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Pan/scraper video raises blushes
An item of heavy equipment described as “in pieces” at last week’s county commission meeting was somehow made whole the next day for an operation demonstration that appeared in a video on the Internet, making for red faces among county staff.
“I was floored to find out the machine was repaired and reassembled,” Ken Frink, assistant county administrator and public works director, said Thursday.
Frink had cause for embarrassment because the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on Tuesday approved by a 4-1 vote buying a replacement for the machine, called a pan/scraper, that has been used at Citrus County’s Central Landfill. The landfill would get a Caterpillar hydraulic excavator instead, at a cost of $161,586.
Commissioner Scott Adams opposed the purchase because he said he did not think the landfill carried the volume of work to merit the purchase. With 11,000 hours of use on the pan/scraper, Adams said if it had been maintained, “It’s almost brand new.”
At the BOCC meeting, Commissioner J.J. Kenney asked about repairs for the pan/scraper, to which Casey Stephens, Solid Waste Management Division director, said the county had spent $420,000 in repairs since 2000 when the warranty ran out. Stephens said currently the repair of the machine’s differential would cost $35,000, and he could not predict the expenses of future repairs.
RingPower, a Brooksville business that repairs heavy equipment, would give the county $36,000 in trade for a new machine, Stephens said. The new $161,586 excavator — which Frink and Stephens requested at a previous BOCC meeting because it would work more efficiently at the landfill than the pan/scraper — would have a five-year or 7,500 hours warranty that would cover everything except travel time and labor hours.
“The governmental replacement cost on the pan would be roughly another $625,000,” Stephens said. “Or we could continue as we have been and do the repairs, but then I would be pretty sure that I’d be talking to you again next year on some additional repairs.”
Inverness resident Robert Schweickert Jr. suggested selling the pan/scraper on the Internet for more than RingPower’s trade-in offer, but Frink said it would be difficult to sell a piece of broken equipment.
Frink then announced he had received information from Larry Brock, deputy public works director, that the pan/scraper was disassembled and the county would have to pay for the repair and putting it back together if the board wanted to sell it.
“I would not recommend we do that because it is down there in pieces right now,” Frink said.
Schweickert, however, went to RingPower on Wednesday and found the pan/scraper up and running.
“I had no idea what I’d find there,” Schweickert told the Chronicle.
Schweickert recorded a video of the machine fully assembled and moving under its own power. He posted it to YouTube. His story and a link to the video are posted on Schweickert’s blog at http://www.groundhogresearch.com.
“We had it down to them for diagnosis and repair on the differential late in 2012,” Frink told the Chronicle.
The repair cost exceeded the amount Pubic Works could do without board approval. At a meeting in January, the board decided to buy the excavator instead of repairing the pan/scraper, Frink said.
“The excavator was in the budget for replacing the pan,” Frink said. “We called RingPower up and told them we’re not going to move forward with it and to get us a price on the excavator.”
Frink admitted he had made a statement on the record that the pan/scraper was in pieces at RingPower.
“It was my full understanding it was,” Frink said. “We were unaware that any repairs or assembly had taken place. We got on the phone with RingPower to find out what in the world was happening.”
A few emails were exchanged. James D. Carney, RingPower foreman, said his company “decided to finish the assembly of the machine with the thoughts that either way Citrus County decided to go that the machine would have to be reassembled.”
In other words, the pan/scraper ultimately would be repaired for county use or for resale.
Carney replied to Stephens that the differential was sent to Tampa for disassembly and quoting, not repair.
No one at the county authorized putting the machine back together.
“I decided that the machine would need to be reassembled, so I did this at our own risk,” Carney wrote.
Carney also said no one at the county was notified that the work had been done.
“I was communicating with sales department, waiting to determine if Citrus County was going to repair or replace machine with an excavator,” Carney wrote.
Adams, who did not return phone calls seeking comment, posted a link to the video on his Facebook page.
Clearing up the mystery still raises issues for Frink. He said he was embarrassed to have given incorrect information to the board, but it was based on the information he had. He also disagrees with a county vendor using county equipment in an amateur video.
Contact Chronicle reporter Chris Van Ormer at 352-564-2916 or cvanormer@chronicleonline.com.
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Mystery: ?? vs truth
Remember, the facts speak for themselves! It is when people start explaining , that things become a "mystery."
Meat and potatoes.
At the minimal, it should wake up the BOCC to fact check. We have been lied to for way too long intentional and unintentionally and have had enough. Staff should have up to date and correct information for the commissioners and the public. Wasteful spending is still wasteful spending no matter what color crayon the use to color it. The main topic; should be, not to purchase a new piece of equipment at this time instead of who did what and why. The four commissioners voted with staff recommendations and did not listen to sound advice from Commissioner Scott Adams. I operate large equipment and can tell you for a fact that the warranty on the Pan/Scrapper would have put that machine at a refurbished level which means "like new" in 2000. With only 11,000 total hours since 1995 this machine did not need replacement and has very, very low hours. Shame on the wasteful and frivolous spending. The staff and BOCC have and continue to waste millions of dollars when you add all the "little" unnecessary expenditures.
Tommy Long
Pan/scrapper
Way to go Scott Adams!! Perhaps the other commissioners need to listen to their newest member and keep their 'know-it-all' mouths shut! Like everyone else, I'm tired of spending money where it doesn't need to be spent. I'm tired of these commissioners taking it upon themselves to make decisions that hurt this community and make us poorer and less protected. We need more new blood here - out with the old and in with the new as evidenced by this very important happening. Don't wait for the election, people. Get these power-hungry, self-serving individuals out now! They're draining yours and my pockets. Let's get some regular, down home people in these positions - those who care about their community and fellow man!
Oopsies!
"He (Frink) also disagrees with a county vendor using county equipment in an amateur video.
Bet he does as video is way better the here-say and undeniable!
Who showed Renee how to turn on a computer!
Citrusdaily vs Chronicle
I just noticed the Citrusdaily issued this article out on 03/14/13. Why is it the Chronicle is just now writing a story on this topic? One would think that the Chronicle would be the first to come up with this story.
Floridian
Proof positive that need more Commissioners like Scott Adams
This scandal is indicative of what happens when County government is mired in "crony inbreeding". It says alot when a local citizen does more to protect the taxpayer than our local government officials and the local newspaper. The Chronicle is always "Gerry come lately" when it comes to issues of wasteful Citrus county government spending.
Heads need roll from the top on down. This action borders on corruption. Any Commissioner who does not work with Commissioner Scott Adams to dispose of the sneaky and underhanded government officials who once again attempted to fleece taxpayers is as guilty of stealing from you as a pick pocket who lifts your wallet on the street.
It is a disgrace. As families in Citrus county struggle to put food on the table, government officials slap each other on the back for the vile fiscal rape they are perpetrating on taxpayers. This must stop now. We cannot wait until Commissioners Meek, Bays, Damato, and Kenney are thrown out on their ears... This type of corruption has been prevalent for a time and the aforementioned commissioners have done nothing to stop it in order to preserve their "mighty" empires..... Shame on them, and shame on the Chronicle for being complicit in reporting these types of shenanigans.
I AGREE
Im with you on this one Capt Nemo. This is totally mind blowing to me. I really hope this opens the eyes of the citizens of Citrus County come voting time!
Floridian
SICK TO MY STOMACH!
Am I really reading this? A top county official (Frink) just took other peoples words that a piece of equipment was broken without even making a phone call to the company (RingPower) to confirm this before making a statement in front of the BOCC board!! What really makes me angry is the BOCC, except for Adams was so quick to put trust in Frink and go ahead and vote to buy a new one. Regardless of what Frink was thinking when he made this statement. The BOCC should not be so quick on voting when it comes to taxpayers money being spent on these big items. It disgusts me!
If I remember correctly Commissioner Adams said a while back he didnt like how some of the county supervisors & BOCC members were mixing friendship with work, therefore the BOCC is not questioning whether mistakes could be made when there coworkers / friends are making these statements, like Frink. So if it wasnt for this citizen to take it upon himself to do a small investigation of his own, how would we have ever known? Would Frink have come forward to the public after he was aware the machinery was put back together and let the citizens of Citrus County know he made a mistake? I doubt it!
These clowns on the BOCC , except for Adams are getting voted out unless they screw their heads on right and start making some common sense decisions for us taxpayers!
Floridian