[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Belvidere 6-18-1984 by Ord. No. 84-47 (Ch. 157 of the 1987 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
The short title of this chapter shall be "Weed Control."
[Amended 10-16-1989 by Ord. No. 89-18]
It shall be unlawful for an owner, tenant or occupant of land lying within the limits of the Town of Belvidere to allow, suffer or permit on such lands any accumulation of brush, tall grasses and/or weeds, including poison ivy and rag weed, in a manner detrimental to the public health, safety or general welfare or in such manner as to constitute a fire hazard, and in such cases, the owner, tenant or occupant shall remove or destroy the same.
[Amended 10-16-1989 by Ord. No. 89-18]
Whenever brush, tall grasses and/or weeds, including rag weed and poison ivy, shall have been allowed, suffered or permitted to accumulate on lands lying within the limits of the Town of Belvidere in a manner detrimental to the public health, safety or general welfare or in such manner as to constitute a fire hazard, the Town Council or the Warren County Health Officer, Chief of the Police Department or other Town official designated for this purpose by the Town Council shall cause seven days' written notice to remove or destroy the same to be given to the tenant, occupant or owner of any such lands.
A. 
Written notice shall be given both the owner and occupant or tenant of the land, if known, and may be served personally or left with a member of the household over the age of 14 years or may be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the last post office address of such owner, tenant or occupant.
B. 
In the event that the name and post office address of the owner is not known, then such written notice shall be sent certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the person or persons whose names and addresses appear as owner on the last tax duplicate of the Town of Belvidere.
[Amended 10-16-1989 by Ord. No. 89-18]
In the event that any owner, tenant or occupant shall refuse or neglect to remove or destroy said accumulation within the time limited by such notice, then the Town Council may authorize and direct that the same be removed or destroyed by or under the direction of the Warren County Health Officer, Chief of the Police Department, Supervisor of the Department of Public Works or such other Town official designated by the Town Council for this purpose.
In the event that such owner, tenant or occupant shall refuse or neglect to remove or destroy any such accumulations as hereinbefore set forth, and it shall be necessary for the Town Council to cause the same to be removed or destroyed, the officer responsible therefor shall certify the cost thereof to the Town Council.
[Amended 10-16-1989 by Ord. No. 89-18]
In all cases where brush, tall grasses and/or weeds, including rag weed and poison ivy, are destroyed or removed from any lands pursuant to this chapter by or under the direction of any official designated in § 498-3, such official shall certify the cost thereof to the Town Council, as provided in § 498-6, which shall examine the certificate and, if found to be correct, shall cause the cost as shown thereon to be charged against said lands, the amount so charged to become a lien upon such lands and to be added to and become and form part of the taxes next to be assessed and levied upon such lands, the same to bear interest at the same rate as taxes and to be collected and enforced by the Tax Collector.
Upon adoption of a resolution by the Town Council charging the cost against the lands, a certified copy thereof shall be filed with the Collector of Taxes of the Town of Belvidere, and the amount so charged shall forthwith become a lien upon such lands and shall be added to and become and form a part of the taxes next to be assessed and levied upon such lands, the same to bear interest at the same rate as taxes and shall be collected and enforced by the same officers and in the same manner as taxes.
Any person violating any of the provisions hereof shall, upon conviction, be subject to a penalty, either by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or by a fine not exceeding $500, or both, in the discretion of the court. Each and every day any violation continues after service of notice to remove or destroy any accumulation, as provided herein, shall be considered a separate offense, punishable by a like fine or penalty.