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Edgewater resident urges charter changes on inspections, due process, fines and title changes
Summary
Robert Sanchez told commissioners he had experienced repeated constitutional violations tied to county inspections and administrative hearings and proposed a set of charter amendments to require warrants, improve due-process protections, cap fines, and prevent title changes without notice.
Robert Sanchez of Edgewater presented a multi-part set of charter amendments he said would protect constitutional rights and curb county overreach.
Sanchez alleged systemic problems in county inspections, saying, "From January 2014 to January 2024, over 6,000 inspections led to violations, but only 1 used an inspection warrant as required by Florida statute 933.21." He told commissioners that agents entered his property without consent or a warrant and that evidence from unauthorized entries should be inadmissible.
Sanchez also criticized administrative-hearing procedures, saying the clerk refused subpoenas for relevant witnesses and that boards dismissed his trespass claims. He cited Loebman v. City of Riviera Beach as precedent regarding government retaliation against protected speech and asked that charters require boards to hear constitutional claims and to grant subpoenas and continuances when necessary.
On penalties, Sanchez said his property, purchased for $115,000, faces $3,000,000 in liens and recommended the charter cap fines or require judicial review of liens that exceed property value. He further alleged that county attorneys and the property appraiser removed 2.5 acres from his name and later placed the parcel back into his name without notice or hearing—an act he described as theft and a due-process violation.
Commissioners did not debate or vote on Sanchez's proposals at the listening session; the chair said staff will collect written and spoken comments for discussion beginning Oct. 13. Sanchez offered to be available for questions.
