A. At the time a vacant building is registered as required herein and in any event not more than seven (7) days after requested by the village, the owner shall submit to the village an action plan for approval by the village. The village may prescribe a form for the action plan. If the owner fails to submit the required action plan when required by this chapter, the village president may direct the director to determine the contents of the action plan. An action plan shall contain the following as a minimum:
1. Actions to repair any doors, windows, or other openings which are boarded up or otherwise secured by any means other than conventional methods used in the design of the building or permitted for new construction or similar type. The proposed repair shall result in openings being secured by conventional methods used in the design of the building or by methods permitted for new construction of similar type with board removed. The owner shall maintain the building in an enclosed and secure state until the building is reoccupied or made available for immediate occupancy. If the owner demonstrates that securing of the building will provide adequate protection to the public, the director may waive the requirement of an enclosure.
2. For premises that the director determines as being or containing public nuisances, as defined in this chapter, then the action plan shall identify actions to remedy such public nuisances and, if necessary, to secure the premises from harboring attractive nuisances.
3. A time schedule identifying a date of commencement of repair and date of completion of repair for each improperly secured opening and nuisance identified by the director.
4. When the owner proposes to demolish the vacant building, then the owner shall submit a plan and time schedule for such demolition.
5. Actions to maintain the building and premises and the exteriors in compliance with this code.
6. Actions to ready the building for human habitation, with a time schedule, identifying the date the building will be habitable and occupied or offered for occupancy or sale. The time schedule shall include date(s) of commencement and completion of all action required to achieve habitability.
7. Exterior safety lighting approved by the director.
8. All existing automatic fire sprinkler systems, alternative automatic fire extinguishing systems, standpipe systems, and fire alarm and detection systems, including monitoring by the fire protection district for the portion of the village in which the premises are located, shall be maintained and remain in service.
B. No action plan shall provide for the boarding of the exterior of any building to achieve security or enclosure from the elements except if needed on an emergency, temporary basis when approved by the director. It is the policy of the village that boarding is a temporary solution to prevent unauthorized entry into a vacant building and that boarded buildings are a public nuisance. A vacant building may not remain boarded longer than fifteen (15) days unless an extension of that time is part of a plan approved by the director.
C. After conducting the initial inspection, the director shall issue a written notice to the owner setting forth the alleged failures and advising the owner or responsible party that such failures must be corrected, and shall specify an appropriate or acceptable method of correction and specific date for the correction of any violation alleged. At the end of the period of time allowed for the correction of any violation alleged, which was stated in the inspection notice, the director shall reinspect the vacant building. The owner of a vacant building shall initiate and perform all remedial actions in good faith necessary to cure all outstanding code violations and bring such vacant building into compliance with the approved action plan. The village shall send inspection reports to the owner within thirty (30) days after each inspection takes place. Periodic reinspections shall take place, as necessary, until code compliance is achieved and annually thereafter. Unpaid inspection fees shall be a lien upon the premises. The certificate of occupancy for the vacant building shall be revoked when, based upon any inspection, the director determines the vacant building is unfit for occupancy, does not meet minimum requirements for safety and occupancy or is a "public nuisance", as defined in this chapter. If the violations are determined upon reinspection by the director not to have been corrected, the village may initiate legal proceedings for the immediate correction of the alleged violations, including seeking the appointment of a receiver or other judicial remedies.
D. Registration does not exonerate the owner from compliance with all applicable codes and ordinances, including this chapter, nor does it preclude any of the actions the village is authorized to take pursuant to this chapter or elsewhere in this code. (Ord. 14-02-02, 2-4-2014)