Fw: First Coast News Story

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Dear Janet:

Here's a story, but it's pretty weak. Here's the quote of the day: "As long as we're inspecting the work, I don't see a reason to go out and stop that work." Said Goldsbury. Isn't he brilliant? It's only an illegal permit, so why should the building official stop the work?

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/news-article.aspx?storyid=6053

Cruise Ship Terminal Contractor Operating Without Needed State License

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(ville)Work continues on the new cruise terminal facility that will host both passengers and ships before a getaway voyage. Now there's a problem with how the work was assigned."There should have been a contractor name, license here - somebody wrote, "same as owner," say Chief Building Inspector Goldsbury.Under Florida law, a city entity like the ville Port Authority, can not be it's own contractor. Yet on the building permit for the job, First Coast News found the property owner and contractor are both listed as Jaxport.A ville company, Acon Construction, told us, it's doing the work.Goldsbury's initials are listed twice on the application, authorizing the project."I was looking at the zoning issues, I didn't even look at that," said Goldsbury from his downtown office. "We missed that, they missed that, someone evidently caught it and brought it up, and it's now being corrected." Peek is the Communication Director for the ville Port Authority."The intent was never for Jaxport to serve as its own contractor, we simply were getting the permits, we have a licensed general contractor to do the work."Which is Acon Construction. Goldsbury agrees state law requires the contractor have what's called a "QBL" or a "qualified business license" to do this kind of work.Yet Acon admits it does not have a QBL, and there's no record with the state board of professional regulation."We did that a QBL was required, Acon did not have it," said Peek Thursday. "We called Acon, informed them about that, and asked them to immediatley obtain one."The state, or the city does have the authority to stop work until a license is obtained. An Acon representative did not want to go on camera, but told First Coast News they are now pursuing a QBL. Wenzel, an attorney who handles construction law cases, says the permits shouldn't have been handed out in the first place."Under the code, the city code, as well as the state code, individuals or corporations that are not properly licensed should not be allowed to obtain a building permit."All parties involved say the mix-ups were not intentional, simply an oversight that needs to be fixed."As long as we're inspecting the work, I don't see a reason to go out and stop that work." Said Goldsbury.

Created: 7/17/2003 9:42:26 PM

Updated: 7/17/2003 9:42:26 PM