Alachua County magistrate hears code-enforcement cases; extensions, lien and a fine reduction ordered

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A special magistrate for Alachua County heard a series of code-enforcement cases on Jan. 9, 2025, addressing property-maintenance complaints that ranged from accumulated junk and unserviceable vehicles to unpermitted structures and recreational vehicle use. The magistrate granted time to come into compliance in several matters, authorized a county lien in one commercial case, withdrew one matter after county staff review, and reduced fines for one property owner who showed cooperation.

The proceedings are part of routine code enforcement handled by Alachua County code administration and the county attorney's office. The decisions affect property owners across the county and can result in daily fines, liens filed in public records and, in some cases, the opportunity to seek later reduction of penalties once compliance is achieved.

County staff presented facts, inspections and photographs for each case and recommended orders to bring properties into compliance. Many respondents were not present; where owners or representatives appeared, magistrate rulings varied according to the evidence and progress reported. Courtney Wilson of the Alachua County Attorney's Office and multiple county code officers, including Kelly Poirier and Michael Williams, presented the county's cases and evidence.

Owners and heirs who appeared described efforts to address violations. Amy White, who identified herself as power of attorney for the owner in one case, said she is "taking over the property as my dad has passed away and my mom, I had to put into assisted living," and described limited funds and ongoing cleanup efforts. Benjamin Patterson, who said he is an heir to a separate parcel, told the magistrate he had hired a contractor and provided drawings and asked for time to complete permit steps.

The magistrate made several explicit rulings: • A 60-day extension to come into compliance was granted to the parties who said they had contractors or plans under way and needed additional time to secure permits and finalize work. The magistrate instructed owners to stay in touch with county staff so progress can be tracked and inspections scheduled. • The county was authorized to file a lien for accumulated fines and prosecution costs against Gables 2017 Holding LLC (case SM24-028) after county staff reported long-standing noncompliance and unpaid prosecution costs; the magistrate denied a new extension in that matter. • The county withdrew its case against Thomas Cox after county staff review (the county attorney announced the withdrawal during the hearing). • A request to reduce fines for Florida International Associates Inc. was granted: the magistrate reduced the county lien to 1% of the stated balance, with a payment arrangement described on the record to remove the county's lien after payment.

Not every case ended in a formal decision during the hearing. In numerous matters the county recommended the respondent be found in violation and be ordered to come into compliance within 30 days (typical corrective actions were removal of junk and unserviceable vehicles, demolition or permitting of structures, or registration of recreational vehicles). In those matters the county also requested daily fines should noncompliance continue and gave an accounting of county costs incurred to bring the matters to hearing. For example, code staff recommended 30-day compliance periods and daily fines of $75–$100 in multiple residential cases and reported prosecution costs ranging from several hundred dollars to thousands, depending on the file.

Dimentry Silas, who identified himself as owner of Continua Brokerage of America Corp., described steps already taken to comply in his case, including installing septic and preparing site plans, and asked for more time to complete registration and permitting. He said he planned to register a recreational vehicle at the DMV and upload documentation to the county portal the same day. "So I'm just asking for an extension because there was a lot of confusion," Silas said about the steps he needed to finish.

The magistrate repeatedly urged respondents who received extensions or who said they were making progress to maintain communication with county code staff, especially Kelly Poirier, so that inspections and affidavits of compliance can be completed and fines — which accrue daily in many of these matters — can stop.

The hearing also included a reduction hearing docket. In the reduction hearing for the property owned by Timothy Michael Paletti, county staff acknowledged cooperation and the magistrate reduced the remaining county balance to a nominal percentage of the assessed fines; the lien will be released once the agreed payment is made.

Several cases remain unresolved on the record and could return to future hearings for consideration of formal liens, ongoing fines or reduction requests. Property owners were reminded that filing for permits, applying for extensions in advance and communicating with county staff can affect outcomes, and the magistrate noted that requests for reductions are considered at the magistrate's discretion under state statute and county code.

The special magistrate concluded the morning session at the call of cases and scheduled follow-up as required by the county's code administration. County staff and affected owners should expect additional inspections and paperwork to confirm compliance or to document the basis for liens or further enforcement actions.

Votes at a glance — selected rulings recorded in the hearing: • SM24-000558 (Durant/Sophie Ayers, parcel 07581003000) — 60-day extension granted to achieve compliance after an heir reported progress and hiring a contractor; fines and $700 in county costs were reported by staff. • SM24-058 (Uvaldo Sanchez & Reina) — 60-day extension granted while permit work and plans are processed; county clarified that obtaining the permit (receipt of approved permit) constitutes compliance. • SM24-028 (Gables 2017 Holding LLC, unit 137) — county authorized to file lien for accumulated fines and prosecution costs; magistrate denied a further extension. • SM24-015 (Florida International Associates Inc.) — magistrate granted a reduction of county fines to 1% of the stated balance; payment terms recorded and county lien to be removed upon payment. • SM23-014904 / Thomas Cox — county withdrew the case during the hearing; no lien filed as a result of the withdrawal.

What to watch next: Several owners who were granted time to comply were told to notify code staff when work is finished so that inspectors can verify compliance and stop fines. Some cases where no representative appeared remain subject to county requests for liens or continued fines; those outcomes will be recorded in later orders or lien filings if the county proceeds.