§ 18-129. City authority to initiate cleanup and recovery of costs.

(a)

If, within ten days after service of notice of the declaration of public health nuisance, the city is unable to locate the property owner or if the city environmental health official determines that the owner refuses to or cannot pay the costs or arrange timely assessment and cleanup that is acceptable to the city, the city environmental health official is authorized to proceed in a prompt manner to initiate the on-site assessment and cleanup.

(b)

The city may abate the nuisance by removing any hazardous structure, building or otherwise in accordance with Minn. Stats. ch. 463, chapter 18 of the Maplewood City Code or by any other means provided under law.

(c)

If the city abates the public health nuisance, in addition to any legal remedy, it is entitled to recover all costs associated with such abatement plus an additional 25 percent of the city's costs for administration. In addition to any other legal remedy, the city may recover costs by civil action against the person or persons who own the property or by assessing such costs as a special tax against the property in the manner that taxes and special assessments are certified and collected pursuant to Minn. Stats. § 429.101 and section 18-37 of the Maplewood City Code.

(Ord. 849, § 9, 5-24-2004)