Fort Pierce special magistrate orders repairs, fines and one vacated judgment after April 9 hearing

Jamie Barrow, the special magistrate for the City of Fort Pierce, on April 9, 2025, found violations and issued orders requiring repairs, permit actions or payments for a series of properties and businesses, and granted one motion to vacate a prior order.

The magistrate opened the hearing by outlining the process and admitted city evidence including photographs and notice packets submitted by code officers. Heather De Bevec, a city code officer, presented multiple cases and photographs. For respondents present, the magistrate heard brief statements from property representatives before issuing written orders including compliance timeframes, daily fines for noncompliance and appeal periods.

Why it matters: The rulings affect multiple commercial and vacant properties along U.S. Highway 1 and elsewhere in Fort Pierce; orders include deadlines to obtain certificates of use or to perform repairs, and the city warned that utilities can be suspended for continued operation without required permits.

City judge issues business compliance orders

In case CE2025-352840 for 2840 South U.S. Highway 1 (Liquor World 2), Heather De Bevec told the magistrate the business had been cited for "22-20 subsection a certificate of use required" and provided photographs dated Jan. 17 and April 7. Virendra Patel, who identified himself at the podium, told the…