A Villager who fought to keep his little white cross was awarded $70,000 in a settlement. It was the No. 2 story in 2025 in Villages-News.com.
The Community Development District 8 Board of Supervisors in November voted to settle with Wayne Anderson of the Village of Tamarind Grove.
The battle began in 2019 after an anonymous complaint was lodged about the little white cross on display in his yard. Anderson claimed he was the victim of selective enforcement as other neighbors had little white crosses, but their crosses had not been reported as violations.
Anderson refused to remove his little white cross and waged a court battle with CDD 8 for more than five years. CDD 8 maintained the little white cross was a yard ornament and therefore in violation of the deed restriction.
Last year, Anderson ran for and was elected to a seat on the CDD 8 board.
The board agreed to the $70,000 settlement on the advice of its insurance company. Anderson did not vote on the settlement. The settlement has been paid for through the insurance company.
Anderson had been facing thousands of dollars in fines due to his refusal to remove the little white cross, but those fines were waived as part of the settlement.
The CDD 8 board also incurred $173,000 in legal fees in its battle with Anderson.