Port St. Lucie special magistrate denies lien reduction in oil-spill case, sets compliance deadlines for dozens of properties

Port St. Lucie Special Magistrate Keith Davis denied a request to reduce a certified lien tied to an oil discharge at 450 Southwest Eyerly Avenue and set compliance dates for numerous code-enforcement cases during a hearing on Jan. 21, 2026.

The city’s Code Compliance witness, Rachel Nags, said crews responded after a June 24, 2025 report and found oil had entered the stormwater swale and culvert, prompting extensive emergency remediation that included removing contaminated soil, liner and portions of driveway in the city right of way. The city previously assessed hard costs of $9,509 and a fine that together produced a lien; city staff asked that the lien not be reduced because the discharge was “irreparable or irreversible” and posed a threat to public health and the stormwater system.

Respondent Jeremy Rich, who testified he had changed oil on a camper and said the spill was accidental, asked the magistrate to reduce the lien because of his financial hardship. "It was an accident... I didn't deliberately put it there," Rich said during testimony, adding he has a baby on the way. Wesley Armstrong of Public Works told the hearing the contamination sat for about 72 hours during heavy rain before it was reported, which allowed the pollutant to migrate into the drainage system.

Magistrate Davis said the record did not justify a reduction. "Based on what I've heard, the request is denied," he said, and declined to mitigate the lien amount, which he said would remain at the certified balance. City staff also made available lien-services contacts and said payment plans could be arranged through the city's lien office.

Beyond that single-case ruling, the hearing resolved a large docket of property-code matters. The magistrate approved multiple agreed modification orders and a partial-release request under city code section 37.13 for several properties that had reached negotiated settlements with city staff.

Other notable outcomes at the hearing included:

• Business-tax enforcement (Case BT25-00388, 698 SW Port St. Lucie Blvd., Unit 103): Officer Matthew Roussell said the business "Bumps and Babies Massage Therapy LLC" was operating at the location without a valid city business tax receipt and that recent ordinance changes hold property owners responsible when tenants operate without a receipt. With the property owner absent, the magistrate set Feb. 11, 2026 as the compliance date, directing the owner to bring the site into compliance or cease the unpermitted activity.

• Inoperative-vehicle case at 4249 SW Savona Blvd.: Respondents Robert Scott and Barrington Scott asked for more time to repair a vehicle shown on jack stands. The magistrate granted a two-week extension and set Feb. 4 as the compliance date, warning further extensions would not be readily granted.

• Site-plan/sign replacement at 11600 SW Village Parkway (TGC Port St. Lucie LLC): The property's monument sign was removed after a vehicle crash; the permit application for replacement was submitted the morning of the hearing. John Harriott, representing the respondent, asked for time to coordinate vendors and contractors. The magistrate set a 150-day compliance deadline — June 17 — to allow permits, fabrication and installation.

• Multiple compliance deadlines and abatements: For dozens of properties the magistrate either set compliance dates (commonly in February or April 2026, depending on permits) or granted city authority to enter and abate violations and later assess costs. The city presented photographic evidence and affidavit-of-posting service records for unattended respondents; where the city had abated violations before the hearing, the magistrate awarded abatement costs and administrative costs as requested.

Quotes and attributions in this report come from the hearing record: Special Magistrate Keith Davis, city witnesses Rachel Nags and Wesley Armstrong (Public Works), business tax compliance officer Matthew Roussell, respondent Jeremy Rich, and attorneys/representatives who appeared in specific cases.

Next steps: Respondents who were ordered to comply must either satisfy the conditions by the named compliance dates or the city is authorized to enter properties, abate violations and seek recovery of costs and certified fines. The magistrate adjourned the hearing about 12:30 p.m.