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Magistrate cuts five-figure fine to administrative costs in Fort Pierce lien hearing
Summary
A special magistrate reduced a $50,018.50 accrued fine related to a hazardous vacant-structure case to administrative costs ($1,056.26) and approved a separate lien reduction schedule; the orders require payment of the reduced amounts within specified windows or reversion to original sums.
In a Dec. 3 special magistrate session, the City of Fort Pierce reduced longstanding fines and liens after staff confirmed property compliance and reviewed administrative-cost calculations.
Case CE2024-113 concerned a caved-in hole and related hazardous conditions that had generated $50,018.50 in fines. Staff recommended reducing the assessment to administrative costs; the magistrate found the property had been brought into compliance as of Oct. 20, 2025, and reduced the fine to administrative costs of $1,056.26, payable within 30 days. The magistrate warned that failure to timely pay would revert the charge to the original amount and that there is a 30-day appeal right.
A separate lien-reduction matter for 915 North 21st Street (LTCL 2024-26) was also considered. Staff calculated administrative costs at $1,482.89 and recommended that amount as the reduced lien. The magistrate ordered a reduced administrative-cost amount and required payment within 60 days; the transcript contains both staff’s $1,482.89 computation and the magistrate’s readback of a reduced administrative-cost figure in the record. The order states that failure to pay the reduced amount within the specified time will revert the lien to the original $7,538.50, plus any resumed interest and penalties.
The magistrate noted the criteria used for reductions — gravity of the violation, corrective action taken by the respondent, previous violations and whether reduction is in the city’s interest — and applied those factors in granting the reductions. Parties retain the right to appeal the magistrate’s decisions to the City Commission or the circuit court as provided by law.
