[Ord. No. 19 §93-41; Ord. No. 540, 4-12-1993]
A.
Purpose. Open and abandoned excavations upon property lying within the City are deemed to be attractive and dangerous nuisances to children and to be in other respects a menace to the public health and safety. Therefore, it is necessary to regulate excavation within the City of Herculaneum.
B.
Ongoing Excavation. Any owner or lessee of property, or any contractor working upon property in connection with any lawful construction project, must take steps to alleviate any danger to the public by covering said excavation to the extent possible and warning of said excavation. All excavations shall be roped or barricaded in such a way to prevent the general public from being injured in such an excavation.
C.
Abandoned Excavation. Whenever it shall appear that a construction project, in connection with which an excavation was either wholly or partially made, has been abandoned, and that such excavation has not been completely filled or completely covered, the Board shall cause a written notice to be served upon the owner or lessee of such property, either personally or by registered mail, calling attention to the existence of such excavation, the apparent abandonment of the project in connection with which the same was made and directing the excavation to be completely filled or completely covered within a period of seventy-two (72) hours from the date of such notice. For those excavations which were intended to be basements of buildings, the excavation need not be completely filled or covered within a period of seventy-two (72) hours, but such excavation shall begin to be filled within seventy-two (72) hours, and will be completely filled or completely covered within a reasonable time after receiving notice from the Board. Immediately after receiving such notice, the owner or lessee of land containing any abandoned excavation shall take the precautionary measures required for ongoing excavations. No ongoing construction of a home or building shall be deemed abandoned if progress on the construction is being made.
D.
Violations And Penalties. Any person who shall violate or who shall fail to comply with the provisions of this Section shall, upon conviction in Municipal Court, be found guilty of a misdemeanor. Such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than five dollars ($5.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) to be imposed and collected in a like manner as fines are imposed.