Fort Pierce special magistrate reduces liens, stays fines and grants permit extensions across multiple code-enforcement cases

At a Fort Pierce special magistrate hearing, Special Magistrate Alexander Guttner resolved a slate of code-enforcement matters involving residential and commercial properties, ordering lien reductions to administrative costs in several cases, stays on the accrual of fines while permits are renewed or work is completed, and time extensions for owners to obtain permits or pursue demolition.

The reductions and deadlines affect properties across Fort Pierce and included negotiated settlements with property owners and managing agents. The most immediate outcomes were reductions of recorded liens to administrative-cost amounts if paid within specified windows, or reversion to the original lien amounts if not paid. Several property owners were given 60 or 90 days to obtain permits and call for reinspections; one owner was allowed up to six months to pay a reduced administrative amount.

Staff presentations identified the code provisions at issue and recommended outcomes. Frank Remling, an investigator/inspector for the City of Fort Pierce, introduced the case against SP Pine Creek Village LP and described the violations and recommended compliance schedule: "This case came to me as a complaint," Remling said, listing required repairs and recommending 60 days to pull permits or a fine of $100 per day. Special Magistrate Alexander Guttner found violations in that and multiple other matters and ordered owners to obtain permits and comply with inspections within the deadlines the magistrate set.

Votes at a glance - Case 24-262 / 2831 Reynolds Drive (Sataya Group LLC) — Pool lien reduced from $25,140 to administrative costs of $1,753.65, payable within 30 days; lien reverts to original amount if unpaid. Special Magistrate Alexander Guttner: "the amount stated, dollars 1,753.65 will be the amount that both parties have agreed and, it is payable in 30 days." (30-day right to appeal.) - Case 24-607 / 2831 Reynolds Drive (Sataya Group LLC) — Spa lien reduced from $18,340 to $1,105.95, payable within 30 days; lien reverts if unpaid. (30-day right to appeal.) - Case BV2025-00013 / 1205 N 20th St Unit 65 (SP Pine Creek Village LP) — Violations found (kitchen refrigeration, shower valve, electrical receptacles); owner/manager given 60 days to obtain permits and inspections or face $100/day fines; reinspection requested by owner management. - Case BV2025-00021 / 705 S 20th St Unit 3B (Orange Apartments LLC) — Violations found (windows, roof, interior surfaces, water heater); owner/management given 60 days to obtain permits and complete work; inspector entered photos as city's exhibit. - Case BV2025-00023 / 505 S 20 5th St (505 South 20 Fifth Street LLC) — Permit-required violations for roof/windows/doors; owner absent; magistrate found violation exists and gave 60 days to obtain permits and begin compliance. - Case BV2025-00025 / 804 N 19th St (Voice of Truth Tabernacle Inc.) — Multiple exterior, roofing, sanitary, and electrical violations; owner (Pastor Terry Ingram) told structure must be repaired or demolished; 60 days to obtain permits or demolish/repair, or $100/day fine will accrue. - Case 22-2605 / 2509 Avenue N Unit A (Sandra M. Alexander & Charles E. Bryant Estate) — Fines accrued to $6,330; staff recommended and magistrate ordered reduction to administrative costs $1,176.85; owner requested 90 days to pay; order includes reversion to original amount if unpaid after the extension. - Case 23-3063 / 510 N 1st St Apt B (Natasha Safi) — Fines accrued to $4,340; magistrate reduced fines to administrative costs of $1,497.80; owner provided documentation and said many violations were caused by an evicted tenant. - Case 24-4 / 1123 Pine Ave (Hector Ramirez & Yolanda Moreno Santiago) — Extension request for drainage/engineer plans; staff recommended staying accrual of fines for 60 days to allow permitting or demolition permit filing. - Case 24-668 / 3224 S US Highway 1 (Saint Mary's Hospitality Group LLC) — Permit renewal in progress; subcontractor insurance expired and must be updated; magistrate stayed accrual of fines for 30 days to allow renewal and closeout; owner/contractor anticipates resolving insurance by the week. - Case 23-2055 / 1704 Rio Vista Drive (Jacqueline Peters) — Jet-ski-lift/permit matter; fines of $5,650 accrued during permit expiration period. Staff recommended reduction to administrative costs of $1,513.45; magistrate granted a payment extension up to six months (maximum allowed) or reversion to original amount if unpaid. - Case 24-438 / 308 Hernando Street (Joyce A. Cohen Kroll, call-in) — Owner provided an engineering report and requested more time to obtain bids and a permit; magistrate granted a 90-day extension to apply for the permit.

What the orders mean for owners and managers City staff repeatedly told the magistrate that permits had expired or were incomplete in several matters; staff's standard recommendation was 60 days to obtain permits and to call for inspections every 180 days until final inspection, or to face fines of $100 per day for noncompliance. In cases where lien reductions were negotiated (2831 Reynolds Drive), the reductions were to the city's calculated administrative cost with a fixed payment window; failure to pay within the window causes the lien to revert to the original higher amount. Owners retain a 30-day right to appeal in most matters.

Owners and representatives who spoke described delays caused by contractors, permit-renewal timing, subcontractor insurance lapses, vandalism and theft, engineering-drawing delays, and supply-chain issues. Pastor Terry Ingram, representing Voice of Truth Tabernacle Inc., said the property "has been a victim of vandalism" and explained the church prioritized repairs to an adjacent edifice. Owner Jacqueline Peters described health and financial hardships and logistical delays that contributed to the permit timeline.

Procedural notes City staff introduced photographic evidence in multiple matters and the magistrate entered city exhibits into the record. Where a property owner or their representative was absent, the magistrate proceeded to read the staff report and enter the finding that violations existed with the standard compliance timeline. Several matters were continued only insofar as accrual of fines was stayed while permit renewals or insurance updates were processed.

Next steps Owners were instructed to contact city permitting staff (permit technicians and Elizabeth Beck were cited in the hearing) to schedule reinspections and to submit required documentation. Where payments were ordered to reduce liens, the orders note the payee is the City of Fort Pierce and the reduced amounts must be paid within the window specified in each order to prevent reversion to the original lien amount. Each order includes the statutory 30-day right to appeal.

Ending The magistrate concluded the docket after entering the listed findings and remands and reminding parties of appeal rights and payment deadlines.