A special magistrate revoked a $157,800 code enforcement fine assessed on a Starke property owner after determining that the owner did not receive notice of code violations four years ago.
According to official records, city Code Enforcement Officer Jeff Look reported in July 2020 that Raymond Durban’s property at 400 South Water Street violated city codes with excessive vegetation and an unsafe structure.
Magistrate Laura Gapski gave Durban 30 days to correct the violations before a $100-a-day fine began.
However, during a December 10, 2024, hearing, Durban told Gapski that he never received notice of the 2020 violations and fines.
Code Enforcement Officer Nick Krahl testified at the hearing that the property had been mowed, the structure secured, and Durban had obtained a building permit to begin renovations.
The magistrate wrote in her order revoking the fines, “Aside from the original order imposing the fine, Code Enforcement could not locate any copies of the notices or any paperwork.”
“Because of the lack of notice,” Gapski added, “the 2020 case will be closed without any fines imposed.
The magistrate imposed a $200 fine for similar violations of the property for 2024.
After the meeting, Krahl told the Telegraph that collecting fines is not the city’s primary goal when enforcing its codes.
“We just want to clean up the city,” he said, “and obviously, the best way to do that is through voluntary compliance.”
