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Company said it should have informed county
INVERNESS — Ring Power Corp. on Wednesday explained its part in a chain of events drawing attention to a little-known piece of landfill heavy equipment.
Company vice president Alan Thomas said in a letter to Citrus County officials the company erred in not informing the county it had repaired the 1995 pan/scraper in anticipation of either billing the county or selling the equipment.
Thomas also said an online listed sales price of $159,000 included numerous upgrades to the equipment, including a paint job, and the “as-is” cost would be about half that.
“The advertisement … was for the machine with new tires, new paint and a much higher level of operability,” he wrote. “Anyone inserting anything different simply does not understand how our company operates.”
The pan/scraper has come under scrutiny, particularly by Commissioner Scott Adams, who opposed board approval in February to trade in the machinery rather than repair it. At the March 13 meeting, the board voted 4-1 for the $36,493 trade-in on a $161,586 excavator after Assistant County Administrator Ken Frink said Ring Power had already disassembled the machine and it was “in pieces” at the company’s Brooksville site.
The county learned the next day Ring Power had actually repaired the pan/scraper.
Thomas said the company should have informed county officials it would repair the machine whether the county wanted it back or not.
Ring Power placed the pan/scraper up for public sale, but temporarily discontinued the sale Wednesday. Bill Hartt, regional vice president for the company’s Brooksville site, said Ring Power will not sell the pan/scraper until after Citrus County receives the excavator.
County spokeswoman Lindsay Ubinas said officials are satisfied with the company’s response.
“We have a really good relationship with Ring Power,” she said, “and this won’t hamper that at all.”
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What The ?????
Lots of quick & secret phone calls going on here. Almost makes me chuckle to imagine the scenarios being played out when some of the BOCC members started chasing their tails to close the gaps they are so famous for making.
Keep it up Scott Adams. You have more nerve than anyone I've ever seen and I'm proud to have voted for you. Keep on doing what you're doing and don't let these people intimidate you. You've done more to enlighten this community than all those others put together have done in years.
Do you smell that?
Appears from the outside there's a cover up. First the time lime when Commissioner Adams viewed the pan/scrapper and comments from Ring Power not matching others. Then the sales ad Ring Power had posted was suddenly pulled when contacted by county staff. Hmmmmm you decide what kind of smell is lingering over this train wreck.
Let's get some accountability in our local government and quit making bad decisions with our money!
Spotlight, and a camera, ruin a sweet deal!
I'd bet a deal had been struck to sell this pan to a "high value" donor for trade+repairs+profit, roughly $80,000 until Bob showed up with his camera. With the "high value" donor no longer able to get near this deal, Ring now has it priced at true market value. Wheels, paint job, etc is a snow job. Ring is private business, and at this point just trying to help county administration cover their behinds, thus maintaining a good relationship with the people holding a big purse. Good business on their part, but I believe they've learned laying with dogs, will get you fleas.
RING POWER Should have informed county!!!! LOL
The Chronicle has wrote that RING POWER should have informed the county!! LOL.. This is to funny. So, its ok for Ken Frink to lieto the BOCC or not make a simple phone call to confirm its been put back together before making a bold statement that its in pieces. This company RING POWER has no obligation to call the county and tell them their daily operations. Way to go Chronicle editor MIKE WRIGHT, trying to twist the story around and not make it out to be what it is. NICE TRY..
Floridian