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Voice of Truth Tabernacle granted 60‑day stay on fines while it seeks contractors and permits
Summary
At a Massey hearing, the City of Fort Pierce stayed the accrual of fines for 60 days for Voice of Truth Tabernacle to pursue permitting; staff said the church cannot pull owner‑builder permits because it is not individually owned and occupied under state law.
At a Massey hearing on March 12, City staff told the special magistrate that Voice of Truth Tabernacle sought a reduction or waiver of fines and asked that the church be permitted to pull permits itself. Cleveland Ingram, speaking for the church, said repeated contractor cancellations prevented timely permitting and that if the church could pull permits they could subcontract trades to complete work.
City staff (Mister Koss) told the magistrate the church does not qualify for the state’s owner‑builder exemption because the property is corporate‑owned and not individually owned and occupied, and that fines cannot be waived at this hearing. Staff recommended staying the accrual of fines for 60 days to allow permitting efforts to proceed; Magistrate Barrow granted the requested 60‑day stay on the accrual of fines.
Ingram said the congregation has found trades but still needs the permit process to move forward; Barrow ordered the stay on the record and urged the church to work quickly to secure a contractor and complete permitting steps. The magistrate noted the church may request a reduction or waiver of fines after the case is brought into compliance.
