People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1896 — Ordinance No. 15. [ARTICLE]

Ordinance No. 15.

Removal of Dangerous Buildings. An Ordinance Providing for the Condemnation and Removal of Dangerous Buildings and other Structures and Declaring an emergency. % [Ordained and Established June 22nd, 1896. J Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the Common Council of toe City of Rensselaer, Indiana: That whenever the Marshal of said City shall file with the Mayor a writften statement or any citizen of said said City shall complfdii on affidavit to the effect that any building or other structure situated upon any street, alley or public thoroughfare of said City has become dangerous to persons usit% laid street, alley or thoroughfare, by reason of the weakness of its walls or any other cause rendering such building or other structure liable to fall; or whenever the said Marshal shall notify the Mayor in writing that any. building or other structure by reason of the faulty construction of the flues or chftnneys or the manner of its gas fitting, has become dangerous to surrounding property and likely to be ignited and consumed by fire beeause of such faulty construction or defective fitting, the Mayor shall immediately cause notice to be served upon the owner of said building, if he can be found, commanding him to appear forthwith before the Mayor and show cause whv such building or other structure should not be removed. And upon the hearing of said matter, the Mayor shall have power to subpoena and compel the attendance of witnesses. If upon such hearing it shall be determined that the facts set out in the complaint filed by the Marshal, or citizens verified statement, are true, the Mayor shall at once deliver his warrant to said Marshal, commanding him forthwith to remove said building or cause the same to be done by said owner, and in case the said Marshal shall so remove the same, the City of Rensselaer shall bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction against such owner for toe costs and expenses thereof. In the event the owner of any such building is a nonresident of said City, notice of the filing of said complaint may be served upon any agent of said owner or occupant of said building, and in case there be neither owner nor ageht residing in said city, nor an occupant of said building, upon whom such notice may be served, the same may be had by publication ten days prior to such hearing. Providing: That in any case of extreme emergencies, and where the lives and property of the citizens will be imperiled by such delay, no notice whatever shall be given, but the Mayor shall proceed to*hear and determine the questions raised by such complaint in the absence of such owner. Sec. 2. Whereas. An emergency exists, this ordinance shall be in force from and after its passage.