Chapter 44 STREETS AND SIDEWALKS

Article IV. Brush & Other Visual Obstructions Near Roadways

Sec. 44-111. Trimming of brush and tree limbs.

Every owner or tenant of lands lying within the township adjoining a roadway, whether the lands are within the road right-of-way or not, shall:

(1) Keep all brush, hedges and other plant life growing within ten feet of any roadway, and within 25 feet of the intersection of two roadways, cut to a height of not more than 2.5 feet above the crown of the roadway where it shall be necessary and expedient for the preservation of the public safety; and

(2) Keep all tree limbs within ten feet of any roadway, and within 25 feet of the intersection of two roadways, cut and trimmed to a height of not lower than ten feet from the crown of the roadway so as not to obstruct the safe movement of vehicles or vision of the drivers on and around the roadways and intersections where it shall be necessary and expedient for the preservation of the public safety.

(R.O. 1979, § 27-12)

Sec. 44-112. Other obstructions.

(a) Every owner or tenant of lands lying within the township adjoining a roadway, whether the lands are within the road right-of-way or not, is prohibited from having any obstruction, such as a fence, wall, sign, or pile of soil, higher than 2.5 feet above the crown of the roadway, or any obstruction to vision, such as a motor vehicle, other than a post or tree not exceeding one square foot in cross sectional area, within ten feet of any roadway or within 25 feet of the intersection of two roadways where it shall be necessary and expedient for the preservation of the public safety.

(b) This section shall not apply to signs, such as traffic signs, installed by the state, county or township.

(R.O. 1979, § 27-13)

Sec. 44-113. Notice to remove.

Upon receipt of a ten-day notice in writing from the township manager or chief of police that such cutting or removal of obstruction as is prescribed under this article is necessary for the preservation of the public safety, the owner or tenant of the lands so affected shall, within the ten days prescribed in the notice, forthwith proceed to bring the brush, hedge, low-hanging tree limbs, sign, wall, fence or plant life within the specifications spelled out in the notice.

(R.O. 1979, § 27-14)

Sec. 44-114. Removal by township.

(a) Authorized. Where such owner or tenant fails to comply with the notice provided for in section 44-113 within ten days, the township manager shall have the power to have the work performed.

(b) Collection of costs. The cost of such work shall be certified to the township council. The township council shall examine such certificate and, if found to be correct, shall cause such costs to be charged against the lands. The amount so charged shall forthwith become a lien upon the lands and shall be added to and become and form part of the taxes next to be assessed as taxes, and shall be collected and enforced by the same officers and in the same manner as taxes.

(R.O. 1979, § 27-15)