A.
Any lot or land shall be a public nuisance if it has the presence
of debris of any kind, including, but not limited to, weed cuttings,
cut and fallen or hazardous trees and shrubs, overgrown vegetation
and noxious weeds which are seven (7) inches or more in height, rubbish
and trash, lumber not piled or stacked twelve (12) inches off the
ground, rocks or bricks, tin, steel, parts of derelict cars or trucks,
broken furniture, any flammable material which may endanger public
safety or any material which is unhealthy or unsafe and declared to
be a public nuisance.
B.
When a public nuisance as described above exists, the Code Enforcement
Official shall provide for service to the owner of the property and,
if the property is not owner-occupied, to any occupant of the property
a written notice specifically describing each condition of the lot
or land declared to be a public nuisance, and which notice shall identify
what action will remedy the public nuisance. Unless a condition presents
an immediate, specifically identified risk to the public health or
safety, the notice shall provide a reasonable time, not less than
ten (10) days, in which to abate or commence removal of each condition
identified in the notice. Written notice may be given by personal
service or by first-class mail to both the occupant of the property
at the property address and the owner at the last known address of
the owner, if not the same.
C.
Upon a failure of the owner to pursue the removal or abatement of
such nuisance without unnecessary delay, the Code Enforcement Official
may cause the condition which constitutes the nuisance to be removed
or abated. If the Code Enforcement Official causes such condition
to be removed or abated, the cost of such removal or abatement and
the proof of notice to the owner of the property shall be certified
to the City Clerk or officer in charge of finance who shall cause
the certified cost to be included in a special tax bill or added to
the annual real estate tax bill, at the collecting official's option,
for the property and the certified cost shall be collected by the
City Collector or other official collecting taxes in the same manner
and procedure for collecting real estate taxes. If the certified cost
is not paid, the tax bill shall be considered delinquent, and the
collection of the delinquent bill shall be governed by the laws governing
delinquent and back taxes. The tax bill from the date of its issuance
shall be deemed a personal debt against the owner and shall also be
a lien on the property from the date the tax bill is delinquent until
paid.