(a) Cutting Noxious Weeds, Rank Vegetation, Tall Grass and Tall Weeds. Any person owning, occupying or having charge of land in the Village within 200 feet of any residential or commercial building shall keep such land free and clear from all noxious weeds, rank vegetation, tall grass and tall weeds and shall be required to cut all such noxious weeds, rank vegetation, tall grass and tall weeds as often as is needed so as to prevent such noxious weeds, rank vegetation, tall grass and tall weeds from exceeding eight inches.
(Ord. 2011-6. Passed 7-11-11.)
(b) Notice to Cut. Upon information that noxious weeds, rank vegetation, tall grass or tall weeds are growing on lands in the Village, the Mayor or the Mayor’s designee shall cause written notice to be served on the owner, occupant or person having charge of such land that such noxious weeds, rank vegetation, tall grass or tall weeds must be cut and destroyed within seven (7) days after the notice is given as provided under this section. Written notice shall be served in any of the following ways: by a law enforcement officer in person upon such owner, occupant or person having charge of such land; by certified mail to the owner, occupant or person having charge of such land; by publication once in a newspaper of general circulation in the Village; or by notice by placard conspicuously posted on such land. Such notice, however given, shall provide the following information: the address of the property, the date of the notice, the address and telephone number of the designated office for contact, and a warning that if the public nuisance is not removed within seven (7) days after notice is delivered or posted, the Village may issue a citation and/or the Village will abate the nuisance and seek recovery of all reasonable costs involved in the removal of the nuisance pursuant to the Stryker Codified Ordinances.
(Ord. 2015-02. Passed 6-8-15.)
(c) Procedure Upon Failure of Owner to Cut Noxious Weeds, Rank Vegetation, Tall Grass and Tall Weeds After Notice.
(1) If the owner, occupant or person having charge of such land fails to comply with the notice to cut and destroy noxious weds, rank vegetation, tall grass or tall weeds within seven days after the service of such notice or after the publication of such notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the County, such owner, occupant or person having charge of such land shall be subject to the penalty provided in Section 543.99. In addition, Mayor or Mayor’s designee may cause the noxious weeds, rank vegetation, tall grass or tall weeds to be cut and destroyed and all expenses and labor incurred in such operation shall be paid out of Village funds not otherwise appropriated.
(2) The Village Fiscal Officer or its designee shall make a written return to the County Auditor of its actions under subsections (b) and (c) hereof with a statement of the charges for its services, the amount paid for labor, the fees of the officers serving such notices and a proper description of the premises. Such amounts, when allowed, shall be entered upon the tax duplicate and be a lien upon such lands from and after the date of the entry and shall be collected as other taxes and returned to the Village with the General Fund. (Ord. 2011-6. Passed 7-11-11.)