All persons and
entities owning property in the City of the Highlands, Kansas including areas
which lie adjacent to a public street or alley shall be maintained in a neat
appearing manner and free of dead or diseased trees, fallen trees or branches,
and noxious vegetation. This article is adopted in conjunction with the
International Code Council International Property Maintenance Code Section
301.3 Vacant Structures and Land adopted by the City and includes occupied
lands and rights of way as well.
(Ord. 2021-23)
Any person or entity
in violation of the terms and provisions hereof shall be given notice of said
violation and advised to address the same within one hundred and eighty (180)
days. If the owner of the property does not maintain the subject property or otherwise
bring it into compliance with the standards herein prescribed within one
hundred and eighty (180) days of the date on which notice to do so is given,
the City of the Highlands, Kansas or its authorized agents may maintain the
property, or do whatever else is reasonably necessary to bring the subject
property into compliance herewith and assess all costs associated therewith,
including reasonable administrative costs, against the owner of the property.
(Ord. 2021-23)
If the property owner
shall neglect or fail to bring the subject property into compliance with this
article and the City therefore acts as reasonably required, the Chief
Enforcement Officer of the City of the Highlands, Kansas or some other person
designated by the City shall give notice to the property owner regarding the
costs associated with bringing the subject property into compliance. That
notice shall state that payment of said costs is due and payable within thirty
(30) days of the date thereof. If the costs remain unpaid after thirty (30)
days following the giving of notice regarding such, a record of the costs shall
be certified by the City Clerk to the County Clerk as an assessment against the
subject property to be included as a part of the real estate tax on said
subject property.
(Ord. 2021-23)
If the property owner
cannot be served personally or by certified mail with notice of a violation or
with notice regarding the City’s costs in bringing the subject property into
compliance, notice may be made by publishing in the official City Newspaper. If
notice of costs due is given by publication, payment shall be due within thirty
(30) days from the date of publication.
(Ord. 2021-23)
Any person guilty of
violating this article shall additionally be responsible for the costs of
certified mailings and publication of notifications in the official newspaper,
in addition to being responsible for the costs as hereinabove provided, be
fined for each violation a sum not greater than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars
($250.00).
(Ord. 2021-23)