Florida’s attorney general
issues investigative subpoenas to three debris-removal companies as part of a state probe into allegations the firms are failing to live up to terms set in pre-storm contracts.
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi issued investigative subpoenas Monday to three debris-removal companies as part of a state probe into allegations the firms are failing to live up to terms set in pre-storm contracts with cities and counties, including some in Central Florida.
The companies include AshBritt, which had several contracts in Central Florida, including Apopka and Orange County; and Ceres Environmental Services, which had a deal with Seminole County.
“Sitting debris is a health and safety hazard and needs to be removed as soon as possible — but instead of doing their jobs and helping Floridians recover, apparently some contractors are delaying the work or requesting higher rates,” Bondi said in a statement released by her office.
The subpoenas seek to answer questions about the slow progress of debris removal after Hurricane Irma, which hit Central Florida on Sept. 10.
Company officials could not be reached for comment.
Apopka, Orange County’s second-largest city, had a prestorm contract with AshBritt to remove debris. “They never showed up,” Apopka Mayor Joe Kilsheimer said.
Ceres Environmental, which the company’s website describes as “one of the larger disaster recovery companies in the world helping restore and repair communities after largescale natural disasters,” was Seminole County’s debris-removal contractor under an agreement that was to pay the company $7.49 per cubic yard.
Seminole County estimated it had about 1 million cubic yards of storm debris, mostly uprooted trees or snapped limbs.
“It’s a lot of debris,” Seminole County Manager Nicole Guillet said last week. “It’s seven times more debris than what we had with Hurricane Matthew [in October 2016].”
County commissioners agreed to renegotiate a new contract with Ceres Environmental to speed up the removal process. Officials were prepared to pay up to $15.48 a cubic yard.
Bondi’s office said the subpoenas are part of an ongoing investigation into allegations that some debris-removal contractors are failing to perform at pre-storm contract rates, not performing until negotiating higher rates or slow to perform under existing contract terms.
Many Central Florida officials complained that contractors failed to show up as agreed or could not deliver on promises to supply an adequate number of properly equipped subcontractors, some of whom took higher-paying jobs in Texas or South Florida. Debris in many neighborhoods will require trucks with claws or hoisting equipment to lift fallen trees.
Some communities have warned residents it could take months to clean up debris, while others have pressed their public works employees into long hours collecting mounds of trees, limbs and leaves.
Bondi said her office is reviewing contracts and gathering information related to delays and potential price increases for debris removal by AshBritt Inc., based in Deerfield Beach.
Orange County spokeswoman Doreen Overstreet said AshBritt is performing “in line” with their original contract.
Two other removal firms, Ceres Environmental Services and DRC Emergency Services, also were served with investigative subpoenas based on information that they may have sought increased rates for debris removal, Bondi said.