A special magistrate on Jan. 8 ordered property owner Gail Kitchen to remove offensive accumulation, abate yard waste and hire a licensed beekeeper to relocate a protected honeybee colony from 545 Riviera Street by Feb. 4, 2025, or face daily fines and a compliance hearing in February.

Officer Willie Acosta presented photographic evidence documenting debris, standing water and a large beehive in the roof line. "These are protected honeybees within the state of Florida and can only be removed," Acosta said, and he testified that the property has a long history of repeat violations dating back decades.

The magistrate found that the property constitutes offensive accumulation in violation of the City of Venice Code of Ordinances, chapter 34 section 34-81, and set a compliance deadline of Feb. 4, 2025. The magistrate said the case will return to the special-magistrate docket on Feb. 5, 2025, at 10 a.m. to determine whether the order has been complied with and whether fines should be imposed.

Acosta described attempts by the city to work with the owner and her son, who has done some cleanup work, but said substantial yard waste and debris remain. The city asked that the owner abate debris, remove dead yard waste that poses a fire hazard, eliminate standing-water containers and hire a professional beekeeper to relocate the honeybees rather than eradicate them.

The magistrate ordered removal of the debris and the bees; if violations are not corrected by the deadline the magistrate warned that fines of up to $250 per day may be imposed for each day the violation continues beyond the specified deadline.

The case will be reviewed at the Feb. 5, 2025 special hearing to determine compliance and whether to impose fines.