Palatka authorizes lien on 113 West Oak Hill Drive after board finds continued maintenance violations

The City of Palatka Code Enforcement Board on an administrative hearing authorized the city to record an official lien on the property at 113 West Oak Hill Drive after finding continued violations of city maintenance codes and a lack of owner response. The board recorded total fines of $15,300; fines will continue to accrue at $75 per day or $25 per violation until the violations are corrected.

City code compliance staff presented photographs and inspection notes showing a single broken front window, paint deterioration on the right elevation visible from West Oak Hill Drive, and mold and mildew on the gables and awnings. The city said it had posted notice at the property, mailed certified notice to the address on record and attempted in-person contact but the owner did not appear.

The hearing officer granted the city’s requested order after a staff presentation and evidence introduction. “I will grant an order, authorizing the city to place an official lien on the property, to be recorded in the public records,” the hearing officer said during the ruling. The board’s order finds substantial and competent evidence of violations of city code sections cited in the record and authorizes placement of the lien to secure fines and abatement costs.

Code compliance testimony said the case was a transfer of a prior file and that inspections dated June 13, 2024, and April 2, 2025, show the cited defects persisted and in some areas had worsened. Staff recommended pressure washing to remove mold and mildew, repainting the exterior, and replacing the broken front window as the corrective measures. The city’s presentation included earlier photos from a prior inspector (David Green) and then-current photos taken by the officer who assumed the case.

The hearing record shows the city served notice by certified mail and by posting at the property and at city hall; the postal green card for certified mail was returned unsigned. Staff said there was a vehicle at the address but no current water service on the property and no response at the door. The owner of record is listed in the hearing as Jesse Ream; the owner did not appear at the hearing.

The board’s authorization allows the city to place a lien to secure the $15,300 assessed through the enforcement process; the daily accrual rates will continue until the violations are abated or otherwise resolved. The city did not record additional criminal or civil penalties in the hearing beyond the administrative fines and lien authorization.

Background: The item was brought as case number 15445 and was presented as a second hearing after initial orders in 2024. Staff noted the underlying violations were first cited in June 2024 and remained unabated in repeat inspections.