Sec. 78-166Definitions

Blighted property, blighted, or blight means any urbanized or developed property which:

(1) Presents two or more of the following conditions:

a. Uninhabitable, unsafe, or abandoned structure;

b. Inadequate provisions for ventilation, light, air, or sanitation;

c. An imminent harm to life or other property caused by fire, flood, hurricane, tornado, earthquake, storm, or other natural catastrophe respecting which the governor has declared a state of emergency under the state law or has certified the need for disaster assistance under federal law; provided, however, this division shall not apply to property unless the relevant public agency has given notice in writing to the property owner regarding specific harm caused by the property and the owner has failed to take reasonable measures to remedy the harm;

d. A site identified by the federal environmental protection agency as a superfund site pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 9601, et seq., or having environmental contamination to an extent that requires remedial investigation or a feasibility study;

e. Repeated illegal activity on the individual property of which the property owner knew or should have known; or

f. The maintenance of the property is below state, county, or municipal codes for at least one year after written notice of the code violation to its owner; and

(2) Is conducive to ill health, transmission of disease, infant mortality, or crime in the immediate proximity of the property. Property shall not be deemed blighted solely because of esthetic conditions.

Building inspector means a certified inspector possessing the requisite qualifications to determine minimal code compliance.

Community redevelopment means any activity, project, or service necessary or incidental to achieving the redevelopment or revitalization of a redevelopment area or portion thereof designated for redevelopment through an urban redevelopment plan or thorough local ordinances relating to the repair, closing, and demolition of buildings and structures unfit for human habitation.

Governing authority means the city council of the City of Ashburn, a Georgia municipal corporation.

Millage or millage rate means the levy, in mills, which is established by the governing authority for purposes of financing, in whole or in part, the levying jurisdiction's general fund expenses for the fiscal year.

Person means such individual(s), partnership, corporations, business entities and associations which return real property for ad valorem taxation or who are chargeable by law for the taxes on the property.

Public officer means the city manager or such officer or employee of the city as designated by the city manager to perform the duties and responsibilities hereafter set forth in this article.

History: (Ord. No. 2022-6, § 2, 10-6-2022)