§ 66-12. Complaints.

The Code Enforcement Officer shall review and investigate complaints which allege or assert the existence of conditions or activities that fail to comply with the Uniform Code, the Energy Code, this chapter, or any other local law or regulation adopted for administration and enforcement of the Uniform Code or the Energy Code. The process for responding to a complaint shall include such of the following steps as the Code Enforcement Officer may deem to be appropriate:

A. 

Performing an inspection of the conditions and/or activities alleged to be in violation, and documenting the results of such inspection;

B. 

If a violation is found to exist, providing the owner of the affected property and any other person who may be responsible for the violation with notice of the violation and opportunity to abate, correct or cure the violation, or otherwise proceeding in the manner described in § 66-15, Enforcement; penalties for offenses, of this chapter;

C. 

If appropriate, issuing a stop-work order;

D. 

If a violation which was found to exist is abated or corrected, performing an inspection to ensure that the violation has been abated or corrected, preparing a final written report reflecting such abatement or correction, and filing such report with the complaint;

E. 

Upon determination of the Code Enforcement Officer that the violation that exists constitutes an emergency health or safety hazard, the Code Enforcement Officer may take whatever steps necessary to correct said violation. The actual cost of such abatement plus $250 for inspection and other additional costs in connection therewith shall be billed to the property owner, a copy of which shall be forwarded to the City Treasurer by the Code Enforcement Officer. Thirty days after the billing date, all unpaid charges will become and be a lien upon the property on which said violations were located and shall be added to and become part of the taxes next to be accessed and levied upon such lot or land and shall bear interest at the same rate as taxes and shall become collected and enforced by the same officer and in the same manner as tax levies and assessed against such property or the same may be collected by suit against the owner or owners in the name of the City.