§ 62-261. Special assessment of abatement costs.

(a)

Costs to be assessed. If the director of environmental management or the director of parks and recreation causes a nuisance to be abated, the costs of such abatement shall be determined, including the reasonable costs of administering the provisions of this article with respect to the property affected. Such administrative costs shall not exceed the sum of $100.00. The director of environmental management or the director of parks and recreation shall send a bill for such costs to the owner, with payment due in 60 days. If any appeal shall have been filed from the order from the director of environmental management or the director of parks and recreation within the period allowed by law, such costs of abatement shall not be so certified to the director of finance unless and until final judgment shall have been rendered on such appeal confirming such order.

(b)

Certification of costs; issuance of tax bill. The director of environmental management or the director of parks and recreation shall certify the balance of bills unpaid after 60 days to the director of finance. Upon receipt of such certification, the director of finance shall cause the certified cost to be included in a special tax bill or added to the annual real estate tax bill for the property, at the director's option. The director of finance shall cause a copy of the notice of assessment to be sent to the owners of such property by regular U.S. mail, and shall appropriately file retain the original in the office of the city treasurer. The certified cost shall be collected in the same manner and procedure for collecting real estate taxes. The tax bill shall be paid as provided in section 2-1722 of this Code of Ordinances. If the certified cost is not paid, and is considered delinquent pursuant to Section 2-1722 of this Code of Ordinances, its collection shall be governed by the laws governing delinquent and back taxes. The tax bill from the date of the notice of assessment shall be deemed a personal debt against the owner and shall also be a lien on the property until paid.

(c)

Costs in municipal court action. In any case where the costs of abatement shall have been assessed as additional costs in a municipal court action as provided in this article, and such cost judgment shall have been satisfied, the special assessment pertaining thereto shall be reduced or canceled accordingly, and the record in the office of the city treasurer shall be changed to reflect such reduction or cancellation.

(Ord. No. 031184, § 1, 10-30-03; Ord. No. 040488, § 1, 5-6-04; Ord. No. 130937 , § 9, 12-19-13)