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Ocala board reactivates prior order for long-running Leonard Barrener Senior Estate case; fines resume Oct. 3, 2025
Summary
After review of a multi-year enforcement history and a prior order that included abatement language removed in extensions, the City of Ocala Code Enforcement Board moved to proceed with the earlier order for CE25-0309 so fines will resume. Staff said the earlier demolition/abatement action had been paused while records were reconciled.
The Code Enforcement Board voted to proceed with the previous enforcement order for CE25-0309 (Leonard Barrener Senior Estate), reactivating the order and allowing civil fines to begin accruing.
City staff explained the case spans several years and noted an administrative error in successive extension orders inadvertently removed abatement/demolition verbiage the city had intended to preserve. City staff said the city had reached demolition‑ready status earlier in the process, had contracted asbestos testing and was prepared to send the matter to procurement for demolition, but paused to ensure the order authority remained intact. When ownership changed, the city opened a new case for clarity.
Howard Gunn Jr., who said he is acting in a property-management/consultant role for the estate, told the board he had been working for the past month to address outstanding items, had pulled a reroof permit for one building and had removed derelict vehicles and trailers. Staff acknowledged some items had been abated but said significant deficiencies remained and recommended proceeding with the prior order so fines would begin accruing to drive compliance.
Board action: The board found noncompliance exists and moved to proceed with the previous order; staff identified Oct. 3, 2025 as the start date for fines under that order and noted the daily fine schedule (staff cited $2.50 per day). Board members said the board and staff want to see the property brought into compliance quickly and noted the owner could petition the board to reduce or eliminate fines if swift remediation is documented and staff supports the petition.
