(a) Any person owning or having charge of land within the Municipality shall keep such property free and clear from noxious weeds, grass and rank vegetation, and shall be required to cut, destroy and control such weeds, grass, or vegetation on the lands owned or controlled by him each year.
(b) Upon information that noxious weeds, grass or rank vegetation are growing on lands in the Municipality and is about to spread, mature seeds, or is eight (8) inches or more in height, the Village shall cause written notice to be served on the owner or person having charge of such land that such weeds, grass or rank vegetation, must be cut and destroyed within five (5) days after service of such notice. If such owner or person having charge of such land is a non-resident whose address is known, such notice shall be sent to his address by certified mail; if unknown, it shall be sufficient to publish such notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in the County.
(c) Any police officer or the Fiscal Officer may make service and return of the notice provided for in subsection (b) and shall be allowed the same fee as that provided for service and return of summons in civil cases before a magistrate.
(d) If the owner or person having charge of such land fails to comply with such notice, the Village shall cause the noxious weeds, grass, and rank vegetation to be cut and destroyed. All expenses and labor costs incurred shall be paid out of the Municipal funds not otherwise appropriated. Such expenses and costs for mowing, removal, etc., shall be a minimum of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) per service, an additional twenty-five dollars ($25.00) administrative fee will be implemented per notice, and all costs incurred shall be charged to any person owning or having charge of the said property.
(e) Council shall make a written return to the County Auditor of their action under subsections (b) to (d) herein, with a statement of the charges for their 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 entry and be collected as other taxes and returned to the Municipality with the General Fund.
(f) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(Ord. 7-2018. Passed 6-11-18.)