Highlands County commissioners hear code enforcement workshop; staff asked to draft foreclosure criteria

Highlands County code enforcement staff reviewed the office’s procedures, caseload and lien activity and asked the Board of County Commissioners for direction on a possible foreclosure policy for properties with unresolved liens.

The workshop opened with Beverly Sinkley, code enforcement administrative supervisor, introducing the team and the presentation. Staff described case workflow from complaint intake through inspection, warning, citation or notice of violation, and the special magistrate process for abatement or daily fines. "Good afternoon, commissioners. Code enforcement team is here to present our workshop," Sinkley said.

Why it matters: staff reported thousands of inspections and hundreds of liens that can affect neighbors, property values and county finances if properties with violations remain unresolved. Commissioners said they wanted tools to accelerate compliance for repeat offenders and nuisance properties while preserving protections for vulnerable residents.

Staff overview and statistics Code enforcement staff said the department conducted 5,535 inspections from July 2024 to July 2025, issued 612 civil citations and 192 notices of violation, presented 164 cases to the special magistrate, and demolished 17 unsafe structures. Staff reported 1,461 cases brought into compliance and 560 inspections that found no violation at the initial visit. Those figures were presented by Maya Wiseman, code enforcement clerk.

Liens and collections Staff said code enforcement places liens through the special magistrate’s orders and records them with the county clerk. Per staff, liens accrue interest under Florida Statute 687.03; the office told respondents the statute-allowed rate is 18% per annum. As of July 2025 staff reported 381 outstanding code enforcement liens (separate from 115 animal‑services liens), 47 properties with multiple liens, and a total outstanding balance summarized in presentation slides (figures shown in the meeting materials).

Foreclosure policy discussion and board direction Staff presented a proposed set of criteria for prioritizing foreclosure actions, including lien amount, age of the lien, partial payment status, property type (residential, commercial, agricultural), whether the property has a homestead exemption, whether daily fines are accruing, and whether nuisance suits or life‑safety issues exist. Staff asked the board for direction on whether to pursue foreclosure in a subset of cases.

Commissioners broadly supported giving staff authority to develop a process and return with a formal agenda item. Commissioners emphasized they do not intend to pursue foreclosure on homesteaded properties and noted foreclosure can be legally and financially complex when mortgages and other lienholders exist. Staff and commissioners agreed foreclosures would come back as an agenda item for the board’s authorization before any action was filed.

Proactive enforcement, software and outreach Staff told the board a new community‑management software with GIS addressing and customer portal functions is planned; the software will format notice and citation forms, integrate inspections in the field and improve case tracking. Staff also said they are prioritizing proactive enforcement on major thoroughfares (including Highway 27) and life‑safety violations.

Staff and commissioners discussed options to help vulnerable residents (elderly or those with disabilities) avoid displacement, including coordinating with SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Partnership) and other local assistance programs to address repair needs instead of punitive measures where appropriate.

Next steps and administrative notes Code enforcement will produce a prioritized list of liened properties (staff said they already maintain a lien list with fields for homestead status, daily fines, and property type) and return with an agenda item requesting board authorization to initiate foreclosure proceedings on identified properties. Staff also said they will continue to explore software implementation, nuisance‑abatement funding and coordination with community groups for non‑enforcement assistance.

Quotations in context Staff: "We don't wanna put them in a bind as far as, like, you have to pay the total amount, but that is on a case by case basis," a code enforcement official said when discussing payment options for liened respondents.

Ending County staff said they will bring a formal board item and property list for the commission to authorize foreclosure actions where appropriate; commissioners indicated they expect that item and expressed general support for stronger enforcement on repeat or high‑impact properties while protecting homesteads and vulnerable residents.