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Property owner fined $150 after backflow device violation at Guava Drive
Summary
The special magistrate found Gary Warnock’s property at 1955 Guava Drive in violation for a buried backflow device, assessed a $150 citation and recorded compliance after the device was raised and reinspected.
The City of Edgewater’s code enforcement officer reported that a backflow prevention device at 1955 Guava Drive was installed below grade instead of being 12 inches above ground as required, leading to a code citation. Code Enforcement Officer Jacob McLaughlin told the magistrate the device was identified on a December list of commercial properties failing inspection; after a notice and a citation was posted, owner Gary Warnock initially declined to remedy the installation and said, according to testimony, “see you in court.”
Mr. Warnock later returned to the department and presented photographs showing he had excavated a hole under the device. He told staff he did the work himself and was concerned about accessibility for maintenance. McLaughlin said the department told him the device still did not meet the requirement and that the device must be raised 12 inches above grade. On Jan. 9 Mr. Warnock informed Public Works that repairs were completed; a Jan. 13 reinspection verified compliance.
Because the property was brought into compliance before the hearing, the magistrate found the respondent in violation but assessed a $150 citation and ordered no daily fines or liens. The city cited chapter 10, article 27 and referenced the Florida Administrative Code as adopted by the utilities department as the regulatory basis for the height requirement.
What happens next: The citation amount is due per the hearing order; because the device is in compliance, no further enforcement action was recommended by staff.
