Marion County is moving to foreclose on a Summerfield property where junk has been piling up for six years, county officials said at a recent commission meeting.

The county attorney said the decision to pursue foreclosure came after repeated cleanup efforts failed to produce lasting results.

“Rather than us continuing periodically to go out and abate the nuisances but then have it show up again — that’s why we’re proceeding with the foreclosure action,” the county attorney said.

A problem six years in the making

The violations date back to 2020, according to county officials. During public comment at the commission meeting, county code enforcement staff said the property owner claims his tenant has refused to remove mobile homes and other items from the property, and that the owner cannot afford to pursue his own legal action.

County staff described the property’s condition as “in a public nuisance condition, which is manifestly injurious to the morals and manners of the people of the community.”

News 6 drove by and saw a mobile home, a couch, and other items n the front yard.

What the county is owed

According to a meeting exhibit presented at the commission meeting, the financial toll has grown significantly over six years:

• Liens and administrative costs: Nearly $34,000
• Interest on two county-performed cleanups: Nearly $2,400
• Back taxes owed by the property owner: More than $10,000
• Assessed property value: More than $13,000

Foreclosure as the final tool

The county attorney said obtaining the title through foreclosure is the only way to permanently resolve the situation.

“We can’t go out and handcuff the tenant and force him to do something,” the county attorney said.

Once the county obtains the title, officials said they can clean up the property for good. The county attorney’s office is expected to file a foreclosure notice in circuit court against the property owner and the individuals living on the property.