Article Courtesy of The
Palm Beach Post
By Bill DiPaolo
Published August 25, 2017
A
lawsuit filed against Jupiter Police Chief Frank Kitzerow, who owed about $1,600
in homeowner association fees, has been settled, according to Palm Beach County
Court records.
The homeowner’s association lawsuit against Kitzerow also asked for attorney,
accrued interest and other fees. That brings the total Kitzerow was told to pay
to about $2,300, according to the lawsuit filed April 19.
Kitzerow, who has been police chief in
Jupiter since 2005, did not respond to a request for
comment.
He supervises a department of about 116 sworn officers and
is paid about $147,000 annually. The annual Jupiter police
budget is about $20 million.
Kitzerow acknowledged he is behind on the assessments when
asked about the lawsuit last May. He said he was working
with homeowner’s association officials. The monthly
assessment is about $516 a month.
“I’m confident we can reach an agreement on how I will make
the payments,” Kitzerow told The Palm Beach Post.
Kitzerow said heavy rains in January 2016 caused extensive
water damage to roof, kitchen, floor and ceiling of his
house. Mold remediation also had to be done on the inside of
the house, he added.
When homeowners do not pay HOA fees, Florida law allows for
associations — just like banks when owners fault on
mortgages — to place liens on the property that lead to
foreclosure.
The association’s right to foreclose has nothing to do with
whether the homeowner is current on mortgage payments.
Florida homeowners up to date on their mortgage could still
be foreclosed on if they are late with homeowner’s
association fees, according to Florida law.
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Jupiter Police Chief Frank
Kitzerow
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