If the Official or, after a hearing, the City Manager, shall order a building or structure repaired or demolished and debris removed by the city as provided in this article, and the owner shall fail or refuse to comply with the order in whole, or in part, within the time specified in the order, the Planning and Building Official shall in writing so report to the City Manager and submit to the City Manager an estimate concerning the cost of the repair or demolition and removal, and a recommendation concerning the manner in which the repair, demolition, and removal shall be effected. If it shall appear to the City Manager that the aggregate cost of the repair or demolition and removal work will not exceed the sum of $7,500, the City Manager, shall in writing so determine and, in his or her sound discretion, shall order either that the repair or demolition and the removal work be done by employees of the city under the direction of the Official, or that the work be done by a private contractor, subject to inspection and approval of the work by the Official. If the City Manager shall determine that the work shall be done by employees of the city under the direction of the Official, the Official shall proceed with the repair or demolition of the building or structure and removal from the lot or tract of all materials and debris, and he or she shall place the lot or tract in a safe condition. If the City Manager shall determine that the work shall be done by a private contractor, he or she shall also determine in writing whether the taking of bids would be likely to result in the lowest cost and, depending upon his or her decision in that respect, shall make appropriate arrangements for a contract with a private contractor for that purpose. Such bids may be solicited in any manner which, in the sound discretion of the City Manager, is the best suited to eliciting the lowest and best bid, but the bids shall be in writing. No repair, demolition, or removal work shall be commenced by a private contractor until a written contract therefor shall have been signed by the contractor and the city, the latter, by the Mayor or, in case of his or her absence or disability, by the Vice President of the City Council. If it shall appear to the City Manager that the aggregate cost of the repair or demolition and removal work will exceed the sum of $7,500, the City Manager shall in writing so determine, and shall submit to the City Council, the estimate of cost, together with a recommendation by the City Manager that the city advertise for bids for such work as provided in Neb. RS 16-321. All repair, demolition, or removal work done by a private contractor, whether done pursuant to a bid accepted by the City Council, or otherwise, shall be subject to inspection and approval by the City Manager or the delegee of the City Manager. Provided however, that if the City Council shall find that there exists an emergency as provided in Neb. RS 16-321, may, by an ordinance adopted by three-fourths of the members of the City Council, waive estimates of cost and advertising for bids where the apparent cost of the work will exceed $7,500, and the expense of such repair, demolition, and removal may be paid as provided in this article and assessed against the lot or tract as provided in this article.
(Ord. 3805, passed - -2004)