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BCC embraces recommended changes for real estate practices
By SUZETTE PORTER
Article published on Tuesday, April 29, 2008 |
CLEARWATER – The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved on April 22 recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Committee on real estate practices.
Commissioner John Morroni was absent.
Commissioners appointed the committee on Nov. 6, 2007, and hired UGL-Equis, a consultant, after a Pinellas County Grand Jury questioned some of the county’s real estate practices during its investigation of the June 5, 2007 land deal between the county and Property Appraiser Jim Smith.
Andrew Hines, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, presented a summary of recommendations to the board that included five main points.
- Establish strategic real estate focus;
- Consolidate real estate functions at a single point, rather than having them spread throughout the organization;
- Addition of a special emphasis on data flow;
- Keep transparency and accountability clear throughout all real estate processes;
- Build staff and employee teamwork through role definitions, recognition and better communications.
According to a letter sent to the commissioners and interim County Administrator Fred Marquis, Hines said the committee agreed with the consultant that the county administrator should be given wide authority of budget modification and approval of lesser directional changes, cost changes and more within a “level of control that is comfortable for the board.”
An additional recommendation was that the county administrator should be directed to adopt a policy and procedure that requires prompt notification on the agenda when a real estate process has not followed the approved process.
There was some question in the minds of the grand jury and the public about Smith being shown favoritism during the purchase of 1.44 acres of land for $225,000.
County staff has already begun planning for implementation of the recommendations from the committee and the 31- page consultant’s report.
Marquis estimated that it would take about 36 months to make the changes and provide training. He said consolidation would not be too difficult and could be done within 30 to 45 days He said the county attorney’s office would provide two lawyers who would be dedicated to real estate practices only.
He also said there should be no impact to the budget as money and resources were already dedicated to real estate practices. He said some cuts might even result in the long-term.
“This could let us anticipate real estate needs and not just react to real estate needs as they impact a project,” he said.
He said training and establishing relationships would take the longest time to accomplish.
Commissioner Ronnie Duncan said real estate needs would become more pressing in the future because “there’s not a lot of land left.” He said interconnectivity seemed to be a better solution.
“Consolidation makes a great deal of sense,” he said.
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Article published on Tuesday, April 29, 2008
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