- October 21, 2024
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PALM COAST — In March 2007, the city of Palm Coast began charging fines to the home at 21 Wood Amber Lane, in Palm Coast.
The $100/day fine, which was for litter on the property, grew exponentially to $68,000. The city placed a lien on the home; however, approximately four years later, City Manager Jim Landon and city staff have decided the slash the total fine to $1,000.
Landon told City Council members at the May 10 workshop that at the time when the fine was being dished out, the homeowner was going through cancer treatment. Eventually, the homeowner died, and relatives were living in Poland.
When the relatives finally were able to sell the home, the title company contacted the city, stating the $68,000 in fines and lien would “kill the deal.”
Landon and staff agreed to drop the total fine to $1,000. According to Landon, the cost for the entire process to the city was about $210, and the city wouldn’t take any less than what it cost them. Administrative fees are $150.
The city slashed the fines. City Council member Bill Lewis said the point of the Code Enforcement department isn’t to make money.
“The whole idea is to get the place cleaned up, looking good,” said Lewis, who also has served on Daytona Beach’s Code Enforcement Board. “If reducing the lien was necessary at the end, that’s what you do. The idea is not to make money.”
