If at any time there shall be any dead grass, weeds, or any other vegetation situated upon the real property within the city so as to constitute a fire hazard, the same shall be and is declared to be a nuisance, and it shall be the duty of the chief of the fire department, or his designee, to notify the owner or owners of the real property, both orally and in writing, to cut and remove the same within five days from the giving of the notice.
(Ord. 1751 § 1 (part), 1992; Ord. 2177 § 1 (part), 2006)
The notice of removal shall be given to the property owner by certified mail or personal service. In the event that the property owner may be absent from, or a nonresident of, the city, then the notice of removal herein provided to be given shall be mailed to the last known address of the property owner and published in one issue of the official newspaper of the city in lieu of personal service, and the service of the notice of removal shall be deemed complete at the expiration of five days after the date of the publication and mailing; provided, however, that when the service is made outside the city, the time for complying with the notice after the service shall be ten days.
(Ord. 1751 § 1 (part), 1992; Ord. 2177 § 1 (part), 2006)
In the event of the failure of any owner or owners to comply with the notice, the city of Centralia may cut or remove any such dead grass, weeds or other vegetation, and charge the cost and expense thereof to the property owner or owners, and assert a lien against the premises from which the same is cut or removed.
(Ord. 1751 § 1 (part), 1992; Ord. 2177 § 1 (part), 2006)
Any person, firm or corporation who knowingly violates or fails to comply with any term or provision of this chapter shall be deemed to have committed the following:
A. 
First Offense. Constitutes a Class 1 civil infraction with the maximum assessment not to exceed the amount of two hundred fifty dollars, not including statutory assessments.
B. 
Second Offense. Constitutes a misdemeanor, and if found guilty, shall be subject to a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars, plus costs and assessments, and/or imprisonment not to exceed ninety days or to both such fine and imprisonment. A second offense shall mean a violation of this chapter which is committed at the same location by the same individual within one calendar year of the first offense.
C. 
Third or Subsequent Offenses. Constitutes a gross misdemeanor, and if found guilty, shall be subject to a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars, plus costs and assessments, and/or imprisonment not to exceed three hundred and sixty-five days or both such fines and imprisonment. A third or subsequent offense shall mean a violation of this chapter which is committed at the same location by the same individual within one calendar year of the first offense.
(Ord. 1751 § 1 (part), 1992; Ord. 2177 § 1 (part), 2006)
The lien herein authorized shall, as nearly as practicable, be in substantially the same form as a lien for labor and materials, shall be filed with the office of the Lewis County auditor within the same time and manner, and enforced and foreclosed on as is provided by law for liens for labor and material.
(Ord. 1751 § 1 (part), 1992; Ord. 2177 § 1 (part), 2006)