A judge says plans for the Weeki Wachee slide were complete enough for it to be built properly.
By JENNIFER LIBERTO
Published October 3, 2003
A Hernando County engineer responsible for construction drawings used to build water slides at Weeki Wachee Springs has been cleared from charges that he was negligent in his work for the water park.
Brooksville engineer Anthony Pedonesi faced six counts of negligence regarding his drawing plans for the slides, according to an administrative complaint filed by the Florida Board of Professional Engineers.
But Administrative Law Judge Jeff Clark ruled that the administrative complaint "failed to satisfy the quantum of proof required to discipline a professional license," according to the opinion released Tuesday.
Pedonesi said he was pleased with the judge's findings, which closed the case.
"I'm going to take a plunge down the water slide at Buccaneer Bay to celebrate," Pedonesi said.
The Florida Board of Professional Engineers administrator and attorney did not return calls for comment.
At the crux of the complaint were charges made in 2002 that construction drawings were incomplete and lacked specific details for several items needed to construct the slides, including plans for a stairway layout plan and a roof.
Judge Clark ruled that Pedonesi's engineering plans for the slide, which both the engineer and contractor considered a "fast track" project, were complete enough to build the slides properly.
The deficiencies pointed to by the Florida Board of Professional Engineers were typical of a "fast track" project, which allows a project to be planned and built over a short time in phases, Clark wrote in the 21-page order. Detailed plans for later phases are not required at the beginning of construction, he wrote.
The judge noted that several items that were missing from initial construction plans were later added in supplemental construction plans.
Also there are no written rules or state statutes governing what needs to be included in a fast track project, or even that a fast track project be specifically labeled "fast track," according to the opinion.
The allegations focussed on Pedonesi's construction drawings for the slide and did not question the structural integrity of the slides.
But Pedonesi and Weeki Wachee representatives have said the slides are sound.
"Six engineers, including the state's expert, have determined the structure is safe and meets the standard building code," Pedonesi said.
