Council upholds code‑enforcement notice for junked vehicles at 628 Liberty Drive after appellant fails to appear

The Thomasville City Council upheld a Planning Department notice requiring the removal of junked motor vehicles from 628 Liberty Drive after the appellant, Dustin Shilling, failed to appear at the Dec. 9 briefing. Planning and Zoning Administrator Chuck George told the council he had notified Mr. Shilling of a new appeal date 30 days earlier and had not heard from him.

Mr. George said there was "no fine, just the action to remove. However, he could apply a civil penalty of up to $500, if Mr. Shilling doesn't comply." Council Member Neal Grimes said he had "spoken last week saying that you can't really see (the vehicles) anymore, since you put the fence up. And I was leaning a little bit in his direction, but since he has not come to make a request himself, I recommend we uphold the violation." Council Member Doug Hunt seconded the motion, which the minutes record as approved unanimously, "6 - 0." The minutes do not record individual roll‑call votes.

The action the council upheld is an administrative enforcement step by the Planning Department to remove junked vehicles; the minutes note staff may pursue a civil penalty up to $500 if the property owner fails to comply. The council scheduled a public hearing and additional regular business for Dec. 16 but did not reopen this individual appeal at the briefing.

The briefing packet lists the address as 628 Liberty Drive and identifies the enforcement as a notice for "Junked Motor Vehicles." The council did not record any public comments in favor of the appeal at the briefing because no one came forward.

Next steps: the enforcement remains in effect; any penalty application, compliance action timeline or further appeal would be handled by Planning and Zoning staff and recorded at a subsequent meeting or hearing.