Should the Manatee County Commission continue to financially assist in the closure of Piney Point? The short answer is YES! Although the current commission is not responsible for the environmental and financial fiasco that happened at Piney Point, when elected, they did take on the responsibility of helping close the plant to reduce the danger of another environmental and public health disaster.
The existing phosphogypsum (gyp) stacks are a historic mistake; they should never have been permitted and would not have existed except for the fact that previous county commissions enthusiastically granted zoning and land use changes that allowed for the fertilizer plant and gyp stacks to be built.
The sale of the Piney Point plant to HRK Holdings LLC was a mistake made by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), and previous Manatee County commissions were all but silent on the sale. FDEP agreed to the sale of the property without knowing what future activities would be proposed at Piney Point or whether future land uses would involve the radioactive phosphogypsum waste stacks.
The sale of Piney Point was a misguided attempt by FDEP to advocate its public responsibilities to a limited liability corporation. The fact is, the sale of Piney Point failed to consider any reliable data or analysis of potential land uses at this location, particularly considering the proximity of the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve and Bishop Harbor, which provides valuable ecological resources of statewide importance and has been designated as an Outstanding Florida Water.
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GLEN GADFLY GIBELLINA
Submission Details:
Full Name
First Name
Glen
Last Name
Gibellina
Email
Glengibellina@gmail.com
Which meeting is this public comment for? (Please select date of meeting)
June 16, 2026
Topic/Agenda Item
Execution of Amendment 1 to Agreement No. 24-R083613CD with Chemical Injection Partners for Services at the Piney Point / Buckeye Road Pretreatment & Industrial UIC Well Facilities, Patrick Shea, Utilities Director
Comment
This contract (Agreement No. 24-R083613CD) completely subverts the boardʼs directives regarding Piney Point. It locks taxpayers into a potential 10-year drain, hands over control of county-owned infrastructure to a private firm, and sets up a massive monthly payout that is completely unnecessary given our current staff capabilities and existing equipment. Here is a highly aggressive, formal protest letter you can submit to the Board of County Commissioners, the County Administrator, and the Procurement Division before this agreement is signed. DATE: June 14, 2026 The Board of County Commissioners, Manatee County, Florida County Administrator, Manatee County Procurement Official, Manatee County 1112 Manatee Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 SUBJECT:
FORMAL OBJECTION AND DEMAND FOR REJECTION OF AGREEMENT NO. 24-R083613CD (OPERATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PINEY POINT – CHEMICAL INJECTION PARTNERS FLORIDA, LLC)
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY & DEMAND The undersigned formally objects to the approval of Agreement No. 24-R083613CD currently drafted between Manatee County and Chemical Injection Partners Florida, LLC. During the last official meeting of the Board of County Commissioners (BCC), it was explicitly stated, understood, and agreed upon by the Board that Manatee County possesses sufficient funding only until the end of the current calendar year (2026) to manage operations at Piney Point. This draft agreement directly violates that fiscal boundary by locking the county into a two-year initial term with extensions reaching up to ten (10) years, at an astronomical estimated cost of $400,000 per month. We demand that the BCC reject this contract in its entirety and direct county staff to operate the facility internally using existing public infrastructure.
II. MAJOR CONTRACTUAL DEFICIENCIES & VIOLATIONS 1. Severe Fiscal Overreach & Violation of Board Mandate (Article 3) The Contract Clause: Article 3(A) establishes an absolute initial term of two (2) years, and Article 3(B) grants the county the right to extend this for an additional eight (8) years, creating a 10-year contractual liability. The Violation: The Board explicitly agreed that funding is only secured until the end of this year. Signing a contract that extends two to ten years into the future without certified, long-term dedicated funding is fiscally irresponsible and misleads the public about the remaining lifespan and financial requirements of the Piney Point remediation project.
2. Redundant Outsourcing of County-Owned Infrastructure (Article 9) The Reality: Manatee County taxpayers already own the physical treatment plant building, the deep injection well, the wellhead infrastructure, and the extensive environmental monitoring equipment at Piney Point. The Violation: There is zero operational justification to pay a private, outside firm an estimated $400,000 a month to operate equipment that is already bought and paid for by the public. Manatee County Utilities has qualified, licensed, and capable staff who can and should run this facility internally. Outsourcing basic operational support services to an outside LLC represents an unnecessary corporate handout.
3. Unchecked "Firm Fixed Price" Blank Check (Article 6, Paragraph J) The Contract Clause: Article 6(J) dictates that this is a "firm fixed price contract" and that the contractor will fulfill its obligations regardless of cost based on "Exhibit B" (the hidden fee schedule). The Violation: Setting a massive, unyielding fixed price for an unpredictable environmental remediation site like Piney Point protects the contractor, not the taxpayer. If operations scale down as the site is successfully capped, the county remains legally locked into paying an exorbitant flat rate to an outside firm for services no longer required.
4. Out-of-State Corporate Shell Concerns (Article 26) The Reality: While the contractor is listed as "Chemical Injection Partners Florida, LLC" with a local Bradenton P.O. Box/Suite address, Article 26 reveals that notices and corporate control are actually directed out-of-state to bsvoboda@cippermian.com with a (678) Georgia area code. The Violation: Local funds meant to safely close a local environmental hazard are being funneled out of Manatee County to an entity deeply tied to out-of-state oil and gas injection operations (the Permian Basin), rather than investing in our own local county workforce.
III. FORMAL DEMAND FOR RECOURSE We urge the Board of County Commissioners to protect Manatee County taxpayers by taking the following immediate actions: Veto/Reject Agreement No. 24-R083613CD: Refuse to sign or authorize this contract as currently drafted. Enforce the Short-Term Funding Mandate: Restrict any contractual obligations strictly to the end of the current fiscal/calendar year, in alignment with the Boardʼs explicit funding findings. Utilize County Staff: Direct the Manatee County Utilities Department to assume full operational command of the county-owned building, well, and monitoring equipment, eliminating the need for a $400,000 monthly outside vendor. Demand a Public Presentation of Exhibit B: Force the Procurement Division to publicly disclose the exact fee rate schedule before any vote, ensuring total transparency regarding where every dime of Piney Point mitigation money is going. The residents of Manatee County expect accountability, adherence to Board decisions, and fiscal responsibility.
This agreement fails all three tests. Respectfully submitted,
The Taxpayers and Citizens of Manatee County
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