Former county engineer responds to Bigelow’s suggestion of misconduct

17. August 2010 · Comments Off · Categories: News · Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

3:02 P.M. UPDATE — Former Lee County Engineer Don DeBerry said his relationship with a Tampa-area recruiter was both typical and ethical. That relationship, however, was the basis of Commissioner Brian Bigelow?s indictment of the county?s contracting policies.

?Unfortunately Mr. Bigelow has been making personal attacks to me for quite some time now,? said DeBerry, who volunteered this year for a layoff from the county. ?As a citizen, it?s really bizarre to have a politician making statements that are false about me.?

Brian Bigelow this morning presented a folder of emails from DeBerry to Bill Howard of Seach Consultants, Inc. between 2007 and 2009. Howard, who runs the Tampa-area employment recruitment firm, has known DeBerry for nearly a decade. DeBerry said he would send names of people he knew ? many of them county employees ? to Howard.

?If I knew anybody that was looking for a job, I was trying to flip them to (Howard) to see if he could help,? DeBerry said.

Though it was Howard?s practice to pay a referral fee for any leads that led to successful placements, none of DeBerry?s suggestions ever panned out.

?I didn?t even know who (Howard) was trying to place them with,? DeBerry said.

Bigelow highlighted DeBerry?s emails to suggest county employees were too close to the contractors they deal with.

DeBerry added that he did not have the authority to sign contracts. Any deals with firms went through the Public Works supervisor Jim Lavender, the contracting office and ? on deals worth more than $100,000 ? to the county commission.

11:02 a.m. update: Commissioner Brian Bigelow surprised county management and fellow commissioners today by offering what he believes is proof of misconduct in the county?s public works department.

Bigelow handed black folders to county staff and his fellow commissioners, which contain emails between former Lee County engineer Don DeBerry and contractors doing business with the county. The emails suggest a close relationship.

County Manager Karen Hawes, who this morning had not read the emails and had no prior knowledge of Bigelow?s announcement, said she would likely pass the information on to the county?s internal auditing department under Clerk of Courts Charlie Green.

Bigelow has often criticized the county?s system as prone to favoritism. Though he has provided little evidence of wrongdoing in the past.

The News-Press is reviewing the emails.

Former county engineer responds to Bigelow’s suggestion of misconduct

Haynes Corporation planning expansion bringing 20 jobs to Collier County

28. July 2010 · Comments Off · Categories: Economy, Money, naples, News · Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Haynes Corp. is revving up for an expansion in Collier County.

The company is the only independent domestic manufacturer of precision diesel fuel injection systems for heavy-duty engines.

Collier County commissioners on Wednesday voted unanimously to allow the manufacturer to tap county incentives for an expansion here, though the jobs it will create won’t meet the average wage requirements for the government assistance programs.

With the vote, the company plans to move its California operations here, bringing 20 jobs to the Naples area.

The county’s incentive programs are designed to diversify the local economy and create high-wage jobs.

Tammie Nemecek, president and CEO of the Collier County Economic Development Council, urged commissioners to approve the assistance, saying the jobs wouldn’t come here otherwise.

“But for this incentiv they are not going to bring this California operation here,” she told commissioners.

The company’s headquarters currently has 45 employees. After consolidating its operations in Norwalk, Calif., Haynes would have 65 employees in the Naples area.

To support the expansion, the company plans to put up a new 30,000 square foot building next to its headquarters off Mercantile Avenue. The investment is estimated at $1.85 million, including the purchase of new manufacturing equipment. Construction is expected to start next spring.

The new jobs in Naples will be offered to the company’s California employees and outsiders, with preference given to applicants who agree to live in Collier County.

David Jackson, the county’s executive director of business and economic development, said the incentive programs as they’re currently designed aren’t working and need to be updated to reflect today’s economy. A plan for change is in the works and will come to commissioners for approval this fall, he said.

He said every job that’s created tickse, away at the county’s high rate of unemployment, which hovers above state and national averages. In June, Collier had a jobless rate of 12.3 percent, up from 11.3 percent in May, according to the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation.

Without the county incentives, Haynes would have considered relocating to California or Jackson, Mich.

The new jobs in Collier would pay an average wage of $34,320. The rules for the county’s incentive programs require an average wage of $58,928, or 50 percent above the county’s average private sector wage, which is estimated at $39,258.

The 45 retained jobs pay an average of $42,078. These are corporate jobs, as well as jobs in manufacturing and production.

Haynes would receive $161,550 in county incentives after creating the new jobs. That money will come back to the county in property, gas and sales taxes, with most – if not all – of the company’s employees living in Collier, Jackson argued.

At first, Commissioner

Jim Coletta said he was reluctant to approve the waiver allowing Haynes to get the incentives, fearing it would set a bad precedent. But he felt more comfortable with it after hearing that changes to the incentive programs are in the works and will be brought to the board in September or October.

In today’s economy, Coletta said he understands the goal is “just trying to provide jobs for people.” But when the economy improves the focus should be more on attracting high-wage jobs, as it has been for years.

“The economy fluctuates, whatever we have has to be able to meet the conditions as it changes,” Jackson said.

County commissioners have only granted a waiver one other time.

Haynes will get $2,000 for every job it creates, $79,550 to offset impact fees for the construction of its new building, and $1,000 for every job that’s kept by a Collier County resident.

Haynes was founded in Jackson, Michigan in 1960 by Laurance Haynes as a manufacturer’s representative for diesel engines and related parts. It grew through a series of acquisitions.

In 1988, the company acquired the Bendix diesel fuel injection product line. That included a manufacturing plant in Naples, which greatly enhanced its manufacturing and engineering capabilities.

The company’s products include fuel injection pumps, injector assemblies, plungers and barrels. Its customers include John Deere and General Electric.

A few years ago, Haynes’ owners looked at bringing the California operations to Naples, but they didn’t because of a bad business climate, Nemecek said.

“There has been a significant change in the attitude of the community toward business,” she said.

That helped change the company’s mind about expanding here.

Connect with Laura Layden at www.naplesnews.com/staff/laura_layden.

? 2010 Naples Daily News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Haynes Corporation planning expansion bringing 20 jobs to Collier County

Police Beat: July 16, 2010

16. July 2010 · Comments Off · Categories: Drugs, naples, News · Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Collier County arrests 07-16-10

Lee County felony arrests 07-16-10

Crime Incidents Database with Map

Search by crime, date, neighborhood and day of the week for criminal incidents reported by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office during the first six months of 2009.

To report a crime or suspicious activity in your neighborhood, call the Naples Police and Fire Department at 213-4844, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 774-4434, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office 239-477-1000 or the Marco Island Police Department at 389-5050.

? Two Collier men charged with grand theft after deputies say they shoplifted Kmart jewelry

DUI arrests

? Lee County man accused of breaking child’s leg

DUI arrests

Battery

Maria Petrosvky, 21, 2265 46th Terr. SW, Golden Gate, was arrested Wednesday by Collier deputies at her home. She was charged with battery after reports say she punched her boyfriend on his back three times.

DUI arrests

? Judy Belinda Hubbard, 47, of the 19000 block of Flamingo Road, Fort Myers, was arrested Thursday by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissioner officers in Lee County. She was charged with DUI/first offense and driving without a valid license.

? Charles Harvey Anderson, 50, of the 14000 block of Eagle Ridge Lakes Drive, Fort Myers, was arrested Thursday by Lee deputies near home. He was charged with DUI/first offense, property damage, refusing to take a DUI test and leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage.

? Jeremy Shane Kershaw, 29, of the 9800 block of Kentucky Street, Bonita Springs, was arrested Thursday by Lee deputies near Corkscrew Road and Three Oaks Parkway in Fort Myers. He was charged with DUI/first offense.

? Dayna Marie Grabinski, 26, 722 block of 95th Ave. N., North Naples, was arrested Thursday, by Collier deputies at 722 95th Ave. N. She was charged with DUI.

Grand theft

A 19-foot Carolina Skiff with a 70 horsepower Yamaha outboard motor and trailer with a total value of $14,000 were reported stolen Thursday from a house in the 18000 block of Apple Road in Fort Myers.

? Click here to view the Collier County Sheriff’s Office’s Cold Case Facebook page

Police Beat is compiled and written by the Naples Daily News staff/ contributors from oral and written reports by Naples police, Collier Sheriff‘s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Marco police and other agencies. Arrests indicate suspicion of crime, not guilt.

? 2010 Naples Daily News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Police Beat: July 16, 2010

Qualifying week: Check here for a list of local candidates who have qualified for 2010 election

14. June 2010 · Comments Off · Categories: Health, naples, News · Tags: , , , , , , , ,

The qualifying period for state, county and special district offices runs from noon, Monday to noon, Friday. The Daily News will update this list throughout the week.

COLLIER COUNTY

County Commission

County Commission District 2 Charles ‘Chuck’ Roth III

County Commission District 2 Joseph Foster

County Commission District 2 Gina Downs

County Commission District 4 Lavigne Ann Kirkpatrick

County Judge

Michael J. Provost (Incumbent, unopposed)

School Board

School Board District 1 Patricia Carroll

School Board District 1 Rosanne Winter

School Board District 3 Barbara B. Berry

School Board District 5 Mary Ellen Cash

School Board District 5 Joe Whitehead

School Board District 5 Roy Terry

Mosquito Control

Mosquito Control District Seat 1 Linda B Berthelsen

Collier Mosquito Control District Seat 2 Robert D. Geroy

Collier Mosquito Control District Seat 2 David C. Randall

Collier Mosquito Control District Seat 3 Jackie Fresenius

Soil and Water Conservation

Soil & Water Conservation District Seat 1 Bruce Reichert

Soil & Water Conservation District Seat 3 Dennis P. ‘Duke’ Vasey

Soil & Water Conservation District Seat 4 Tom Cravens

Soil & Water Conservation District Seat 4 Laurie Mitchell

Soil & Water Conservation District Seat 5 James Lang

Fire Districts

Big Corkscrew Island Fire District Seat 1 Christopher Crossan

Big Corkscrew Island Fire District Seat 3 Loretta Marie Blanco

Big Corkscrew Island Fire District Seat 3 Paul Plamondon

East Naples Fire District Seat 2 Richard Gibbons

East Naples Fire District Seat 4 Robert ‘Rob’ Boyer

East Naples Fire District Seat 4 Kyle J Jameson

Golden Gate Fire District Seat 1 Kevin Gerrity

Golden Gate Fire District Seat 3 David B. Stedman

Immokalee Fire District Seat 1 Albert Lee

Immokalee Fire District Seat 1 Edward “Ski” Olesky

Immokalee Fire District Seat 3 Terrie Aviles

North Naples Fire District Seat 2 John O. McGowan

North Naples Fire District Seat 4 J. Chris Lombardo

Port of the Islands CID Seat 2 Chuck Custer

Port of the Islands CID Seat 2 Gopal Motwani

Port of the Islands CID Seat 4 Ted Bissell

Port of the Islands CID Seat 4 Yolanda DeBartolo

Community Development Districts

Lely CDD Seat 2 Robert Fisher

Lely CDD Seat 2 Bill Lee p>

Lely CDD Seat 4 Al Ramirez

Lely CDD Seat 4 Paul F. Sullivan ( Active-)

Pelican Marsh CDD Seat 2 Gordon Walker

Pelican Marsh CDD Seat 3 Gary Gorran

Pelican Marsh CDD Seat 3 Don Hill

Pelican Marsh CDD Seat 4 Frank Garofalo

Fiddlers Creek CDD Seat 1 James Curland

Fiddlers Creek CDD Seat 1 Richard O. Peterson

Fiddlers Creek CDD Seat 2 Gerald D. Bergmoser

Fiddlers Creek CDD Seat 2 James Robertson

Naples Heritage CDD Seat 3 Peter V. Ramundo

Naples Heritage CDD Seat 4 Gerald G. James

Naples Heritage CDD Seat 5 Kenneth R. Gaynor

Cedar Hammock CDD Seat 2 Frank J Vaselewski

Cedar Hammock CDD Seat 3 Tom Cook

Mediterra South CDD Seat 1 Dallas Wayne Luby )

Circuit Judge (Collier, Lee, Hendry, Glades, Charlotte)

Lauren L. Brodie (Incumbent, unopposed)

Jim Shenko (Incumbent, unopposed)

Ramiro Mañalich (Incumbent, unopposed)

Jay B. Rosman (Incumbent, unopposed)

Alane C. Laboda (Incumbent, unopposed)

John W. Dommerich (Incumbent, unopposed)

Nick Thompson (Currently a state representative, unopposed)

State Attorney (Collier, Lee, Hendry, Glades, Charlotte)

Steve Russell (Incumbent, unopposed)

Public Defender (Collier, Lee, Hendry, Glades, Charlotte)

Kathy Smith (Incumbent, unopposed)

LEE COUNTY

County Commission

County Commissioner 1 Carla Johnston

County Commissioner 2 Cecil Pendergrass

County Commissioner 2 Dick Ripp

County Judge

County Judge Group 3 Robert J. Branning

County Judge Group 3 Miguel Fernandez III

County Judge Group 3 Frank Mann Jr.

County Judge Group 3 David Shestokas

County Judge Group 4 Eric P. Feichthaler

County Judge Group 4 Archie B. Hayward Jr.

School Board

School Board 1 Mary B. Fischer

Lee Memorial Health System

Lee Memorial Health System 4 Diane Champion

Lee Memorial Health System 4 Gary L. Eidson

Lee Memorial Health System 4 Joann Conti Ellis

Lee Memorial Health System 4 Chris Hansen

Lee Memorial Health System 4 Frank LaRosa

Lee Memorial Health System 4 Dawson C. McDaniel

Lee Memorial Health System 5 Donald A. Brown

Lee Memorial Health System 5 Bill Silverman

Soil & Water

Lee Soil & Water 2 Ron Skrutski

Mosquito Control

Lee Mosquito Control 2 Joseph H. Burgess

Lee Mosquito Control 2 Sarah Larsen

Lee Mosquito Control 4 Richard H. Pritchett III

Lee Mosquito Control 6 Thomas B. Hart

Community Development Districts

Bay Creek CDD 2 Robert D. Pritt

Bay Creek CDD 5 Nelson S. Glueck

Bay Side CDD 2 T. Marvin Hancock

Bay Side CDD 4 Bernie Cramer

Brooks I CDD 4 Rollin H. Crawford

Brooks I CDD 5 James C. Ward

Brooks II CDD 3 James Frank Strecansky

Brooks II CDD 4 Jack Meeker

Brooks II CDD 5 Joseph R. Bartoletti

River Ridge CDD 1 George T. Schoenheider

River Ridge CDD 2 Bob Schultz

Fire Districts

Bonita Springs Fire 1 Edward P. Fitzgerald

Bonita Springs Fire 1 ALexander “Alex” P. Grantt

Bonita Springs Fire 3 Evans M. Conforti Jr.

Bonita Springs Fire 5 Frank W. Liles Jr.

Estero Fire 1 Richard J. Cavuto

Estero Fire 1 Freddy Berry Partin

Estero Fire 3 Bruce Philp

Estero Fire 5 David Davenport

Estero Fire 5 Sean C. James

Second District Court of Appeal

Marva L. Crenshaw (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Patricia Kelly (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Nelly N. Khouzam (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Robert Morris (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Stevan T. Northcutt (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Craig C. Villanti (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Douglas A. Wallace (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

State Representative

District 101

Matt Hudson (Rep)

Larry Wilcoxson (No Party Affiliation)

District 112

Johnny G. Farias (Dem)

Robert Van Name (NPA)

Jeanette Nuñez (Rep)

LEE COUNTY

District 71

Ken Roberson (Rep) (Incumbent)

District 72

Paige Kreegel (Rep) (Incumbent)

District 73

Matt Caldwell (Rep)

District 74

Gary Aubuchon (Rep) (Incumbent)

Supreme Court Justices

Charles T. Canady (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Jorgé Labarga (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

James E. C. Perry (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Ricky L. Polston (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Second District Court of Appeal

Marva L. Crenshaw (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Patricia Kelly (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Nelly N. Khouzam (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Robert Morris (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Stevan T. Northcutt (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Craig C. Villanti (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Douglas A. Wallace (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Governor

Peter L. Allen (Independent Party of Florida)

Michael E. Arth (NPA)

Farid Khavari (NPA)

Chief Financial Officer

Jeff Atwater (Rep)

Attorney General

Dave Aronberg (Dem)

Jim Lewis (NPA)

Federal government

Senate

Lewis Jerome Armstrong (NPA)

Sue Askeland (NPA)

Bobbie Bean (NPA)

Piotr Blass (Write-in)

Glenn A. Burkett (Dem)

Charlie Crist (NPA)

Bernie DeCastro (Constitution Party of Florida)

George Drake (Write-in)

William Escoffery III (Rep)

Maurice A. Ferre (Dem)

Jeff Greene (Dem)

Howard Knepper (Write-in)

William “Billy” Kogut (Rep)

Carol Ann Joyce LaRosa (Write-in)

Richard Lock (Write-in)

Kendrick B. Meek (Dem)

Robert Monroe (Write-in)

Belinda Gail Quarterman-Noah (Write-in)

Bruce Ray Riggs (NPA)

Marco Rubio (Rep)

Alexander Andrew Snitker (Lib)

Rick Tyler (NPA)

Congressional District 14

Connie Mack (Rep) (Incumbent, unopposed)

James Lloyd Roach (Dem) Unopposed

William Maverick St. Claire (NPA)

Congressional District 25

Roly Arrojo (Tea Party)

Mariana “Marili” Cancio (Rep)

Paul Crespo (Rep)

Joe Garcia (Dem)

Luis Meurice (Dem)

Craig Porter (Florida Whig Party)

David Rivera (Rep)

? 2010 Naples Daily News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Qualifying week: Check here for a list of local candidates who have qualified for 2010 election