(a) The zoning inspector is hereby designated as the City official to whom all complaints of non-compliance with the provisions of this Chapter shall be directed. The zoning inspector is empowered with and granted the authority to enter onto private residential real estate to conduct the inspections necessary to determine if a violation of this Chapter exists, whether such inspection arises from a citizen complaint filed with the City, or if an apparent violation of the provisions of this Chapter is otherwise observed by the zoning inspector. The zoning inspector is further authorized to issue and cause to be personally served or mailed written notice to any property owner whose residential real estate is determined by the zoning inspector to violate the provisions of this Chapter. Any such written notice shall specifically identify all violations arising
under this Chapter, and the steps necessary to bring the property into full compliance. Such notice shall grant the owner of any residential real estate in violation ten (10) days from the personal service of the notice or fourteen (14) days from the date of mailing the notice, to be evidenced by a certificate of mailing, to correct or abate the violation. The period of time for the correction and abatement of the violation(s) may be extended for reasonable cause pursuant to a written schedule submitted by the owner if approved by the zoning inspector.
(b) Upon failure, neglect, or refusal of any owner to comply with the notice or approved extended remedy period, the zoning inspector shall advise the Municipal Prosecutor of all the facts and the Municipal Prosecutor shall proceed to exercise on behalf of the City any remedy available to secure an abatement of the violation(s).
(c) Should the conditions constituting the violation of Chapter 1139 not be abated by the owner(s) within fourteen (14) days of the Court finding that a violation exists, the zoning inspector shall be authorized at any time thereafter to enter upon the premises and the owner(s) shall permit the zoning inspector to abate the violating conditions by removal of the personal property or by taking any other such action as may be required.
(d) In abating such violations the zoning inspector may call upon any department of the City for whatever assistance may be necessary, or may, by private contract, obtain the abatement thereof. The cost of such private contract shall be paid from City funds not otherwise appropriated.
(e) In abating such conditions the zoning inspector may go to whatever extent necessary to complete the abatement of the same and the cost of the abatement action shall be recovered from the owner(s) in the following procedures:
(1) The owner or owners shall be billed directly for the costs of the City or private contractor abatement. The bill(s) shall be sent to the owner(s) of the subject real estate as reflected by the Wyandot County Auditor's records by ordinary U.S. Mail with certificate of mailing. The bill for the cost of the abatement shall be paid by the owner(s) within thirty (30) days of mailing.
(2) If costs are not recovered from the owner(s) as set forth above, the City Auditor shall make a written return to the Wyandot County Auditor of the action taken under Chapter 1139, with a statement of the charges for labor, material and equipment incurred in the abatement of the violations, to which shall be added fifteen percent of such charges or a fixed sum of fifteen dollars ($15.00), whichever is greater, to meet the costs of the fees of the officers serving notices, the cost of mailing notices, the cost of preparing such notices, the cost of legal services in determining ownership of properties upon which such violations occurred and any other costs necessary to accomplish the purpose of this section, along with a proper description of such premises. Such amount shall be entered upon the tax duplicate as an assessment and be a lien upon such land from and after the date of entry and shall be collected as other taxes and returned to the City with the general fund settlements.
(Ord. 232-12. Passed 7-5-16.)