(A) General rule; urban wildlife landscape design.
(1) For purposes of this subchapter, the term WEEDS means noxious weeds as defined by state law and all such useless and troublesome plants as are commonly known as weeds to the general public.
(2) The Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer is directed to prepare a list of wildflowers and native plants that will be exempt from division (A) above as part of the city’s urban wildlife landscape design program.
(Prior Code, § 640.01)
(B) Declaration of nuisance. Weeds or growing grass upon any lot or parcel of land in the city in excess of one foot in height, or which have gone or are about to go to seed, are hereby declared to be a nuisance and dangerous to the health, safety and good order of the city.
(Prior Code, § 640.03)
(C) Notice. When the owner or occupant of a premises permits a nuisance to exist in violation of division (B) above, the Weed Inspector must serve a notice on the owner, occupant or agent of the owner of the lot or parcel of land ordering the person to have the weeds or grass cut and removed or otherwise eradicated or removed within ten days after the service of the notice. The notice must also state that in event of non-compliance, removal will be done by the city at the owner’s expense. When no owner, occupant or agent of the owner can be found, notice must be sent by certified mail to the person who is listed on the records of the County Auditor or County Treasurer as the owner. Service will be complete with mailing.
(Prior Code, § 640.05)
(D) Assessment.
(1) If a person fails to comply with the notice within ten days after service, or if no owner, occupant or agent can be found, the Weed Inspector may have the weeds cut and removed or otherwise eradicated.
(2) A record showing the cost of the work attributable to each separate lot or parcel will be delivered by the Weed Inspector to the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer. On or before August 1 of each year, the amount so charged against the lot or parcel of land, together with a description of the premises and the name of last known owner will be reported by the Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer to the City Council.
(3) The Council must then spread the costs against each property as a special assessment for collection as other special assessments in the following year, all as authorized by M.S. § 429.101, as it may be amended from time to time.
(Prior Code, § 640.07)
(E) Weed Inspector. The Mayor is the Weed Inspector as provided by law. The Mayor may assign the duty to the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer.
(Prior Code, § 640.09)
(Ord. 2010-03, passed 7-7-2010)