Contractor Files Lien Against City Of Sebring

SEBRING - A Sebring contractor has filed a construction claim of lien against the city of Sebring for its building in the Sebring Circle, currently occupied by the Greater Sebring Chamber of Commerce.

Mark Stewart, owner and president of MCS Contracting, doing business as Stewart Construction, located at 2714 Kenilworth Blvd., swore out the claim of lien on May 15, stating that his firm provided labor, services and materials to remodel the old chamber building.

According to the document filed with Highlands County Clerk of Courts L.E. "Luke" Brooker, Stewart claims his business did the remodeling for $43,429.46, starting on Nov. 29 and completing the job on March 13.

A balance of $42,679.46 remains unpaid, according to the lien document.

City of Sebring Building Official Ed White said Monday that he inspected the job at the chamber office and it was completed.

A certificate of occupancy was issued on March 7.

"The last thing I heard was the chamber and Mark Stewart were working out a payment arrangement," said Pete Pollard, executive director of the Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency.

Pollard said his agency paid a $29,000 grant to the chamber of commerce for the construction of restroom facilities in the chamber building.

He said his agency always worked well with the chamber in the past, but this was a much larger project than any before.

"We would look at it differently in the future," he said.

Stewart called Highlands Today on Monday afternoon to clarify the situation.
First off, he said, he has not received any additional money since the lien was filed.

"I have no doubt in my mind that I'm going to get paid," he said. "I know I'm not going to get paid until this is straightened out with the state attorney's investigation into the chamber's finances."

On April 22, the chamber board voted to fire Dan Andrews, reportedly because of neglect in managing the chamber's accounts, according to Susan Jones, board president.

The chamber is conducting a third-party audit of its finances, and it has turned the matter over to the state attorney's office for any further action.

Stewart wanted it known that he is "pro-chamber of commerce."

He said filing the lien is a protection available to contractors and must be done within 90 days from the last time they swing a hammer.

No one was available at the Greater Sebring Chamber of Commerce to comment.

Kathy Haley, Sebring City Clerk, said the city was not aware of the lien.