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Charlotte County orders forensic review as contractor admits major defects in South County pool renovation
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Summary
After commissioners and community members pressed officials over delays and visible defects at the South County Regional Park pool, county staff hired an independent forensic engineer; contractor Allmiller Pools acknowledged construction problems and said it would remediate, while the county said it will withhold final acceptance pending the auditor’s report.
Charlotte County commissioners escalated oversight of the troubled South County Regional Park pool renovation on June 10, directing an independent forensic engineering review and pressing the contractor to finish corrective work before the county releases the project for public use.
Tommy Scott, the county’s community services director, told the board staff had reviewed contracts, insurance and had secured an outside forensic pool auditor (a firm represented in the meeting as having a principal who has worked on similar cases) to inspect compliance with local and state health codes and industry standards. The consultant is scheduled for a site visit June 16 and will provide a high-level list of findings within days and a written report in about 14 days, Scott said.
The board heard detailed testimony from BJ Allmiller, the owner of Allmiller Pools, who described latent conditions uncovered when crews removed tile and plaster — including decayed step structures and a plastic light housing that required cutting out and repouring concrete. "When we took the plaster and the tile off, the steps fell apart," Allmiller said, explaining crews had to reform and pour steps and replace recessed light niches with stainless-steel housings. He acknowledged the problems and said he would correct them.
Commissioners pressed for documentation of change orders, invoices and site photos. Purchasing manager Kim Corbett told the board the original resurfacing contract was $256,800 and the tile removal-and-replace contract was $185,850, and that no formal change orders had been submitted to purchasing as of the meeting. Utilities and procurement staff explained mechanisms to track quantities and invoices, and Deputy County Attorney Tom David warned the county’s reimbursement rules put a maximum on what the county will pay if the developer or contractor proceeds at their own risk.
Scott told commissioners the contractor remains on site and will continue punch-list work while the independent engineer performs an audit; he confirmed the audit engagement fee is "just under $19,800." The contractor said he expects to complete the dive well within about a week and the remaining tile and plaster work in roughly 4–5 weeks — a schedule that would put reopening in roughly five to six weeks if no further issues are found.
Board members said they will withhold final acceptance and any public announcements of reopening until the forensic engineer confirms the corrective work meets industry standards. Several commissioners also asked staff to provide copies of the contractor’s day‑one and in-progress site photos, and purchasing confirmed staff will request and preserve that documentation for the investigation.
The board’s action did not impose a new fines or penalties during the meeting; instead it prioritized independent verification, closer county oversight and prompt documentation to protect taxpayer dollars and confirm public‑health compliance prior to reopening.
