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Highlands Today

Sun 'N Lake Moves Slowly Toward Audit

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By Bill Rettew Jr. | Highlands Today

Published: January 26, 2008

SEBRING — Sun 'n Lake of Sebring homeowners chose a new board member and then the board decided to re-examine the independent auditing process.

Frank Guglielmi, SNL winter resident since 1993, and a full-timer since 1999, was the lone candidate to fill the only available position on the five-member board.

John Negley resigned from the board midway through a four-year term on Monday.

Three board members are elected by landowner vote (based on acreage) during the annual homeowner's meeting held Friday. Representatives for the two seats are chosen by popular vote.

"The only thing I want to do is serve the community to the best of my ability," said Guglielmi, following the vote. "I have no personal agenda to serve. The majority of people know me and know what I'm like."

The newest SNL board member talked about the ongoing process to choose an auditor.

"I'm not sure that an audit was required," said Guglielmi. "It might have been just a group of disgruntled citizens."

Guglielmi said he favored the planned recreation complex and demolition of the Candlelight Restaurant. Guglielmi also said the interests of landowners and corporations that own several properties must be seriously considered.

During the annual report, Al Grieshaber Jr., SNL general manager, referred to 2007 as a year of "transition, clean-up and forward movement."

The general manager cited control of reclaimed water as the improvement district's No. 1 priority, followed by construction of a new golf clubhouse and third, a new recreational complex.

Grieshaber said the district's financial picture looked "healthy, because we are watching where we spend the money."

Special District Services Inc. was the only firm that responded to a county, and then SNL request, to perform a portion of the internal auditing process.

Through the due diligence process, a decision will be made concerning whether Special District Services Inc. is qualified through a "request for qualification," said Grieshaber.

If Special District Services passes muster, then determination of the scope and time of audit would be performed by that firm. A request for new proposals would go out to all CPA firms listed as a Highlands County recommended firms if Special District Services is denied.

A second firm would then perform an audit according to parameters decided by the first.

"Unfortunately, I think it delays the process, but we cannot force people to respond to the Request for Qualificationss (RFQ), if needed," said Grieshaber. "We are doing what the county asked as quickly as possible."

During a public comment portion of the landowner's meeting, resident Bill Jackson said he did not have "a suspicious mind" and he takes most matters at "face value," while questioning the timing of Negley's departure from the board, three days prior to the election.

Jackson was dismayed there was no time to campaign for the open seat.

On Tuesday, prior to the meeting and a day after Negley quit, Grieshaber addressed the withdrawal by the board member who took a job and moved outside the county on Jan. 1. Negley was able to continue as a board member until settlement on his home – just a few days following Friday's meeting . If he had waited until after the meeting, then the board would have been asked to choose a successor.

"(Negley) might have wanted to serve as long as he could," said Grieshaber. "Landowners will still have the opportunity to nominate and vote on the candidates rather than have the board decide."

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