Section 4.1-47-28 - Entry upon land for noxious weed control purposes - Notices - Landowner rights - Remedial requirements - Liens1.a. If a county weed officer determines that any land other than that referenced in subsection 2 contains noxious weeds, the county weed control officer may first contact the occupant and request that the occupant control the noxious weeds within a prescribed time period and in a prescribed manner. If the county weed control officer determines that the occupant has failed to control the noxious weeds, as requested, the county weed officer shall serve upon the landowner written notice, either personally or by certified mail, requiring the landowner to control the noxious weeds within the time period prescribed by the county weed control officer.b. The notice must:(1) Specify the minimal remedial requirements;(2) Specify the time within which the landowner must meet the minimum remedial requirements;(3) Specify that the landowner may be subject to penalties provided under this chapter if the landowner fails to comply with the remedial requirements;(4) Include a statement of costs if the landowner fails to control the noxious weeds and the county weed officer must provide for control of the weeds; and(5) Provide that the landowner may stay any efforts by the county weed officer to control noxious weeds on the land by requesting in writing that the county weed board hold a hearing on the matter.c. If the landowner does not meet the minimum remedial requirements within the time specified in the notice and does not request a hearing on the matter by the county weed board, the county weed control officer may cause the noxious weeds to be controlled and the expenses charged against the land of the landowner. These expenses are part of the taxes to be levied against the land for the ensuing year and must be collected in the same manner as other real estate taxes.d. If after holding a hearing on the matter, the county weed board directs that the noxious weeds be controlled by the county weed officer, the landowner may appeal the decision to the board of county commissioners. A decision by the board of county commissioners is final.e. If the landowner does not appeal the decision to the board of county commissioners, or if the board of county commissioners upholds the decision of the county weed board, the county weed control officer may cause the noxious weeds to be controlled and any expenses incurred by the county weed officer in controlling the weeds must be charged against the land of the landowner. These expenses are part of the taxes to be levied against the land for the ensuing year and must be collected in the same manner as other real estate taxes.2.a. If a city weed control officer determines that land within the officer's jurisdiction contains noxious weeds, the officer may serve upon the landowner written notice either personally or by certified mail, requiring the landowner to control the noxious weeds within the time period prescribed by the city weed control officer.b. The notice must:(1) Specify the minimal remedial requirements;(2) Specify the time within which the landowner must meet the minimum remedial requirements;(3) Specify that the landowner may be subject to penalties provided under this chapter if the landowner fails to comply with the remedial requirement;(4) Include a statement of costs if the landowner fails to control the noxious weeds and the city weed officer must provide for control of the weeds; and(5) Provide that the landowner may stay any efforts by the city weed officer to control noxious weeds on the land, by requesting in writing that the city weed board hold a hearing on the matter.c. The city weed officer shall deliver a copy of the notice personally or forward a copy of the notice by certified mail to any tenant, lessee, or operator of the land on which the noxious weeds are located.d. If the landowner does not meet the minimum remedial requirements within the time specified in the notice and does not request a hearing on the matter by the city weed board, the city weed control officer may cause the noxious weeds to be controlled and the expenses charged against the land of the landowner. These expenses are part of the taxes to be levied against the land for the ensuing year and must be collected in the same manner as other real estate taxes.e. If after holding a hearing on the matter the city weed board directs that the noxious weeds be controlled by the city weed officer, the landowner may appeal the decision to the governing body of the city. A decision by the governing body is final.f. If the landowner does not appeal the decision to the governing body of the city, or if the governing body of the city upholds the decision of the city weed board, the city weed control officer may cause the noxious weeds to be controlled and any expenses incurred by the city weed officer in controlling the weeds must be charged against the land of the landowner. These expenses are part of the taxes to be levied against the land for the ensuing year and must be collected in the same manner as other real estate taxes.Amended by S.L. 2011, ch. 68 (HB 1317),§ 2, eff. 4/20/2011.