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Fort Pierce trims or upholds false-alarm fees; several residents ordered to take alarm class
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Summary
At the Dec. 3 hearing, the magistrate reduced or denied several false-alarm appeals: one appeal was granted with a fee waiver after course completion, another appeal was reduced to a $500 balance with mandatory alarm awareness training, and a third appeal was denied with a $300 balance ordered.
Special Magistrate Jennifer Peschke reviewed multiple alarm-appeal files on Dec. 3, answering respondents’ claims about vendor communication and technical issues and imposing both monetary and educational conditions.
Steve Eaton appealed four alarms tied to 1611 Binney Drive and said a recent city fiber install compounded the alarm system’s communication problems. Staff recommended treating the alarms as a single incident if the respondent completed the Alarm User Awareness class within 30 days. The magistrate granted the appeal, treated the alarms as one incident, waived the $300 fee upon proof of class completion within 30 days and instructed staff to provide access information.
In a telephonic appeal, Kelsey Allmander argued she had attempted to contact the third-party administrator and cited returned mail and inconsistent addresses. Staff said the required telephonic-submission paperwork and evidence had not been timely submitted; the magistrate nonetheless reduced the balance due from $700 to $500 and ordered completion of the Alarm User Awareness class within 60 days, with staff to email course access details. The magistrate noted respondents retain 30 days to appeal the order.
A separate telephonic appeal for 434 Means Court (Kevin Baker) was denied as untimely. Staff said email records did not support the respondent’s contention that the city or third party failed to receive timely appeals; the magistrate ordered payment of $300 for three false-alarm incidents and recommended the owner secure the property or retain a property manager while caring for an ill family member.
The magistrate repeatedly framed these outcomes as administrative enforcement of city code (including citations to city ordinance 14-67 governing appeal timelines and false-alarm processing) and required alarm-class completion as a condition to reduce or waive fees in certain cases. Respondents and staff were given instructions on how to obtain course information and file appeals.
