PANAMA CITY, Fla. — Bay County Special Magistrate Tiffany Soran on Jan. 9 accepted code-enforcement recommendations to levy abatement costs, impose fines and authorize liens for multiple properties after hearings on repeat violations, unfit or unsafe structures, overgrowth and derelict vehicles.

The cases, heard at the Bay County Government Center, covered eight properties across unincorporated Bay County. Code enforcement staff presented inspection photos, notices of intent and summaries showing persistent violations in most cases and county-contracted cleanups that brought several parcels into compliance. The magistrate repeatedly accepted staff recommendations, including recording costs and fines as liens in Bay County public records.

Why it matters: The orders authorize Bay County to recover the cost of cleanup work and to place liens on properties when owners do not address health and safety violations. The actions affect property owners’ obligations and could lead to county abatement when owners fail to act within magistrate-set time frames.

Code-enforcement presentations and outcomes

Catherine Ashman, Bay County code enforcement manager, opened the hearing on case 2302482 for 1302 Everett Avenue. Ashman summarized the long history of violations, an earlier magistrate order, an affirmed appeal by Judge William S. Henry in July 2024 and interactions with an engineer. Code enforcement reported the county contracted a cleanup at a cost of $4,846 and that reinspection on Oct. 28, 2024 found the property in compliance. Ashman said the county sought imposition of a $2,000 fine plus recovery of abatement costs and statutory interest; the magistrate accepted the recommendation. During that item, a resident identified in the record as Miss Buttar argued a First District Court of Appeal filing (1D24-1974) was open and that the county had demolished parts of the property while that appeal remained pending. Magistrate Soran responded that the judge had entered an order in July 2024 affirming the magistrate’s prior order and that the magistrate’s decision would be based on what was presented at the hearing.

Tim Justice, senior investigator, presented multiple cases in which the county documented derelict vehicles, junk, overgrowth or unsafe mobile homes. For 8230 Klondike Road (case 20242915), Justice described severe structural deterioration observed July 15, 2024, and a lack of contact from the owner after multiple mailed notices; the magistrate adopted code enforcement’s recommendation that the owner be given 30 days to obtain required permits or demolish the structure, and that failure to comply would trigger a $1,000 fine, abatement and a lien.

For 17924 April Avenue (case 20240289), Investigator Rick McKinnon reported repeated inspections showing the front yard cleared but continuing junk, derelict vehicles and construction debris in the rear. Code enforcement recommended a 10-day compliance period, an initial $200 fine and a daily $25 penalty thereafter, with abatement authorized if the owner failed to comply; the magistrate accepted the recommendation.

Investigator Tim Justice also summarized 8306 Brandon Road (case 20240322), where repeated reinspections found junk, derelict vehicles and RVs in the rear of the parcel. The county contracted cleanup at $4,995 and found the property in compliance on Oct. 21, 2024; code enforcement nonetheless requested costs, fines (initial $200 and daily $25) and liens; Soran accepted the recommendations.

Other cases where the magistrate accepted code-enforcement recommendations included:
- 323 LeGrande Drive (case 20241888): repeat overgrowth; county-contracted cleanup ($498) found the property in compliance on Nov. 14, 2024; the magistrate accepted imposition of a $300 initial fine and per‑day fines and lien authority.
- 2117 Bent Oak Court (case 20241326): overgrowth; county-contracted cleanup ($449) found compliance Nov. 14, 2024; magistrate accepted recommendation for fines and lien recording.
- 7100 Beechwood Boulevard (case 20230322): unfit, unsafe structure; prior order required 45 days to comply; county later conducted asbestos survey and contracted cleanup at $7,489; reinspection Oct. 28, 2024 found compliance; the magistrate accepted the recommended abatement cost recovery ($8,289 including additional charges noted by enforcement), $1,000 fine and lien recording.
- 5022 Palm Avenue (case HM23-000017): unfit, unsafe accessory structure and overgrowth; county-contracted cleanup at $5,499 and reinspection Oct. 23, 2024 found compliance; magistrate accepted recommended costs, $1,000 fine and lien authority.

What was said, in context

Magistrate Tiffany Soran stated at the start of the session, “I have no ex parte communication to disclose,” and repeatedly reminded speakers that the magistrate’s decisions rest on the evidence presented at the hearing. Code enforcement staff presented inspection photos and the timeline of notices, pre-bid inspections and contractor removals. In the Everett Avenue matter, the respondent (identified in the record as Miss Buttar) repeatedly asserted an appeal was pending in the First District Court of Appeal; Magistrate Soran noted she had the July 2024 order affirming the magistrate’s earlier ruling and that the magistrate would enter the recommended order based on the evidence shown.

Next steps and records

For properties the magistrate ordered into lien or fine status, the orders will be recorded in Bay County public records and may be assessed against the property under the Uniform Assessment Collection Act and chapter 21 of the Bay County Code. Several cases are scheduled for compliance hearings where the owner has been given a period to obtain permits or remove violations; one listed future compliance hearing date is Feb. 13, 2025 for 8230 Klondike Road. Several respondents were not present; the magistrate noted proper notice had been provided in each case.

The magistrate closed the hearing at 10:17 a.m.