[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Crystal Lake 1-19-1993
(Art. VI, Ch. II, Section B, of the 1993 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
The storing of junk, trash and refuse on private property within the City of Crystal Lake, where such storage is not specifically authorized under the provisions of Chapter 650, Zoning, is hereby prohibited and declared a nuisance.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Includes any and all waste matter, whether reusable or not, which
is offensive to the public health, safety or to the aesthetics of the neighborhood,
and is specifically intended to include, but not be limited to, worn out,
wrecked and/or abandoned automobiles, trucks, tractors, machinery of any kind,
any parts thereof, old ice boxes, refrigerators and stoves.
[Amended 5-21-1996 by Ord. No. 3909]
Any person who observes a violation of this chapter may file an affidavit setting forth in detail the violation, its location and the name of the owner, occupant or agent of the property on which such nuisance is alleged, and may file such affidavit with the Housing or Sanitation Department of the City of Crystal Lake. An inspector of the Housing or Sanitation Department shall investigate such charge, and if such nuisance exists, issue a notice to the owner, occupant or agent at his/her last known address or as shown on the records of the Collector of Taxes of McHenry County, Illinois, of the property as provided in § 317-5 of this chapter.
[Amended 5-21-1996 by Ord. No. 3909]
Any police officer or inspector of the Housing or Sanitation Department
of the City of Crystal Lake upon observing any violation of this chapter shall
issue a notice directed to the owner of record of the property or agent at
his/her last known address or as shown on the records of the Collector of
Taxes of McHenry County, Illinois, on which said nuisance occurs, as shown
in the records of the Recorder of Deeds of McHenry County, or to the occupant
of said property, or to all, which said notice shall describe the violation
and shall establish a reasonable time limit for the abatement thereof by such
owner, occupant or agent, which time shall be not less than two days nor more
than 10 days after service of such notice.
[Amended 5-21-1996 by Ord. No. 3909]
Any police officer or inspector of the Housing or Sanitation
Department of the City of Crystal Lake is authorized and empowered to serve
the notice herein provided for upon the owner, occupant or agent of the property
where such nuisance exists, or upon all of them, by personal service or by
registered or certified mail addressed to said owner, occupant or agent at
his/her last known address or as shown on the records of the Recorder of Deeds
of McHenry County, Illinois. If the notice is served by personal service,
the police officer or inspector shall make his/her return of service upon
a copy of such notice, showing the time of service, the person upon whom it
was served, and the manner it was served. In the event that the owner, occupant
or agent cannot be found for personal service, service may be made by attaching
a copy of the notice upon the premises in violation, and by mailing a copy
by registered mail or certified mail to the last known address of such owner,
occupant or agent.
Immediately upon the termination of the time allowed in any such notice
for the abatement of such nuisance, the police officer or inspector of the
Housing or Sanitation Department of the City of Crystal Lake, who served or
mailed such notice, or any other police officer or inspector who shall be
assigned by the Housing and Sanitation Commissioners, shall investigate to
determine whether or not such nuisance has been abated.
[Amended 5-21-1996 by Ord. No. 3909]
In the event the owner, occupant or agent of the property where such
nuisance exists has failed within the prescribed time to abate such nuisance,
then the police officer or inspector of the Housing or Sanitation Department
of the City of Crystal Lake, who served or mailed such notice, or the person
who filed an affidavit with the Housing or Sanitation Department, or the inspector
of the Housing or Sanitation Department who investigated whether such nuisance
had been abated, shall file a complaint charging violation of this chapter
with the Circuit Court of the 19th Judicial Circuit, or a Magistrate thereof,
charging violation of this chapter and demanding that the owner of the property,
the occupant thereof or the agent, or all, be punished as herein provided.
