§ 56-546. Recovery of costs prior to demolition.

(a)

Solicitation of bids; certification of costs; issuance of bill. In any case where a building or structure is found to be a dangerous building and ordered demolished, the director or the director's authorized representative may solicit no less than two independent bids for such demolition work. The amount of the lowest bid, including offset for salvage value, if any, plus reasonable anticipated costs of collection, including attorney's fees, shall be certified to the director of finance, who shall cause a special tax bill to be issued against the property owner to be prepared and collected by the city.

(b)

Discharge of tax bill. The director of finance shall discharge the special tax bill upon documentation by the property owner of the completion of the demolition work. Upon determination by the director of finance that a public benefit is secured prior to payment of the special tax bill, the director of finance may discharge the special tax bill upon the transfer of the property.

(c)

Refund; issuance of tax bill. The payment of the special tax bill shall be held in an interest-bearing account. Upon full payment of the special tax bill, the director or the director's authorized representative, within 120 days thereafter, cause the ordered work to be completed, and certify the actual cost thereof, including the cost of tax bill collection and attorney's fees, to the director of finance who shall, if the actual cost differs from the paid amount by greater than two percent of the paid amount, refund the excess payment, if any, to the payor. If the actual amount is greater than the amount paid, the director of finance shall cause a special tax bill or assessment for the difference against the property to be prepared and collected by the city. The tax bill for the difference shall be paid as provided in section 2-1721 of this Code of Ordinances, and from the date of the notice of assessment, it shall be deemed a personal debt against the property owner and shall also be a lien on the property until paid.

(d)

Repayment. If the director or the director's authorized representative shall not, within 120 days after full payment, cause the ordered work to be completed, then the full amount of the payment, plus interest, shall be repaid to the payor.

(Ord. No. 971746, § 1, 1-15-98; Ord. No. 130937 , § 7, 12-19-13; Ord. No. 150829 , § 3, 10-15-15)