Email dated Nov 18

Commissioner Nicholson,
I was introduced to this project as a sub-contractor, to EDG/PaveAll as a concrete sub-contractor, contracted to
construct the foundation and end walls per the FDOT index include by the design professional, GPI. Upon the
inability of the contractor to maintain a stable and dry work place to properly; form, steel and place the footings,
with the pipe properly set and pinned to the foundation in place. The contractor than presented me with a plan
to do precast foundations and set them in place, this plan included your signature and seal making you the
engineer of record.
The design in my opinion requires perfect execution in what are clearly imperfect conditions, proper dry base
placement, proper grading, potential pilings (FEMA Standard & County Ordinance). As the contractor was not
able to provide a dry pit to prepare base, form, steel and place the footings, how would one assume a dry base
could be prepared? This is a minimum requirement, overlooked with the design I was provided.
With this we resigned from the project, requesting payment for time on the project and materials provided.
Frankly, from that point we at Samsson made a collective effort to be of assistance and require payment, the
contractor pushed us away from the project and has failed to make payment upon payment as agreed. To date
the contractor although receiving payment for the material we provided has not provided payment.
Further, I am aware of the workmanship and the issues on the job as some of my staff have been monitoring.
The construction is extremely questionable, water is moving between the shifting foundation and the slabs,
steel is exposed to the elements. This will fail rapidly, note it is not backfilled and already appears to be
shifting.
Please set a time to meet me on the project with all parties involved and discuss how as the design
professional, your opinion of the construction, its progress and payment status vs. completion to date, it is your
duty to provide the public with an honest report of the project, its status and its future.
Look forward to hearing from you on how we can deliver a quality project to the tax payer of Hernando County.
Please protect our public and stand behind your design and a quality execution of the design. This is out of
respect as a professional engineer, please lets make this right. The tax payers deserve our protection.
Also, we can discuss at that time the status of payment.
Sincerely,

Richard J. Matassa

Email dated Nov 19

Mr. Matassa,
Both myself and the County Engineer Mark Guttman would be happy to meet with you and the prime contractor
EDG onsite to discuss your concerns. Please contact Jeannie Austin (352-754-4062) with our office to set up a
time.
Thanks,

Brian Malmberg, P.E., MBA

Assistant County Administrator/Director of Public Works
Hernando County Department of Public Works
Email dated 19

Mr Malmberg
With all due respect. The EOR should review the construction to assure the intent of the design is met, there
are potentially very serious issues with the construction.
As presented to the board, recently he is familiar with this type of construction and frankly he should review and
assure the public the construction meets the intent of his design.
This is a request as a professional courtesy. As a design professional myself I would hope I would be
extended the same courtesy on a project should another design professional see something on one of my
projects under construction.
I have viewed photos on the ftp site some of my staff out of curiosity have been monitoring how construction
has been progressing and there are serious structural concerns such as over stressed rebar and other items
that I do not see addressed with as-built design modifications etc. in the file.
This is serious and critical. Please invite the EOR, he really should be consulted on any possible repairs and
modifications to assure the intent of the design has been met. As a contractor and engineer with experience on
similar projects, it is not uncommon with construction issues a CEI consult the design professional EOR to
assure the design is not compromised, in my experience this should occur with this project.
As for payment to my construction company we can address non-payment on site with those appropriate
parties.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Matassa, P.E.

Email dated Nov 19

All: (Brian Malmberg, Nick Nicholson, Mark Guttman, Clay Black, Alan Garman, and Russell Wehterington)
Very interesting a sheriff officer has just called and notified me that I am being trespassed off the construction
site on a public road, of course except for my statement that my staff is visiting periodically; does he even know
if I have ever been there, I know that when we have done this on our property we were told they had to see me
there to issue the first warning? What is he hiding? This is my only question, trespassing a professional
engineer pointing out serious construction issues, unsafe conditions and ultimately something the public should
be concerned with can only mean he is attempting to hide something.
I only am acting in the best interest of the public, the man now has not paid and trespassed our construction
company has now issued a trespass warning from a public road.
The engineer of record needs to act in the interest of his design and the public, he needs to review and act
before the county pays any further funds or allows this to be covered up. There are serious structural
concerns.
I request he act immediately.
471.027Engineers authorized to enter lands of third parties under certain conditions.Engineers are hereby
granted permission and authority to go on, over, and upon the lands of others when necessary to make
engineering surveys and, in so doing, to carry with them their agents and employees necessary for that
purpose. Entry under the right hereby granted shall not constitute trespass, and engineers and their duly
authorized agents or employees so entering shall not be liable to arrest or a civil action by reason of such entry;
however, nothing in this section shall be construed as giving authority to said licensees, agents, or employees
to destroy, injure, damage, or move anything on lands of another without the written permission of the
landowner.
History.ss. 17, 42, ch. 79-243; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 14, 15, ch. 89-30; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 27, ch. 2002299.

Sincerely,

Richard J. Matassa

Email dated Nov 19

Mr. Matassa,
Both myself and the County Engineer Mark Guttman would be happy to meet with you and the prime contractor
EDG onsite to discuss your concerns. Please contact Jeannie Austin (352-754-4062) with our office to set up a
time.
Thanks,

Brian Malmberg, P.E., MBA

Assistant County Administrator/Director of Public Works
Hernando County Department of Public Works
Email dated Nov 19
All,
I would like to visit this site and I would like Mr. Matassa to be my guest, he is being kind enough to do this
without a charge. Can we make this happen? I don't see why the Sheriff needs to be involved but I will invite
him if it makes it easier.
Thanks

Jeff Holcomb

Email dated Nov 19

All:
Any word on a project meeting date?
Commissioner Holcomb, I will be happy to meet you on site if you would like. The engineering department is
welcome to attend, but the EOR is the one that really needs to visit the project and determine proper options to
meet the intent of the design, the assumptions and analysis performed. Design loads and assumptions, frankly
are missing from the plans so analysis by others is just not practical.
Construction is a dynamic activity which at times require corrective actions, lets include the EOR and his
expertise in the corrective measures. Forensic analysis of the photos will determine current and future
concerns, the assumptions and analysis can then be revisited and corrective actions can be taken by the
contractor.
Again, construction is never without challenges and adversity, just work hard and smart and overcome the
challenges. Deliver the public the project the hard working tax payers deserve.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Matassa

Email dated Nov 20

The final plans for the head wall foundation and fill were executed by Nick Nicholson. The original EOR was
GPI, which I am not sure if the actual P.E. that SS those plans still works for them Dale Ravencraft. I have
heard he was not consulted, but I have not directly verified this.
Of course there is a question if the signing of sealing of these documents is ethical, but right now the most
important thing is, has the contractor met the intent of the design.
I believe a third party like H.W. Lochner, they are a CEI for FDOT projects including S.R. 50 currently being
wrapped up, would be a good firm to hire to look at and assure the tax payer they are getting what they have
paid to receive.
Richard J. Matassa
Email dated Nov 20
Can you remind me who the EOR is?
Sent from Jeff Holcombs iPhone
Email dated Nov 20
Brian/Mark,
I would to meet out at the Bayou bridge site on Monday morning at 11. Let me know if you can make it.
Thanks
Jeff Holcomb

Email dated Nov 21

(To All)
Please be informed that I have been advised by the Hernando County Legal Department that no County staff or
Commissioners should attend this meeting.
Sent from Len Sossamons iPhone
Email dated Nov 21
Mr. Sossamon,
Just to be clear Mr. Matassa will not be there on Monday. I have invited 2 industry professionals who can give
an honest opinion of how the project is progressing. I think it is in the best interest of the tax payers to ensure
that the bridge meets the contract requirements.
Sent from Jeff Holcombs iPhone
Email dated Nov 21

Mr. Holcomb,
I am not second guessing or questioning your motives or intentions. With all due respect, I am just passing
along the advice of the County's Legal Department. After all, this is their job, duty, responsibility and area of
expertise.
Len Sossamon

Email dated Nov 22

All:
Here is an in progress photo of the rebar, was this addressed?
I assume there is something in the file, where the design professional was asked to review the calculations and
determine a corrective course of action.
If there is any question this is rebar in the footing, after placement within the pit and the key none visible due to
excess siltation of the area as the water flow was not fully controlled allowing silt to build up.
Was the silt 100% removed?, prior to concrete placement so the key functions and a physical seal created to
keep the reinforcement from being exposed to the elements exists in the post construction condition.
These are items the design professional should be made aware of by the CEI on the project and addressed
formally in the file; public assurance would be prudent at the very least.
Sincerely,

Richard J. Matassa