I-Team

SUNRISE (CBS4) ― The Florida Marlins new stadium debate has often centered on its cost, but City and County Commissioners may be missing an even bigger concern: the people proposed to build it.

The Hunt Company has built several stadiums across the country and has a good reputation, but the reputation of the local company Hunt has partnered with, Moss & Associates is being questioned.

Harry Wietzer, a South Florida developer for decades doesn't trust Moss one bit.

"I would say you have to be insane to sign a no-bid contract with that contractor," said Weitzer Wednesday night.

Weitzer hired Moss to build condos in Coral Gables. "Each one of those four project came in over budget and double the length of time on Coral Gables," said Weitzer. "And as we speak now he's a year over on a job that he did in Sunrise."

The job in Sunrise, Tao, has been taken over by the bank. Wietzer says if Moss had delivered on time, he would have made it. The fact he is speaking now could be seen as a vendetta against a contractor. He swears though it's out of concern for his community.

"I want this county to know and the officials that are governing and spending our money, meaning the taxpayers, that this is the kind of person that they are involved with," he said.

In 2003 the Federal Election Commission fined Moss and his previous employer Centex $168,000. The fine was for a scheme where the company provided bonuses to employees based in part on their contributions to local politicians. That's against the law. Moss admitted to it recently at a City of Sunrise Commission meeting. He defended himself though, saying he didn't know he was doing something wrong.

In public records from the meeting he said: "There were several attorneys who attest there was nothing wrong with what we had done."

Still the FEC felt compelled to fine all the parties involved. The political donations went to various politicians on the state and federal level including Bill McCollum, Tom Gallahger, Clay Shaw, Bob Graham, and President George Bush.

In December Moss bid on a public safety building in Sunrise. Commissioner Sheila Alu was outraged by the election violations and surprised he wasn't charged criminally. "You're lucky if you ask me that you were just civilly penalized if you ask me. It's a major concern of mine," said Alu.

In the end Moss was the absolute last choice by the City of Sunrise. Yet the company is the only choice by the Florida Marlins. Typically large projects are given out to contractors who bid for the work. The process ensures cities and counties get the best price and also have a backup contractor should a deal fall through.

The Marlins though would like to skip that process and both Miami-Dade and the City of Miami Mayors agree. According to Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez it is "in the best interest of the county" to skip the bidding process. He believes it will save money "because the time to competitively award the project will materially increase the cost of the project."

Wednesday evening CBS4 reached Commissioner Shiela Alu and Sunrise Mayor Roger Wishner for their opinion on the deal. When asked whether they would be comfortable with a no-bid contract with Moss they both responded "absolutely not."

Alu said she was not comfortable with Moss based on his record. Mayor Wishner said it didn't make sense not to bid out the contract, especially considering the economy. Contractors would be fighting for the job.

Developer Harry Weitzer says Moss came in over budget by as much as 30 percent. He worries about history repeating itself. "God forbid the Stadium comes in another 20-30% over. You're talking another 100 to 200 million dollars. It would be horrible to the taxpayer."

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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