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<br />codc, though it may still apply to actions by the hCGJlth <br />officcr (whcrc that officcr still cxis~s) under the old health <br />nuisance law. <br />Under the standard penalty clause included in thc ordi- <br />nancc, maintaining or committiUlg a nuisance may give rise <br />to a prosccution resulting in fine or imprisonment. As an <br />alternative, or in addition, the city may bring an action to <br />cnjoin continuancc of thc nuisancc (Village of Pine City v. <br />Munch, 42 Minn. 342, 44 NW ] 97, 1890. City of Red Wing <br />v. (;uptil, 72 Minn. 259, 75 N. W. 234, 1898). <br />The law authorizing the council of 2l statutory city to <br />dcfinc and abatc nuisilnccs con[ains no provision pcmlittDng <br />the city, if thc person rcsponsible does not eliminate the <br />nuisance, to abate it and assess thc cos1 against thc property <br />concerned when thc nuisancc involvcs ~[i}c use of land. No <br />provision of this kind is includcd with respect to alOn-hcalth <br />and safcty nuisanccs, thcrcfore, though some R10mc rule <br />charter cities may be authorized to add one. <br />Thc statutory city code authorizes the council to rC(luirc <br />landowncrs or occupants to rcmove unwholcsomc sub- <br />stances from private land and in dcfault to provide for <br />removal and the levy of a special asscssment to rccovcr thc <br />expense (Minn. Stat. 412.221, subd. 22). In addition, thc <br /> <br />tocali improvement code, 2~~pJicab:c 10 virtuillIy aIJ cities :n <br />Qhe sta:c, authorizes the cc:unci! to levy an assessment 10 <br />recover Qlhe cest of certai::'J current services spccified i:1 :he <br />rzw, same of whicftJ rrny iavolve, ;;: :;Jarticulzr instances, the <br />errimina1ion of nuisances mcntioned :n the model ordinance. <br />A."1!1ong d:csc are weed elimination, removal or c;ir:1i- <br />nation of public hcalth or gafety hazads from privatc <br />)property (other thaI] haza::-:1ous buil(Engs), and the trunt:1ing <br />and care of trees and I'cm~vai of unsound and inscct- <br />infcctd trccs from private proper!y (Minn. Slat. 429.1Jl). <br />Use of these !):rovnsim:s requires a local ordinance, :)U~ <br />sincc Qhere arc a numOcr of current scrvices specificd in lhls <br />law which do nol invo1vc fne eiimin<:tion of nuisances, <br />ucatJ:ncct or the subjcct in a general :>nlillancc on curren! <br />scrvice assessments as sllggcsteo ia tllC Leaguc's "LoCil:. <br />Improvement Guide," 515aL3, may be a ~~tter WdY of <br />using thjs law than by scpzra(il,g lhe nuisance-type cas~s <br />from tte rcst ami providing for t(lem inlilc gcncral I1u:san:c <br />ordinance. <br />The model ordinance :ndmlcs an option;J provisiGn <br />making lDSC of l},c current services section of lhe 10c<1 iÞimprovcmcnt code for cities wilhoul a c::rren: scr\'ic~s <br />assessmcnt ordinance. <br /> <br />Page 4 <br /> <br />A Model Nuisance Ordinance <br />