Former code board chairman denied reappointment; code board member quits in protest

By Jeff Waters, Democrat Reporter

July 10, 2009 05:10 pm

— The former chairman of the Suwannee County Code Enforcement Board, himself suspended for code violations, was denied reappointment to the board by county commissioners Tuesday. Another code enforcement board member resigned in protest.
Tim Alcorn failed to obtain the required yearly permitting for a mobile home that he owns, and moved the home onto his property before obtaining a building permit, the county code compliance officer said. Alcorn was first cited Dec. 17, 2008.
Alcorn has since corrected the infractions, and requested reappointment to the board at the commission meeting Tuesday morning. The request was denied by a 3-2 vote with commissioners Billy Maxwell and Douglas Udell in favor of reappointment.
"He knowingly violated codes and sat in judgment of others," Commission Chairman Jesse Caruthers said at the meeting.
Commissioner Wesley Wainwright also objected to Alcorn’s reappointment.
"It's an element of representation," said Wainwright. "I just don't think that's a good example for the chairman of the code enforcement board to reflect."
Commissioner Douglas Udell said denying Alcorn's reappointment was unjust because he had corrected his violations.
"If one has cleared himself and made amends of his transgressions it could not be made against him continually," said Udell.
The vote angered at least one spectator in the gallery.
Code enforcement board member Bobby Brickles resigned in protest of the action.
"I can assure you before the next meeting you're going to have more (resignations)," Brickles told commissioners. "I think it's wrong."