Friends and neighbors,
I have a significant update to share — and for the first time in months, it feels like the gears of enforcement are finally turning.
On Friday, March 13th, I received a direct email from William Diaz, Code Enforcement Manager at Lee County's Department of Community Development. Here is what he said:
"Irving has created a case regarding the business operations (metal fabrications) on the property. The abatement method is to immediately cease all operations and remove the business associated items (trailers, containers, equipment, etc.). The case number is VIO2026-01180 and can be monitored for live updates on our public website here: https://aca-prod.accela.com/LEECO/Default.aspx"
"These types of cases are taken very seriously by our staff and the Hearing Examiners. I will keep a close eye on the cases associated with this property to ensure they are sent to Hearing timely.".
This is official, documented confirmation from a Lee County Code Enforcement Manager. Keith Blackwell and Susan Blackwell will be receiving a certified violation notice in the mail demanding that they immediately cease ALL operations and remove all business-associated items from the property — fabrication machines, welders, grinders, containers, trailers, heavy equipment, and all related materials.
You can monitor this case in real time using the county's public portal:
🔗 https://aca-prod.accela.com/LEECO/Default.aspx — search for VIO2026-01180
📍 Where We've Been: The Shell Game That Cancelled the March 10th Hearing
For those who missed my last update — the March 10th Code Enforcement Examiner Hearing was cancelled. Not because the property came into compliance. It was cancelled because the Blackwells transferred ownership of the property into a Trust, which effectively forced the county to restart the violation process under new filings.
This is a textbook delay tactic. And it bought them weeks of continued illegal operation.
As a result of that maneuver, Lee County opened five new violations against the property:
VIO2026-01176 | VIO2026-01177 | VIO2026-01178 | VIO2026-01179 | VIO2026-0118
🎥 Don't Take My Word For It — Watch and Listen
Here is a recent video showing just a glimpse into the evolution of this property from a quiet agricultural parcel into what it is today: 📹 https://youtu.be/VDc1LmePtQc
And here is what spring break week sounds like from my pool deck — because this week, instead of enjoying my family's backyard during spring break, I'm being subjected to Keith Blackwell's crew illegally grinding and cutting metal all day long, right next door: 📹 https://youtube.com/shorts/8yUZZrepGHA
That is not a horse veterinary clinic. That is not storage. That is an illegal industrial metal fabrication operation on AG-2 zoned land — and it has been going on for over 7 months.
What This All Means
Let's be clear about what is happening at 17751 Nalle Rd on any given weekday:
- 5+ work vehicles arriving every morning
- Men in ear muffs welding, cutting, and grinding metal
- Forklifts moving steel and industrial totes
- Tractor trailer deliveries of raw fabrication materials
- A 75-foot crane and unpermitted steel structures on the property
- A black tarp erected the day after an inspector visited — specifically to conceal operations
This is a commercial metal fabrication shop that relocated its industrial business onto agricultural residential land. The name on the LLC — whether it's All Florida Industrial Fabrication or Structural Design & Consulting — doesn't change what is physically happening at that property every single day.
Where We Go From Here
The Examiner Hearing is coming. William Diaz has committed to keeping a close eye on these cases to ensure they move to Hearing on a timely basis. When that hearing is scheduled, I will post the date here immediately.
In the meantime, I formally asked Lee County to:
✅ Carry out unannounced morning inspections before 10:00 AM on weekdays
✅ Daily citations for each day of continued operation in violation of the Stop Work Order
✅ Maximum fines and a permanent cease and desist order at the Examiner Hearing
🙏 Thank You — And Let's Hit 500
We are at 430 signatures and growing. Every signature strengthens our case at the Examiner Hearing and demonstrates to Lee County that this is a community-wide issue — not just one neighbor's complaint.
Our goal is 500 supporters by April. If you haven't shared this petition yet, now is the time. Forward it to neighbors, friends, and anyone who cares about protecting rural communities and enforcing zoning laws.
The Blackwells' shell game bought them a few more weeks. But the violations are on record, the county manager is watching, and the Examiner Hearing is coming.
Truth and accountability will prevail.
#Leviticus19:11 #Ephesians4:25 #Proverbs12:22 #Proverbs19:9 #Proverbs6:16–19 #Psalm101:7
— Matt Angerer (17601 Nalle Rd - Concerned Neighbor)