Commission approves sheriff's-sale terms aimed at resolving Tropical Gables code case

City attorneys and staff asked the Holly Hill City Commission to approve terms intended to move a long'running code'enforcement case toward resolution by allowing a scheduled sheriff's sale to proceed and defining how sale proceeds would be distributed. City Attorney Scott told commissioners the lien on Tropical Gables had grown to about $346,000 and that a sheriff's sale was set for Sept. 1. "Once the the net sale proceeds to the city get to a 115,000, anything over and above that, we will give back to the owner," Scott said while explaining the proposed agreement meant to incentivize a change of ownership and cleanup.

Commissioners debated risks to the city and the owner'occupants. Commissioner Delanoi described the owner'an elderly woman with health issues'and urged compassion, saying, "She's sick with cancer," and asking the commission to consider a larger reduction in the amount the city would retain. Commissioner Curie, however, said the city must be consistent with past practice for code cases and described the proposal as a step that would lead to redevelopment and remediation. An amendment to set the city's retained amount at $50,000 failed for lack of a second. The original motion to approve staff'recommended terms then passed 3'to'1.

The agreement does not change the underlying judgment amount owed; staff emphasized the action is meant to effect a change of ownership so someone will repair or demolish the property and address safety concerns. Scott warned that the owner could file for bankruptcy, which would impose an automatic stay and halt the sale, and that the city would revisit enforcement options if a new buyer failed to remedy the property.