(A) The village may demolish, repair, or enclose or cause the demolition, repair, or enclosure of dangerous and unsafe buildings or uncompleted and abandoned buildings within the village. The Chief of Police, upon first obtaining the written opinion of a structural engineer confirming that the condition of the building is indeed dangerous and/or unsafe, shall apply to the circuit court of the county in which the building is located for an order authorizing action to be taken with respect to a building if the owner or owners of the building, including the lien holders of record, after at least 15 days’ written notice by mail so to do, have failed to put the building in a safe condition or to demolish it.
(B) In the event that access to the interior of the alleged unsafe building is denied to the Chief of Police and the structural engineer retained by the village, the Chief of Police shall apply to the circuit court of the county in which the building is located for an order authorizing the Chief of Police and the structural engineer access for purposes of conducting an inspection to determine if the condition of the building is dangerous and/or unsafe.
(C) The cost of the professional services, attorneys’ fees, court costs, demolition, repair, enclosure, or removal incurred by the village, plus interest of 5% per annum accruing thereon from the date of the recording of a notice of lien, shall be recoverable as a priority lien from the real estate upon which the building is/was located and/or the owner or owners of said real estate or the previous owner or both if the real estate was transferred during the 15-day notice period, if, within 180 days after the repair, demolition, enclosure, or removal, the village shall file a notice of lien for the actual costs, professional services, attorneys’ fees, recording fees, filing fees, court costs, other costs and expenses incurred and interest in the office of the Recorder of Deeds in the county in which the building is located.
(Ord. 11-02, passed 6-13-2011)