In the 1/14/05 Sun Herald, a report by Karen Nelson entitled, ''Health official: County used political pressure'' reports at a meeting in 97 that Broadnax slammed his hand on a table at one meeting about Big Hill Acres and said, ''The Health Department would either play ball with M.E. Thompson or he (Broadnax) would cut the Health Department budget.'' Broadnax responded to Nelson, ''The entire board cut her budget, and we cut it drastically because we were having so much trouble with them (the Health Department) throughout the county. They wouldn't approve septic systems throughout the county. They were giving people so much trouble.'' He said Maddox was wrong to tie the budget cut to issues with Lucas' development.

The Lucas and their engineer are being tried in federal court at the Gulfport Courthouse this week. Maybe this explains any approvals of Ocean Beach Estates septic tank systems after the Health Department's budget was cut. It nauseates me. It makes me wonder why it takes 7 years for govermental malfeasance to be exposed. Also, I wonder if and when the Health Department's budget was restored.

By Al Pettigrew

H Dept Approved 197 BHA Systems

The following was received from Karen Nelson 1/18/05:

Thanks. I tell you though, from my investigations over the years, the Health Department can be a piece of work. They were the worst about approving septic systems (re: OBE) that do not need to be approved, even after they knew the area couldn't take any more systems.
In the case of Lucas' project they are saying that one guy they fired did
all the bad approvals. (The HD approved and designed 197 individual systems
at BHA, according to testimony.) Then later they said other HD people were
involved too. Then the Health Dept person testified that she made questionable recommendations at Big Hill Acres herself. That department has the oddest way of passing blame. Then when asked, it will say it doesn't have the authority to do anything and that state law needs to be changed.
Lucas sold lots for 9 years to people some of who now have worthless
wetlands they can't build on. (Not all of them were wetlands.) But no one stepped up to do anything to protect the consumer. That's why the HD is named in both state and federal civil suits (both on hold until the outcome of this trial.)


By Al Pettigrew