Lady Lake reduces long‑standing code‑enforcement lien on Skyline Hills lot to $5,000

Lori Crane, the town's senior code enforcement officer, told the Town Commission on Feb. 2 that code enforcement case 20‑7631 at Skyline Hills Lot 9 was opened on Aug. 5, 2020 for high grass, junk, brush and two unlicensed vehicles. Crane said the special magistrate imposed a $25 daily fine that accrued until the property reached compliance in August 2025 and that the lien recorded in Lake County totaled $41,550.

Crane told commissioners that the current owner, Dolores Francisco, paid administrative and recording fees and requested a reduction. She said the property is currently appraised at $64,350 and staff recommended, and Magistrate Bills accepted, reducing the lien to $5,000 under Town of Lady Lake Land Development Regulation chapter 1 section 83, which allows reductions to $5,000 or 25% of appraised value, whichever is less. (Twenty‑five percent of the appraisal equals $16,087.)

Commissioners asked about the length of noncompliance and whether the town can abate properties directly. Crane said ownership changes, including a divorce, contributed to the prolonged noncompliance and that the town previously ran an abatement program but currently lacks the funds and staff to hire private contractors for abatement.

Speaker 1 moved to approve the staff recommendation to reduce the lien to $5,000; Speaker 10 seconded. The commission approved the motion by voice vote.

The item concluded with commissioners praising local cleanup efforts in the Skyline Hills area, noting visible improvements to the lot such as a new shed and stairways. The commission did not set any additional enforcement or monitoring action on the record; Crane stated the daily fine had ceased after the property reached compliance in August 2025.