§ 114-31. Special assessment lien; enforcement.

(a)

The total expense, including administrative costs, incurred by the county in causing a public nuisance to be abated under this chapter shall be a special assessment and lien upon the property upon which the public nuisance was abated. The code enforcement manager shall have an overgrowth abatement cost statement and invoice prepared and mailed to the subject property owner. Assessments made hereunder shall become due and payable at the office of the tax collector 30 days after the invoice is mailed. The assessment shall bear interest at the rate of two percent above the prime interest rate per annum and constitute a lien on the subject property and shall be collectable and enforceable in the same manner as provided by law for the enforcement of other taxes or special assessment liens levied on the property. Said overgrowth abatement liens shall be prior in dignity to all other liens or encumbrances against the property, except the liens of the state, county and city for taxes, which shall be of equal dignity with special assessment lien for overgrowth abatement.

(b)

Collection of special assessments, including interest, penalties and a reasonable attorney's fee, may also be made by the board of county commissioners by proceedings in a court of equity to foreclose the special assessment lien as provided by law. It shall be lawful to join in any complaint for foreclosure of any one or more parcels of land, by whomsoever owned, if assessed under the provisions of this section. The property subject to the lien may be redeemed at any time prior to sale by paying the total amount due, including interest, court costs, advertising costs and a reasonable attorney's fee.

(Code 1979, § 17-16; Ord. No. 98-02, § 4, 1-20-98)