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Letter to the editor

Another job on the line in Pinellas

Some commissioners have lost faith in the county administrator.

By WILL VAN SANT, Times Staff Writer
Published September 6, 2007

Pinellas County Administrator Steve Spratt has lost the confidence of several oh his bosses in the county commission and could soon be fired for his involvement in the Jim Smith land deal. Commission Chairman Ronnie Duncan said that were he Spratt, he would start looking for a new job. Complete coverage
	[Times photo: Joseph Garnett, Jr.]

Pinellas County Administrator Steve Spratt has hung on to his job for now, but he has lost the confidence of several county commissioners and is at a perilous juncture for the first time since taking the position in 2001.

Some of his bosses say they expect him to follow former County Attorney Susan Churuti, who was unanimously fired by commissioners Tuesday.

"I'm totally done with him," said County Commissioner Susan Latvala. "I've been fed up with him for a long time."

Churuti may be the first person to lose a job over the grand jury report that criticized the county's June 5 purchase of land owned by Property Appraiser Jim Smith, but some commissioners say Spratt's role in the debacle shouldn't be glossed over.

At Tuesday's contentious meeting, County Commissioner Calvin Harris proposed getting rid of both Churuti and Spratt, but his motion didn't get the second needed to force a vote. Just after Churuti was fired, Latvala made a motion to part ways with Spratt, but that too died for lack of a second.

As commission chairman, Ronnie Duncan is not allowed to second motions, but said Wednesday that if he had not been in the chairman's seat, he would likely have supported Latvala's effort to vote on Spratt's fate.

Duncan also said that were he Spratt, he would start looking for a new job.

"I'm not sure he can mend the fence," Duncan said. "If I were in his shoes, I would certainly look at the alternatives."

County Commissioner Karen Seel has also expressed doubts about Spratt, meaning that at least four of his bosses either want him gone or are willing to entertain the idea of firing him.

A super majority, a vote of at least five of seven commissioners, is needed to oust Spratt, or two votes of four of seven at consecutive meetings.

* * *

Although the grand jury report was more critical of Churuti and Smith, it sharply rebuked Spratt's administration. The county paid Smith $225,000 for his lot on Brooker Creek, nearly quadruple the value assigned the land for tax purposes by Smith's own office.

Spratt helped expedite the deal, pushing his staff to complete the transaction.

Spratt has expressed remorse for his actions, saying Churuti encouraged him to act quickly. He said he wants to keep his job, which pays an annual salary of $223,476.

He has been presented with a list of steps from commissioners he's expected to take in order to prevent future blunders. On Wednesday morning, Spratt gathered his top deputies and urged improved communication with commissioners, a focus on quality staff work and full disclosure when potentially sensitive issues must be decided.

"I stepped up the tension right away," Spratt said. "Get to work on the fixes."

Spratt, 52, has spent more than 30 years in public service. He said he hopes to rebuild his damaged relationships with some on the commission and is not looking seriously for other work.

"I'm focused on fixing things here," he said. "I'm committed to doing this work."

* * *

But to some commissioners, the Smith affair is just the latest in a string of gaffes linked to Spratt, including proposals to develop parts of Brooker Creek Preserve and build a restaurant at Fort De Soto.

Latvala said Spratt may be good at getting projects done, but he's tone deaf to the political dimensions of his decisions and how they impact his commissioners. "It's almost like it's deliberate on his part, just time after time," Latvala said. "And that's not okay."

At Tuesday's meeting, County Commissioner Bob Stewart balked at the idea of firing both Churuti and Spratt, saying Pinellas would be like a ship without a rudder. Latvala dismissed his concerns, saying Spratt's removal might mean less vacations for commissioners, but there is enough talent among staff members to move forward without the pair.

"We can get 'er done," she said. "Everybody would have to come to work every day, and Bob wouldn't be able to spend so much time in Colorado, but we could get 'er done."

Duncan, the commission chairman, said he was vexed at what he viewed as Spratt's lack of deference during Tuesday's meeting and his sparring with Churuti. They have faulted one another for their roles in the Smith deal.

"There was a true adversarial relationship there," Duncan said. "Don't air that bad relationship in front of me, your employer, or in front of the public."

Though commissioners moved to reprimand Spratt on Tuesday, they did not develop precise language for taking him to task. Duncan plans to schedule a meeting where the reprimand can be discussed more fully and benchmarks for Spratt's improvement clarified. The search for a new county attorney would also be discussed at the meeting, Duncan said.

Spratt said he can take the heat, but hopes the Smith fiasco is viewed in light of several years of excellent evaluations from the commission. Also, he said that while some of his actions have drawn the public's ire, they were taken as a result of policy direction from the board.

Attempting to work without the full backing of the commission will be a massive change for Spratt. But Spratt said it's common for government administrators like him to be in such a position.

"It's bruising, it's troublesome, it's stressful," Spratt said. "But it's part of this business."

Times staff writer Jonathan Abel contributed to this report. Will Van Sant can be reached at vansant@sptimes.com or 727 445-4166.

TIME LINE

Motions made

5:42 p.m.: Commissioner Susan Latvala moves to reinstate suspended County Attorney Susan Churuti. The motion fails for lack of a second.

6:24 p.m.: After hearing from County Administrator Steve Spratt, Commissioner Calvin Harris motions to terminate "without cause" both Spratt and Churuti. The motion dies for lack of a second.

6:25 p.m.: Commissioner Ken Welch moves to fire Churuti. The motion is seconded by Commissioner Bob Stewart.

6:32 p.m.: Latvala says she supports firing both Spratt and Churuti. But Chairman Ronnie Duncan points out that a motion is on the floor.

6:35 p.m.: The County Commission votes unanimously to fire Churuti.

6:35 p.m.: Latvala makes a motion to fire Spratt without cause. The motion fails for lack of a second.

[Last modified September 5, 2007, 23:18:27]