Magistrate reduces fine to $200 and waives daily fines for property owner after compliance claims

A Bay County special magistrate amended a prior Code Enforcement order and reduced the total fine for a property owner to $200, waiving daily fines that together totaled $350, after a representative said the property had been cleaned and brought toward compliance.

Paul McGrath appeared and said he was representing aging parents and had been working to clear vehicles and debris from a property their family owns. "I've got the yard cleaned up. I've been working my tail off on it," McGrath said. He asked the magistrate for leniency because his parents were elderly and the family had not received or understood earlier notices.

The magistrate said the county's records show the property was later brought into compliance but that the timing had not met the deadlines in the original order. After hearing from McGrath, the magistrate amended the May order to reflect a fine of $200 and waived the previously assessed daily fines totaling $350. The magistrate declined to waive accrued interest and told McGrath to contact the Code Enforcement office on the second floor to arrange payment. The magistrate directed the family to provide a contact to receive future notices to avoid similar mailing problems.

The magistrate noted that interest already accrued on the enforcement lien could not be waived but encouraged prompt payment to avoid further interest. The modified order reflects the reduced fine and the waiver of daily fines; the magistrate did not eliminate the lien but adjusted the monetary penalty and confirmed payment instructions.

Code Enforcement staff said the property had been inspected and that the county would maintain a record of compliance status and outstanding charges; an amended final order will be prepared to reflect the changes ordered in court.