Chiefs' bill goes unpaid

Firefighters association still owes hotel money for June convention; Radisson manager appeals to city

Web posted August 2, 2000

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By Sylvia Cooper
Staff Writer

The Radisson Riverfront Hotel Augusta's general manager has asked the city to help collect thousands of dollars in past-due bills from a June fire chiefs conference.

Darryl Leech wrote Augusta Mayor Bob Young last week asking him to help the hotel collect $8,294.63 of a $25,294.63 bill for the conference.

But City Administrator Randy Oliver said the debt is not the city's responsibility, and it has no business getting involved.

``While we think this was a wonderful event for Augusta-Richmond County, it was not an event sponsored by the county, so the bills are the responsibility of the (Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs),'' Mr. Oliver said.

The association, a professional organization for fire chiefs with members from 10 Southeastern states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, held its annual conference May 30-June 4 at the Augusta hotel.

Mr. Oliver said it has been brought to his attention that the hotel bill is not the only unpaid bill associated with the conference held by Augusta-Richmond County Fire Department officials. Former fire Chief Ronnie Few, now acting fire chief in Washington, and Katrice Bryant, the department's public information officer, were instrumental in organizing the event.

Chief Few did not return two telephone messages left with his secretary in Washington on Tuesday.

Mr. Oliver said a bill for shirts also has not been paid, although he has not seen that bill.

``My understanding is the shirt bill is about $23,000,'' he said.

Ms. Bryant said the hotel bill has not been paid in full because some vendors and exhibitors at the conference have not paid the association.

But one vendor mailed in $5,000 Tuesday and one was mailing $2,400, she said.

``We're still collecting money,'' she said. ``And when we collect the money, we will pay the people that we owe. .ƒ.ƒ. We're not stiffing the Radisson.''

OTHER STORIES: • Fire chief nears OK for Washington job • Chief answers questions • Capital supports fire chief • Few addresses allegations • Augustans back Few in capital • Agents confiscate fire records • Fire official resigns from department • Few pays $642 bill for calls • Officials' phone bills top $1,000 • Mayor is unsettled by debts • Chiefs group covers late bill • Chiefs' bill goes unpaid • Ex-fire chief bids farewell to Augusta • Group hits media for Few squabble • Fire chief reports to grand jury • Few faces final vote by D.C. council • Few accepts D.C. job

According to Mr. Leech's letter, adjustments were made to the bill June 6, which Ms. Bryant agreed to and made assurances that the $25,294.63 bill would be paid in full that week. But it was July 24 before any payment came, and that was for $17,000.

``We extended the credit for this function due to the fact they are a part of the city, as well as the Radisson Riverfront Hotel,'' Mr. Leech states in the letter.

The total bill included $21,546.71 for catering, $6,158.50 for complimentary rooms and $9.42 for other charges. Tax exemptions and other adjustments deducted $2,420, according to the bill.

Fire Chief Donald Kovacs of Waycross, Ga., the immediate past president of the association and one of the officials who received a complimentary room, said the Augusta-Richmond County Fire Department had collected the registration fees. He said Tuesday that he had no idea all the bills hadn't been paid.

``That was all supposed to be taken care of by the Augusta fire department,'' Chief Kovacs said.

Chief Kovacs said the fire chiefs association did not have a contract with the Augusta-Richmond County Fire Department but does with the department in Tennessee, where next year's conference will be held.

``We changed all our rules, regulations and all of our procedures, so there would be a contract drawn so we have more control over what goes on and everything,'' Chief Kovacs said. ``We did that because we had trouble finding out how many people registered. And they had the money put in a bank there.''

Chief Kovacs estimated about 100 chiefs attended the conference.

``We never did get an actual registration count,'' he said. ``There were a lot of things we didn't get.''

Ms. Bryant said Tuesday she did not immediately know how many chiefs attended or paid the $300 registration fee and would have to check.

Chief Kovacs said the unpaid bills are ``worrying'' him.

``We need to get this cleared up,'' he said. ``I had no idea. I thought everything was handled and everything was under control.''

Reach Sylvia Cooper at (706) 823-3228 or sylviaco@augustachronicle.com.