§ 26-77. Enforcement, abatement of graffiti.

(a)

The county sheriff's office shall be the primary liaison with the community regarding graffiti removal and requests for graffiti removal shall emanate from that office. Whenever the county zoning director is notified by the county sheriff's office of the existence of graffiti on any property, the zoning director shall direct that a notice of violation be served upon the owner, agent, custodian, lessee or occupant directing such owner, agent, custodian, lessee or occupant to terminate and abate the violation within fifteen (15) calendar days of the date such notice is received by certified mail, hand-delivered or posted. For purposes of this article, the term "notice is received" means the date the owner, agent, custodian, lessee or occupant initials or otherwise indicates his receipt of the notice of violation. However, in the event the notice of violation is not accepted or is returned, the term "notice is received" shall mean fifteen (15) calendar days after the later of the date of the notice of violation was mailed or the property was posted. The zoning director shall, within five (5) days of the date the notice is mailed, cause a sign to be placed upon the property in violation in a conspicuous and easily visible location. The sign shall be at least eighteen (18) inches by twenty-four (24) inches in dimension. Notice of violation shall include a sufficient description by address and/or legal description to identify the property upon which the violation exists; a description of the violation to be terminated and abated; and a statement that if the described violation is not terminated and abated within fifteen (15) calendar days after notice as herein provided, the zoning director may order the code inspector to cause the violation to be terminated and abated, and to impose a lien upon the property for the actual cost of such termination and abatement. A preliminary nonbinding, minimum estimate of the cost of abatement shall be provided as part of the notice of violation to provide notice to the owner, agent, custodian, lessee or occupant of the minimum estimated cost of abatement if the zoning director is required to cause the violation to be terminated and abated. The estimated cost of abatement shall be based upon the then current rate as may be established by the board of county commissioners.

(b)

The notice of violation shall further state in bold and conspicuous letters that if such violation, within the fifteen-day period prescribed by subsection (a) of this section:

(1)

Has not been terminated and abated by the owner, agent, custodian, lessee or occupant; or

(2)

Has not been timely appealed in accordance with section 26-78;

then the zoning director shall direct those actions necessary to cause the violation to be terminated and abated. The actual cost of such termination and abatement shall constitute a lien on the property in accordance with section 26-79.

(Ord. No. 98-05, § 3, 2-17-98)