By Barbara Behrendt, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
BROOKSVILLE — Without a final report in hand, and without even having seen the preliminary report on the breadth of maintenance problems at the county jail, Hernando County commissioners Tuesday were reluctant to release any of the $1.8 million it has withheld from Corrections Corporation of America.
The preliminary report from HDR Engineering has estimated that jail repairs will cost $14.9 million. The report also determined that CCA owes nearly $1 million for deferred maintenance.
CCA has demanded immediate payment of $1.8 million it says it is owed, but the commission voted unanimously to wait until Oct. 12 when more information is expected from the engineer.
The discussion erupted in a heated debate over who received the report, when they received it and why it has not yet been distributed to commissioners. Commissioner Jeff Stabins explained how he tried to get a copy of the report Friday, and he questioned why County Administrator David Hamilton did not release it.
"Why the secrecy?'' he asked.
County officials, jail administrator Michael Page and County Attorney Garth Coller all explained that the report, which is lengthy, is peppered with information that would compromise jail security. Those sensitive pieces and jail schematics will be edited before the report is released under the state Sunshine Law. But Coller said commissioners should see the original document because the edited information might help them make decisions about maintenance needs.
The discussion grew heated as Stabins questioned why Lisa Hammond, the purchasing consultant employed by the clerk of the circuit court, has had the document for four days and commissioners and Hamilton have not seen it.
Stabins' questioning at one point grew so contentious that Clerk of the Court Karen Nicolai came into the meeting to defend Hammond and tell Stabins that she took offense at his questions. Nicolai praised Hammond for her work on two contentious issues, the Hernando Beach channel dredge and the jail issues.
Commission Chairman John Druzbick used his gavel to break up the discussion several times. At one point, Druzbick said, "The blame game stops.''
Commissioners decided to have a larger discussion about the process for receiving and distributing information to the board during their scheduled workshop Oct. 5.
CCA operated the jail for 22 years before ending the contract this summer. Sheriff Richard Nugent took over the operation late last month.
Barbara Behrendt can be reached at behrendt@sptimes.com or (352) 848-1434.