Ocala Contractors Board and Code Enforcement Board Meeting - July 9, 2026

On July 9, 2026, the City of Ocala convened its Contractors Board of Examiners and Appeals, followed by the Code Enforcement Board. Proof of publication for the hearing was dated July 1, 2026. Board members present included Mike Gartner, Michael Croyer, Shirley Wright, Darrell O'Kane, Kevin Steiner, Bruce Gonseth, and alternate Charles Hannah; Eddie Ferrentino arrived later in the meeting. Chief Code Official Dale Hollingsworth presented cases involving unpermitted contracting work, dangerous buildings, weeds and trash accumulations, derelict vehicles, and zoning violations. The boards issued findings, imposed or waived fines, and set compliance deadlines of August 13, 2026, for most cases and September 10, 2026, for one case.

Contractors Board: CON26-0007, City of Ocala vs. Alan Curry Plumbing

• Violation: Section 22151(A)(12) — proceeding with or completing contracting work requiring a permit without the permit in place, at 4306 NW 29th Lane.
• Facts: The case opened June 24, 2026, after permit staff reported completed plumbing work (add water and drain for an RV spot, including approximately 60 feet of 3/4-inch drain) while the associated permit remained in review. Plumbing permit PLM 26-0212 was applied for by Alan Curry Plumbing on June 5, 2026, but was still unissued as of approximately 3 p.m. on the hearing date.
• Testimony: James Curry, representing Alan Curry Plumbing, stated the company assumed a blanket/master permit covered the job, applied for the permit on the same day work began, and performed no further work after learning no permit was in place. He requested a continuance because his son, who runs operations, was on vacation.
• City testimony: Building inspector Greg McClellan explained that subcontractors must be listed under a general contractor's single permit. The city acknowledged Curry's corrective efforts and recommended a $150 fine plus $168.54 in prosecution costs.
• Board action: The board declined the continuance request and found the violation. On a motion to waive the $150 penalty and retain only the $168.54 prosecution cost (citing the additional double permit fee Curry will pay), the board voted unanimously in favor.

Code Enforcement Board: Consent Calendar

• Minutes of the June 11, 2026, meeting were approved as amended, after Mike Gartner's amendment removed his chairperson title from the excluded section. The vote was unanimous.

Old Business: Compliance and Extension Hearings

• CE26-0318 (City vs. George J. McAllister II, 2505 NW Old Blitchton Road): Representative Tara Morgan Johnson testified that the property had been cleared and presented photos. Staff recommended, and the board unanimously granted, a new order extending the compliance date to August 13, 2026.
• CE25-1101 (City vs. Priest Family Trust / Wayne's World of Paintball, 4841 S Pine Avenue): Staff reported significant cleanup progress and requested another 30 days. The board unanimously extended the compliance date to August 13, 2026.
• 2022-7517 and COM-171069 (Golden Palms, 3767 NW Blitchton Road): Staff reported that a complete renovation had resolved violations dating to 2017 and 2022, with fines totaling just over $2.4 million. Staff and property representative Fred Roberts agreed to reduce the fines to $100,000 ($50,000 per case), payable by August 13, 2026. The board approved unanimously.
• CE26-0150 (Catherine Acosta): A building permit applied for April 2, 2026, remained in review with outstanding corrections. Design professional Anthony Mella testified that revised plans would be submitted by the following Monday and that city plan review typically takes less than a week. The board unanimously extended compliance to August 13, 2026.
• CE26-0304 (City vs. Power and Three Properties LLC, 3108 NW 16th Place): With no representative attending, staff requested, and the board unanimously granted, an extension to August 13, 2026.

New Business: Violation Hearings

• CE26-0139 (City vs. Waste Pro Ocala MRF LLC, 3621 NW 10th Street): Inspector Osias Ferrera testified that a wall damaged by accumulated garbage had been repaired without the required building permit, despite an engineer's letter attesting to code compliance. Waste Pro representatives Josh McMines and Frank Clemley stated the company relied on contractor Rick Wilcox, whose invoice said including City of Ocala permit. A permit number (BLD-26-1471) provided that day appeared valid but in review. The board found the violation and adopted the staff recommendation unanimously.
• CE26-0400 (City vs. Inez Rushing Estate, 2021 NW First Street): Inspector Steven Knight testified that trash was cleaned up but roof tarps remained. Katrina Thomas, the deceased owner's daughter, described financial hardship, a pending disability claim, and a family dispute over the property's title, and said her legal aid representative had died the prior week. A board member stated he saw no clear path forward because the property was not legally in her name. The board found the violation and adopted the staff recommendation unanimously.
• CE26-0342 (City vs. Alexander Hunter Blanchett and Orlando de Jesus, 311 NW 21st Street): Inspector Stephanie Smith testified that an RV was occupied on a vacant R2-zoned lot and no permits were on file. Orlando de Jesus testified he had lived there for 2.5 years, had demolished an old mobile home at a cost of $6,600, and planned to replace it with a manufactured home. The board unanimously granted an extension to September 10, 2026.
• Consent agenda cases: The board unanimously adopted staff recommendations (guilty findings with an August 13, 2026, compliance date) for: 2023-9225 (Malik LLC, 1650 NW 7th Street, including a $50-per-day per-violation fine if not in compliance); CE26-0062 (S4 Properties LLC, 2240 N Pine Avenue); CE26-0261 (LHL Company LLC, 2806 W Silver Springs Boulevard); CE26-0409 (Darius Emilito, 2108 SW 6th Street); CE26-0465 (Lamatima Thomas, 2000 block NW 6th Terrace); CE26-0468 (17 NW 6th Terrace); CE26-0624 (Robert M. McGrogan, repeat violator, 3508 SE 6th Street); ENV26-0150 (2221 SE Third Avenue); ENV26-0177 (Jedco Ocala LLC, 2010 SW College Road); and ENV26-0187 (DMV FH Subs LLC, 4905 E Silver Springs Boulevard).

Key Outcomes

• CON26-0007: Guilty finding; $150 fine waived; $168.54 prosecution costs assessed against Alan Curry Plumbing.
• Golden Palms (2022-7517/COM-171069): Fines reduced from just over $2.4 million to $100,000 total ($50,000 per case), due August 13, 2026.
• Compliance deadlines: August 13, 2026, for CE26-0318, CE25-1101, CE26-0150, CE26-0304, and all consent-agenda violation cases; September 10, 2026, for CE26-0342.
• Consent agenda for non-compliance: The board accepted the four non-compliance cases (CE26-0137, CE26-0175, CE26-0293, ENV26-0204) as consent items, finding proper notice and continuing non-compliance.
• Record: The board unanimously accepted all evidence, testimony, and presentations into the record, after which the city rested.