Lee gives contractor 2 weeks to finish facility

Lee County commissioners today gave a contractor two weeks to finish a water treatment facility at the Lee/Hendry Landfill today or face termination.

After falling more than a year behind schedule, Wright Construction nearly became the first contractor in more than 10 years to get the ax from the county.

Staff members from the county's division of solid waste recommended firing the contractor today for taking too long to install the facility, which treats water that runs off the county's landfill.

The county can legally charge Wright $60,000 in liquidated damages for failing to complete the project on time, said Lindsey Sampson, solid waste division director for Lee County.

However, hoping to avoid a long and difficult termination process, the county's attorney recommended that Wright get two more weeks to complete the project.

A representative from Wright said it shouldn't take the company longer than two weeks to finish.

County staff is less confident because they have heard those promises before, said Jim Lavender, director of public works.

"There is a lack of trust because we've heard these same things before," Lavender said. "We have very little confidence that these things will be worked out."