The story in last Saturday's Miami Herald sent shudders through Key West readers trying to tolerate the massive sewer replacement project here. The Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Dept. will have to pay $3.3 million to repair or replace sewer pipes that cost $4.6 million to install just a few months ago.
The problem? An independent sewer pipe inspector allegedly took $23,000 in payments from one of the companies doing the work.
County officials and consultants have now checked 13 of the 20 pipelines installed under the watch of the inspector and found problems in each case— faulty joints, improper anchoring or installation too close to the surface of the street, increasing the likelihood that they could rupture and spew thousands of gallons of raw sewage.
The inspector allegedly received the kickback from Lijo, Inc., one of the county's contractors.
Among two other companies by the Miami Herald as installing some of the 20 pipelines in question was Lanzo Construction— one of the major contractors involved in Key West's sewer project. But, according to Christopher Mazella, the county's inspector general, there is no evidence to link Lanzo to the kickback scandal.
Key West Utilities Director David Fernandez told Key West The Newspaper Wednesday that controls are in place that would prevent a similar incident here.
"We have four levels of oversight and control on our project," Fernandez said.
"First of all, we have `100 percent inspection.' A city-employed inspector is on every job site all the time.
"This is unusual," Fernandez said. "In the past our inspectors might be responsible for several job sites. Not on this project. We have on-site inspectors that oversee every foot of pipe laid. And he keeps a field log."
There is also a second level of control, Fernandez said.
"The contractor is required to video every step of the construction. And our construction manager reviews those tapes and compares what he sees to the on-site inspectors' field logs."
A third level of control is testing.
"Before final sign-off, every installation is pressure tested for leaks," Fernandez said. "Most of the times, these tests are routine. No leaks. But when testing does discover a problem, we can fix it before we pave over it."
Fernandez said he also uses the payment process as a control.
"Nothing gets paid unless I approve it," he said. "And if I have a question, I can go back and look at the videotapes and the field logs."
Dade County Manager Merrett Stierheim announced that he is implementing new safeguards to prevent a reoccurrence of the kickback scandal.
Maybe he should talk to David Fernandez.