A.(1)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, if the owner or occupant of a building in the village of Grand Cane fails or refuses to comply with the decision of the governing authority ordering the repair of the structure and fails to appeal therefrom within the legal delays as provided in La. Rev. Stat. 33:4763, the village of Grand Cane shall have a lien and privilege upon the  immovable, its improvements, and contents, and the owner is personally liable for the approximate estimated cost of repairs, as provided in a written report signed by a city official or other person authorized to act in such matters on behalf of the village, a ten percent penalty, and all attorney fees incurred by the village in connection with obtaining such repair order and the demolition or removal order provided for in La. Rev. Stat. 33:4763.

(2)  The privilege and lien shall be preserved and enforced as provided in La. Rev. Stat. 33:4766 and 4767.

B.  In addition to the lien and enforcement procedures authorized by this Section, the village shall have a cause of action against the owner personally for the costs incurred by the village, if such owner is not indigent and has the ability to pay a judgment obtained by the village.  Such action may be brought by ordinary proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction.

C.(1)  If the property owner fails to pay the lien authorized by this Section, the village may cause to be seized and subsequently conveyed by sheriff’s sale the immovable, its improvements, and contents.

(2)  Should the immovable, its improvements, and contents be sold, the governing authority of the village in its discretion may, after deducting costs, expenses, and penalties to which the village is entitled under law:

(a)  Have the obligation of repair made an obligation of the purchaser following the sale, with the general nature or extent of the repairs to be made, the time thereof, and the defects to be corrected specified as part of the sale and deed transferring title.

(b)(i)  Obtain the estimated cost of repairs as a deduction from the sales proceeds and make the necessary repairs prior to the permitted occupancy by the purchaser following the sale, in which case neither the mayor nor the village shall be liable for damages resulting from the repairs either to the owner or the purchaser following the sale.

(ii)  The village is entitled to recover the entire cost of repairs from the sale proceeds, and the sheriff shall hold the remaining sales proceeds in escrow pending certification by the village that its entire cost of repairs has been satisfied from the proceeds.

(iii)  Prior to the time the governing authority of the village makes any repairs pursuant to this Subparagraph, the mayor or his designee shall serve notice on the owner, or his agent, and on the occupant of the building, if any, and upon any attorney at law appointed to represent any other party in interest or absentee owner.  Such notice shall include the time when work will begin upon the repair of the building or structure.

Acts 2006, No. 217, §1, eff. July 1, 2006.