Remember the photos? I took them. One of the duties of Code Enforcement is to check for permits on things such as bulkheads being erected and backfilled to increase the size of the property. I kept calling Code Enforcement and the DEP regarding the back hoe in the Bay project, yet they didn't do much of anything after posting the Stop Work Order. Permits were later issued for the remaining lots to build bulkheads, but I guarantee you that they weren't issued to erect the bulkhead out into the water as they did. The deeds for those properties state that the properties go to the water's edge. The bulkhead was built as far as about 12-15 ft out into the water.
The Real Estate Broker and Realtor, who dug the canals on that property off of Lagrange Rd were told by the DEP that they would be fined daily until the land was restored back as it was before their illegal activity. The fines were pricey, something like $1,000 per day. The Realtor's dad is/was a Judge in Okaloosa County, and the fine was removed by the Judge and suddenly everything was "okay," even though the two did nothing else to restore the land as required by the DEP. In the last several months, they have been cleared the land and it appears that they have a guy living on the property in a small RV, maybe acting as security. Gates are always locked now.
I have numerous environmental examples which I can give you where no permits were ever pulled, and illegal activity occurred. Many occurred without Code Enforcement being called until well after the damage had been done. Remember the subdivision adjacent and north of Redfish Village? On a holiday weekend, they plowed right through the water which feeds into Big Redfish Lake, and installed a bridge with culverts.
How about the guy on Oak Av, who recently blazed a path through standing water (before the rains) to cut in a driveway through designated wetlands, without a permit? Stop Work Order was issued, but so much of the damage was already done. I am wondering what it looks like after the 9" of rain we had in the last three days. photo below:
The list goes on, and those are just a couple of the ones which I have seen.
The Real Estate Broker and Realtor, who dug the canals on that property off of Lagrange Rd were told by the DEP that they would be fined daily until the land was restored back as it was before their illegal activity. The fines were pricey, something like $1,000 per day. The Realtor's dad is/was a Judge in Okaloosa County, and the fine was removed by the Judge and suddenly everything was "okay," even though the two did nothing else to restore the land as required by the DEP. In the last several months, they have been cleared the land and it appears that they have a guy living on the property in a small RV, maybe acting as security. Gates are always locked now.
I have numerous environmental examples which I can give you where no permits were ever pulled, and illegal activity occurred. Many occurred without Code Enforcement being called until well after the damage had been done. Remember the subdivision adjacent and north of Redfish Village? On a holiday weekend, they plowed right through the water which feeds into Big Redfish Lake, and installed a bridge with culverts.
How about the guy on Oak Av, who recently blazed a path through standing water (before the rains) to cut in a driveway through designated wetlands, without a permit? Stop Work Order was issued, but so much of the damage was already done. I am wondering what it looks like after the 9" of rain we had in the last three days. photo below:
The list goes on, and those are just a couple of the ones which I have seen.
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(I can't resist, its to easy) The Sheriff refuses to manage the jail, I'm sure he is way above enforcing codes.
