County cracks down on property code violations

During a recent Martin County code enforcement hearing, significant violations concerning property maintenance were addressed, leading to compliance orders and potential fines for two property owners.

The first case involved Holly A. Speakman, whose property was found to be in violation of multiple Martin County codes, including nuisance declarations related to trash and inoperable vehicles. Following an inspection on August 27, 2024, a notice of violation was issued, giving Speakman until September 17 to rectify the issues. However, compliance was not achieved, prompting a notice of hearing to be sent on September 27. A follow-up inspection on October 15 revealed that the violations persisted, including an inoperable vehicle and debris around the property. The hearing concluded with an order for Speakman to comply by November 29, 2024, or face a daily fine of $100 for each ongoing violation, alongside a reimbursement of $575 to the county for investigation costs.

In a separate case, Elordis Petit Noel faced similar issues at a property in Palm City. An inspection on August 2, 2024, revealed trash and tall grass, leading to a notice of violation issued on August 6. Despite being given until August 26 to correct the violations, no action was taken. A follow-up inspection on October 15 confirmed that the issues remained unresolved. The hearing resulted in an order for Petit Noel to comply by November 29, 2024, with the same potential fines and reimbursement of investigation costs as in Speakman’s case.

Additionally, the hearing included discussions on fine reduction requests from Republic Consumer Lending Group Inc. for properties in Tequesta, where the county acknowledged that compliance had been achieved through condemnation. The group agreed to pay reduced amounts of $20,857.50 and $31,467.50 to settle outstanding fines for separate violations, which will be forwarded to the county commission for approval.

The hearings underscored the county's commitment to maintaining property standards and ensuring compliance with local ordinances, with strict penalties for non-compliance.