2020-11-05 Items VI.C & VI.DCITY OF OKEECHOBEE
55 SE THIRD AVENUE
OKEECHOBEE, FL 34974
Phone: (863)763-3372
www. cityofokeechobee. con?
To: City Council Members
From: Robert Peterson, Chief of Police
Carlyn Kowalsky, Assistant City Attorney
Subject: Code Enforcement Matters
Date: October 28, 2020
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VV1s VI.0
Okeechobee City Council
Mayor Dowling R. Watford, Jr. ,
Wes Abney
Monica Clark
Bob Jarriel
Bobby Keefe
The following code enforcement matters are presented for consideration by the City
Council.
1. South Florida Barbeque of Okeechobee, Inc., 102 Southwest 14tn
Street, Okeechobee, Florida (Case No. 190412010). In June 2019 Magistrate Azcona
issued a Lien/Order in finding the property out of compliance and finding that penalties
would accrue until the property came into compliance. The property continues to be in
violation of the City Code of Ordinances. The building on the property is vacant, and
has vagrants living in the patio portion of the building. The City sent a letter in February
2020 notifying the property owner that fines have been accruing for more than 90-days
and the property was at risk for foreclosure. The City notified the property owner of
the Code Enforcement hearing on October 21, 2020 by certified mail and received a
return receipt. No one attended the Code Enforcement hearing on behalf of South
Florida Barbeque. Special Magistrate Azcona found that the property remains in
violation of the City Code and International Property Maintenance Code and
recommended that the City proceed with foreclosure of the property. As of October 28,
2020, the accrued penalty is $14,550.
2. Kemp Properties, of Okeechobee, 909 South Parrott Avenue,
Okeechobee, Florida (Case No. 190411010). In August 2019 Magistrate Azcona issued
a Lien/Order finding the property out of compliance and finding that penalties would
accrue until the property came into compliance. The property continues to be in
violation of the City Code of Ordinances. The City sent a letter on August 6, 2020,
notifying the property owner that the fines have been accruing for more than 90-days
and the property was at risk of foreclosure. As of September 30, 2020, the accrued
penalty was $18,725.00.
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Mr. Benjamin Purvis, son of Brenda Kemp attended the Code Enforcement hearing on
October 21, 2020 and asked for time to bring the property into compliance.
Special Magistrate Azcona found that the property continues to be in violation of the
City Code and directed Mr. Purvis to take action to bring the property into compliance.
If Mr. Purvis is unable to show progress toward compliance by the November 5, 2020,
City Council meeting, the Magistrate recommended that the City proceed with
foreclosure of the property.
If progress is made on bringing the property into compliance, staff recommends that
the City not proceed with foreclosure at this time and remand the matter back to the
Special Magistrate to determine the amount of penalties due.
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