Sports complex almost done

Most of the work on the controversial sports complex project was

finished before the contractor abandoned the job and left with nearly

$1 million in city money, City Administrator Penny Culbreth-Graft has

found. Key parts that leave the park unusable remain undone, however.

In a report released earlier this month, Culbreth-Graft determined

that contractor Joe O’Connor installed two artificial turf soccer

arenas and completed most of the grading and subsurface arena pads

for two roller hockey arenas.

With the help of landscaper and friend Ygnacio Baez, he also had

done extensive drainage, electrical and concrete work for the batting

cages and pitching machines and had installed water and sewage

facilities for the restrooms and modular pro-shop.

“Many people think that he simply absconded with the money without

completing any work and that simply isn’t true,” Culbreth-Graft said.

The City’s Attorney’s office is now suing O’Connor and his

Oregon-based Community Parks Foundation for abandoning the project

after receiving the bulk of their payment.

As for O’Connor’s background, Culbreth-Graft said former Community

Services Director Ron Hagan did an independent background check on

O’Conner, but did not find that he had an outstanding arrest warrant

or that he failed to compete at least three other similar projects.

The city is trying to determine which materials O’Connor has

purchased and what needs to be done to complete the project. A plan

to revive the second phase of the sports complex will be presented to

the City Council some time next month.

“There is only a small portion of the project to be completed,”

Culbreth-Graft said. “It’s not unusual to have a case where you have

to seek litigation to get full completion of a project.”

She also said she felt that the sports complex would one day stand

out on its own.

“Let us finish in due course this last leg of the journey,” she

said. “We are going to get there and we’re going to have something

that we can be proud of.”

There will be no debate for Silva and Harmon

There will be no public debate between Republican Assemblyman Tom

Harman and his democratic challenger Dave Silva for a seat

representing the 67th assembly district.

Citing time commitments, Harman’s chief of staff Bob Biddle said

the assemblyman would not be able to attend a debate Silva was

attempting to set up at Cypress College.

Libertarian candidate Norm Westwell was not invited to the debate.

“There hasn’t been a debate since he’s been in office,” said

Biddle. “There’s just no time. Harman’s got his schedule booked up

two to three months in advance.”

Silva is attempting to unseat Harman, who is attempting to win a

third and final two-year term in the Assembly. Silva said he has

become increasingly frustrated with the lack of debate, and

admonished Harman during the public comment period of the Huntington

Beach City Council.

“Three times he’s run, three times he’s been asked to debate and

three times he’s dodged it,” he said. “The public deserves a debate

on the issues. The public should know where he stands.”

Local towing company wins top honors

Mandic Motors of Huntington Beach has received the top award for

customer service by the Automobile Club of Southern California. Owner

Bob Mandic , a former Surf City mayor, accepted the award on Oct. 16

during the annual Service Awards luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Orange

County in Garden Grove.

Service Pro awards are presented to Auto Club independent contract

station owners that exceed in all measured areas of service. This is

the second year Mandic Motors has received the award.

“Earning Service Pro honors indicates that these companies are the

best in their industry, and the Auto Club is pleased to have them as

the backbone of our network,” said Sharon Supple, vice president of

Emergency Road Service for the Auto Club.

Mandic Motors has also received national honors from the auto club

and the American Automobile Assn. In 2002 Mandic Motors took home the

Gold award in the Service Provider of Excellence program, and

captured silver in 2003.

Mandic attributed his success to his dedicated staff and

management from John R. Boucher and Maged Rasheed.

“Without these great people, none of this would have been

possible,” he said. “I owe it all to them.”