Special magistrate grants lien reduction, sets compliance timelines in May Alachua County code-enforcement hearing

The Alachua County code-enforcement special magistrate held a May 2024 hearing addressing multiple alleged property-code violations and requests for lien relief. The magistrate granted a 100% reduction of a county lien in one matter and set compliance periods or continued other cases pending further action.

Diana Johnson, senior assistant county attorney, opened the hearing and described each matter brought by county code administration. County officers presented evidence and recommended deadlines and fines: for example, Officer Kelly Poirier told the magistrate the county recommended 30 days for homeowner Heidi Reinhart to remove an unpermitted shed or obtain a building permit, with fines of $100 per day and $490 in county costs if she did not comply. "The recommendation of the county is to provide this respondent with 30 days to either remove the unpermitted structure or to obtain the necessary permit," Poirier said.

In a separate property matter, Poirier said the county had cited Sydney and Patrick Albritton for…