Bay County special magistrate accepts enforcement recommendations for seven properties; fines, abatement costs set

Bay County’s special magistrate accepted code enforcement recommendations for seven properties during a March 13 compliance hearing, ordering deadlines for cleanups, up to $14,795 in abatement costs on two properties and daily fines for continued noncompliance.

The hearing, managed by Tiffany Sawyer, involved staff testimony and property owners or their representatives on cases ranging from derelict recreational vehicles to unfit accessory structures. Code enforcement witnesses described repeated inspections, photographs and prior magistrate orders documenting trash, debris, derelict vehicles, and unauthorized structures.

Code enforcement manager Catherine Ashman introduced the first case, and investigators including Rick McKinnon, Brandon Erwin and Robert Clarkson presented reports and photos for individual properties. The magistrate accepted staff recommendations and set compliance timeframes ranging from five to ten days in most cases, with failure to comply triggering fines and liens.

Votes at a glance:

- Case 20243022 (Parcel 01398-000-000): Found in violation of Bay County Code Chapter 17 for trash, junk, derelict vehicles and unpermitted storage structures. Code enforcement recommended five days to comply, demolition or permit/repair requirements for accessory…