Embattled Fort Pierce City Manager, Nicholas Mimms, was taken into custody on Wednesday, accused of manipulating a city bidding process to favor a nonprofit connected to his niece. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) levied charges of bid tampering and official misconduct against Mimms after a two-year investigation into improper conduct surrounding property development in Lincoln Park's downtown corridor, as per CBS12.
The investigation revealed that Mimms orchestrated the surplus declaration of two vacant lots, subsequently skewing the bid in favor of the Lincoln Park Young Professionals (LPYP), a nonprofit created by two city employees, one being his niece. Details obtained by WPBF included allegations that Mimms "controlled the bid language and improperly communicated with LPYP providing non-public information." His influence purportedly pre-empted the normal bid process, allowing LPYP to present its proposal to the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency ahead of any public offering.
Mimms is currently housed at the St. Lucie County Jail, with a bond set at $10,000. He had a scheduled first court appearance the following morning. Despite having posted bail, the city manager did not provide comments upon leaving the detention facility. In response to the revelations, a Fort Pierce city spokesperson released a statement emphasizing the gravity with which the city views the situation and promising transparent handling of the ensuing situation: "We recognize the concern this may bring to our community and are committed to addressing the situation with the transparency and seriousness it requires," as reported by WPBF.
Further complicating the public trust, an additional statement from CBS12, narrates the fallout concerning the lease agreement with LPYP which was terminated earlier this year "at the non-profit organization's request." Sketchy project advancement led city officials, including Mimms for project closure. "We would like to move forward with the termination of this agreement, and we would like your approval to do so," Mimms stated in a May FPRA meeting. Meanwhile, the subject properties at 1134 and 1138 Avenue D remain undeveloped.
The FDLE has warned that the case is still under active investigation and further arrests may be forthcoming. Mimms, who has served as Fort Pierce's city manager since 2015 after climbing up the ranks from project engineer in 1998, is being prosecuted by the Nineteenth Circuit State Attorney’s Office with assistance from Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution. Amidst the unfolding scandal, the city has called for a special public meeting to discuss the matter further.
