After reading reporter Jake Martin's excellent page one investigative story in the October 22, 2017 St. Augustine Record, I requested that our State's Attorney and St. Johns County Inspector General conduct a civil, criminal and administrative investigation.
I reported that day on this blog on ARDURRA's possible martial misstatement of fact in applying for a federal trademark and on ARDURRA representative CRAIG TAFFARO's baseless defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress lawsuit against his St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana political opponents, dismissed in federal court, for which he was obliged to pay $12,500 in legal fees.
I've now learned that County Administrator MICHAEL DAVID WANCHICK and County Attorney PATRICK FRANCIS McCORMACK and their staffs failed to perform any background investigation before hiring ARDURRA. See below for correspondence on my records request No. 2017-595.
St. Johns County Administrator MICHAEL DAVID WANCHICK with Sheriff DAVID SHOAR
St. Johns County Attorney PATRICK FRANCIS McCORMACK
(Historic City News photograph)
St. Johns County's failure to perform a background investigation before hiring ARDURRA is a breach of the standard of care that we expect in a major government procurement affecting our County government's ability to be reimbursed for tens of millions of dollars in post-hurricane recovery costs.
The only other Florida jurisdiction that has hired ARDURRA is the corrupt City of Opa-Locka in Miami Dade County, whose Public Works Director and City Manager were sentenced to federal prison (one Commissioner pled guilty but is cooperating with FBI).
No comment from WANCHICK, McCORMACK or flak MICHAEL RYAN:
-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Slavin
To: mwanchick
Sent: Sat, Oct 28, 2017 1:16 pm
Subject: Re: St. Johns County did NO Ardurra Group LLC background investigation (SJC Response RE: Request No. 2017-595)
Good afternoon:
1. I wrote you yesterday and asked you a very simple question: "Why was there NO background investigation of Ardurra Group LLC?"
1. I wrote you yesterday and asked you a very simple question: "Why was there NO background investigation of Ardurra Group LLC?"
2. You did not respond.
3. Why?
4. Your lack of any response is pregnant with the implication that there is no principled or lawful reason for your failure to do any background investigation.
5. Please call me today before 5 PM.
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
 | ||||
-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
To: mwanchick <mwanchick@sjcfl.us>; pmccormack <pmccormack@sjcfl.us>; mryan <mryan@sjcfl.us>
Sent: Fri, Oct 27, 2017 4:39 pm
Subject: St. Johns County did NO Ardurra Group LLC background investigation (SJC Response RE: Request No. 2017-595)
From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
To: mwanchick <mwanchick@sjcfl.us>; pmccormack <pmccormack@sjcfl.us>; mryan <mryan@sjcfl.us>
Sent: Fri, Oct 27, 2017 4:39 pm
Subject: St. Johns County did NO Ardurra Group LLC background investigation (SJC Response RE: Request No. 2017-595)
Dear Messrs Ryan, McCormack and Wanchick:
1. Before hiring Ardurra Group, LLC, our St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners staff, including County Administrator Michael Wanchick and County Attorney Patrick McCormack, did NO background investigation. Please see County's Response RE: Request No. 2017-595: Ardurra Group LLC background investigation (below)2. Why was there NO background investigation of Ardurra Group LLC? 3. Please respond to this question today.Thank you.
1. Before hiring Ardurra Group, LLC, our St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners staff, including County Administrator Michael Wanchick and County Attorney Patrick McCormack, did NO background investigation. Please see County's Response RE: Request No. 2017-595: Ardurra Group LLC background investigation (below)2. Why was there NO background investigation of Ardurra Group LLC? 3. Please respond to this question today.Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
| ||||
-----Original Message-----
From: Betty Dixon <bdixon@sjcfl.us>
To: easlavin <easlavin@aol.com>
Cc: Diane Lehmann <dlehmann@sjcfl.us>; Regina Ross <rross@sjcfl.us>
Sent: Fri, Oct 27, 2017 4:12 pm
Subject: Response RE: Request No. 2017-595: Ardurra Group LLC background investigation
From: Betty Dixon <bdixon@sjcfl.us>
To: easlavin <easlavin@aol.com>
Cc: Diane Lehmann <dlehmann@sjcfl.us>; Regina Ross <rross@sjcfl.us>
Sent: Fri, Oct 27, 2017 4:12 pm
Subject: Response RE: Request No. 2017-595: Ardurra Group LLC background investigation
Dear Mr. Slavin,
After a reasonable review, the County has found no records responsive to your request.
Thank you,
Betty A. Dixon
Legal Services Specialist
Office of County Attorney
500 San Sebastian View
St. Augustine, FL. 32084
Office: 904-209-0817
Email: bdixon@sjcfl.us
This electronic transmission and any documents accompanying it contains information intended solely for the individual or entity to which it is addressed, and may include confidential information. This information will be made available to the public upon request (Florida Statute 119.01) unless the information is exempted according to Florida law. Unauthorized disclosure of confidential information contained herein is prohibited by Federal Regulations (42 CFR Section 481.101), HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley and State law. If you are not the intended recipient of this message or a person responsible for delivering it to the addressee, you are hereby notified that you must not disseminate, copy, use, distribute, publish or take any action in connection therewith. Unauthorized disclosure of confidential information is subject to prosecution and may result in a fine or imprisonment. If you do not want your email address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. If you have received this communication in error, do not distribute it. Please notify the sender immediately by electronic mail and delete this message. Thank you
From: Betty Dixon
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2017 11:36 AM
To: easlavin@aol.com
Cc: Diane Lehmann <dlehmann@sjcfl.us>; Regina Ross <rross@sjcfl.us>
Subject: Acknowledgement RE: Request No. 2017-595: Ardurra Group LLC background investigation
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2017 11:36 AM
To: easlavin@aol.com
Cc: Diane Lehmann <dlehmann@sjcfl.us>; Regina Ross <rross@sjcfl.us>
Subject: Acknowledgement RE: Request No. 2017-595: Ardurra Group LLC background investigation
Dear Mr. Slavin,
I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your public records request. St. Johns County will determine if it has any records that are responsive to your request. If any such records are located, we will compile them and redact any exempt material prior to providing them to you. Per St. Johns County Administrative Code 104.6, the County may request a deposit for costs if an extensive records search takes more than fifteen (15) minutes to locate, review for exempt information, copy (if requested), and re-file the requested material. Should it be determined that the nature or volume of the public records requested requires the extensive use of information technology resources, or extensive clerical or supervisory assistance, or both, then we will first respond with an estimate of the additional charges for the actual costs incurred, and whether a deposit will be required. In such instance, the records will be compiled only after you approve the charges and the County receives any required deposit. Payment for the total or remaining costs can be made when the records are available. If the actual cost is less than your deposit, you will be refunded the balance. If you fail to provide the cost deposit within thirty (30) days, your request will be closed.
Thank you,
Betty A. Dixon
Legal Services Specialist
Office of County Attorney
500 San Sebastian View
St. Augustine, FL. 32084
Office: 904-209-0817
Email: bdixon@sjcfl.us
This electronic transmission and any documents accompanying it contains information intended solely for the individual or entity to which it is addressed, and may include confidential information. This information will be made available to the public upon request (Florida Statute 119.01) unless the information is exempted according to Florida law. Unauthorized disclosure of confidential information contained herein is prohibited by Federal Regulations (42 CFR Section 481.101), HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley and State law. If you are not the intended recipient of this message or a person responsible for delivering it to the addressee, you are hereby notified that you must not disseminate, copy, use, distribute, publish or take any action in connection therewith. Unauthorized disclosure of confidential information is subject to prosecution and may result in a fine or imprisonment. If you do not want your email address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. If you have received this communication in error, do not distribute it. Please notify the sender immediately by electronic mail and delete this message. Thank you
From: Ed Slavin [mailto:easlavin@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2017 10:40 AM
To: Patrick McCormack <pmccormack@sjcfl.us>; Michael Ryan <mryan@sjcfl.us>; Michael Wanchick <mwanchick@sjcfl.us>
Subject: Request No. 2017-595: Ardurra Group LLC background investigation
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2017 10:40 AM
To: Patrick McCormack <pmccormack@sjcfl.us>; Michael Ryan <mryan@sjcfl.us>; Michael Wanchick <mwanchick@sjcfl.us>
Subject: Request No. 2017-595: Ardurra Group LLC background investigation
Good morning:
1. Please send me a copy of the County's background investigation before hiring Ardurra Group LLC on Hurricane Matthew FEMA reimbursements.
1. Please send me a copy of the County's background investigation before hiring Ardurra Group LLC on Hurricane Matthew FEMA reimbursements.
2. If none exists, please explain why.
3. Is there a County policy on background investigations of contractors?
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
 |
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