Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority responds to $1.9 million dispute

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority (MBCIA) is still working to get the nearly $2 million it’s demanding from three companies.

Through an open records request, 41NBC obtained a letter MBCIA’s attorney, Kevin Brown, sent to Armstead Management, LLC, New Age Concept and Consulting, LLC, and WM Construction’s attorney in July.

The MBCIA responded to the contractors’ decision that they were not going to reimburse the MBCIA for work it claims was never completed or started.

The dispute started in April of 2018 after the MBCIA launched an investigation after former MBCIA chairman/executive director, Cliffard Whitby, resigned. In September of 2017, Whitby was indicted for bribery and money laundering. The MBCIA says it discovered multiple projects were paid for, but there was no proof of them actually being completed.

In May, the three contractors’ attorney Chip Collins, responded to the MBCIA in a letter, claiming the companies were not going to reimburse the MBCIA the $1,878,899 it’s demanding. Collins stated the MBCIA’s demands are baseless and politically motivated attacks against Whitby. You can read the full letter by clicking here.

In the MBCIA’s July letter, responding to Collins, Brown states the “the Authority is disappointed that instead of taking the opportunity to substantiate the charges for the moneys that the Authority seeks returned, your clients have done nothing more than offer incredulous and obviously fabricated explanation based on, among other things, inadmissible newspaper articles and a demonstrably false renumbering system of buildings.”

Brown also mentioned “The Authority further reserves all of its rights to pursue any and all claims at both law and in equity that it may have against your clients, rather known or unknown.”

The MBCIA declined comment on potential litigation.

We reached out to the three contractors, but did not get a response.

To view the full letter MBCIA sent to the three contractors, click here.

To view the full statement from MBCIA, click here.

RELATED STORIES:

Attorney: Companies accused of incomplete work won’t pay Industrial Authority

MBCIA demands money $1.9 milllion payment for Whitby projects 

 

Categories: Bibb County, Local News

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