Sumter County commissioners agreed to forgive $42,275 in code enforcement fines Tuesday night against two Lake Panasoffkee properties that were embroiled for a long time in probate.
They also agreed to give owners Starley and Robert Ray Ard two years to pay $8,679 in staff and attorney costs. Usually, those costs must be paid within 12 months.
A settlement agreement averted a potential lawsuit for the county to seek foreclosure on the properties.
A code enforcement case was opened in March 2021 on a property on County Road 477A. Another case was opened on the second property on County Road 470 in October 2022.
Neither is a homestead property so the county was able to seek foreclosure to recover fines and fees. Both eventually were brought into compliance.
Darlene Ard asked commissioners to forgive the staff and attorney costs.
She said violation notices went to her deceased grandmother and other family members weren’t allowed to make improvements during the probate process.
Commissioner Jeffrey Bogue spoke against forgiving the fines because it appeared homes would not be built on the properties and they would be sold.
County Attorney Jennifer Rey said forgiving the fines, but not the costs, if the properties are brought into compliance.
Commissioners refused to waive the staff and attorney costs, but County Chairman Don Wiley suggested doubling the time for owners to pay them.