Commission upset with $15,000 penalty payment

Highlands County still doesn't have the $1.65 million asphalt plant grant that was promised by Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and county commissioners were furious because they just found out during a meeting Tuesday.

"This is the first I've heard of it," said Chairwoman Barbara Stewart.

DEP was supposed to write the check last year, said Solid Waste Director Ken Wheeler. However, a state agency - he couldn't remember which one even though he was pressed three times by commissioners - has been holding up the funds.

Commissioner Jeff Carlson, who voted against buying the $3.3 million plant, asked Wheeler if he had a letter to that effect.

"An e-mail," Wheeler replied. It was now apparent he was on the hot seat.

How long had Wheeler had the e-mail, asked Commissioner Guy Maxcy.

Since August, Wheeler thought.

"You need to be a little quicker," Maxcy pointed out.

That's three or four months, Stewart pressed. Why are the commissioners just finding out?

"We could have asked Sen. Alexander or one of our state representatives to intercede," Stewart said, "if we weren't kept in the dark."

The commissioners only found out Tuesday because Stewart pulled the item from the consent agenda, Carlson complained. Commissioners usually vote on several consent items at once without asking questions.

"It wasn't even something we were supposed to discuss," Carlson said. "That's not the way this should work."

"This issue has come from separate agencies," Assistant County Administrator Rick Helms said. He was filling in for County Administrator Mike Wright, who was dealing with family issues.

"I think Mr. Helms has gotten the message that we're not real happy," Stewart said dryly.

The agenda item read: "Request approval of a revised payment schedule revision for SunTrust Equipment Finance & Leasing Corp. Loan Schedule No. 01 with no negative fiscal impact."

The bottom line, Budget Manager Tim Mechling said later, is that Highlands County and state taxpayers paid almost $15,000 in pre-payment penalties to SunTrust Bank because the grant hasn't come in yet.

Before the discussion ended, Helms fell on his sword. "I should accept responsibility for this," he told the commission. "I should have made the county administrator more aware of this. I will take care of it."