Special magistrate orders multiple Fort Pierce property owners to fix code violations, sets deadlines and fines

Special Magistrate Jamie Barrow ordered multiple property owners and vehicle owners in Fort Pierce to correct code violations and nuisance conditions in a hearing on June 4, 2025, setting deadlines that range from seven to 60 days and prescribing daily fines for failures to comply.

The orders addressed parking and citation appeals, nonoperable vehicles, lot-clearing and landscaping violations, and exterior-structure and accessory-structure repairs. The rulings affect individual residents and business owners and require some property owners to obtain permits or apply for building permits before work begins.

Barrow opened the hearing by explaining the process and then heard evidence from city code-enforcement officers and statements from respondents. The magistrate repeatedly found that violations existed and set deadlines tied to the notices of violation and the city’s nuisance-abatement procedures.

Among the most urgent orders, Barrow gave seven days for property owners to cut grass, trim landscaping and remove trash in several lot-clearing cases. The magistrate ordered 7-day deadlines in cases including LotClearing 2025-68 (805 Texas Court), LotClearing 2025-704 (534 South Fifth Street), LotClearing 2025-95 (1411 Avenue M) and LTCL 2025-88 (North 20 Fifth Street). For each of those cases the magistrate warned that a failure to comply would trigger city abatement and a $100-per-day fine, with the costs to be assessed to the property and a 30-day window to appeal.

Barrow also ordered a 15-day deadline for MJG Investments LLC at 625 South U.S. Highway 1 (case CE2025-133) to remove old business signage, clear weeds, remove window shutters and obtain any necessary permits. The magistrate said failure to comply would result in a $250-per-day fine and left a 30-day appeal period.

In a property-repair case at 2402 Oleander Boulevard (CE2025-111), involving Nicholas and Pamela Kapsis, Barrow found multiple International Property Maintenance Code violations (for exterior structure, windows and doors, protective treatment, address identification, and roofs and drainage). Because the owner had applied for a shed-removal and debris-removal permit, the magistrate gave 45 days to complete specified repairs — including pressure washing and painting, repairing or replacing siding and windows, and fixing the shed roof — and warned of a $100-per-day fine for noncompliance. The magistrate also advised the respondent he had 30 days to appeal.

Several nonoperable-vehicle cases at 1002 Hickory Street involving owner listings for the Lizzie M. Duncan estate and resident Maddie C. Smith resulted in 30-day orders to make vehicles road‑worthy or remove them. In NonOp2025-115 the magistrate ordered the white Chrysler PT Cruiser made road‑safe and legal within 30 days or the city would pursue abatement measures, including towing; the property owner was told she had 30 days to appeal.

In a parking citation appeal at JC Park (PK2025-124), the magistrate found that Arthur Burgess had parked improperly but reduced the sanction. Barrow said a violation was proven and ordered payment of the $10 administrative fee but declined to impose the full recommended fine given the short duration Burgess said he was parked. The magistrate told Burgess that failure to pay within 15 days would cause the matter to be forwarded to county court, where the fine could rise to the full $60; Burgess was advised he had 30 days to appeal.

Other orders included a 30‑day direction to Antonio Tyrone McArthur, representing the Joan Stevenson estate at 2404 Oleander Boulevard, to remove fallen trees and debris after a complaint; failure to comply would bring a $100-per-day fine. In a related code-enforcement case at the same address (CE2025-108), Barrow extended a 60-day compliance window for a broader set of repairs — storing waste bins to the side or rear, repairing a fence and cement planter, replacing rotting wood and a broken window, and obtaining permits — and set a $250-per-day fine for noncompliance.

The magistrate emphasized the availability of the building department’s permit periods and suggested respondents check with the city’s grants office for possible assistance when permit work is required. For cases that require hearing notices under state law, the magistrate read the city’s mailing and posting procedures, referencing state statute 162.12.

The hearing concluded after the magistrate read a set of cases found to be in compliance or rescheduled and adjourned the session.

Cases and orders at a glance

- PK2025-124 (JC Park) — Respondent: Arthur Burgess. Finding: violation proved for improper parking (Code Sec. 30-4-301(a)). Order: pay $10 administrative fee; failure to pay within 15 days will forward case to county court (possible $60 fine). 30 days to appeal.

- CE2025-111 (2402 Oleander Blvd) — Respondents: Nicholas and Pamela Kapsis. Finding: multiple IPMC violations (304.1, 304.13, 304.2, 304.3, 304.7). Order: 45 days to pressure wash/paint, repair/replace siding, windows and shed roof; obtain permits where required. Failure: $100/day. 30 days to appeal.

- NONOP2025-115 (1002 Hickory St) — Owner: Lizzie M. Duncan estate; occupant: Maddie C. Smith. Finding: nonoperable-vehicle nuisance (24-19). Order: 30 days to make the white Chrysler PT Cruiser road safe and legal or remove it; city may abate and tow; 30 days to appeal.

- NONOP2025-108 (1002 Hickory St) — Same owners. Finding and order mirror NONOP2025-115: 30 days to make vehicles legally operable; city abatement/costs if not complied with; 30 days to appeal.

- CE2020-??? / trees (2404 Oleander Blvd) — Owner: Joan Stevenson estate; respondent/occupant: Antonio Tyrone McArthur. Finding: dead or diseased/fallen-tree removal required (16-28). Order: 30 days to remove fallen trees and debris. Failure: $100/day. 30 days to appeal.

- CE2025-108 (2404 Oleander Blvd) — Owner: Joan Stevenson estate. Finding: multiple violations including containers, accessory structures, exterior structure, and windows (30-28(c), IPMC 302.7, 304.1, 304.13). Order: 60 days to store bins to side/rear, repair fence and cement planter, replace rotting wood, replace broken window, obtain permits and comply; failure: $250/day. 30 days to appeal.

- CE2025-133 (625 S. U.S. Highway 1) — Owner: MJG Investments LLC. Finding: vacant-premises signage and landscaping violations (117-3(b); 24-19(11)). Order: 15 days to remove outdated signage, clear weeds, remove window shutters, obtain permits; failure: $250/day. 30 days to appeal.

- LotClearing 2025-68 (805 Texas Court) — Owner: Vanessa Ewan. Order: 7 days to cut grass/weeds, trim trees/shrubs, remove trash and landscape debris; failure: $100/day. 30 days to appeal.

- LotClearing 2025-704 (534 S. Fifth St) — Owner: Ellen Velour LLC. Order: 7 days to cut grass/weeds, trim and clean fence lines, remove trash and debris; failure: $100/day. 30 days to appeal.

- LotClearing 2025-95 (1411 Avenue M) — Owner: Stevie Anderson. Order: 7 days to cut grass/weeds and remove remaining trash and debris; failure: $100/day. 30 days to appeal.

- LTCL 2025-88 (N. 20 Fifth St) — Owners: Julia Richardson estate and others. Order: 7 days for landscape compliance; failure: $100/day. 30 days to appeal.

What was said

Barrow summarized the standard of proof at the start: "The standard of proof this morning, is whether the violation has been proven based upon competent substantial evidence." City officers submitted photographs and notices as exhibits and testified about inspections and complaints. Charmaine Kirkland, a City of Fort Pierce code enforcement and parking-enforcement officer, presented the JC Park citation evidence. Arthur Burgess told the magistrate he had briefly parked at a volunteer event to deliver pizzas: "I was at the stand up paddle board event ... I was asked to go pick up pizzas for the participants," and acknowledged he had parked improperly.

Heather DeBevec (code enforcement) and Manuel Fernandez Jr. (code enforcement) provided the photographic evidence and described inspections in multiple property cases. McArthur told the court he had been working since recently leaving incarceration and was trying to bring the property into compliance; Barrow offered 60 days in that matter, noting permit time and referral to the building department and the grants office for possible assistance.

Why it matters

The magistrate’s orders create enforceable timelines and potential financial penalties, and they instruct certain owners to obtain building permits where structural fixes are needed. The decisions also signal the city’s continued use of nuisance abatement and daily fines as tools to compel property maintenance and public-safety repairs.

Process notes

Barrow read the city’s notice-and-posting procedures for hearings, citing state statute 162.12 for mandated hearings. The magistrate repeatedly advised respondents of their 30-day right to appeal and of the city’s option to abate problems and assess costs to properties that remain out of compliance.

Ending

The hearing ended after the magistrate read a list of cases found to be in compliance or rescheduled. The city clerk closed the session and Barrow adjourned the hearing.