(a) The governing body of the City of La Cygne shall have the power to remove any structure located within the city which may have become unsafe or dangerous.
(b) The governing body of the City of La Cygne shall have the power to cause rehabilitation of the rehabilitate an abandoned property located within the City.
(K.S.A. 12-1751; Ord. 1220; Code 2017)
For the purpose of this article, the following words and terms shall mean:
(a) Structure shall include any building, wall, superstructure or other structure which requires location on the ground, or is attached to something having a location on the ground.
(b) Public Officer means the city building inspector of his or her authorized representative and or the city health officer as appointed by the city council.
(K.S.A. 12-1750; Code 1988)
The public officer is hereby authorized to exercise such powers as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this article, including the following:
(a) Inspect any structure which appears to be unsafe, dangerous or unfit for human habitation;
(b) Have authority to enter upon premises at reasonable hours for the purpose of making such inspections, Entry shall be made so as to cause the least possible inconvenience to any person in possession of the structure. If entry is denied, the public officer may seek an order for this purpose from a court of competent jurisdiction;
(c) Report all structures which he or she believes to be dangerous, unsafe or unfit for human habitation to the governing body;
(d) Receive petitions as provided in this article.
(Code 1988)
Whenever a petition is filed with the public officer by at least five residents charging that any structure is dangerous, unsafe or unfit for human habitation, or whenever it appears to time public officer on his or her own motion that any structure is dangerous, unsafe or unfit for human habitation, he or she shall, if his or her preliminary investigation discloses a basis for such charges, report such findings to the governing body.
(Code 1988)
The governing body upon receiving a report as provided in section 4-204 shall by resolution fix a time and place at which the owner, the owner’s agent, any lien holder of records and any occupant of the structure may appear and show cause why the structure should not be condemned and ordered repaired or demolished.
(K.S.A. 12-1752; Code 1988)
(a) The resolution shall be published once each week for two consecutive weeks on the same day of each week. At least 30 days shall elapse between the last publication and the date set for the hearing.
(b) A copy of the resolution shall be mailed by certified mail within three days after its first publication to each owner, agent, lien holder and occupant at the last known place of residence and shall be marked “deliver to addressee only”.
(c) Publication as provided in subsection (a) above shall be in the official newspaper of the City of La Cygne, Kansas.
(K.S.A. 12-1752; Code 1988)
(a) If, after notice and hearing, the governing body determines that the structure under consideration is dangerous, unsafe, or unfit for human use or habitation, it shall state in writing its findings of fact in support of such determination and shall cause to be served upon the owner or agent an order directing such owner to either repair or demolish or remove the structure.
(b) If the repair, alteration, or improvement of the structure can be made at a cost which shall not exceed 50 percent of the fair market value of the structure, the owner of the property shall, within the time specified in the order, repair, alter or improve the structure to render it safe and fit for human use or habitation, or shall vacate and close the structure until such time as he or she has complied with the order.
(c) If the repair, alteration or improvement of the structure cannot be made at a cost of 50 percent or less of its fair market value, the owner shall, within the time specified in the order, remove or demolish the structure.
(Code 1988)
Whenever any structure within the city shall be found to be dangerous, unsafe or unfit for human use or habitation, it shall be the duty and obligation of the owner of the property to render the same secure and safe or to remove the same.
(Code 1988)
(a) If, within the time specified in the order, the owner fails to comply with the order to repair, alter, improve or vacate the structure, the public officer may cause the structure to be repaired, altered, improved, or to be vacated and closed.
(b) If, within the time specified in the order, the owner fails to comply with the order to remove or demolish the structure, the public officer may cause the structure to be removed and demolished.
(Code 1988)
Upon removal of any structure, the owner shall fill any basement or other excavation located upon the premises and take any other action necessary to leave the premises in a safe condition. If the owner fails to take such action, the public officer may proceed to make the site safe.
(Code 1988)
(a) The cost to the city of any repairs, alterations, improvements, vacating, removal or demolition by the public officer, including making the site safe, shall be reported to the city clerk.
(b) The city clerk may sell any salvage from the structure and apply the proceeds or any necessary portion thereof to pay the cost of removing the structure and making the site safe. Any proceeds in excess of that required to recover the costs shall be paid to the owner of the premises upon which the structure was located.
(c) If the proceeds of the sale of salvage is insufficient to recover the cost, or if there is no salvage, the city clerk shall, at the time of certifying other city taxes, certify the unpaid portion of the costs to the county clerk who shall extend the same on the tax roll of the county.
(K.S.A. 12-1756; Code 1988)
When in the opinion of the governing body any structure is in such condition as to constitute an immediate hazard requiring immediate action to protect the public, the governing body may direct the public officer to erect barricades or cause the property to be vacated, taken down, repaired, shored or otherwise made safe without delay. Such action may be taken without prior notice to or hearing of the owners, agents, lien holders and occupants. The cost of any action under this section shall be assessed against the property as provided in section 4-411.
(Code 1988)
Any person affected by an order issued by the governing body under this article may, within 30 days following service of the order, petition the district court of the county in which the structure is located for an injunction restraining the public officer from carrying out the provisions of the order pending final disposition of the case.
(Code 1988)