Bay County orders owner at 213 El Reposo Place to remove visible junk within 10 days

A Bay County special magistrate ordered the owner of 213 El Reposo Place in unincorporated Laguna Beach to remove trash, junk and unscreened personal property visible from the street within 10 days, after county investigators documented repeated inspections and notices.

Investigator Joe Tripp of Bay County Code Enforcement told the magistrate he conducted multiple inspections beginning Feb. 5 and submitted an investigative report with photos. "I've submitted my investigative report for the record. Notices are indicated in the report. Photos are attached," Tripp said. He described trash and personal property visible in the driveway and rear yard and a partially broken fence that left the rear yard exposed to public view.

The magistrate said notices were mailed, posted and that certified mail had been returned "unclaimed" in some instances. The magistrate found a violation of Bay County Code section 17-2 in the form of "junk, trash, and unscreened or unused personal property," and ordered compliance. "The respondents shall have a period of 10 days to bring the property into compliance by removing any and all junk and trash, and any unscreened or unused personal property must be either properly screened, properly screened, or removed from the property," the magistrate said.

William Davidson spoke for the property owner, saying his wife, Martha Jane Collins, was unable to attend because of Parkinson's disease and that the family had been in Tallahassee for medical testing during part of the inspection period. Davidson said they had worked on the fence and planned further clean-up but asserted they had not received initial notices. The magistrate and Tripp noted multiple re-inspections and postings between February and June and found the violations persisted during those inspections.

The order sets an initial fine of $200 and a daily fine of $25 to begin after the 10-day compliance period and continue up to 20 days or until compliance, whichever comes first; unpaid fines will become a lien on real and personal property in Bay County. A compliance hearing was scheduled for July 16 at 1 p.m.

The magistrate also required the respondents to notify Code Enforcement of progress or delays in meeting the order. If the family or owner wants further information about the notices and timing, Code Enforcement recognizes that certified and regular mail records, posting at the property and posting at the County Government Center are part of the administrative record.

A compliance hearing is set for July 16 at 1 p.m. to determine whether the property has been brought into compliance and whether fines or liens should be imposed.