OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Ocala Municipal Code Enforcement Board Meeting - February 12, 2026

City Council & Boards — Thursday, February 12, 2026
BodyOcala, Florida
SessionCity Council & Boards
DateThursday, February 12, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 38:01

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Almost over capacity prior.

0:09

Um I got a couple of people that are coming to me.

0:14

Um just affordable housing price and stuff we're in.

0:19

And uh would love to put together another veterans village.

0:24

Uh something like that.

0:26

And um somebody that I've been doing, you know, it doesn't really matter.

0:37

Yeah, I know that.

0:37

Yeah, yeah.

0:40

I always think the same thing.

0:43

It doesn't matter.

0:44

You don't think otherwise numbers?

0:50

All right.

0:51

Oh, they do that count.

0:52

Yeah, that's crazy.

0:54

Right, would you mind doing the sure thing?

0:57

Sure thing.

0:59

All right, you guys ready?

1:00

Yes, sir.

1:02

All right, the municipal code board is now in session.

1:06

Can we please stand, have the invocation and the pledge of allegiance?

1:13

I will lift up mine eyes to the heels from with cometh my help.

1:16

My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.

1:19

Dear God, we come to give you thanks for another day.

1:22

We thank you, oh God, for our city and our officials.

1:24

We pray, oh God, for our country.

1:26

We ask, oh God, that what we do here today will be a light in this community.

1:30

We ask, oh God, that we will always serve thee and that you will bless us individually and collectively.

1:37

It is in Jesus' name I pray.

1:39

Amen.

1:40

Amen.

1:41

I pledge allegiance.

1:46

And to the Republican for which stand one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

1:54

Play ball.

1:57

I don't know if you ball.

2:00

I know, right?

2:03

All right.

2:04

We have um, I guess next on the agenda is the roll call.

2:11

Mr.

2:11

Mike Gartner.

2:12

Here.

2:13

Mr.

2:13

Michael Croider.

2:14

Here.

2:15

This is Shirley Wright.

2:16

Here.

2:17

Mr.

2:17

Darrell O'Kane.

2:18

Here.

2:19

Mr.

2:20

Kevin Steiner.

2:21

Here.

2:21

Mr.

2:22

Eddie Ferrentino.

2:23

Here.

2:23

Mr.

2:24

Bruce Gonseth.

2:25

Here.

2:26

And we have a quorum.

2:27

All right.

2:28

We have proof of publication.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Code Enforcement█████████████████████████████████████████████86%
Procedural█████9%
Affordable Housing███5%
Summary of Proceedings

Ocala Municipal Code Enforcement Board Meeting - February 12, 2026

The Ocala Municipal Code Enforcement Board met on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 5:30 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers. The board addressed multiple code violation cases, including a repeat violator case with a fire-related complication, several uncontested violations, a petition for fine reduction, and a series of consent agenda items for liens and non-compliance hearings. The board also acknowledged the potential reappointment of a member whose application was delayed due to a bad email address.

Discussion Items

  • Case CE26-0061 (City of Ocala vs. George Gerald Cummings): Inspector Rob Moore presented a violation for weeds, trash, and unsanitary matter (Section 34-95) and commercial vehicle/portable containers (Section 122-1193) at 2605 NE 19th Ave. The property was a repeat violator with a previous case closed in November 2025 after compliance. Respondent Jennifer Cummings and George Cummings appeared, explaining that a neighbor's fire on January 31, 2026, had damaged their house and added debris. They acknowledged ongoing cleanup and requested more time. Staff recommended a compliance date of March 19, 2026, with an immediate fine of $250 per day from January 15, 2026 (repeat violator provision), and an additional $250 per day (total $500) if not compliant by March 19. After discussion, the board voted to suspend the retroactive fines until March 19; if not compliant by then, all fines from January 15 would be due and $500 per day would apply thereafter. Motion by Bruce Gonseth, seconded by Shirley Wright. Vote: 5-2 in favor (Eddie Ferrentino and Kevin Steiner opposed).

  • Case CE25-0856 (City vs. Ruben Villanueva): Violations for building permit required and standard housing code at 2750 NW Martin L King Ave. No respondent present. Inspector Stephanie Smith reported only a derelict vehicle was removed. Motion to accept staff recommendation passed unanimously.

  • Case CE25-1147 (City vs. PAPOU LLC): Violations for barbed wire/electrified fences, pool barrier required, and pool barrier specifications at 807 SE 34th Ave. Board clarified the pool barrier code refers to fencing gaps. Motion to pass with staff recommendation passed. Unanimous.

  • Case CE25-1148 (City vs. Jack P. Braswell Estate): Violation for abandoned/derelict vehicle at 2242 NE 3rd St. No respondent. Inspector Jeff Gilbo reported no change after a 30-day continuance. Motion to accept staff recommendation passed unanimously.

  • Case CE25-1238 (City vs. Richard L. Smith): Violation for weeds and trash at 1933 NW 4th St. No respondent. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Case CE26-0006 (City vs. Jeffery D. Vernam Estate): Violation for dangerous building at 1831 NW 26th Pl. No contact. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Case CE26-0012 (City vs. William H. Jones Estate): Violations for dangerous building and weeds at 2709 NE 12th Ct. No contact with stepson. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Case CE25-1302 (City vs. Ellen T. Niely Estate): Violation for weeds at 1676 SW 5th Pl. No contact. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Case CE26-0031 (City vs. Roderick Williams, Senth Brigham, Ruby Reynolds): Violations for dangerous building, barbed wire fence, and weeds at 1926 NW 12th St. Supervisor Jennipher Buller reported the owner wants to sell and is deciding between repair and demolition; no appearance. Motion passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Petition for Fine Reduction (Case CE25-0803, City vs. Rikkeria Brown & Grady Fletcher): Grady Fletcher petitioned to waive $2,500 in daily fines accrued from Jan 2-26, 2026, for a vacant lot at 1300 BLK NW 11th Ave. He stated he recently purchased the property and was unaware of the debris left by the previous owner. Staff recommended a 90% reduction, leaving $250, plus the already-paid hard costs of $219.21. The board voted to reduce fines by 90%, requiring $250 paid within 90 days or the full amount reverts. Motion by Michael Kroitor, seconded by Bruce Gonseth. Passed unanimously.

  • Lien Approvals: The board approved filing liens for outstanding costs on 10 cases: 2024-11733 (Ritha Bien Aime), CE25-0083 (Land Trust No 217S), CE25-0182 (Willie Parker Est), CE25-0184 (William Windell Holmes Est), CE25-0325 (Jeffery D. Vernam Est), CE25-0525 (Carol Lau Est), CE25-0605 (Dorothy C. Lynch), CE25-0685 (Suzanne Enroth Est), CE25-0738 (Michael Anderson Stewart Est), and CE25-0883 (Home Dream Ventures LLC). Passed unanimously.

  • Consent Agenda for Non-Compliance: The board voted to proceed with previous orders for non-compliance on 13 cases: 2023-9930 (Hema Patel), CE25-0169 (Cornell Cox), CE25-0280 (Leonardo Gaskin Jr.), CE25-0760 (Ocala North Property LLC), CE25-0767 (Kevin Snider), CE25-1063 (Catherine Maxwell Est), CE25-1073 (Tex Harrell Est), CE25-1182 (Patriot Homes LLC), ENV25-0226 (Berkshire Oaks Ocala LLC), ENV25-0231 (GP Portfolio Landlord 2 LLC), ENV25-0275 (Burney Coe Et Al), ENV25-0282 (Alexander Toney), and ENV25-0293 (ASL Holdings LLC). Passed unanimously.

  • Next Meeting: Scheduled for March 12, 2026.

Board Comments

  • Member Darrell O'Kain noted his reappointment application was sent to a bad email address and may not be considered in time. He expressed pleasure serving if not reappointed. No other comments were made.

Meeting Transcript

Almost over capacity prior. Um I got a couple of people that are coming to me. Um just affordable housing price and stuff we're in. And uh would love to put together another veterans village. Uh something like that. And um somebody that I've been doing, you know, it doesn't really matter. Yeah, I know that. Yeah, yeah. I always think the same thing. It doesn't matter. You don't think otherwise numbers? All right. Oh, they do that count. Yeah, that's crazy. Right, would you mind doing the sure thing? Sure thing. All right, you guys ready? Yes, sir. All right, the municipal code board is now in session. Can we please stand, have the invocation and the pledge of allegiance? I will lift up mine eyes to the heels from with cometh my help. My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. Dear God, we come to give you thanks for another day. We thank you, oh God, for our city and our officials. We pray, oh God, for our country. We ask, oh God, that what we do here today will be a light in this community. We ask, oh God, that we will always serve thee and that you will bless us individually and collectively. It is in Jesus' name I pray. Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance. And to the Republican for which stand one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Play ball. I don't know if you ball. I know, right? All right. We have um, I guess next on the agenda is the roll call. Mr. Mike Gartner. Here. Mr. Michael Croider. Here. This is Shirley Wright. Here. Mr. Darrell O'Kane. Here. Mr. Kevin Steiner.

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