St. Cloud magistrate approves multiple reductions to accrued code fines, including one over $24,000 recommendation to council

The City of St. Cloud’s special magistrate approved a series of negotiated reductions to accrued code-enforcement fines at a March 19, 2025 hearing, including a recommendation to city council to accept a $24,392.90 settlement for a property with historically large accrued fines.

A city representative told the magistrate the largest reduction request related to case number 202374-748 for property at 4201 Lavender Way (owner listed as T H R Bridal L P). The city said the accrued fine had grown to more than $100,000 in prior accounting, and after negotiation with the city manager's office and the respondent the parties agreed to a reduction to $24,392.90 — characterized by the city as 20% of the accrued fine plus administrative costs — payable within 30 days of city council approval. The magistrate said he would enter an order recommending approval of that reduction to the council.

The magistrate also approved negotiated reductions on multiple other cases. Four consolidated cases involving Akshar Conje LLC (addresses listed in hearing materials as 4002/4002 Thirteenth Street and related files) were reduced to amounts between $466.30 and $1,289.85 depending on the docket and whether the case was a repeat violation; the reductions reflected negotiated percentages (typically 10%, higher for a repeat violation at 20%). Additional reductions approved included case 2024-403 (a repeat violation) and case 2024-870, which were reduced to $4,557.96 and $732.88 respectively; and case 2024-1406 (828 Wisconsin Avenue) reduced to $798.77 under the negotiated settlement.

The magistrate stated on the record: “Based on the presentation by the city, I will enter an order recommending approval of a reduction amount of $24,392.90 if paid within 30 days of the city council approval of same,” and he entered written-order directives consistent with the agreements presented. For the smaller cases the magistrate said he would enter separate written orders that reflect each settlement’s payment deadline and conditions.

City staff told the magistrate the reductions were the result of negotiations between the respondents and the city manager’s office and that the reductions would be final upon payment under the terms presented to the magistrate (for the largest case, contingent on city council approval). The magistrate approved the settlements as presented and directed that written orders be prepared for each case.