(a) No owner of any real property within the City, and/or any other person having charge of any real property within the City, shall allow the property's grass to grow in excess of six (6) inches in height.
(b) If the property's grass grows in excess of six (6) inches in violation of subsection (a) hereof, the Safety Service Director or his/her designee shall serve the owner of the property with a written notice upon the first identified violation per calendar year. The notice shall state that the owner has three (3) days to cut any grass in excess of six (6) inches. The notice shall also conspicuously state that failure to comply will result in the City causing the work to be done and the costs possibly being assessed against the property and that any subsequent violations of this section concerning the same property during the same calendar year shall require no further notice. The notice shall be deemed properly served by:
(1) Posting it on the front door or other conspicuous location of the subject property;
(2) Handing the notice to the property owner; or
(3) Leaving the notice at the property owner's usual residence with a person or suitable age and discretion residing with the property owner.
(c) When it is deemed necessary for the City to cut grass in excess of six (6) inches, the Safety Service Director shall cause the grass to be cut and may employ the necessary labor to perform the task. A fee in an amount set, from time-to-time, by resolution of Council shall be assessed to the owner of the property if the Safety Service Director causes grass in excess of six (6) inches to be cut.
(d) To recover the fee for causing grass in excess of six (6) inches to be cut, the Safety Service Director may certify the amount of the fee to the County Auditor for collection as other taxes and assessments are collected or the City may seek the recovery of the fee by civil action against the property owner. If the Safety Service Director certifies the amount of the fee to the County Auditor, the fee shall be entered upon the tax duplicate and shall be a lien upon the property from the date of entry.
(e) Any owner of real property within the City, and/or any other person having charge of any real property within the City, who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor for the first offense. For each subsequent offense, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Every day on which a violation of this section is found to exist shall constitute a separate offense. (Ord. 21-057. Passed 10-13-21.)