Levy County magistrate orders compliance deadlines, quantifies fines in multiple code-enforcement cases

The Levy County special magistrate held a series of code-enforcement hearings addressing unpermitted structures, junk accumulation and unregistered vehicles at properties in and around Williston. The magistrate found violations in several cases, set deadlines for remediation and quantified fines to begin if owners do not comply.

Bradley Frazier, a Levy County code-enforcement officer, presented evidence in multiple cases including photographs and notices. In case 20260023 involving Mario Lopez Aguilar, Frazier described two backyard structures built without a permit and said certified notice had been returned unsigned. Edwin Dix, who said he was a builder speaking for the contractor, told the magistrate an out-of-town engineer would prepare plans and asked for more time. The magistrate found a violation and ordered the work corrected within 45 days, warning that a $100-per-day fine could be imposed if the violation is not cured.

In case 20260024, involving property owner David Knutson at 6751 Northeast 112th Avenue, Frazier documented a mix of trash and three unregistered or unserviceable vehicles. Knutson said crews had removed much of the trash and asked for 30 days to complete cleanup. The magistrate found violations of code sections 34-40 (accumulation of junk) and 34-41 (unserviceable/unregistered vehicles), allowed 30 days to remedy and set fines to start at $50 per day for each violation if the property is not brought into compliance.

The magistrate also heard a compliance matter for Duane/Dwayne Dietrich (case 20250049). Frazier said prior orders remained in place and that photographs showed additional RVs had been brought to the property. Dietrich described caring for an injured person on the property, said others continued to bring items onto the land, and asked for an extended cure period. The magistrate found ongoing violations, quantified fines for earlier noncompliance, allowed 60 days to cure the most recent additions and recommended the board consider a county-facilitated cleanup if necessary.

Dave Benton, Levy County code-enforcement manager, presented a compliance review for Candy Jennings (case 20260005, 19037 NE 31st Place). Benton said photographs suggested the property had improved but that an unpermitted structure remained; he explained that engineered plans and zoning and building approvals would be required to obtain a permit. The magistrate shortened the cure period for the unpermitted structure to 30 days and quantified $50-per-day fines for the remaining violations, to be reflected in the written order.

In another new-violation case (20260022) involving Bruce and Laurie (name variants in the file), Frazier documented trash across the property and two RVs that he believed belonged to the owner and were not, by themselves, violations. The magistrate found the junk accumulation in violation of section 34-40, allowed 15 days for correction and stated a $100-per-day fine would begin if the conditions persisted.

Finally, in compliance case 20260012 (Anne Beckman and Dijon Maxwell), the magistrate applied public-nuisance language (code section 34-33) in addition to other sections after finding an unlivable structure, scattered trash and an RV occupied by a squatter. The magistrate determined three violations continued to exist and quantified fines at $100 per day per violation commencing April 17; he also asked that the county commission consider a cleanup recommendation.

"If these matters are not cured within the time ordered, fines will begin to accrue," the magistrate said when issuing several orders. Frazier and Benton told the magistrate they would continue to document property conditions and coordinate with owners and, when appropriate, with other county departments. Local publisher Jeff Hardison offered a brief public comment thanking law-administration staff for recognizing the press.

Next steps: each order will be issued in writing with the quantified fines and cure dates, and several matters were referred back to code enforcement for monitoring; the magistrate recommended county cleanup in repeat noncompliance cases and suggested owners seek law-enforcement assistance if unauthorized persons are dumping on private property.