Code Enforcement Hearing (2025-01-23)

The City of Wauchula Code Enforcement met for its regularly scheduled hearing on January 23, 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. NEW CASES: 24-191-M Fountain of Life Ministries Inc of Wauchula 501 N 9th Avenue Bergens testified and provided photographic evidence of roof damage and boarded windows. She also stated the building needed to be pressure washed and painted. Mark Cintron – PO Box 1004 Wauchula, FL 33873 – was present to testify. Cintron stated he had been working with the building department on a demo permit and there were some issues with the forms he submitted. Special Magistrate Mitchell gave 60 days (3/24/25) to remedy or a fine would be imposed of $100 per day. 24-187-M Mary Rutland 612 Louisiana Street Bergens testified and presented photographic evidence showing mold inside the home, which was visible on the windows from outside of the house, a door on the porch that needed recovering, and holes in the roof. Mary Rutland was present to answer any questions. Special Magistrate Mitchell found a violation did exist and gave 3 months (4/25/25) to remedy or a fine would be imposed of $100 per day. CERTIFICATION OF FINES / LIENS: 24-091-M Roy A Brown Trustee 125 W Main Street Bergens provided a recap of the case history and stated no work had been done and no permits were pulled. No one was present for this case. Special Magistrate Mitchell’s previous ruling noted a compliance requirement by 9/30/24. Photos from the morning of the hearing showed the property was still not in compliance. Special Magistrate Mitchell found a fine of $100 per day to be appropriate, as well as a lien. OLD CASES: 23-112-M 4:11 Ministries Corp 208 W Orange Street Michael Kincart, attorney for 4:11 Ministries, appeared via Zoom and explained the previous issue regarding the legal description with the City of Wauchula’s property had been remedied however, the surveyor also noticed a similar discrepancy with Jubilee Ministries’ property on the opposite side. Kincart stated the title company was in possession of all the changes and reviewing them, and anticipated being able to close the sale by the end of the following week. Special Magistrate Mitchell asked if there was a timeline for demolition after the closing. Nicole Drake, Friends of the Library, advised they had already received a quote for the demo and appeared before the City of Wauchula’s Historic Preservation Board to approve the demo, and were ready to move forward once the sale was final. Special Magistrate Mitchell found the property to be in violation and gave 3 months (4/25/25) to remedy or a fine would be imposed of $100 per day. PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no additional public comments.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Special Magistrate Mitchell approved November 22, 2024 minutes. With no further business to discuss, Special Magistrate Mitchell adjourned the hearing at 9:55 a.m. Elliott Mitchell, Special Magistrate Stephanie Camacho, City Clerk