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Magistrate finds six violations at North Twelfth Street building; 90 days to fix or face $25-per-violation daily fines
Summary
The magistrate found six code violations at 709 N. 12th St., including rotten wood, deteriorated paint, mold and mildew, an empty electrical conduit, overgrown grass, and roof damage; the owner was given 90 days to comply or face daily fines beginning Oct. 14, 2025.
The Palatka special magistrate on July 15 found six separate code violations at a building at 709 North Twelfth Street and ordered the owner to bring the property into compliance within 90 days. The magistrate said fines of $25 per violation per day will begin to accrue on Oct. 14, 2025, if the work is not completed by the end of business on Oct. 13.
City compliance officer Harold Bertelli and code staff presented photographic evidence and on-site inspections. Bertelli said the case includes alleged violations of Palatka Code §30-169 (building fronts and sides) for rotten and weakened wood and deteriorating paint; mold and mildew covering more than 10% of an elevation; an empty electrical conduit on the front of the building; overgrown grass in violation of §30-32; and holes in the roof indicating roofing in disrepair.
Bertelli and other staff testified that they had posted the property and attempted certified notice; the certified letters were returned unclaimed. Photographs from November 2024 and recent inspections were submitted to show persistent problems including visible rafters through holes in the roof and mold and mildew on the exterior. The officers described the empty conduit as a visible, front-facing nonfunctional element the code requires be removed, covered or repaired.
The magistrate described the electrical-conduit issue as both a visibility and safety concern and suggested a cover could address safety. On the roofing violations, officers pointed to two areas where the roof was breached and roof trusses or rafters could be seen from the street, which the magistrate said suggested the openings penetrate into the attic space.
Because the owner did not appear and notices were unclaimed, the magistrate found that due process was satisfied by certified mail and property posting and entered the compliance order. The order gives the owner 90 days; fines of $25 per violation per day will begin Oct. 14, 2025, if the violations remain.
