[Adopted 3-1-1973 as Art. II of Ch. 15 of the 1973 Code]
Whatever is dangerous to human life or health,
whatever renders the air or food or water or other drink unwholesome,
and whatever building, erection or part or cellar thereof is overcrowded
or not provided with adequate means of ingress and egress, or is not
sufficiently supported, ventilated, sewered, drained, cleaned or lighted,
is hereby declared to be a nuisance and to be illegal and every person
having aided in creating or contributing to such nuisance, or who
may support, continue or retain any such, shall be seemed guilty of
a misdemeanor and also be liable for the expense of the abatement
and remedy therefor.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person owning or holding
real estate to allow or maintain on any lot within the corporate limits
any growth of weeds to a height over six inches, and such growth of
weeds is hereby declared to be a nuisance, injurious to public interests
and public health.
B.
The word "weeds," as used in this section, shall mean
and include the following:
It shall be unlawful for any person to store any rags, bones or junk which, in the opinion of the City Council, may prove detrimental to health within the limits of the City or within one-half mile thereof. If any person shall maintain or continue the storage or detention of rags, bones, or junk, contrary to the provisions of this section, the house or place of storage or detention shall be declared a nuisance, and the person maintaining or continuing such nuisance shall be liable, upon conviction, to the punishment prescribed in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article II, of this Code. This section shall not apply to the temporary storage of rags, bones or junk by private families or householders, if the same be removed each and every week.
No complaint of a nuisance shall be received
by the City Council, unless the same is in writing and directed to
the Council.
When any nuisance is referred to a committee
with power to act thereon, the committee shall report, in writing,
to the City Council what action it has taken in relation to it.
A.
It shall be the duty of the authorized official of
the City to investigate all nuisances complained of and referred to
him/her by the City Council and report to the Council what action
may be necessary. The authorized official of the City shall, in making
such report, give the location of the property or properties whereon
the nuisance exists, together with the nature, character and cause
of the nuisance.
B.
At the expiration of the time set by a notice served
in accord with this article for the abatement of a nuisance, the authorized
official of the City shall reinspect the nuisance and report what
action has been taken in the premises.
A.
Whenever any nuisance is found to exist by the City
Council, the Council shall issue an order to abate such nuisance.
Such order shall be directed to the owner of the premises upon which
the nuisance exists or to the person committing or responsible for
such nuisance.
B.
The order to abate a nuisance shall specify the time
within which the nuisance is to be removed or otherwise abated by
the person to whom the order is directed.
C.
The City Clerk shall place in the hands of the authorized
official of the City, for execution, all orders of the Council to
abate nuisances.
D.
In all cases of nuisances to be removed by the agent,
occupiers or owners of property, who have been notified to that effect
by the City Council, it shall be understood that he/she or they shall
commence the removal within the time prescribed in the order or notice,
and the Council will not interfere.
The authorized official of the City shall serve
all notices and orders of the City Council concerning the abatement
of nuisances upon the property owners or agents. In case the property
owner or agent cannot be found after diligent search, the authorized
official of the City shall leave such notice or order on the premises.
The authorized official of the City, having
properly served parties who have committed or are responsible for
a nuisance, shall abate such nuisance at the expiration of the time
limit under the rules of the City Council for its abatement, and for
such abatement, in addition to the expense of removal, 20% shall be
added and collected in the manner provided by law regulating the collection
of fines.
A.
The authorized official of the City shall award all
contracts for abating nuisances within 24 hours after the order of
the Council has been placed in his/her hands and shall impose a condition
in such contracts that the work must be commenced within 48 hours
after acceptance and prosecuted continuously until completed.
B.
The contractor shall strictly adhere to the stipulations
and terms of the contract. No extra allowance will be granted upon
bills for work done or materials furnished unless specially ordered
by the City Council.
All the bills submitted to the City Council
for removing nuisances shall be itemized, and a charge made for each
separate item.
