If a city official decides a nuisance exists, the owner must be ordered to abate it, given notice, and may have a hearing and appeal rights.
(a) Whenever, in the opinion of the city official or any other city employee designated by the mayor, a nuisance exists, the official shall order the owner of the property on which the nuisance is located to abate the condition. (b) The enforcing official shall give the owner written notice in person or by certified letter with signature of receipt required. The notice shall require the owner to abate the condition within the time stated in the notice or to request a hearing before an administrative official of the city designated by the mayor or council to determine whether there is a nuisance. The notice shall apprise the owner of the facts of the alleged nuisance and shall name the particular date, time, and place for the hearing if requested by the owner. (c) The notice shall be sent to that person shown by the records of the county to have been the last person assessed for payment of ad valorem tax on the property where the nuisance is situated. It shall be the responsibility of that person to promptly advise the enforcing official of a change of ownership or interest in the property. (d) The notice shall also be posted in a conspicuous place on the property. (e) The notice shall require the owner to complete abatement of the nuisance within 14 days from the date of notice, provided the enforcing official may stipulate additional time, but in no case more than 28 days. (f) A hearing before the administrative official shall be requested within five days of the date of the notice by the enforcing official. The enforcing official shall notify the owner by personal service or by certified mail of the determination of the administrative official. If the administrative official determines that a nuisance exists, the owner shall comply with the initial order to abate issued by the enforcing official, with modifications as may be made by the administrative official. (g) Any person aggrieved by the decision of the administrative official at the hearing may, within 10 days from receipt of the determination by the administrative official, appeal to the circuit court upon filing with the clerk of the court notice of the appeal and bond for security of costs in the form and amount to be approved by the circuit clerk. Upon filing of the notice of appeal and approval of the bond, the clerk of the court shall serve a copy of the notice of appeal on the clerk of the municipality and the appeal shall be docketed in the court and shall be a preferred case. The clerk of the municipality shall, upon receiving the notice, file with the clerk of the court a copy of the finding and determination of the administrative official in its proceedings. Any trials shall be held without a jury upon the determination of the administrative official that the weeds are a public nuisance.