Gulfport council grants short extensions in multiple code-enforcement cases, asks owners to work with staff

At a Gulfport City Council meeting, the council opened code-enforcement hearings for multiple properties and allowed short extensions while directing owners to work with city staff to resolve demolition and cleanup orders.

A demolition order for Parcel 22 (listed as 14408 East Railroad Street or 14408 Third Avenue) and a demolition order for a laundry-building parcel (Parcel Number 12160220 on Third Street) were both discussed. Constance Tolby, who said she was representing her elderly parents, told the council the family had received the posted notice only two weeks earlier and asked for extra time to organize cleanup. “It’s gonna be a couple weeks because we just found out about this,” Tolby said, adding they had placed a dumpster Friday to start the process. Councilman Kevin Kozlowski recommended 30 days; “I would recommend 30 days,” Kozlowski said, and Mayor Hugh Keaton agreed, citing address confusion but noting the city had long been aware of the property’s condition. The mayor directed Tolby to stay in contact with Travis in code enforcement and with Jeremy Harrison for assistance.

Property owner Steven Leonard spoke about a separate parcel and said he and a partner had not received consistent mailed notices because the tax records used a P.O. box in Gretna, Louisiana. Leonard said he and his partner are working with a title company and intend to list the property for sale with Compass Real Estate; they asked for time to secure a buyer and to continue work with code enforcement. A partner identified as Mann told the council the group had been trying to secure financing and requested up to 30–45 days to remedy the conditions. Planning and engineering staff were asked to help verify parcel records and scope of work.

Council members repeatedly directed owners to meet with city staff to confirm the correct parcel identification and to document ongoing cleanup efforts. After discussion, the council closed the hearing by motion. The record shows the council allowed a 30-day extension for Tolby to provide evidence of progress and signaled staff would work with Leonard and his partner to permit up to 30–45 days where justified, with regular check-ins with Travis. No formal statutory citation or ordinance number was provided during the public record for the specific orders discussed.

The hearing closed by unanimous voice vote. The council made no other formal amendments to the orders at the meeting and recorded that staff would follow up with the property representatives about parcel identification and remediation status.