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Martin County magistrate orders compliance for multiple properties; reduces one lien
Summary
The Martin County code enforcement magistrate on July 15 entered an agreed order reducing a $7,100 lien to a $710 payment for one property and ordered four other owners to correct violations by Aug. 31, 2026 or face $100-per-day fines; the county was awarded investigative costs in several matters.
A Martin County code enforcement magistrate ordered multiple property owners to correct code violations by Aug. 31, 2026 and entered one agreed fine reduction during a short hearing on July 15.
The magistrate (name not stated on the record) accepted an agreed final order in the case of William Walter Reich Jr. (ENF202508018801), reducing accrued fines from $7,100 to a $710 settlement payment with $350 in costs already paid. "If he doesn't pay the $710 within the 30 days, then the fine reverts to the $7,100," the magistrate said when announcing the order.
Michael Shanahan, a code compliance investigator for Martin County, presented inspection reports and photographs in four other cases. At 5566 Southeast 46th Avenue, Stuart, Shanahan said inspectors documented an inoperable trailer, trash and debris, a damaged accessory structure and a leaning fence, and he asked the magistrate to order the owner to comply with Martin County code by Aug. 31, 2026. The magistrate found the fence violation under Martin County Code section 21.99 remains and ordered compliance; if not corrected, fines of $100 per violation per day will begin. Shanahan also requested reimbursement of $575 in county investigation costs.
George Harvey Dodson Jr., who said he was authorized to speak for owner Loretta Washington, told the magistrate the family plans to reinstall the fence but that work has been delayed by long work hours. "We'll get it installed," Dodson said. The magistrate accepted that timetable and issued the compliance deadline while awarding the county its $575 investigation cost.
In the matter against the Lisa Cortez estate and related Hooper estate (ENF2026050009), Shanahan testified that inspections showed inoperable vehicles and trash at 8299 Southeast Windham Street. Derrick Hooper, who said he lives at the property and that it is in probate, described some items as family property kept for use and said he could re-cover or move materials and vehicles. The magistrate found the violations and ordered correction by Aug. 31, 2026; the county's $575 investigation cost was awarded to be reimbursed at the conclusion of the hearing.
The magistrate also heard a case listed as ENF2026030365 involving property records naming Mark Carta at 7838 Southeast Swan Avenue. Shanahan said photos show persistent trash and debris; the magistrate found a nuisance/trash violation under Martin County Code section 6.7.201(b), ordered compliance by Aug. 31, 2026 and approved $575 in county costs. An earlier allegation that someone was living in a van on the site was removed from the pending order after the investigator said that claim would not be pursued.
Finally, the magistrate found violations at 7734 Southeast Lanham Street (ENF2026040357), including high grass and missing site addressing. Shanahan requested compliance by Aug. 31, 2026; the magistrate ordered correction by that date and explained that $100-per-violation daily fines would accrue after the deadline. The transcript reflects the county requested $575 in investigation costs for this case, though the magistrate noted no additional costs were being awarded for that particular matter.
Across the cases the magistrate repeatedly urged respondents to contact county officers early in the enforcement process to mitigate costs and avoid hearings. The magistrate scheduled the next hearing for Aug. 19, 2026 and adjourned the session.
Cases at a glance
• ENF202508018801 (William Walter Reich Jr.): Agreed order entered; fine reduced to $710 payable within 30 days or the $7,100 fine reinstated; $350 previously paid.
• ENF2026030453 (Loretta Washington): Fence remains in violation; compliance ordered by 08/31/2026 or $100/day per violation; county awarded $575 investigation costs.
• ENF2026050009 (Lisa Cortez Estate / Derrick Hooper): Inoperable vehicles and debris ordered corrected by 08/31/2026; $100/day per continuing violation; county awarded $575 costs.
• ENF2026030365 (Mark Carta): Trash/debris violation ordered corrected by 08/31/2026; $100/day fines for noncompliance; county awarded $575 costs. A living-in-vehicle allegation was removed from the order.
• ENF2026040357 (Toni/ Tony Marie Eleanor Esposito): High grass and site-addressing violations ordered corrected by 08/31/2026; $100/day per continuing violation; county requested $575 costs (not awarded in the order).
