CLEARWATER – The Clearwater City Council gave City Attorney Pam Akin on Oct. 22 the go-ahead she had requested to file two lawsuits against Florida Power Corporation.
The lawsuits claim that Florida Power refusal to relocate its overhead lines, duct banks, storm pipes and other equipment hampered the city’s Cleveland Street Streetscape and Beach Walk projects between 2006 and 2009.
“As a result, the city was required to expend funds to compensate the contractor for time delays, redesign and additional work,” a staff memo to the council said.
The lawsuits will seek reimbursement from Florida Power, doing business as Progress Energy Florida Inc., in the amounts of $179,298 for the Cleveland Street redesign and reconstruction project and $263,626 for the Beach Walk and Coronado Drive project.
The legal work will be done by the city’s legal staff, so the cost of each lawsuit will only be a $255 filing fee and approximately $200 for service of process.
