Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Code Enforcement Lien Reduction topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
St. Cloud magistrate recommends reducing $84,900 code lien to $8,719.96 for Oregon Avenue property
Summary
Special Magistrate Drew Smith recommended the St. Cloud City Commission approve a negotiated reduction of a code enforcement lien on 1600 Oregon Avenue, cutting accrued fines from $84,900 to $8,719.96, to be paid within 30 days; the property owner has sold the parcel and the closing agent will hold back funds to satisfy the order.
Drew Smith, the code enforcement special magistrate for the City of St. Cloud, recommended that the St. Cloud City Commission approve a negotiated reduction of a code enforcement lien on the property at 1600 Oregon Avenue, cutting accrued fines from $84,900 to $8,719.96 provided that the reduced amount is paid within 30 days.
The recommendation follows an agreement the city manager and the respondent entered to resolve fines that accrued after a finding of high grass, weeds and an abandoned vehicle on the property. A city staff member told the magistrate that the fine accrued at $100 per day from Dec. 5, 2022, until April 3, 2025, and that administrative costs of $229.96 were also assessed. "It would be paid within 30 days," the city staff member said regarding the negotiated payoff amount.
The magistrate noted the respondent has sold the property and that staff worked with the closing agent to hold back sufficient funds so the sale could close while reserving money to satisfy the reduction. Smith said he would forward his recommendation to the City Commission for final approval; the city staff indicated the commission would consider the recommendation at a future meeting (staff referenced a June 12 pre-agenda schedule).
Background documents entered into the record included the original compliance order, evidence of notice mailings and photographs taken during code inspections. The city staff presentation traced the timeline: a compliance deadline of Dec. 5, 2022, followed by eventual compliance on April 3, 2025, with daily fines accruing during the noncompliance period. The staff summary said the city and the respondent agreed to the reduction to avoid delaying the property sale.
The magistrate's recommendation is advisory; the City Commission must vote to adopt the reduction at a public meeting before the reduced amount becomes final. If the commission approves, staff indicated the reduced payoff would be collected under the terms discussed.
