[Ord. No. 264 §§1 — 9, 11, 4-11-1989]
A. 
Definitions. Except as otherwise indicated by the context of this Article, the following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this Article:
DAMAGED OR DISABLED VEHICLES
Any vehicle which is not registered or improperly registered with the State of Missouri, has been inoperable for more than seventy-two (72) hours or is in such a state or repair as to be inoperable, except for those on the premises of a duly licensed automobile repair or sales business or in a duly licenses automobile junking yard.
JUNK
Any old iron, steel, brass, copper tin, lead or other base metals; old cordage, ropes, rags, fibers or fabrics; old rubber; old bottles, glass; bones; wastepaper and other waste or discarded material which might be prepared to be used again in some form; and any or all of the foregoing; and motor vehicles, no longer used as such, to be used for scrap metal or stripping or parts; but "junk" shall not include materials or objects accumulated by a person as by-products, waste or scraps from the operation of his/her own business or materials or objects held and used by a manufacturer as an integral part of his/her own manufacturing processes and kept and stored on his/her business premises.
LITTER
Includes, without excluding any other substances, the following: Cut weeds, grass, clippings, branches, twigs, leaves or other natural materials, cans, bottles and paper. Litter shall also include those things which are waste and rubbish generated through normal household activities.
VEHICLE
Any machine propelled by power other than human power designed to travel along the ground by use of wheels, treads, runners or slides, including, but not limited to, automobiles, trucks, trailers, motorcycles, tractors, buggies and wagons or any part thereof.
B. 
Damaged Or Disabled Vehicles Are Nuisances. Any damaged or disabled vehicle, part thereof or junk located on any property, street or highway which presents a hazard to children or harbors tall grass, weeds or other vegetation or creates a fire hazard or affords a breeding place or nesting place for mosquitoes, flies, rodents, rats or other vermin; or any vehicle, part thereof or junk allowed to remain unmoved on any street or highway for forty-eight (48) hours is a public nuisance.
C. 
Unlawful To Maintain. It shall be unlawful for any person to create or maintain a nuisance as defined in Subsection (B).
D. 
Notice. Whenever the Chief of Police or his/her duly authorized representative determines that any vehicle or junk is a nuisance as defined herein, he/she shall cause written notice to be served upon the owner of the vehicle or junk, if he/she can be located or the person in custody of such vehicle or junk, by registered mail or by personal service. The notice shall state the vehicle or junk is deemed to be a nuisance within the provisions of Subsection (B) hereof and shall briefly state facts deemed to constitute such vehicle or junk a nuisance within the terms of this Article and state that the nuisance shall be abated within seven (7) days from receipt of such notice.
E. 
Proceedings When Owner Or Custodian Cannot Be Located. When the owner or custodian of any nuisance as defined in Subsection (B) cannot be located by reasonable search, the notice shall be attached to the property, briefly stating facts deemed to constitute the property a nuisance and stating that the nuisance shall be abated within seven (7) days of the date the notice was posed or, if the vehicle is on public property, within two (2) days of the date notice was posted.
F. 
Duty Of The Owner Or Custodian. Any person receiving the notice provided for above shall comply with the provisions of the notice requiring abatement.
G. 
Disposition. If not removed within the times specified in the notice (provided for by Subsections (D) and (E), the vehicle or junk shall be transported to a storage area by or at the direction of the Chief of Police or his/her duly authorized representative at the expense of the owner or person in custody thereof. It shall then be stored for a period of ninety (90) days and the person entitled to possession thereof may redeem the property by payment to the City of the actual cost of its removal and a reasonable storage fee of ten dollars ($10.00) per day. If the vehicle or junk is redeemed after the expiration of the ninety (90) day period, the Chief of Police may sell it to the highest bidder or, if it has no sale value, may otherwise dispose of it. Any money received from disposal of any vehicle or junk shall be applied to the expenses charged to the owner or person in charge thereof and any excess held in escrow or returned to him/her.
H. 
Notice Of Sale. Prior to the sale of any such property, the Chief of Police shall cause to be posted in the City Hall, place of storage and at least one (1) other public place in the City a notice of sale stating:
1. 
The City is selling abandoned property;
2. 
The color, make, year, motor number and serial number, if available and any other information necessary for an accurate identification of the property;
3. 
The terms of the sale;
4. 
The date, time and place of the sale.
This notice shall be published not less than ten (10) or more than twenty (20) days prior to the date of the sale.