[Adopted at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
NOXIOUS WEEDS
Includes Canada thistle (Circium Arvense), dodders (any species of Cuscuta), mustards (charlock, black mustard and Indian mustard, species of Brassica or Sinapis), wild carrot (Daucus Carota), bindweeds (Convolvulus arvensis), perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis), hoary alyssum (Berteroa incana), ragweed (ambrosia elatior) and poison ivy (rhus toxicodendron, poison sumac toxicodendron vernix), or other plants, grass, vines, trees, shrubs, or other growth whenever in the opinion of the Village it is regarded as a public nuisance.
It shall be unlawful for the owner, agent or occupant of any property located within the Village to permit to grow any weeds, grass, vines, trees, shrubs, or other growth when the same endangers property or the health or safety of the public, or is a potential fire hazard, or such growth is hereby declared to be a public nuisance.
The Village shall give written notice to the owner or occupant of the premises upon which such nuisance is located, or which adjoins that portion or the street or alley where such nuisance is located, to remove, trim, or dispose of the same within 10 days after service of said written notice. Said notice shall be given as follows:
A. 
The Village shall notify either the owner or occupant of the premises in writing that conditions on the premises are unlawful. The notice shall specifically describe the conditions constituting the unlawfulness and shall specify the sections of this article that are involved. The notice shall direct the recipient to correct the offending conditions and shall specify the time within which the corrections must be made.
B. 
The notice required by this article shall be given by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the property owner of record or by posting a notice on said premises in a conspicuous place. In the event that the owner or owners are not known or not of the record, in addition to the posting, publication shall be given in a newspaper of general circulation in the Village at least 10 days before the effective date of the notice.
No one shall be in violation of this article unless he shall have failed to comply with the notice specified in this article within 10 days of the receipt thereof.
[Amended 4-8-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-004]
A. 
In the event the owner, agent, or occupant of any property within the Village of Bellevue to which this article applies has failed after 10 days’ notice as provided herein to cut or destroy such noxious weeds, grass, plants, vines, trees, shrubs, or other growth or cause same to be cut or destroyed, then any official inspector or other agent authorized by the Village Council of the Village of Bellevue may enter upon such property and destroy such weeds, grass, plants, vines, trees, shrubs, or other growth by cutting or destroying with or without mechanical equipment which will not damage the property or the sidewalks adjacent thereto.
B. 
Any and all expenses and costs incurred by the Village of Bellevue with respect to cutting, destroying, eradicating or controlling such noxious weeds, grass, plants, vines, trees, shrubs, or other growth shall be paid by the owner(s) or occupant(s) of the property. The Village shall have a lien against the property for such expenses and costs, which lien shall be enforced in the manner prescribed by the general laws of the State of Michigan providing for the enforcement of tax liens. The Village Council may, by resolution, establish costs and expenses with respect to the cutting, destroying, eradicating or controlling noxious weeds or other growth.
The Village may abate any such public nuisance without giving notice if the public health or safety requires immediate attention. The cost of abating such nuisance may be charged against the premises and the owner thereof, in accordance with the provisions heretofore set forth.
A violation of this article is a municipal civil infraction. The penalty for a violation that is a municipal civil infraction shall be a civil fine in an amount set by resolution of the Village Council from time to time.