§ 19-34. Fees; costs; billing; payment; imposition of lien; addition of costs to ad valorem tax bill.

(a)

The parish council hereby finds and declares that the general administrative expenses of inspecting swimming pools, locating owners, conducting hearings, issuing notices and orders, together with all associated administrative functions, require the reasonable charge of five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each lot, adjacent lots under common ownership, or tract of land, and such minimum charge is hereby established and declared to be the charge for such administrative expenses to be assessed in each instance where the parish demolishes or contracts for the demolition or securing of a swimming pool or open excavation thereon. Notwithstanding any tabulation of recorded costs, a charge of five hundred dollars ($500.00) is hereby expressly stated to be a minimum charge. Further, the costs of securing or filing a swimming pool or open excavation either by the parish or by persons doing so under contract with the parish shall be separately calculated and assessed in each instance where the parish causes such work to be performed pursuant to this article.

The department of inspection and code enforcement shall certify all administrative expenses and costs of securing or filling a swimming pool or open excavation by the parish or by persons doing so under contract with the parish, as a charge which shall be assessed the owners thereof. Such charge shall bear interest at the rate of ten (10) percent per annum until paid.

Provided, further, if an order has been issued pursuant to this article for the securing or filing a swimming pool or open excavation and the parish has let a contract for such work, and the premises subsequently brought into compliance by the owners prior to completion of the contract let by the parish, the administrative expenses and all costs for cancellation of the contract shall be certified as a charge which shall be assessed as against the owners thereof. Such charges shall bear interest at the rate of ten (10) percent per annum until paid.

(b)

At the completion of any work performed pursuant to this chapter, or preparation in anticipation thereof, the proprietary party and/or owner of the premises shall be sent a notice fulfilling the requirements provided in section 2.5-7 of this Code, itemizing the cost of the work in accordance with this article. The proprietary party and/or owner of the premises shall be given thirty (30) days from receipt thereof to make payment to the parish.

(c)

In addition to the other provisions of this article, the parish is also authorized to have recorded in the mortgage office of the parish, a sworn statement showing the costs and expenses incurred for the work and the date, place or property on which the work was done, and the recordation of such sworn statement shall constitute a lien and privilege on the property and shall remain in full force and effect for the amount due in principle and interest, plus costs for filing the lien, and costs of court, if any, for collection until final payment has been made.

(d)

Upon full payment of the charge assessed against any property, or in the event the lien is placed on the property through error, the director of inspection and code enforcement is hereby authorized to execute, for and on behalf of the parish, a written release approved in each case by the legal department.

(e)

Upon compliance with an order of the hearing officer to secure, repair and maintain a swimming pool or open excavation, the department of inspection and code enforcement shall be and is hereby authorized to execute a written "notice of compliance" setting forth the date the notice of compliance is issued, the date the parish found such premises was found to be in compliance with the order

(f)

A fee shall be imposed for such release of lien provided hereunder in an amount to be fixed by the clerk of court.

(Ord. No. 23373, § 1, 8-20-08)