(a) Whenever the Director of Public Service shall authorize that any parcel of land shall be entered upon in order to accomplish abatement of an existing violation, pursuant to provisions of this chapter, the Director of Public Service is hereby authorized and directed to keep an accurate account of all expenses incurred, and, based upon same, issue an invoice indicating the cost involved for such work with respect to each parcel of property.
(b) Once noxious weeds are destroyed or weed, grass or plant cutting is completed, the Director of Public Service is authorized to charge the owner, lessee, agent or tenant having charge of the affected property for the services rendered.
(c) The Director of Finance shall notify the owner, lessee, agent or tenant having charge of the affected property by ordinary mail, if the address of such parties be known, that the City has destroyed the noxious weeds or has cut the weeds, grass or plants upon the premises in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, and then report all the expenses to Council.
(d) The Director is also authorized to add to such costs a fifty dollar ($50.00) administrative charge to cover the costs of publication, overhead and other contingent expenses.
(e) Within ten days after receipt of the requisition, the Finance Director shall forward a statement of the total charges assessed on each parcel of property to the person as shown to be the owner of record on the last current assessment of tax roll and such assessment shall be payable to the City within thirty days from the date the statement was forwarded.
(f) If the property owner does not pay these expenses within the thirty days period, the City may file a lien against the subject property in accordance with Section 945.08 with the County Auditor. Such amount shall be a debt of the person to whom assessed until paid and, in case of delinquency, may be enforced as delinquent City property taxes or by a suit against such person.
(g) Such amounts as are paid to the City under the provisions of this chapter shall be deposited into a special fund to be known as the “Weed and Refuse Fund” and these monies may be drawn upon the Finance Director for the purpose of defraying the expenses incurred by the Director of Public Service in the performance of such work as may be necessary to accomplish abatement of violations in the manner specified in this chapter.
(Ord. 2005-131. Passed 8-2-05.)