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Board grants $250 partial release of code‑enforcement lien to clear title for potential Habitat sale
Summary
The Escambia County commission approved a partial release on a code‑enforcement lien tied to 1008 North Q Street, accepting $250 to clear title so the lot can move forward for sale to Habitat for Humanity. The board voted 5‑0.
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners voted 5‑0 on Oct. 2 to issue a partial release of code‑enforcement liens on a lot in Pensacola to allow a pending sale to proceed.
Charles (Chuck) Charbonneau, a developer who said he had demolished a dilapidated structure and brought lots into compliance to sell them to Habitat for Humanity, told the board the title company would not close because another property owned by the seller still had accruing code fines. "I'm hoping and praying and pleading for the compassion of the board to forgive the lien against my property that is associated with the other property," Charbonneau said.
County staff explained the lingering site had daily fines accruing at $50 per day and that court costs on the case were $250. County counsel advised the board it had discretion to grant a partial release severing the lien on the lot Charbonneau owned while leaving the lien on the other property to accrue.
After discussion about where any payment should be applied, commissioners approved a motion to accept $250 in exchange for a partial release of the lien on the Q Street parcel and directed that the $250 be deposited in the general fund rather than credited to the other property. A second was recorded and the motion passed unanimously, 5‑0.
Commissioners said they were sympathetic to efforts that return blighted properties to productive use but reiterated that the county would still pursue fines and abatement on properties that remained out of compliance.
