall be certified to the County Auditor for collection as a special assessment against the property upon which such sign is located.
(Ord. 24-08. Passed 6-9-08.)