65-159. Abatement of nuisances; failure to remove, penalties. The secretary of health and environment and the county or joint boards of health shall have the power and authority to examine into all nuisances, sources of filth and causes of sickness that in their opinion may be injurious to the health of the inhabitants within any county or municipality in this state. Whenever any such nuisance, source of filth or cause of sickness shall be found to exist on any private property or upon any watercourse in this state, the secretary of health and environment or county or joint boards of health shall have the power and authority to order, in writing, the owner or occupant thereof at his or her own expense to remove the nuisance, source of filth or cause of sickness within twenty-four (24) hours, or within such reasonable time thereafter as such secretary or such county or joint board may order; and if the owner or occupant shall fail to obey such order, such owner or occupant upon conviction shall be fined not less than ten dollars ($10) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100), and each day's continuance of such nuisance, source of filth or cause of sickness, after the owner or occupant thereof shall have been notified to remove the nuisance, source of filth or cause of sickness, shall be a separate offense.

History: L. 1907, ch. 383, § 1; R.S. 1923, 65-159; L. 1974, ch. 352, § 20; L. 1980, ch. 182, § 21; July 1.