Code Enforcement Hearing

The City of Wauchula Code Enforcement met for its regularly scheduled hearing on February 27, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. Special Magistrate Elliott Mitchell called the hearing to order and administered the oath to those testifying. City staff present at the hearing were Code Enforcement Officer Raina Bergens and City Clerk Stephanie Camacho. Additional attendees present for all cases listed on this agenda: Roy Brown – property owner Jacob Stinton – contractor for Roy Brown Sam Brown-Parks – daughter of Roy Brown (appeared via Zoom) Andrea Milheizler – daughter of Roy Brown (appeared via Zoom) Tom Fisher – Hardee County Building Official Milheizler stated she and Brown-Parks have stepped in to help with the code enforcement issues on these properties and had been in contact with Bergens to get a list of all violations that needed to be addressed. Brown-Parks stated there was a lot of confusion about what was going on and the extent of the issues. Mitchell advised Milheizler and Brown-Parks that he had seen cases on Mr. Brown’s properties on a regular basis for the last several years, and that Brown does not take responsibility for the violations. Mitchell also stated that Brown appears to be the person in control of these properties. Mitchell stated that, if there was a power of attorney in place and Brown was not the one handling these issues, he could take that into consideration. Mitchell stated there needed to be a clear path forward in order for anything to change. Milheizler requested a bullet point list of everything that needed to be done at each property and asked for a 30-day extension to come up with a plan on how to get them into compliance. PROCEED WITH LIEN FORECLOSURE: 23-170-M Roy A Brown 121 W Main Street Bergens stated the property was not in compliance and the City was ready to proceed with foreclosure. Brown claimed he had a permit to start work on this property. Mitchell stated the City received an email from the Hardee County Building Department the morning of this hearing stating there were no permit applications for any of the addresses on the agenda. Fisher confirmed there were no open permits. Mitchell reiterated the violation on this property and photographs showed no work had been done. Special Magistrate Mitchell continued this case to the March hearing to allow time for a plan to be developed. 23-175-M Roy A Brown 126 E Townsend Street Photographs showed substantial issues with the property. Brown stated, for the record, there were more fines than the property was worth. Special Magistrate Mitchell continued this case to the March hearing to allow time for a plan to be developed. OLD CASES: The following properties were presented for the purpose of providing status updates for Milheizler and Brown-Parks. 24-078-M Roy A Brown Trustee 715 S 6th Avenue Bergens stated a tree had fallen, causing damage to portions of the fence. Bergens stated tarps were put up, also that some work had been done but there were still sections that needed to be repaired. There was a current lien on this property in the amount of $18,100. 24-079-L Roy A Brown Trustee 715 S 6th Avenue Bergens confirmed the tree had been cut down but stated the property needed to be mowed and maintained according to the City’s ordinance. There was a current lien on this property in the amount of $9,100. 24-091-M Roy A Brown 125 W Main Street * This is the same building as 121 W Main St however there are separate parcel IDs/addresses listed on property appraiser. * Bergens stated this property had the same code violations as case number 23-170-M for 121 W Main St. There was a current lien on this property. PUBLIC COMMENTS No additional public comments were presented. APPROVAL OF JANUARY 23, 2025 MINUTES Special Magistrate Mitchell approved the minutes. With no further business to discuss, Special Magistrate Mitchell adjourned the hearing at 10:18 a.m. Elliott Mitchell, Special Magistrate Stephanie Camacho, City Clerk