[Ord. No. 894 §I, 9-13-2004]
In compliance with Section 67.398, RSMo., the City may take all reasonable action to abate a condition of any lot or land that has the presence of a nuisance including, but not limited to, debris of any kind, weed cuttings, cut, fallen, or hazardous trees and shrubs, overgrown vegetation and noxious weeds which are seven (7) inches or more in height, rubbish and trash, lumber that is not piled or stacked twelve (12) inches or more 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 or condition which is unhealthy or unsafe and declared to be a public nuisance. Further, to the extent permitted by law, all conditions described as a nuisance by any other ordinance of the City, including, but not necessarily limited to, Section 220.020 of this Code, are hereby also included herein, as well as abandoned houses and other structures in disrepair such that they are an eyesore or an inviting haven or refuge for criminals and criminal activity, and the City may take all reasonable action to abate said conditions.
[Ord. No. 894 §§II — V, 9-13-2004]
A. 
If the owner of such property constituting or containing any such nuisance within seven (7) days of receiving notice that the nuisance has been ordered removed or abated, or upon failure to pursue the removal of the abatement of such nuisance without unnecessary delay, the Building Commissioner or other designated officer of the City may cause the condition which constitutes the nuisance to be removed or abated.
B. 
The costs of such removal or abatement shall then be certified to the City Clerk or City 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 officials' option, for the property and the certified cost shall be collected by the collecting official in the same manner and procedure for collecting real estate taxes. If such certified cost is not paid, the tax bill shall be considered delinquent and shall be collected as such.
C. 
The tax bill shall further be deemed a personal debt against the owner and shall also be a lien on the property until paid including to the full extent of all applicable Missouri law and specifically, but not necessarily limited to Section 67.398, RSMo.
D. 
The City shall aggressively pursue collection of such costs in the most efficient manner possible, including, to the extent Board appropriate and reasonable, the hiring of legal counsel, to the extent necessary, to initiate litigation, foreclose upon property, file and enforce liens, or to engage in any and all other appropriate professional methods for gaining legal and equitable relief for the City.
[Ord. No. 894 §VI, 9-13-2004]
Any person who has received notice that property of theirs constitutes or contains thereon a nuisance may appeal said notice and declaration by filing within seven (7) days of the date of said notice, a written notice with the City Clerk, declaring their desire and intention to appeal, signed and sworn to by said person, and requesting a hearing thereon. The City shall conduct such a hearing, with the Mayor or City Attorney sitting as presiding officer, at which the appellant and the official providing the original notice may present their evidence, produce exhibits, call and cross-examine witnesses, and present their argument. The hearing may be preserved by a court reporter at the City's or the appellant's option and costs. The presiding officer shall notify the official and the appellant of his/her decision regarding the appeal in a timely fashion and in no case later than fourteen (14) days from the date of the hearing. The presiding officer may further afford the appellant any additional procedures, rights, powers, notices, and opportunities as may be required by due process to the extent it applies at all to such an appeal.