Ocala Municipal Code Enforcement Board members on an evening docket granted multiple compliance extensions, approved a 10% reduction of an accrued fine for a vacant lot adjacent to an Aldi store if paid by Feb. 10, and voted to file liens or accept staff recommendations on a series of code-abatement cases.

The board granted extensions to March 6 for several property-complaint cases where respondents said they were pursuing permits or other remedies. In a petition hearing, the board agreed to reduce a $65,750 accrued fine to 10% of that amount, contingent on payment by Feb. 10; otherwise the full amount remains due. The board also accepted staff recommendations to file liens or otherwise pursue collection for a series of abated properties, and in one long-running demolition case declined to change the existing order and left daily fines in place.

The actions affect a mix of private owners, estates and commercial property owners across Ocala, including sites cited for overgrowth, accumulated trash, surfacing defects and unpermitted structural work. Board members repeatedly framed decisions as attempts to balance property-owner cooperation and the city’s interest in restoring public health, safety and neighborhood conditions.

The most contested petition involved a vacant lot beside an Aldi store owned by VRE Storage Ocala LLC (case 202310163). City staff told the board that violations for weeds, trash and roadway surfacing had been abated but fines had accrued after the compliance dates. The city recommended reducing the accrued total to 10 percent given the owners’ recent steps to secure permits. Charlie Mann, appearing for the owner, said the company acquired the lot in June 2023, had discovered debris and an encampment, and had obtained site-work permits while waiting on a full building permit. The board voted to reduce the $65,750 accrued fine to 10 percent of that amount, conditioned on payment by Feb. 10; the board recorded the motion as approved.

In other notable actions:
- Case 202411153 (City of Ocala v. Vernon Dale Braddock): Respondent Cheryl Wesley told the board she is awaiting sealed engineer plans required to pull permits to renovate the house at 447 Northwest 9th Avenue. The board granted an extension to March 6 for permits to be issued.
- Case 2024-10503 (1209 Northwest 12th Avenue): The respondent submitted new contractor and registration paperwork and said plans and permits were in progress. The board granted an extension to March 6.
- Case 2024-11255 (Tammy Young, 1126 Southwest Fort King Street): Young told the board she had applied to combine parcels to allow a shed and had addressed a cited derelict vehicle; the board granted an extension to March 6 and asked the respondent to discuss an unpaid prosecution cost with the assigned officer.
- Case 2022-8624 (City of Ocala v. Scott McConnell Sr.): The board declined to further alter the existing order in a long-running matter, keeping the original order in place. Staff noted a $100-per-day fine accrues until permitted work is completed; board members said they expect the property to be cleaned promptly to stop fines from accruing.
- Case 2024-11540 (1117 Northwest 8th Avenue): After staff testimony that multiple permit extensions had been issued and neighbors had renewed complaints, the board adopted the staff recommendation requiring the work covered by the existing permit (BOD 23-1395) be completed and pass inspection by the permit expiration date of Feb. 26, 2025.

The board also approved staff recommendations to file liens or otherwise pursue collection on multiple abated properties where the city incurred cleanup or demolition costs. Several lien requests were presented with staff summaries of hard costs (cleanup, abatement fees and prosecution costs) and recommended penalty reductions based on property values; the board approved those recommendations as presented or via consent action. Case numbers included (but were not limited to) 2022-7838; 2023-10107; 2023-10122; 2023-10369; 2023-98100; 2024-10457; 2024-10488; 2024-10496 and others listed on the consent agenda. In several instances staff asked that the city’s hard costs be filed as liens and that monetary penalties be reduced to a portion of the originally accrued fines based on the property-appraiser valuations.

Board members and staff emphasized that where permits have been issued the board’s preference is to allow the permitting and inspection process to finish, while also noting that very long-running cases may be returned to fines or lien actions if respondents do not complete work.

Growth management director Jess Grama told the board staff would contact members about upcoming board training with the city attorney’s office to cover procedures and reduce meeting length.

Votes at a glance
- Case 202411153 (Braddock) — Motion to grant extension to March 6 for permits to be issued; mover: Wright; second: Coiter; outcome: approved.
- Case 202310163 (VRE Storage Ocala LLC) — Motion to reduce accrued fine of $65,750 to 10% (10% = $6,575) if paid by Feb. 10, otherwise revert to $65,750; mover: Coiter; second: Ferentino; outcome: approved.
- Case 2024-10503 (1209 NW 12th Ave) — Motion to grant extension to March 6; outcome: approved.
- Case 2024-11255 (Tammy Young) — Motion to grant extension to March 6; outcome: approved.
- Case 2022-8624 (McConnell Sr.) — Motion to maintain original order (staff recommendation); outcome: approved; staff noted $100-per-day fine accrual until work is completed.
- Case 2024-11540 (1117 NW 8th Ave) — Motion to follow staff recommendation and require completion and passing of permit inspections by Feb. 26, 2025; outcome: approved.
- Multiple lien and collection actions (examples: 2022-7838; 2023-10107; 2023-10122; 2023-10369; 2023-98100; 2024-10457; 2024-10488; 2024-10496) — motions to accept staff recommendations to file liens or otherwise collect hard costs; outcomes: approved (many via consent agenda).