The city requires all lot owners within the municipality to keep lots free from weeds, rubbish, brush, and other objectionable, unsightly, or unsanitary matter. The city has the authority to prosecute in municipal court the lot owner or occupant of property who does not comply with this article.
(Ordinance 474-A adopted 9/30/13)
The city will give notice to the property owner personally in writing, or by letter addressed to the owner at the owner’s address as recorded in the appraisal district’s records. If it is impossible to provide personal service, then the notice requirements can be satisfied by at least one publication, or by posting notice on or near the front door of each building on the property, or posting notice on a placard attached to a stake driven into the ground on the property to which the violation relates. Notice is not affected if the notice is returned to the United States Postal Service as refused or unclaimed. The notice should state that, if the owner commits a second violation of the same kind or nature, which also poses a danger to the public, before the first anniversary of the date of the notice, then the city will correct the violation at the owner’s expense and assess the expense against the property without further notice. If the landowner does not comply with the notice within 7 days, the city will do the work or make the improvements, and pay for the work done or improvements made and charge the expenses to the owner of the property.
(Ordinance 474-A adopted 9/30/13)
The city secretary will assess the expenses incurred on the work done or the improvements made. To obtain the lien against the property, the city secretary will file an expense statement with the county clerk. Included in the statement is the name of the land owner, and the legal description of the property. The lien is security for expenditures made and interest at the rate of 10% on the amount due from the date of payment by the city. This lien is inferior only to tax liens and liens for street improvements.
(Ordinance 474-A adopted 9/30/13)
(a) 
Authority; notice.
(1) 
The city, without notice, will abate weeds that have grown higher than 48 inches and are an immediate danger to the health, life, or safety of any person.
(2) 
The city has ten days to notify the property owner of the abatement using the notice procedures.
(3) 
This notice should include an identification of the property, a description of the violations, a statement that the city abated the weeds and an explanation of the property owner’s right to request an administrative hearing concerning the city’s abatement of the weeds.
(b) 
Hearing.
If the property owner files a written request for a hearing within 30 days after the date of the abatement of the weeds, the city shall conduct an administrative hearing. The hearing must be conducted no later than the 20th day after the date the request is filed. The owner has the right to testify, present witnesses or offer written information relating to the abatement of the weeds. The members of the administrative hearing are the mayor, the city secretary, the public works department, and the police chief.
(Ordinance 474-A adopted 9/30/13)
Any person, firm, or corporation who shall violate the provisions of this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in accordance with the general penalty provided in section 1.01.009 of this code for each offense, and each day’s continuance of failure to comply with these provisions shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.
(Ordinance 474-A adopted 9/30/13; Ordinance adopting Code)