331.384 - ABATEMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARDS -- SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS.

        331.384  ABATEMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARDS      -- SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS.         1.  A county may:         a.  Require the abatement of a nuisance, public or private, in      any reasonable manner.         b.  Require the removal of diseased trees or dead wood, except      on publicly owned property or right-of-way.         c.  Require the removal, repair, or dismantling of an      abandoned or dangerous building or structure.         d.  Require the numbering of buildings.         e.  Require connection to public drainage systems from      abutting property when necessary for public health or safety.         f.  Require the cutting or destruction of weeds or other      growth which constitutes a health, safety, or fire hazard.         2.  If the property owner does not perform an action required      under this section within a reasonable time after notice, a county      may perform the required action and assess the costs against the      property for collection in the same manner as a property tax.  Notice      may be in the form of an ordinance or by certified mail to the      property owner as shown by the records of the county auditor, and      shall state the time within which action is required.  However, in an      emergency, a county may perform any action which may be required      under this section without prior notice and assess the costs as      provided in this section after notice to the property owner and      hearing.         3.  If any amount assessed against property under this section      exceeds one hundred dollars, a county may permit the assessment to be      paid in up to ten annual installments in the same manner and with the      same interest rates provided for assessments against benefited      property under chapter 384, division IV.         4.  A special assessment levied pursuant to this section,      including all interest and penalties, is a lien against the benefited      property from the date of filing the schedule of assessments until      the assessment is paid.  A special assessment has equal precedence      with ordinary taxes and is not divested by judicial sale.         5.  The procedures for making and levying a special assessment      pursuant to this section and for an appeal of the assessment are the      same procedures as provided in sections 384.59 through 384.67 and      sections 384.72 through 384.75, provided that the references in those      sections to the council shall be to the board of supervisors and the      references to the city shall be to the county.  
         Section History: Recent Form
         90 Acts, ch 1197, §1; 96 Acts, ch 1204, §25