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Glades County approves contract option with DOAH for quicker code-enforcement hearings
Summary
The commission voted 4-0 to authorize a contract with the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings to provide administrative law judges for code-enforcement hearings, aiming to shorten delays and allow costs to be recovered as administrative assessments.
Glades County commissioners voted unanimously to authorize entering into a contract with the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) to use administrative law judges for code-enforcement and other administrative hearings.
Commissioners said using DOAH judges will reduce delays that sometimes arise when the local judge’s criminal and civil dockets limit availability for code matters. The county expects hearings before DOAH judges to occur by Zoom or on scheduled hearing dates coordinated with the City of More Haven to save costs.
Staff said the contract will allow the county to attach administrative costs (judge time, filing fees, investigation) to judgments so those costs can be recovered and placed as liens on properties if violations are upheld. The hourly rate cited in the meeting for DOAH administrative law judge services was $207 per hour (rate set October 1, 2024 and subject to annual adjustment in July).
County staff and a county attorney present said the agreement would be a separate contract directly with DOAH, coordinated with the City of More Haven so hearings could be scheduled consecutively for efficiency. Commissioners said the alternative preserves other options — the county could still ask the elected county judge to hear some cases — but favored the DOAH arrangement to relieve court scheduling pressure.
Motion: Commissioner Taylor moved to enter into a contract with DOAH for administrative law judge services; Commissioner Patterson seconded. The motion passed 4-0 on roll call.
