Chapter IV – Buildings and Construction

CHAPTER IV.  BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION

 Article 1.  Fire Limits

Article 2.  Building Code (Reserved)

Article 3.  Electrical Code (Reserved)

Article 4.  Plumbing and Gas-Fitting Code (Reserved)

Article 5.  Moving Buildings

Article 6.  Dangerous and Unfit Structures

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ARTICLE 1.  FIRE LIMITS

4-101.                  FIRE LIMITS ESTABLISHED.  The following shall be and are hereby declared to be the fire limits of the city: All of Block One, all of Block 2, all of Block 3, Lots 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 in Block 4, Lots 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 in Block 6, Lots 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23 in Block 7, Lots 1, 3, 5, 7,9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, and 23 in Block Twelve, Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 in Block Thirteen, Lots 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, an 12 in Block Fourteen, Lots 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18,20, 22 and 24 in Block Fifteen, all in the Original Town of Jetmore, Hodgeman County, Kansas. (Ord. 465, Sec. 1; Code 2015)

ARTICLE 2.  BUILDING CODE

(Reserved)

ARTICLE 3.  ELECTRICAL CODE

(Reserved)

ARTICLE 4.  PLUMBING AND GAS-FITTING CODE

(Reserved)

ARTICLE 5.  MOVING BUILDINGS

4-501.                  PUBLIC OFFICER; AUTHORITY.  The public officer or his or her authorized designee shall be responsible for the administration and enforcement of this article and appointment of an inspector in accordance with sections 4-504:509 of this chapter, which apply in a like manner to this article. (Code 2015)

4-502.                  PERMIT REQUIRED.  No person, firm or corporation shall move, haul, or transport any house, building, derrick, or other structure of the height when loaded for movement of 16 feet or more from the surface of the highway, road, street or alley, or a width of eight feet or more or which cannot be moved at a speed of four miles per hour or faster, upon, across or over any street, alley or sidewalk in this city without first obtaining a permit therefor. (K.S.A. 17-1914; Code 2015)

4-503.                  SAME: APPLICATION FOR PERMIT.  All applications for permits required under the provisions of this article shall be made in writing to the city clerk specifying the day and hour said moving is to commence and the route through the city’s streets over which the house, building, derrick or other structure shall be moved and stating whether it will be necessary to cut and move, raise, or in any way interfere with any wires, cables or other aerial equipment of any public or municipally-owned utility, and if so, the application shall also state the name of the public or municipally-owned utility, and the time and location that the applicant’s moving operations shall necessitate the cutting, moving, raising or otherwise interfering with such aerial facilities. (K.S.A. 17-1915; Code 2015)

4-504.                  SAME; BOND, INSURANCE REQUIRED.  (a)  It shall be the duty of any person at the time of making application for a permit as provided in this article to give a good and sufficient surety bond to the city, to be approved by the governing body, indemnifying the city against any loss or damage resulting from the failure of any such person to comply with the provisions of this article or for any damage or injury caused in moving any such house or structure. The bond herein shall be in the sum of $5,000, or cash may be deposited in lieu of such surety bond.

(b)    A public liability insurance policy issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in the State of Kansas, in the amount of $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident as to personal injury, and $50,000 property damage may be permitted in lieu of a bond. (Code 2015)

4-505.                  SAME; FEE.  Before any permit to move any house or structure is given under the provisions of this article, the applicant shall pay a fee of not less than $100 to the city clerk; plus the additional cost for the time for any city crews involved in such moving. (Code 2015)

4-506.                  CONTRACTOR; LICENSE REQUIRED; FEE.  The provisions of sections 4-219:225 of this chapter shall apply in a like manner to this article. (Code 2015)

4-507.                  ROUTE; DUTIES OF PUBLIC OFFICER.  The city clerk shall, upon filing of the above application, refer the same to the public officer or his or her authorized designee to check the proposed route and determine if it is practical to move such house or other structure over the route proposed. If it shall appear that such route is not practical and another route may be used equally well with less danger to street and travel, then he or she may designate such other route as the one to be used and shall notify the applicant of the same. The public officer may also require the planking of any street, bridge or culvert or any part thereof to prevent damage thereto. It shall also be the duty of the public officer or his or her authorized designee to inspect the progress of moving any house or other structure to see that the same is being moved in accordance with the provisions of this article. (Code 2015)

4-508.                  NOTICE TO OWNERS.  (a)  Upon issuance of a moving permit the applicant shall give not less than 15 days written notice to any person owning or operating any wires, cables or other aerial equipment along the proposed route of the intent to move the structure, giving the time and location that the applicants moving operation shall necessitate the cutting, moving, raising or interfering of any wires, cables or other aerial equipment.

(b)    The notice provision of subsection (a) shall not apply where the person owning or operating any wires, cables or other aerial equipment has waived their right to advance notice.

(c)    Should the moving operation be delayed, the applicant shall give the owner or his or her agent not less than 24 hours advance notice of the actual operation. (K.S.A. 17-1916; Code 2015)

4-509.                  DUTY OF OWNERS.  (a)  It shall be the duty of the person or the city owning or operating such poles or wires after service of notice as provided herein, to furnish competent lineman or workmen to remove such poles, or raise or cut such wires as will be necessary to facilitate the moving of such house or structure. The necessary expense which is incurred thereby shall be paid by the holder of the moving permit.

(b)    The owner of any wires, cables or other aerial equipment, after service of notice as provided in section 4-508, shall be liable to the permit holder for damages in an amount not to exceed $100.00 per day for each day the owner shall fail or refuse to accommodate the permit holder’s moving operations. (K.S.A. 17-1917; Code 2015)

4-510.                  INTERFERING WITH POLES; WIRES.  It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in moving any house or other structure to raise, cut or in any way interfere with any wires or poles bearing wires or any other aerial equipment. (K.S.A. 17-1918; Code 2012)

4-511.                  DISPLAY OF LANTERNS.  It shall be the duty of any person moving any of the structures mentioned in this article upon or across any street, alley or sidewalk or other public place, in this city, to display red lanterns thereon in such a manner as to show the extreme height and width thereof from sunset to sunrise. (Code 2015)

4-512.                  FOUNDATION REQUIRED. It shall be unlawful to relocate any pre-existing residential building within the city of Jetmore without placing it upon a solid foundation and enclosing all windows and doors within one year of its relocation. No sale of such structure shall operate to relieve such owner of compliance. (Ord. 471, Sec. 1:2; Code 2015)

ARTICLE 6.  DANGEROUS AND UNFIT STRUCTURES

4-601.                  PURPOSE.  The governing body has found that there exist within the corporate limits of the city structures which are unfit for human use or habitation because of dilapidation, defects increasing the hazards of fire or accidents, structural defects or other conditions which render such structures unsafe, unsanitary or otherwise inimical to the general welfare of the city, or conditions which provide a general blight upon the neighborhood or surrounding properties. It is hereby deemed necessary by the governing body to require or cause the repair, closing or demolition or removal of such structures as provided in this article. (K.S.A. 12-1751; Code 2015)

4-602.                  DEFINITIONS.  For the purpose of this article, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings:

(a)    Public officer –  means the person appointed by the governing body or his or her authorized representative.

(b)    Structure –  shall include any building, wall, superstructure or other structure which requires location on the ground, or is attached to something having a location on the ground. (K.S.A. 12-1750; Ord. 558, Sec. 2; Code 2015)

4-603.                  PUBLIC OFFICER; DUTIES.  The public officer is hereby authorized to exercise such powers as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this article, including the following:

(a)    Inspect any structure which appears to be unsafe, dangerous or unfit for human habitation;

(b)    Have authority to enter upon premises at reasonable hours for the purpose of making such inspections. Entry shall be made so as to cause the least possible inconvenience to any person in possession of the structure. If entry is denied, the public officer may seek an order for this purpose from a court of competent jurisdiction;

(c)    Report all structures which he or she believes to be dangerous, unsafe or unfit for human habitation to the governing body;

(d)    Receive petitions as provided in this article. (Code 2015)

4-604.                  PROCEDURE; PETITION.  Whenever a petition is filed with the public officer by at least five residents charging that any structure is dangerous, unsafe or unfit for human habitation, or whenever it appears to the public officer on his or her own motion that any structure is dangerous, unsafe or unfit for human habitation, he or she shall, if his or her preliminary investigation discloses a basis for such charges, report such findings to the governing body. (Code 2015)

4-605.                  SAME; NOTICE.  The governing body upon receiving a report as provided in section 4-604 shall by resolution fix a time and place at which the owner, the owner’s agent, any lienholder of records and any occupant of the structure may appear and show cause why the structure should not be condemned and ordered repaired or demolished. (K.S.A. 12-1752; Code 2015)

4-606.                  SAME; PUBLICATION.  (a)  The resolution shall be published once each week for two consecutive weeks on the same day of each week. At least 30 days shall elapse between the last publication and the date set for the hearing.

(b)    A copy of the resolution shall be mailed by certified mail within three days after its first publication to each owner, agent, lienholder and occupant at the last known place of residence and shall be marked “deliver to addressee only.” (K.S.A. 12-1752; Code 2015)

4-607.                  SAME; HEARING, ORDER.  If, after notice and hearing, the governing body determines that the structure under consideration is dangerous, unsafe or unfit for human use or habitation, it shall state in writing its findings of fact in support of such determination and shall cause the resolution to be published once in the official city newspaper and a copy mailed to the owners, agents, lienholders of record and occupants in the same manner provided for the notice of hearing. The resolution shall fix a reasonable time within which the repair or removal of such structure shall be commenced and a statement that if the owner of such structure fails to commence the repair or removal of such structure within the time stated or fails to diligently prosecute the same until the work is completed, the governing body will cause the structure to be razed and removed. (Code 2015)

4-608.                  DUTY OF OWNER.  Whenever any structure within the city shall be found to be dangerous, unsafe or unfit for human use or habitation, it shall be the duty and obligation of the owner of the property to render the same secure and safe or to remove the same. (Code 2015)

4-609.                  SAME; FAILURE TO COMPLY.  (a)  If, within the time specified in the order, the owner fails to comply with the order to repair, alter, improve or vacate the structure, the public officer may cause the structure to be repaired, altered, improved, or to be vacated and closed.

(b)    If, within the time specified in the order, the owner fails to comply with the order to remove or demolish the structure, the public officer may cause the structure to be removed and demolished. (Code 2015)

4-610.                  SAME; MAKE SITE SAFE.  Upon removal of any structure, the owner shall fill any basement or other excavation located upon the premises and take any other action necessary to leave the premises in a safe condition.  If the owner fails to take such action, the public officer may proceed to make the site safe. (Code 2015)

4-611.                  ASSESSMENT OF COSTS.  (a)  The cost to the city of any repairs, alterations, improvements, vacating, removal or demolition by the public officer, including making the site safe, shall be reported to the city clerk.

(b)    The city shall give notice to the owner of the structure by restricted mail of the cost of removing the structure and making the premises safe and secure.  The notice shall also state that payment of the cost is due and payable within 30 days following receipt of the notice.

(c)    If the costs remain unpaid after 30 days following receipt of notice, the city clerk may sell any salvage from the structure and apply the proceeds or any necessary portion thereof to pay the cost of removing the structure and making the site safe. Any proceeds in excess of that required to recover the costs shall be paid to the owner of the premises upon which the structure was located.

(d)    If the proceeds of the sale of salvage or from the proceeds of any insurance policy in which the city has created a lien pursuant to K.S.A. 40-3901, et seq., and amendments thereto, are insufficient to recover the above stated costs, or if there is no salvage, the balance shall be collected in the manner provided by K.S.A. 12-1,115, and amendments thereto, or shall be assessed as special assessments against the lot or parcel of land on which the structure was located and the city clerk, at the time of certifying other city taxes, shall certify the unpaid portion of the costs to the county clerk and who shall extend the same on the tax rolls of the county against such lot or parcel of land and it shall be collected by the county treasurer and paid to the city as other city taxes are collected and paid. The city may pursue collection both by levying a special assessment and in the manner provided by K.S.A. 12-1,115, and amendments thereto, but only until the full cost and applicable interest has been paid in full.

(e)    If there is no salvage material, or if the moneys received from the sale of salvage or from the proceeds of any insurance policy in which the city has created a lien pursuant to K.S.A. 40-3901, et seq., and amendments thereto, are insufficient to pay the costs of the work and the costs of providing notice, such costs or any portion thereof in excess of that received from the sale of salvage or any insurance proceeds may be financed, until the costs are paid, out of the general fund or by the issuance of no-fund warrants. (K.S.A. 12-1755; Code 2015)

4-612.                  IMMEDIATE HAZARD.  When in the opinion of the governing body any structure is in such condition as to constitute an immediate hazard requiring immediate action to protect the public, the governing body may direct the public officer to erect barricades or cause the property to be vacated, taken down, repaired, shored or otherwise made safe without delay. Such action may be taken without prior notice to or hearing of the owners, agents, lienholders and occupants.  The cost of any action under this section shall be assessed against the property as provided in section 4-611.  (K.S.A. 12-1756; Code 2015)

4-613.                  APPEALS FROM ORDER.  Any person affected by an order issued by the governing body under this article may, within 30 days following service of the order, petition the district court of the county in which the structure is located for an injunction restraining the public officer from carrying out the provisions of the order pending final disposition of the case.  (Code 2015)

4-614.                  SCOPE OF ARTICLE.  Nothing in this article shall be construed to abrogate or impair the powers of the courts or of any department of the city to enforce any provisions of its charter or its ordinances or regulations, nor to prevent or punish violations thereof; and the powers conferred by this article shall be in addition to and supplemental to the powers conferred by the constitution, any other law or ordinance. Nothing in this article shall be construed to impair or limit in any way the power of the city to define and declare nuisances and to cause their removal or abatement by summary proceedings or otherwise or to exercise those powers granted specifically by K.S.A. 12-1750:1756.  (Code 2015)