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Sebring council hires outside attorney to pursue long‑standing code liens
Summary
After a presentation on a lien‑clearing program used in other Florida cities, the Sebring City Council voted to retain Matt Widener’s firm to pursue unpaid code enforcement liens and foreclosures — a contingency arrangement with no upfront city expenses, per the presenter.
Sebring — The Sebring City Council voted on Oct. 7 to retain Widener Law Firm to pursue a lien‑clearing program aimed at recovering long‑outstanding code enforcement liens and returning vacant properties to productive use.
Attorney Matt Widener told the council his firm fronts the costs of title searches, private investigation and court filing fees and pursues foreclosure actions to recover municipal costs. “I call it comply, collect, and close,” Widener said, describing a program he said has produced results in other Central Florida communities. He said the firm typically moves a case from filing to public auction in roughly five months and that his office works on a contingency basis: “the net recovery between 20–40% if it goes all the way to appeal,” Widener said.
Widener and staff discussed selection criteria for properties to target — focusing on abandoned or vacant lots with accumulated fines and nonresponsive owners, and prioritizing dangerous buildings or cases with high unpaid costs. Council and staff pressed him on homestead protections, existing mortgage or IRS liens, capacity to handle inventory and the contingency fee calculation when the city takes title after a sale with no bidders; city counsel noted the percentage recovery in such cases is based on the property appraiser’s assessed value.
After the presentation and public questions about debris, hoarding and compassionate handling of vulnerable property owners, Councilmember (speaker 9) moved to direct staff to retain Matt Widener for lien‑clearing legal services. The motion was seconded and approved by roll call; the transcript records affirmative responses but does not list each member’s individual vote.
Council members said the program could clear longstanding inventory and free local code enforcement officers to focus on current violations. Staff indicated outreach letters and reminder notices will continue while the city begins a phased selection of cases for the program.
