O-71-217 - 9/16/1971ORDINANCE NO 217
AN ORDINANCE TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND
PROMOTE THE PUBLIC WELFARE OF THE CITY CF
ROUND ROCK, TEXAS, BY PROVIDING FOR THE FILLING
UP AND DRAINAGE OF LOTS THAT SHALT HAVE UN-
WHOLESOME PLACE OR PLACES WHERE STAGNANT WATER
MAY ACCUMULATE THEREON; THE CLEANING OF ANY
BUILDING OR PREMISES OF FILTH, CARRION OR
OTHER IMPURE AND UNWHOLESOME MATTER; RE-
-QUIRING OWNERS OR OCCUPANTS OF LOTS IN THE
CITY OF ROUND ROCK TO KEEP SAID LOTS FREE
FROM WEEDS, RUBBISH, BRUSH AND OTHER UNSIGHTLY
OR INSANITARY MATTER; PROVIDING FOR NOTICE TO
SE GIVEN TO OWNERS OR PREMISES IN CASE OF
FAILURE OF OWNER TO MAKE LOTS AND/OR PREMISES
SANITARY AND SIGHTLY THAT THE SAME MAY BE DONE
AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK;
PROVIDING FOR THE FIXING OF A LIEN AGAINST SUCH
LOTS FOR SUCH IMPROVEMENT; AND DECLARING AN
EMERGENCY.
WHEREAS, it is deemed by the City Council of the City of Round
Rock, Texas, that it is dangerous to the public health for lots
in the City of Round Rock to have places thereon where stagnant
water may accumulate and for filth, carrion or other impure and
unwholesome matter to accumulate on lots in said city and that
it is dangerous to public health and constitutes a fire hazard
to have weeds, brush, rubbish, and other unsightly and insanitary
matter on lots in. the City of Round Rock; and
WHEREAS, it is expressly provided by the provisions of Article
4436, Revised Civil Statutes of Texas, that cities shall have
the power to correct the evils hereinbefore recited.
1\0'1, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ROUND ROCK, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. That it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or
corporation who shall own or occupy any lot or lots in the City
of Round Rock, Texas, to permit or allow holes or places on
said lots where water may accumulate and become stagnant, or to
permit same to remain.
SECTION 2. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corpora-
tion who shall own or occupy any lot or lots in the City of
Round Rock, Texas to permit or allow the accumulation of stagnant
water thereon, or to permit same to remain.
SECTION 3. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corpora-
tion who shall own or occupy any house, buildings, establishment,
lot or yard in the City of Round Rock to permit or allow any
carrion, filth or other inpure or unwholesome matter to accumulate
or remain thereon.
SECTION 4. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation
who shall own or occupy any lot or lots in the City of Round Rock,
Texas, to allow weeds, rubbish, brush or any other unsightly,
objectionable or insanitary matter to accumulate or grow on said
lot or lots.
SECTION 5, Whenever any owner of such lot or lots that have places
thereon where stagnant water may accumulate and/or which are not
properly drained, or the owner of any premises or building upon
which carrion, filth or other impure or unwholesome. matter have
been allowed to accumulate upon any premises of the City of Round
Rock as prohibited by this ordinance the City Council shall hear
evidence and determine whether or not such accumulation of water,
rubbish and trash or the growth of weeds thereon, or all are
sufficient to constitute a nuisance as herein defined, and if they
so find, they shall pass a resolution declaring that the growth of
weeds or accumulation of trash and rubbish or other impurities
upon such premises, constitutes a public nuisance, and shall order
same removed by the owner, occupant, lessee or person in charge
of such premises, within 10 days from the date such notice is given.
SECTION 6. Should any owner of any lot or lots within the City of
Round Rock, Texas, who shall allow weeds, rubbish, brush or any
other unsightly, objectionable or insanitary matter to grow or
accumulate thereon, fail and/or refuse to cut down and/or remove
such weeds, rubbish, brush or other unsightly, objectionable or
insanitary matter, as the case may be, within ten days after notice
to said owner to do so, in writing, or by letter addressed to
such owner at his post office address, or within 14 days after
notice by publication as many as two times within 14 consecutive
days in any newspaper in Texas, may do such cutting downand/or
removing such weeds, rubbish, brush or any other unsightly,
objectionable or insanitary matter, or cause the same to be done
and may pay therefore, and charge the expenses incurred in
doing such work or having such work done or improvements made to
the owner of such lot or lots or real estate; and, if such work
is done or improvements made at the expense of the City of Round
Rock, Texas, then such expenses shall be assessed on the real
estate, or lot or lots upon which such expense was incurred.
SECTION 7. The Mayor or City Building Official of the City of
Round Rock shall file a statement of such expenses incurred under
Section 5 or under Section 6 of this ordinance, as the case may be,
giving the amount of such expenses, the date on which said work
was done or improvements made, with the County Clerk of Williamson
County, Texas: and the City of Round Rock, Texas, shall have a
privileged lien on such lot or lots or real estate upon which
said work was done or improvements made to secure the expenditures
so made, in accordance with the provisions of said Article 4436,
Revised Civil Statutes of Texas, which said lien shall be second
only to tax liens and liens for street improvements; and said
amount shall bear ten per cent interest from the date said
statement was filed. It is further provided that for any such
expenditures, and interest, as aforesaid, suit may be instituted
and recovery and foreclosure of said lien may be had in the name
of the City of Round Rock, Texas; and the statement of expenses
so made, as aforesaid, or a certified copy thereof, shall be
prima facie proof of the amount expended for such work or improve-
ments.
SECTION 8. Any person, firm or individual who shall violate any
of the Provisions of this ordinance shall be Runty of a misdemeanor,
and upon conviction shall be fined in any sum not exceedinR fifty
dollars (150), and each and every day's violation shall constitute
a separate and distinct offense, in case the owner or occupant of
any lot, lots or premises under the provisions of this ordinance
shall be a corporation, and shall violate any provision of this
ordinance, the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer
of such corporation, or any manaRer, agent or employee of such
corporation shall be also severally liable for the penalties
herein provided.
SECTIOIT 9. That if any part of this ordinance is, or should be
held invalid for any reason, then that fact shall not invalidate
the entire ordinance, but the balance thereof shall remain in full
force and effect.
SECTION10. All other ordinances or parts or ordinances in conflict
with this ordinance are hereby repealed.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS THE in:- day of A.D., 1
ATTEST:
(UJ1,t 72,4i1t
City,Secretary
APPROVED:
9
layor