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Jeffrey Wagner asks magistrate to cut $57,030 in code fines; county recommends none
Summary
At an Alachua County Code Enforcement Special Magistrate hearing, property owner Jeffrey Wagner asked for reduction of liens and fines tied to a 2018–2019 enforcement matter; county code staff opposed reduction and the magistrate said a written decision will be mailed.
Jeffrey Wagner asked the Alachua County Code Enforcement Special Magistrate to reduce fines and rescind liens stemming from a long‑running property enforcement matter, saying he spent “well over $10,000” and “closer to 20” on evictions and cleanup to bring the site into compliance.
The request came at the February 2025 special magistrate hearing for Case No. CEB 1816. Clerk Jackie called the case and Magistrate (name not given) told Wagner the burden is on the respondent to show why fines should be reduced. Staff identified the outstanding balance as $57,030.
Wagner told the magistrate vandals damaged the mobile home in 2024; he said he boarded the windows, provided photographs to county staff and later removed the trailer. He said squatters and later RV occupants complicated the cleanup and that an eviction process took months. Wagner also said he missed an earlier hearing in 2019 because of a family death and that a friend, Candy Wilson, attempted to appear in his place.
County code officer Kelly Poirier said a January 2024 case related to the trailer was closed as compliant after the trailer was removed (Poier stated the removal occurred Feb. 9) and that Wagner has other cases dating to 2018. Poirier told the magistrate that prior legal staff had explained how daily fines accrue and that payment options had been discussed; based on the case history the county recommended “there be no reduction in the fines.”
Wagner said he was not told about the availability of monthly payment arrangements and that a prospective buyer discovered the $57,000 lien when researching the parcel. County staff disagreed with Wagner’s characterization of prior communications, saying notes show the respondent was informed of prosecution costs and monthly fees.
The magistrate said the reduction request would be taken under consideration and that a written decision would be mailed to Wagner. No final ruling was issued at the hearing.
