Fort Pierce special magistrate orders compliance, fines and deadlines in multiple code-enforcement cases

Special Magistrate Jamie Barrow on June 4 issued compliance orders, deadlines and fines in a series of City of Fort Pierce code-enforcement and citation-appeal cases heard at a special magistrate session.

The magistrate found violations in cases ranging from improper parking at JC Park to lot-clearing and structural-repair orders for multiple residential properties. Most respondents were given between seven and 60 days to correct violations; the magistrate set daily fines for failures to comply and advised respondents about appeals and permitting where relevant.

The hearing mattered because the orders set enforceable deadlines and potential daily fines that the city can assess against properties. In several cases the magistrate tied continued noncompliance to the city's nuisance-abatement process and to assessments of abatement costs against property owners.

The magistrate handled a short parking-citation appeal and more than a half-dozen property-code cases. In the citation appeal at JC Park, the magistrate reduced the recommended penalty after hearing from the vehicle owner. Charmaine Kirkland, a City of Fort Pierce code- and parking-enforcement officer, testified to photographs documenting the vehicle's placement. The vehicle owner, Arthur Burgess, said he was making a delivery at a stand-up paddle-board event and acknowledged the car was not parked properly. As Special Magistrate Jamie Barrow said during the hearing, "I'm not inclined to impose the full fine that's being recommended here," and ordered a reduced assessment.

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