Ordinance No. 63
AN ORDINANCE TO PREVENT, REDUCE OR ELIMINATE BLIGHTING FACTORS WITHIN
THE CITY OF
Section 1. Causes
of Blight or Blighting Factors.
1. It is hereby determined that the uses, structures and activities and causes of blight or blighting factors described herein, if allowed to exist, will tend to result in blighted and undesirable neighborhoods, so as to be harmful to the public welfare, health and safety. On and after the effective date of this ordinance, no person, firm or corporation of any kind shall maintain or permit to be maintained, an of these causes of blight or blighting factors upon any property in the City of Badger owned, leased, rented or occupied by such person, firm or corporation.
A. In any area, the storage upon any property of junk automobiles. For the purpose of this ordinance, the term “junk automobiles” shall include any motor vehicle, part of a motor vehicle or former motor vehicle, stored in the open, which is not currently licensed for use upon the highways of the State of Minnesota, and is either (1) unusable or inoperable because of lack of, or defects in component parts; or (2) unusable or inoperable because of damage from collision, deterioration, alteration or other factors; or (3) beyond repair and therefore, not intended for future use as a motor vehicle; or (4) being retained on the property for possible use of salvageable parts.
B. In any area the storage of accumulation of junk, trash, rubbish or refuse of any kind, except refuse stored in such manner as not to create a nuisance for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days. The term “junk” shall include parts of machinery or motor vehicles, unused refrigerators, stoves, freezers or other appliances stored in the open; remnants of wood; decayed, weathered or broken construction materials no longer suitable for sale, approved building materials; metal or other material or cast off material of any kind, whether or not the same could be put to reasonable use.
C. In any area the existence of any structure or part of any structure which because of fire, wind or other natural disaster, or physical deterioration is no longer habitable as a dwelling or useful for any other purpose for which it may have been intended.
D. In any area the existence of any vacant dwelling, garage, or other out-building, unless such buildings are kept securely locked, windows kept glazed or neatly boarded up and otherwise protected to prevent entrance thereto by vandals.
E. In any area the existence of any noxious or poisonous vegetation, such as poison ivy, ragweed, leafy spurge or other poisonous plants, or any weeds, grass over (6) six inches tall brush or plants, which are a fire hazard or otherwise detrimental to the health or appearance of the neighborhood.
Section II.
Enforcement and Penalties.
1. The owner and the occupant of any property upon which any of the causes of blight or blighted factors set forth in Section 1 hereof is found to exist, shall be notified, by writing, by the City Clerk to remove or eliminate such causes of blight or blighting factors from such property within ten (10) days after service of the notice upon him. Such notice may be served personally or by mail the same by registered mail, return receipt requested, to the last known address of the owner, and if the premises are occupied, to the address of the owner, and if the premises are occupied, to the premises. Additional time may be granted by the enforcement officer where bona fide efforts to remove or eliminate such causes of blight or blighting factors are in progress.
2. Failure to comply with such notice within the time allowed shall constitute a violation of this ordinance.
3. Violation of this ordinance shall be a misdemeanor.
4. In the case of failure to remove any blight, as defined in Section 1E within the time prescribed, the City Council may order the necessary remedies by city personnel to remove or otherwise destroy any or all blighted factors and shall certify the cost to the County Auditor as a special assessment against the property involved for collection in the same manner as other special assessments. As an additional or alternative remedy, the owners of any interest in said land and the occupant shall be jointly and severally liable for such costs and the costs shall be recoverable in any action brought against any of them in the name of the City.
Section III. Effective Date.
1. The ordinance shall take effect upon its passage and publication.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Badger,
ATTEST:
Pam Monsrud, Clerk-Treasurer
SIGNED:
Lois M. Johnson, Mayor