(a) Upon information that noxious or poisonous weeds as defined in Ohio Administrative Code Section 901:5-37-01 and including poison ivy and poison oak or non-ornamental grasses exceeding a height of six (6) inches are growing, blooming or going to seed upon any lot or parcel of land within the Village, the Director of Public Service may cause written notice to be served upon the owner, by regular first class mail with certificate of mailing and to the resident of the premises having charge of such lot or parcel of land by delivery to the premises, that such weeds, grass or other growth must be cut and destroyed within five (5) days after the receipt of such notice sent to the tax mailing address on file with the County Fiscal Office.
(b) The owner or resident of the premises may appeal the order of the Director of Public Service to the Mayor at any time before the day set for compliance herein by serving notice of appeal upon the Mayor or Clerk-Treasurer, or at the office of either, before the day set for compliance. The Mayor shall hear the appeal before the expiration of the periods for compliance, or as soon thereafter as is practical, and shall affirm, reverse or modify the order of the Director of Public Service consistent with the preservation of health and safety, and considering the rights of affected parties, as justice shall require. The decision of the Mayor on appeal shall be final.
(c) If the owner or other person in charge of such lot or parcel of land fails to comply with the notice of the decision of the Mayor, as applicable, the Village may cause the noxious weeds, grass or other growth to be cut and destroyed and may employ the necessary labor to perform such work or cause it to be done by Village employees. The Village shall continue to do so until the owner or resident of the premises performs such work at the appropriate time and without further notice by the Village to the owner or resident.
(d) All expenses so incurred by the Village and the cost of such notice shall be reported to the Clerk-Treasurer who shall mail a monthly statement thereof to the owner of the land, if the owner’s address is known. If the owner’s address is unknown, the statement shall be mailed to the same address as that shown on the records of the County Treasurer for the mailing of tax bills for the premises. If, after thirty (30) days, such amount remains unpaid, the Clerk-Treasurer shall certify the total amount of the expense plus an additional administrative charge of ten percent (10%) plus service and publication costs, the name of the owner of the land and a sufficient description of the premises, to the County Auditor to be entered upon the land from the date of entry, to be collected as other taxes and assessments, and returned to the Village General Fund.
(e) The prohibitions described in subsections (a) and (b) of this section do not apply to public parks located in the Village of Silver Lake, including, but not limited to, those parks owned by the Village of Silver Lake.
(Ord. 17-2023. Passed 3-28-23.)