A. 
Failure To Keep Weeds, High Grass And Other Vegetation Cut And Removed, A Nuisance. Except as otherwise provided in Section 71.285, RSMo., as amended, all persons owning any lot, tract of land or ground in the City, except property zoned for agricultural purposes, shall keep the weeds, high grass and other vegetation growing on such property cut and removed. Whenever such weeds, high grass or other vegetation shall attain the height of six (6) inches, it shall be deemed a public nuisance.
B. 
Allowing Trash To Accumulate, A Nuisance. Except as otherwise provided in Section 71.285, RSMo., as amended, all persons owning any lot, tract of land or ground in the City shall not allow trash to accumulate on such property. Whenever trash accumulates on any lot, tract of land or ground in the City, it shall be deemed a public nuisance.
C. 
Unlawful To Maintain Such Nuisance. It shall be unlawful for any person to create or maintain a nuisance as defined in Subsection (A) or (B).
D. 
Liability. Whenever weeds, high grass or other vegetation in violation of Subsection (A) of this Section are allowed to grow, or whenever trash is allowed to accumulate in violation of Subsection (B) of this Section, on any part of any lot, tract of land or ground within the City, the owner of the lot, tract of land or ground or, in case of joint tenancy, tenancy by entireties or tenancy in common, each owner thereof shall be liable.
E. 
Notice. The Code Enforcement Officer shall give a hearing after ten (10) days' notice thereof either personally or by United States mail to the owner or owners, or his/her or their agents, or by posting such notice on the premises; thereupon, the Code Enforcement Officer may declare the weeds, high grass, other vegetation or trash accumulation to be a nuisance and order the same to be abated within five (5) days.
F. 
Disposition.
1. 
In case the weeds, high grass or other vegetation are not cut down and removed within the five (5) days, the Code Enforcement Officer shall have the weeds, high grass or other vegetation cut down and removed and shall certify the costs of same to the City Clerk.
2. 
In case the accumulated trash is not removed within the five (5) days, the Code Enforcement Officer shall have the trash removed and shall certify the costs of same to the City Clerk.
G. 
Tax Bill. The cost of abatement includes a fee for the City's costs in administering this Section, which fee shall not exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) per hour. The City Clerk shall cause a special tax bill therefor against the property to be prepared and to be collected by the City Collector with other taxes assessed against the property; and the tax bill from the date of its issuance shall be a first lien on the property until paid and shall be prima facie evidence of the recitals therein and of its validity, and no mere clerical error or informality in the same, or in the proceedings leading up to the issuance, shall be a defense thereto. Each special tax bill shall be issued by the City Clerk and delivered to the City Collector on or before the 1st day of June of each year. Such tax bills if not paid when due shall bear interest at the rate of eight percent (8%) per annum.
H. 
Recurring Offense. If weeds, high grass or other vegetation are allowed to grow, or trash is allowed to accumulate, on the same property in violation of this Section more than once during the same growing season in the case of weeds, high grass or other vegetation, or more than once during a calendar year in the case of trash, the Code Enforcement Officer may order that the weeds, high grass, other vegetation or trash in violation of this Section be abated within five (5) business days after notice is sent to or posted on the property. In case the weeds, high grass, other vegetation or trash in violation of this Section are not removed within the five (5) days, the Code Enforcement Officer may have the weeds, high grass, other vegetation or trash in violation of this Section removed, and the cost of the same shall be billed in the manner described in Subsection G of this Section.
I. 
Penalty. Any person violating any of the provisions of this Section, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of:
1. 
Fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first violation;
2. 
One hundred dollars ($100.00) on the second violation;
3. 
Two hundred dollars ($200.00) on the third violation; and
4. 
Five hundred dollars ($500.00) on the fourth and all additional violations thereafter.
J. 
Civil Action. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the City may, in addition to or in the alternative to following the procedures set forth above, initiate a civil cause of action in the Circuit Court of St. Charles County, Missouri, for abatement of nuisances within the borders of the City, and the City may, upon successful prosecution of such cause of action, request that the court award reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the City in such action.