There is hereby adopted by the city council those certain health and housing standards known as the 1969 edition of the Southern Standard Housing Code, of which not less than three (3) copies have been and are now filed in the office of the clerk of the city, and the same are hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set out at length herein, and from the date on which this article shall take effect the provisions thereof shall be controlling on all dwellings and premises within the corporate limits of the city.
(Ordinance R-11-A-69, sec. I, adopted 11/24/69)
(a) 
The office of housing enforcing official is hereby created.
(b) 
The building official shall be appointed by the mayor subject to confirmation of the city council. He shall be subject to removal at all times and for any reason.
(Ordinance R-11-A-69, sec. II, adopted 11/24/69; Ordinance adopting Code)
It shall be the duty of the housing enforcing official to enforce all laws and provisions specified in the 1969 edition of the Southern Standard Housing Code.
(Ordinance R-11-A-69, sec. IV, adopted 11/24/69)
The housing enforcing official, in the discharge of his official duties, and upon proper identification, shall have authority to enter any building, structure, or premises at any reasonable hour.
(Ordinance R-11-A-69, sec. V, adopted 11/24/69)
Any buildings found to be in violation of such code shall be condemned by the city building inspector, with written notice posted on the structure located on such property. The record owner shall be given notice of such action by certified mail with return receipt requested and shall be given thirty (30) days after the receipt of such notice, or forty (40) days after same is deposited in the United States mail, to appear for a public hearing before the city council at a regular meeting of the city council as specified in said notice, and shall at such time:
(1) 
Give assurances to the city council that said structures will be repaired so as to meet the minimum standards of the minimum housing code adopted by this article; or
(2) 
Give assurances to the city council that such substandard housing be removed from the premises and the lot be cleaned so as not to create a health hazard.
(Ordinance adopted 10/10/77, sec. II)
(a) 
Repair or removal by city.
After such hearing, provided the buildings are found to be in violation of standards set out by the housing code and provided that the owner does not appear at the public hearing or does not take action to proceed to remove such dilapidated structures within thirty (30) days of the hearing, the city council herein authorizes the city secretary to take whatever steps necessary to repair or remove said structures within a reasonable amount of time.
(b) 
Sale of materials.
The city secretary is herein further authorized to salvage whatever materials are recoverable and sell same at public sale to the highest bidder after public notice is given by advertising the sale of said materials. Notice is to be published in the newspaper of general circulation in the city for three weeks prior to said sale. Monies received from the sale of said materials shall be used to recover costs of removal of the structures in the city. If excess funds are received, they are to be delivered to the record owner of the property.
(c) 
Lien for city’s costs.
In the event that the costs of removal are not obtained from the sale of said materials, and the city incurs removal expenses, it is herein authorized that a lien be placed against the property to which the buildings are attached. The city secretary is herein designated to file the necessary lien instruments in the office of the county clerk against said property.
(Ordinance adopted 10/10/77, sec. III)