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Magistrate gives Grape Avenue owner until May 30 to fix hazards; delays cost payment to June 30
Summary
At a March 19 St. Cloud hearing the special magistrate set May 30, 2025, as the final compliance date for violations at 705 Grape Avenue, delayed the administrative cost payment to June 30, and warned of $250-per-day fines starting June 1 if the property remained noncompliant.
Special Magistrate Drew Smith on March 19, 2025, granted property owners at 705 Grape Avenue additional time to cure multiple violations, setting May 30 as the final compliance date and postponing payment of the city’s administrative costs to June 30 to give owners funds to complete repairs.
April Bennett, code enforcement officer, told the magistrate inspectors responded Jan. 3 after the St. Cloud Police Department requested code enforcement assistance following a search-warrant execution. Bennett described broken windows, boarded doors, plumbing leaks, electrical hazards created by multiple extension cords and accumulation in the rear yard; she entered photographs and notices into the record and stated that, to date, there had been no permitting recorded for replacement windows discovered on site. Bennett recommended an April 18 compliance date and $329.77 in administrative costs.
Respondents Shannon Hallas (identified on the hearing record as the property owner) and Robert Morris spoke to the magistrate. Hallas described efforts to remove debris and repair windows and said the work was constrained by limited income and the need to obtain permits. Smith noted progress on debris removal and repairs but expressed concern that a 30-day window would not be sufficient. He said he intended to allow the owners time to secure funds and permits and told them: “I’m looking at May 30 for compliance on everything. But if you're not in compliance on everything, what that means is on, June 1, $250 a day will run for each day that stays out of compliance.”
Smith also ordered the respondents to pay administrative costs of $329.77 but delayed the payment deadline to June 30, saying he wanted the owners to prioritize getting the property into compliance. The magistrate instructed the respondents to arrange early reinspection with code enforcement so work can be verified before fines begin to accrue.
Bennett additionally noted she had opened a separate case for alleged work done without permits (window installation), but that case was not presented at the March 19 hearing. The magistrate’s oral rulings will be issued in a written order that will include the compliance deadline of May 30, the $329.77 administrative cost due June 30, and the $250-per-day fine that would begin June 1 for any remaining violations.
