FORT PIERCE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the City of Fort Pierce are maintaining virtual silence surrounding the status of a December warning by FDEP that “docking structures and activities” at a popular North Hutchinson Island restaurant/bar are illegally encroaching on state land.

In a letter to Sara Hedges, Fort Pierce city attorney, the FDEP said an investigation of boundary issues at Little Jim Bait and Tackle, 601 N. Causeway Dr., could result in “liability for damages and restoration, and the judicial imposition of civil penalties…”

Despite the Dec. 17, 2025, letter from FDEP that gave the city 15 days to offer dates to meet with state officials, neither the FDEP nor the city have issued statements specifically addressing the status of the alleged violations or penalties, in response to inquiries from Hometown News.

And while an October 2025, investigative recommendation suggested the unpermitted docks could be ordered removed, there’s no indication any of those structures has been altered.

So what have been the explanations so far?

“The City of Fort Pierce is working cooperatively with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to address the issues that have been presented,” the city said in a statement responding to a Hometown News inquiry. “City staff are reviewing the findings and coordinating the appropriate corrective actions and ensure (sic) continued compliance with environmental regulations. The City remains committed to resolving these matters promptly and maintaining strong environmental stewardship.”

So far, FDEP officials have provided no comment.

“…We’re reviewing it and will get back to you as soon as possible,” said Megan Rutter, FDEP public information specialist, responding to Hometown News on March 13..

At issue are 1,425 square feet of docks and decks at Little Jim located over property owned by the State of Florida, plus another 1,458 square feet located on private property but constructed without required permits. The state said the 25 boat slips were in “significant non-compliance.”

The boundary issue was raised in early 2025, when at least one bidder, responding to the city’s request for proposals (RFP) for a new, long-term lease to operate Little Jim, asked the city for definitive boundaries of the city-owned property. Those bidders hired a lawyer, claiming the city had failed to answer several questions that would affect their bid proposal.

The city subsequently declared their bids to be “non-responsive.”

A committee of city staff that evaluated multiple lease proposals finally recommended a Michigan group take over Little Jim’s operation, after the current leaseholder said it would unveil its economic terms to the city only after it was awarded the new lease.

But the recommendation to award the lease to the Michigan firm was subsequently withdrawn by the city, citing unresolved questions about the RFP.

According to the city, “an addendum” allows Little Jim’s current operator to “continue the property on a month-to-month basis” since its previous lease expired in February 2025.

The city issued no response to Hometown News’ question about when a new RFP will be issued for Little Jim.