Residents press city to enforce cleanup at abandoned Silverado golf course; staff sets May 18 follow‑up

Several residents from the Silver Oaks neighborhood told the Zephyrhills City Council on April 27 that the abandoned Silverado golf‑course property has become a public‑safety and nuisance concern.

Jerry Lutman, who said he attended a March meeting discussing the site, described unmaintained stands of trees and large piles of felled oaks that a county court ordered removed last year. "It's been abandoned, basically. There's nothing being done to maintain it, and it's looking worse and worse," Lutman said.

Kimber Grama and Mary Hamill described standing dead trees, falling limbs, and people using the ponds for fishing — with at least one resident noting an alligator in a large pond. Grama said she has filed a formal complaint with code enforcement; residents asked whether the owner planned to burn debris and said they had been told a one‑time $125 fine had been imposed.

City staff said code enforcement and city management have met repeatedly with the owner and potential lessees. Staff set a May 18 deadline to see meaningful improvement; if progress is not shown, the city said it will involve the county attorney who handled the initial citation. "We've marked a date of May 18 to see some improvement. If we don't see anything, then we will bring the county attorney," staff said.

Police Chief Derek Brewer clarified that the police can only issue trespass warnings and remove trespassers if a property owner has signed a trespass‑warning agreement; he said the agreement, if signed, must be renewed annually and gives the police authority to issue trespass warnings when they encounter people on private property.

Councilmembers urged continued enforcement pressure and recommended citing tall grass immediately when violations are visible. Staff acknowledged the frustration and said they are pursuing legal avenues while trying to verify prospective buyers or lessees before taking further enforcement action.