§ 15.07.160. Abatement and assessment of costs.

A.

After all appeals have been exhausted or if no timely appeal is filed, and the owner or responsible party(ies) to whom the order was directed have failed to comply with the final decision and order, the director may take actions to remove, contain, clean-up, and/or decontaminate the property and/or source of the illicit discharge or connection, and all costs may be assessed against the property, the persons to whom the order was directed, and the owners of the property upon which the cost was incurred.

B.

Notice of the costs incurred shall be sent by certified mail to the owners of the property upon which the costs are assessed or other persons against whom the costs are charged. The director may modify the amount, methods, or time of payment of such costs as deemed just, considering the condition of the property and the circumstances of the owner. In determining any such modifications, the costs may be reduced against an individual who has acted in good faith and would suffer extreme financial hardship.

C.

Any such costs charged as personal obligations of the property owner or persons to whom the order was directed may be collected by use of all appropriate legal remedies.

D.

Any such costs assessed against real property may be certified to the county treasurer, who shall enter the amount due and owing upon the assessment rolls. The assessment shall constitute a lien against the property which shall be of equal rank with state, county and municipal taxes. Any amounts so entered on the assessment rolls shall be collected at the same time, with interest at such rates, and in such manner, as provided for in RCW 84.56.020, as now or hereafter amended, and, when delinquent, shall be collected in the same manner as delinquent taxes.

E.

Any amounts collected shall be distributed to any fund or source of funds for the program area from which payment for the work was made.

(Ord. No. 14404, § 2, 9-7-2010)