After three years, remodeling job unfinished

SEBRING Its a case of she said, they said.

Through her daughter Gina Ronga, Heli Ronga said all she wanted was for the SHIP program to correct a mold problem in the bathroom, fix the air conditioning system and build a wall from the kitchen to the laundry room so the front entrance would be more energy efficient. A work order outlined four projects costing less than $11,000.

More than three years worth of notes from Highlands County show that the Rongas wanted more.

Gina Ronga says she was talked into doing more. A county housing official saw missing cabinets and an antiquated kitchen and suggested further remodeling. A change order shows another $4,625 to replace all the duct work, tear out a wall near the exterior doors, install new electrical outlets and add cabinets for two pantries.

Anthony Cruz was the second contractor hired to complete the job. They ran off the first one, said Chris Benson, the countys administrative project manager.

The woman and the daughter, they looked at everything through a work write-up, said Anthony Cruz of JMC Builders. We gave that price to the county. The woman okayed it. Then the daughter got involved. Move the refrigerator, move the sink. Thats not how it works. They said they got approved for $20,000. I explained to them, Im not charging you $20,000.

Since the county is paying the bill, the county is the client, Cruz said. If the Rongas wanted other projects done, they had to ask the county.

They wanted granite top; we used Formica. The mother would give us the OK; the daughter would come in and show us photos. We cant do that kind of work. She was constantly kicking us out, Cruz said.

Finally, on June 22, 2012, after the county noted more than a half-dozen delays in the job, Cruz left.

Tony called Jeannie (DuBenion), county notes said. DuBenion was a temporary supervisor for the housing department. They had a meeting, Tony, Gina and Mrs. Ronga. They could not come to an agreement and he was going to walk away from the job. Gina and Mrs. Ronga were very upset and screaming and yelling at him.

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After three years, remodeling job unfinished