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Property brings problems for Lealman fire official

Code officers say they found violations on property owned by a suspended Lealman fire commissioner, who faces possible fines.

By ANNE LINDBERG
Published January 25, 2006

LEALMAN - Until he received a letter from county code enforcement last week, suspended fire commissioner John Frank thought he had solved most of his problems.

He had served out his driver's license suspension on a drunk driving charge last year. And he had cut down overgrowth on his property in Lealman to satisfy a code citation.

But the letter, dated Jan. 11, details at least 43 additional violations code officers say they found at property Frank owns at 3837 44th Ave. N.

The alleged violations include such items as defective doors and windows; a leaking, deteriorated roof; torn and missing screens; inadequate, inoperable heating; and improperly maintained sanitary facilities.

A section for comments says that a silver mobile home is "not property maintained with roof, side walls, etc. damaged from overgrown trees. Roof, front porch and sides of trailer are collapsed, rear/side of trailer split apart. Windows are broken. Trailer has not been occupied for some time."

The comments section also describes the appearance of a brown, modular mobile home on the land: "roof damage, i.e., plywood, shingles, fascia, soffits with water damaged, rotting wood, roof caving in."

The walls of the brown mobile home are unpainted, not maintained and windows are missing, the letter alleges.

Frank has until Feb. 13 to fix the property or face possible fines that could go as high as $500 a day until fixed.

But Frank said Monday he may demolish one or both of the structures, rather than do the repairs.

The letter is the latest in a string of problems for Frank that began last spring when he was arrested multiple times for charges of marijuana possession, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and leaving the scene of an accident.

Frank said he has paid much of the fines associated with the arrests. He has gone to court-ordered therapy and is completing his community service.

Later in the year, Frank was also cited for having an overgrown yard and a derelict fence. Those problems have also been fixed for the most part, he said.

Ironically, Frank's attempt to fix up his property last year may have led to the latest charges against him. Cutting down the overgrowth allowed officers to better evaluate the buildings.

Then late last year, Vivian Diane Campbell, who served with Frank on the Lealman Fire Commission, alleged that he did not live in Lealman as required to serve on the board. Using findings made by code officers, Campbell charged that Frank actually lives on property he owns in Pinellas Park.

Frank has always maintained that he lives in Lealman and has never lived in Pinellas Park.

The fire board suspended Frank without pay and referred the issue to the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office. Nothing apparently came of that and Frank said he understands the board's attorney has contacted the Pinellas County sheriff to request a full investigation.

The state attorney did not return a phone message asking for comment.

[Last modified January 25, 2006, 00:55:16]