Safety Harbor board finds resident in repeat code violation over yard debris; $50 daily fine if not resolved

The City of Safety Harbor Code Enforcement Board found property owner Ike Evans in repeat violation of city code over junk, trash and debris at 6660 Pine Street and ordered the property cleaned by March 21, 2025 to avoid fines.

Paul Bushey, Community Compliance Officer for the City of Safety Harbor, presented the city's case, saying the property was the subject of multiple prior board actions and that a December 2024 inspection showed “significant quantities of junk, trash, and debris” remaining on the lot. Bushey told the board the city was seeking a $50-per-day fine starting March 21, 2025, and $410 in prosecution costs; he noted state law allows higher penalties for repeat violations but the city was not requesting the maximum.

The board heard testimony from the property owner, Ike Evans, who said health issues and ongoing personal circumstances had slowed cleanup but that he was working on the problem. Evans' niece, April Cannon, told the board family members would help clean the property and requested time to do the work. A neighbor, Raymond Gray, testified that he sometimes salvaged items from Evans' lot and asked the board to treat the situation fairly.

Board members discussed the property's long history of enforcement. Bushey introduced prior board orders and photographs showing debris in the front and rear yards; he said the city had previously accepted affidavits of compliance but the problems recurred. In response, members noted both empathy for the owner's circumstances and the need to protect neighborhood quality of life and property values.

Board member Jeff Dahl moved to find Evans in repeat violation of Section 5.26(1) of the Safety Harbor Code of Ordinances, set March 21, 2025, as the compliance date, award $410 to the city for prosecution costs and impose a $50-per-day fine starting March 21 if the property remains out of compliance. The motion was seconded and the board voted 6-1 to adopt it; Brian Hack cast the lone dissent.

The board's order will be reduced to writing and mailed to the owner. Paul Bushey told Evans the written order would include the findings and the compliance deadline and that questions could be directed to the code enforcement office.

The board's action resolves the matter for now, subject to the written order and any further enforcement steps if the property is not brought into compliance by March 21.