Contractor claims city owes him money

Unsolicited generator services led the Avon Park City Council to question the security and access of their public works equipment, during the Dec. 28 council meeting.

Mark Prillwitz, owner of Central Florida Generator Services Inc., claims the city of Avon Park owes him $5,500 for generator maintenance services he completed in December. But the public works department says they terminated his contract in July.

"It was never put in writing that the contract had ended," Prillwitz, said.

According to the city's report, Frank Sanderson, former public works director, had the department's secretary call Prillwitz in July and inform him that his services would not be carried over the next fiscal year.

"Despite that announcement, Mr. Prillwitz performed work not approved by city staff on December 16, 2009," the report states.

On Dec. 16, public works staff attempted to stop Prillwitz from working on the generators but he continued, according to city records.

The discrepancy in payment led Councilman George Hall to question the security of the public works department.

"We can't just have people working on equipment if they're not supposed to be there," he said.

Councilwoman Brenda Gray concurred.

"If someone walks in to my work space and they're not supposed to be there, I'm calling my supervisor...Someone needs to get a firm hand on that," she said.

Public Works Director Julian Deleon said his department tried to resolve the matter but was unsuccessful.

City council decided to research the documentation on work Prillwitz completed in December.