The Community Development District 8 Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to stop accepting anonymous complaints after an anonymous complaint led to a costly five-and-half-year battle over a little white cross.
Village of Tamarind Grove resident Wayne Anderson was targeted by an anonymous complaint in 2019 and went to court to fight to keep his little white cross. CDD 8 was ultimately forced to award him $70,000. The CDD 8 board also incurred $173,000 in legal fees in its battle with Anderson.
Anderson eventually won election to the board and made ending anonymous complaints a top priority.
Anderson often had contentious exchanges with fellow Supervisor Duane Johnson on the matter. Johnson, who is stepping down from the board after 13 years, finally made his feelings known about the end anonymous complaints. He had been careful not to express his feelings during the years the little white cross matter was in court.
“It’s long, long overdue,” said Johnson, a resident of the Village of St. Charles. “The reason we didn’t make the change because we were in a lawsuit for five and a half years.”
Beginning May 1, anyone wishing to file a deed compliance complaint in CDD 8 will have to give provide a name, phone number, unit and lot number. Complaints will only be accepted by residents of CDD 8.