§ 7-187. Assessment of cost.

(a)

The cost to the city for repairs, alterations, improvements, removal or demolition, in addition to a penalty in the amount of twenty (20) percent of such cost shall be a lien against such real estate, and assessed or collected as a special tax. The governing authority of the city shall fix a day for a hearing of objections to such assessment and shall cause the municipal clerk to give to the owner ten (10) days written notice, by mail, if the post office address of the owner be known, but if the post office address of the owner be unknown, notice shall be given by posting notice for at least ten (10) days in five (5) public places in the city, of the time and place for the hearing or objections to such assessment; one (1) of such public places for posting notice as aforesaid shall be on the land which is the subject matter of such assessment. Said hearing shall be conducted by the governing authority. The property owner shall be given an opportunity to object to the amount of the assessment. The governing authority shall make a final determination of the amount of the assessment and shall notify the owner of said amount by letter to the last known address of the owner, or, if special assessment is not paid in full within six (6) months from and after the date the assessment becomes final, the tax collector shall proceed to advertise and sell the said real estate, or a sufficient amount thereof to recover said special tax and all costs of the sale, after having given notice of the time and place of such sale as is required by law for the sale of land for delinquent ad valorem taxes. From the proceeds of such sale, the tax collector shall first pay the cost of the sale, after which he or she shall pay the costs of such repairs, alterations, improvement, removal or, demolition and any penalty imposed by the city; and any amount remaining over shall be deposited by him/her with the clerk of the circuit court as hereinafter provided.

(b)

If the building is removed or demolished by the administrator, he or she may sell the materials of such building and shall credit the proceeds of such sale against the cost of the removal or demolition; and any balance remaining shall be deposited in the circuit court by the administrator, shall be secured in such a manner as may be directed by such court, and shall be dispersed by such court to the persons found to be entitled thereto by the final award or judgment of such court. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to impair or limit in any way the power of the city to define and declare nuisances and to cause their removal or abatement by summary proceedings or to issue a citation to the owner of any property in violation of this article. Such violation shall be punishable by a fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) and, or, by imprisonment in jail for thirty (30) days.

(Ord. of 5-16-00, § 6)

Editor's note

Ord. of 5-16-00, § 6, amended § 7-187 in its entirety. Formerly, said section referred to powers of administration.