Bay County magistrate hears multiple code-enforcement cases; several fines reduced under temporary program

Bay County Special Magistrate hearing manager Tiffany Sordo opened the Sept. 18 session and presided as code-enforcement staff presented the compliance histories for ten cases that included property abatement costs, fines and the recording of liens in county public records. Catherine Ashman, Bay County code enforcement manager, told the magistrate that the county often contracts cleanup and that abatement costs (contractor invoices and asbestos surveys) are not eligible for magistrate reductions, while assessed fines can be reduced under a temporary county program.