(A) All owners of real property within the city are required to cut and/or remove any and all excessively tall grass, weeds, and other rank vegetation growing upon their property when growth exceeds six inches.
(1) Excessively tall grass, weeds and other rank vegetation shall mean any plant or other natural growth exceeding six inches in height. The term shall also include "detrimental plants" as defined under I.C. 15-16-8-1. Trees, shrubberies, flowers, ornamental grasses, and agricultural crops are not to be considered rank vegetation.
(B) The City's Building Department shall be responsible for the administration of this section.
(C) A four-day written notice to cut and/or remove all excessively tall grass, weeds, and other rank vegetation shall be issued by the Building department. Such notice shall be posted in a prominent place on the property.
(D) If a property owner fails to remove such excessively tall grass, weeds, and other rank vegetation described within the time prescribed in division (C), the Building department may provide for the removal of such and the City's Building Department shall make a certified bill of the cost(s) incurred by the city in such removal including administrative and other related costs. Such bill shall be mailed to the property owner at the last address of the owner as indicated in the records of the County Auditor. Such property owner shall have ten days to pay such amount to the Clerk-Treasurer.
(E) A property owner may appeal a notice of violation or a bill issued under this section by filing a written notice of appeal with the Building department within ten days of the receipt of the notice of violation or bill. The appeal shall be heard by the Board of Public Works and Safety within 30 days after the notice of appeal is received.
(F) If a property owner fails to pay or appeal such sum specified in division (D) within the time prescribed, a certified copy of the bill of costs shall be filed in the office of the Porter County Auditor and the Auditor's office shall place the amount so claimed on the tax duplicate for the property affected by such work and the total amount including any accrued interest shall be collected as delinquent taxes are collected, and shall be disbursed to the LIT Fund of the city.
(Am. Ord. passed - -; Am. Ord. 20, 2022, passed 9-12-22)