Magistrate upholds $5,175 in fines but finds 6811 Thomas Drive in compliance

A Bay County magistrate on July 9 found that the parcel at 6811 Thomas Drive, which had earlier been found in violation of Bay County Code §17-2 for an unsafe balcony and related issues, is now in compliance for the matters covered by the June 19, 2024 order, but imposed assessed costs totaling $5,175.

Investigator Robert Clarkson reviewed the case history, photographs and permit activity dating back to 2024; Clarkson said the owner had previously been ordered to comply and that fines began accruing July 21, 2024. Owner Vitali Shalkowski explained hurricane and insurance-related delays and said he had worked on the roof and other repairs with limited funds.

Magistrate Bill Lewis said the record supported finding the earlier violation and imposed the identified fines and costs, which he ordered recorded as liens on the respondent’s real and personal property in Bay County under the Uniform Assessment Collection Act and Chapter 21 of the Bay County Code. Lewis noted that compliance had been achieved for the items addressed in the prior order and that collection procedures would follow recorded processes.

A compliance order will be recorded in public records and the owner was given instructions for contacting code enforcement about further progress.