Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Code Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Palatka orders lien on 119 N. 15th St.; fines total $20,900 after multiple maintenance violations
Summary
The code enforcement hearing authorized a lien on 119 North Fifteenth Street for unresolved violations including deteriorating paint, mold, roofing disrepair and missing components; the board recorded $20,900 in fines with daily accrual until the balance is satisfied.
The City of Palatka Code Enforcement Board entered an order authorizing an official city lien on the property at 119 North Fifteenth Street after finding continued violations of city maintenance codes and a lack of owner response. The board recorded total fines of $20,900; the order specifies fines will continue to accrue at $25 per day until the outstanding balance is satisfied.
Code enforcement staff testified that the case originated from prior inspections and was transferred to the current officer; staff said earlier trash and debris had been removed but multiple structural and maintenance deficiencies remain. Photographs in the record dated May 2, 2024, March 25, 2025, and other dates show deteriorating exterior paint, mold and mildew, roofing damage including missing rafters/trusses, and a missing gate component at the rear/garage area.
The hearing officer found due process satisfied by certified mail and property posting and concluded substantial and competent evidence supports violations of the city code, including deteriorating paint, mold and mildew, roofing in disrepair and missing components. The officer said one of five original violations had been satisfied earlier; the remaining balance of fines totals $20,900 as reflected in the record.
Staff noted there is no active water service to the house and that city meters are present but not in service; inspectors observed no occupant contact during site visits. Staff also reported prior photos and file materials from a previous inspector, David Green, were incorporated into the record. The owner of record is listed as Warren Fells et al.; no owner representative appeared at the hearing.
The board’s order authorizes the city to place an official lien on the property and continues daily fines at $25 per day until the assessed amount is satisfied. The hearing file notes the case was first heard in June 2024 and that some original charges (debris/trash) were later closed after remedial action, reducing the total assessed fine to the figure stated at the hearing.
