Hallsville Debris on Property: Effect of Failure to Remove Nuisance: Penalties ordinance (§ 215.040)

A. Any lot or land shall be a public nuisance if it has the presence of debris of any kind, including, but not limited to, weed cuttings, cut and fallen or hazardous trees and shrubs, overgrown vegetation and noxious weeds which are seven (7) inches or more in height, rubbish and trash, lumber not piled or stacked twelve (12) inches off the ground, rocks or bricks, tin, steel, parts of derelict cars or trucks, broken furniture, any flammable material which may endanger public safety or any material which is unhealthy or unsafe and declared to be a public nuisance.

B. Owners or occupants shall be responsible for maintenance of adjacent local road public right-of- way within the City of Hallsville, including:

1. Properly mowing the grassed or vegetated area to prevent from being a public nuisance at seven (7) inches or more in height;

2. Trimming around all vertical objects;

3. Where present, sidewalks adjoining the property shall be maintained to control the growth of grass and weeds, both between the sidewalk joints and alongside both sides of the sidewalk and edge of pavement;

4. Where present, vegetation around curbs, gutters, culverts and catch basins shall be maintained to control the growth of grass and weeds, alongside of and between the curb, gutter, culvert and catch basin joints.

5. Clean-up of cut vegetation from road, sidewalk, curb, gutter, culvert and catch basin surfaces.

C. When a public nuisance as described above exists, the Chief of Police shall provide for service to the owner of the property and, if the property is not owner-occupied, to any occupant of the property a written notice specifically describing each condition of the lot or land declared to be a public nuisance, and which notice shall identify what action will remedy the public nuisance. Unless a condition presents an immediate, specifically identified risk to the public health or safety, the notice shall provide a reasonable time, not less than ten (10) days, in which to abate or commence removal of each condition identified in the notice. Written notice may be given by personal service or by first-class mail to both the occupant of the property at the property address and the owner at the last known address of the owner, if not the same.

D. Upon a failure of the owner to pursue the removal or abatement of such nuisance without unnecessary delay, the Chief of Police may cause the condition which constitutes the nuisance to be removed or abated. If the Chief of Police causes such condition to be removed or abated, the cost of such removal or abatement and the proof of notice to the owner of the property shall be ce1tified to the City Clerk or officer in charge of finance who shall cause the certified cost to be included in a special tax bill or added to the annual real estate tax bill, at the collecting official's option, for the property, and the certified cost shall be collected by the City Collector or other official collecting taxes in the same manner and procedure for collecting real estate taxes. If the certified cost is not paid, the tax bill shall be considered delinquent, and the collection of the delinquent bill shall be governed by the laws governing delinquent and back taxes. The tax bill from the date of its issuance shall be deemed a personal debt against the owner and shall also be a lien on the property from the date the tax bill is delinquent until paid.