Sec. 10-51. Prevention, reduction and elimination of blighting factors.

(a)        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. No person, firm or corporation of any kind shall maintain or permit to be maintained, any of these causes of blight or blighting factors upon any property in the City of International Falls 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 section, 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;  
2. Unusable or inoperable because of damage from collision, deterioration, alteration or other factors;
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 or accumulation of junk, trash, rubbish or refuse of any kind, except refuse stored in such a manner as not to create a nuisance for a period not to exceed 30 days. The term "junk" shall include parts of machinery or motor vehicles, unused stoves, 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 any 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, or other poisonous plants, or any weeds, grass over six inches tall, brush or plants, which are a fire hazard or otherwise detrimental to the health or appearance of the neighborhood.  

f.          Buildings, fences, and other structures which have been so poorly maintained that their physical condition and appearance detract from the surrounding neighborhood are declared to be public nuisances because they:

            1.   Are unsightly;  

             2. Decrease adjoining landowners and occupants' enjoyment of their property and neighborhood; and

            3. Adversely affect property values and neighborhood patterns.  

(b)       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 subsection (a) of this section 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 days after service of the notice upon him. Such notice may be served personally or by mail, the same by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the last known address of the owner as contained in the records of the Koochiching County Treasurer; and if the premises are occupied, to the person residing at 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 section.  

            (3)          In the case of failure to remove any blight or causes of blight, as defined in subsection (a) of this section, the blight or causes of blight within the time prescribed, the city council may order the blight or cause of blight to be removed    by the city personnel or others, or the weeds to be cut by others or city personnel and to remove or otherwise destroy all such noxious, inflammable, or detrimental vegetation the city council shall certify the costs of labor and equipment along      with a $150.00 administrative fee to the city clerk‑treasurer. The city administrator shall certify such cost to the county auditor as a special assessment against the property involved for collections 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.  

(Ord. No. 3, 3rd series, eff. 12/14/92; Ord. No. 10, 3rd series, eff. 10/10/95)               Top of page

Sec. 7-5. Regulation of grass, weeds, trees, shrubs, brush and other rank or harmful vegetation.

a.         City to control tree planting (standards). The city shall have control and supervision of planting shrubs and trees upon, or overhanging, all streets or other public property. The city may establish and enforce uniform standards relating to the species and types of trees to be planted, placement and the maintenance and removal thereof. Such standards shall be kept on file in the office of city clerk and may be revised from time to time by action of the council.  

b.         Permit to plant or remove trees. It is a misdemeanor for any person to plant or remove any tree upon or overhanging streets, without first procuring from the city a permit in writing to do so.  

c.         Cutting and removal of grass, weeds and other rank, poisonous or harmful vegetation. It shall be unlawful  for any

d.         Duty of owner, lessee or occupant It shall be the duty of any owner, lessee or occupant of any lot or land to cut and remove or cause to be cut and removed all such weeds, grass, brush and other rank poisonous or harmful vegetation or trees and shrubs as often as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of subd. 1 and 2; provided that cutting and removing such weeds, grass, and vegetation or trees and shrubs at least once in every three weeks, between May 15 and September 15 shall be deemed to be a compliance with this Code. Every owner of property abutting on any street shall, subject to the provisions herein requiring a permit therefore, trim, cut, remove, and otherwise maintain all trees and shrubs in unhazardous and healthy condition, from the line of such property nearest to such street to the center thereof.  

e.         When city is to do work. If the provisions of the foregoing sections are not complied with the city clerk shall serve the city council and shall thereupon become and be a lien upon the property on which such weeds, grass, brush and other vegetation were located and shall be added to and become and form a part of the taxes next to be assessed and levied upon such lot or land and shall bear interest and the same rate as taxes and shall be collected and enforced by the same officer and in the same manner as taxes.  

f.          Penalty. Any person who shall neglect to cut and remove weeds, grass, brush or other vegetation as directed in this Code, or who shall fail, neglect or refuse to comply with the provisions of any notice or who shall resist or obstruct the city clerk or his employees in the conviction thereof, be subject to a fine of not less than $50.00, or more than $500.00, and each day on which such violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.            

g.         Definition. The word "person" as used in this Code shall mean and include one or more persons of either sex, natural persons, corporations, partnerships, associations, joint stock companies, societies and all other entities of any kind capable of being sued.  

h.         Severability. If any provision of this Code or application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provision or application of the Code which can be given without the valid provision or application, and to this end, the provisions of this Code are severable.

(Ord. No. 45, 2nd series, eff. 8/11/87)