USVI Public Records

Document text

LEC April 20, 2026 Good day Senators and other dignitaries, GEC, LLC provided documents on April 16, 2026 in response to a SUBPOENA issued to John Wessel dated March 24, 2026. (6) GEC provides the following, which includes John Wessel’s verbal testimony. in response to SUBPOENA item (6) “provide a complete and detailed explanation of all project delays and revised completion dates” a. See below time line with description Time Line dates Description 11/21/14 to 10/14/15 GEC received Notice to Proceed on 11/21/14 with a completion date of 6/5/17, 30 months later. On 2/17/15 GEC received a Suspension of Work verbal notice followed up by a 3/18/25 Letter from Cecilia Milliner Emanuel, Acting Commissioner of Property and Procurement stating all work was suspended or halted. This suspension resulted in a complete revision of the Construction Contract, design of the Stadium, size of the stadium doubled, and relocation of the Stadium into a floodway via Change Order 1 which was issued on 10/14/15. This resulted in 327 days of delay. 10/14/15 to 1/24/22 The work resumed on 10/14/25 and included the following delays: 4/18/16 — Additional Geotechnical investigation via Change Order 3 6/23/17 — Government decided to use a “surcharge” foundation method via Change Order 5 9/17/17 — Hurricane Irma/Maria eroded the surcharge pile, resulting in a delay to 1/18/18 via Change Order 6 2/15/19 — Surcharge method failed because the south end of the stadium never stopped sinking. Change Order 10 changed the foundation to driven piles. 8/5/20 — Building Permit Application submitted to DPNR with revised design and location. Permit was put on hold pending receipt of a CLOMR (Conditional Letter of Map Revision) to the FEMA Floodway map where the Stadium was to be located 10/15/21 — After over a year of regular meetings with FEMA, a CLOMR was issued. 1/24/22 — After receipt of CLOMR the Building Permit was issued. This resulted in 2,294 days of delay. 8/25/22 — 2/11/25 Discussions between GVI and GEC were ongoing on how to reimburse GEC’s delay costs for the CLOMR delays. Over a year later it was agreed that GEC should submit a formal delay claim which was provided on 4/23/23. GVI’s formal response was provided on 10/18/24. A forty five percent partial payment of the $1.5 million amount was paid on 2/11/25. This resulted in 1,114 days of delay. 8/11/25 — 4/17/26 Because delay funding had not yet been approved, GEC and GV] agreed on a Contractual remedy to help get work flowing. Because the PEJ Contract is unique, never having been used in the same form before or since, a Contract clause stating no retainage would be held after 50% of the work was complete had been overlooked. After discussions and agreement on an amount due for excess retainage held, the processing of the payments required an amendment to the Contract. GEC has been promised payment processing on or before 4/17/26. This has resulted in 249 days of delay. 6/5/2017 Contract end date per Notice to Proceed + 3,984 Excusable delays per the items listed above 5/2/2028 Revised Contract end date due to delays b. See backup documents referenced above at tab (6) c. GEC was victim of a ransomware attack in early 2025 and lost some of its records permanently. Where records were unrecoverable it is so noted in tab (6). GEC, LLC P.O. Box 1656, Kingshill VI 00851 Tel. 340.778.0200 Fax 340.778.1515 www.gecusvi.com Department of Property&Procurement Govemment of the United States Virgin Islands 3274 ESTATE RICHMOND, CHRISTIANSTED, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS 00820 8201 Sus BASE, 3RD FLOOR, ST. THomas, U.S. ViRGINISLaNDs 00802 ST. CROIX MAIN OFFICE: 340.773.1561 | ST. THOMAS MAIN OFFICE: 340.774.0828 ST. CROIX FAX: 340.773.0986 | ST. THOMAS FAX: 340.777.9587 HTTP://DPP.VI.GOV NOTICE TO PROCEED November 21, 2014 John R. Wessel Managing Member GEC, LLC P. O. Box 1656 Kingshill, VI 00851 Re: C003SPRC15 (GEC) Service Contract for the Design and Construction of the Paul E. Joseph Stadium and Sports Complex, St. Croix, VI Dear Mr. Wessel: You are hereby notified to commence work on the above referenced contract on Friday, December 5, 2014 and fully complete work within thirty (30) months. Your contract completion date is therefore Monday, June 5, 2017. The contract provides for an assessment of liquidated damages in the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each calendar day after the above established contract completion date that the work remains incomplete. A pre-construction meeting is being scheduled for Wednesday, November 26, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. in the Conference Room at the Department of Property and Procurement. Attached, please find the executed contract for your records. A. Millin Mad:ro issioner Enclosure XC: St. Clair N. Williams, Department of Sports, Parks & Recreation, Commissioner Darryl A. Smalls, P. E., Department of Public Works, Commissioner P & P Project File Department of Property&Procurement PR Govemment of the United States Virgin Islands ee: 3274 ESTATE RICHMOND, CHRISTIANSTED, U.S. Vircin IsLanDs 00820 ‘e- ~ 8201 Sus Base, 3RD FLOOR, St. THomas, U. S. VIRGIN IsLANDS 00802 Reyes ST. CROIX MAIN OFFICE: 340.773.1561 | ST. THOMAS MAIN OFFICE: 340.774.0828 8T. CROIX FAX: 340.773.0986 | ST. THOMAS FAX: 340.777.9587 HTTP://DPP.VI.GOV March 18, 2015 (BY MAIL AND BY HAND-DELIVERY) John R. Wessel Managing Member GEC, LLC P.O. Box 1656 Kingshill, Vi 00851 RE:_ SUSPENSION OF CONTRACT: COO3SPRC15 Dear Mr. Wessel: This letter confirms the Government’s suspension or halt of work on the Paul E. Joseph Stadium, pending review of the contract, as previously noted in our prior telephone communication of February 11, 2015. | understand, from your earlier correspondence, that GEC has taken steps to comply with the Government’s requests by securing the job site as of February 16, 2015, and we thank you for your cooperation In that regard. Please be assured that appropriate representatives of the Government of the Virgin Islands will be contacting you to discuss how the Government intends to move forward. Sincerely, ing Commissioner cc: Honorable Kenneth E. Mapp, Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands Randoiph Knight, Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor Rochelle Corneiro, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor Emile Henderson, Esq., Chief Legal Counsel, Office of the Governor Venetia Velazquez, Esq., Deputy Legal Counsel, Office of the Governor PP. N for BUILDING PERMI Please Print Clearly GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS Submit Sheets 1 and 2 OEPARTMENT OF PLANNING ANO NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF PERMITS Parcel Identification Number (PIN) Owner of building. Government of the Virgin Islands Class of Work Present moiling oddeews: 2274 Fst richmond St Croiy VIONR2Q Ss ( X) New ( ) Alteration Owner of plot, Government of the Virgin Islands ( ) Addition) Repair Location of Work City Country Une of the Building House No. Plot No. 40d (Privote or rentol dwelling, warehouse, store, restourant, bor, aftice, etc.): Street Evete LaGrange Qvorter Quarter Public Sports Facility Genero! statement of the proposed work, Build a complete Little Leaque Baseball Facility including structure, fi _blumbing and electrical at the Terance Martin Little League Field, Description of the proposed work and information related thereto: 1. Gccuponcy - No. of fomilies: NA No. of persons: —_ 9. No. of bedrooms: N/A A 2. Flacr oreo - First floor: 4130 aq. ft. 10, No. of bothroams: +2 Ginen} Total alt floors 4130 ag. ft, 11, Tato! na. of ather rooms: 2 3. No. of stories: 2 4. Type of exterior walls: Concrete 12. Me. af plumbing fixtures + Kitchen sinks: Tottets: 12 8. Type of root, Concrete, Steel Frame Lovatories:_& Urinots: 6. Root oreo used for catchment: N/A aq. ft. Bothtubs: ___ Showens: 7, Cistern: ( ) new ( ) axlsts Other (specify): 8. Cistern interior dimensions: tt. long x 13. Totol no. of roams with th. wide « H. high (to overtiow) x slectricol service: 2 7.5= gallons. WAl proposed work encroach on public rights-of-woy or on the property of others? Yes Total estimoted cost of the piaposed work: $ 619,500 Controctor whe will_de Hos work been started? Yes Z come Now 222292-18 Signature of ofpli CE BeEES Date signed _ S457 ZO ZL Mailing oddress of ofp Box 1656 Kingshill, Vi00851 Phone No. .340-778-0200 == A i FOR DEPARTMENTAL USE ONLY [)intormation requested. Remarks: Development Cost Per Sq. Ft. Sq. Ft. Cost Estimated Cost of Construction l Jx| }=| ] (JPermit approved (_]Permit disapproved fee Assessment BP Fee Commissioner, DPNR Review Fee Total Permit No. Prepaid Amt Fee Balance Fee PP. N for BUILDING PERMI GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OEPARTMENT OF PLANNING ANO NATURAL RESOURCES Pleaae Print Clearly Submit Sheets 1 and 2 DIVISION OF PERMITS Parcet identification Number (PIN) Owner of building. Government of the Virgin Islands Class of Work Present moiling oddress: 3274 Fst richmond St Croix ViONR20 { X} Now ( ) Alteration Ownes of plo. Government of the Virgin Islands { jAdditian ( ) Repsir Location of Work City Country Use of the Building House No. Plat No. 40d (Private of rentol dwalting, warehouse, Street Eware LQ Grange store, cestourant, bor, affice, etc.): Quvorter Quarter Public Sports Facility lumbing an jum. Description of the proposed work and informotion related thereto: 1. Oecuponcy - No. of fomities: NA__ to, of persons; —__ 9. No. of bedrooms: N/ A 2. Floor oreo - First floor: 14684 +g, ft. 10, No. af bothrooms: -4 reine Total olf floor 20500 4q. &. 11, Tetol aa. of other reams: 3. No. of tories: 2 12. No. af plumbing fixtures - 4. Type of exterior walls: Concrete Kitchen sinks: Toilets; 29 5. Type of root: Concrete - Steel Frame & metal Lovotories:; 32 Urinate: 20 6. Roof oreo used for catchment: N/A sq. ft, Bathivbs: Showers: 8 = 7. Cistern: {| ) new ( ) exists Other (ipecity, Mop sink &. Cistern interior dimensions: ft. long x 13. Totel no. of roams with Ht. wide x fh. high (10 overflow) = alectricol service: 28 7.$= gattons. Wal proposed work encroach on public rights-of-way or on the property of athers?. Yes Total estimoted cost of the Hor work been started? YS di License No.: _2-2292-1B Date signed FS + ZOZO Contractor who will dé Signature of gpplican Molling oddres of agglice 56 Kingshill, Vi00851 ‘Phone No.: 340-778-0200 FOR DEPARTMENTAL USE ONLY L)!atormation requested. Remarks: Development Cost Per Sq. Ft. Sq. Ft. Cost Estimated Cost of Construction | |x| | (_]Permit approved L|Permit disapproved fee Assessment BP Fee Commissioner, OPNR Review Fee Total Permit No. Prepaid Amt Fee Balance Fee SS Promoting fhe Science of Water No-Rise Certification for Paul E. Joseph Stadium Based on a Replacement Effective Model in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Island of St. Croix OCTOBER 15, 2021 Prepared for: U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND NATURAL RESOURCES [eM & Engineering & Sciences, tne Project No. 15004 2950 Haicyon Lane, Suite 501 TEL 904 217 7485 Jacksonville, Florida 32223 www.geminiengineering.com No-Rise Certification for Paul E. Joseph Stadium Based on a Replacement Effective Model in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Island of St. Croix October 15, 2021 Digitally signed by Ki H Pak DN: c=US, o=Gemini Kona rnes ueettece | Engineering and Sciences Inc,, os wa| AnQualifier=A01410D0000017 SN as Peas comet on | BC345B1B80000ADE6, cn=Ki H Sonbed and He eqraben meat be vertes | Pak ~——!_ Date: 2021.10.16 11:51:47 -04'00' Ki Hong Pak, USVI PE#1290E Gemini Engineering & Sciences, Inc. 2950 Halcyon Lane, Suite 501 Jacksonville, Florida 32223 TEL (904) 217-7485 EMIN] Engineer mg & Sctemoes, lin October 14, 2021 Department of Planning and Natural Resources ATTN: Amanda Jackson-Acosta #45 Mars Hill Frederiksted, Virgin Islands 00840-4474 Subject: No-Rise Certification for Paul E. Joseph Stadium Based on a Replacement Effective Model in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Istand of St. Croix Dear Ms. Jackson-Acosta: Gemini Engineering & Sciences was authorized to analyze the hydraulic impacts of the proposed Paul E, Joseph Stadium along the banks of Gut No. 6 on the west coast of St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands (USVI). The site is impacted by an effective FEMA floodway as well as flood zone and Base Flood Elevations (BFE) which are due to hurricane storm surge and corresponding wave heights. A violation was issued to the community due to fill within the effective floodway along Gut No. 6. The violation stated “44 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), § 60.3 (d) (3) - Floodway Requirement, any project in a floodway must be reviewed to determine if the project will increase flood heights beyond 0.00%. An engineering analysis must be conducted before a permit can be issued. The community's permit file must have a record of the results of this analysis, which can be in the form of a No-rise Certification. This No-Rise Certification must be supported by technical data and signed by a registered professional engineer.” This No-Rise Certification is specifically intended to address the violation. Although the effective Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for the U. S. Virgin Islands is dated April 16, 2007, the effective BFEs and floodway along Gut No. 6 originated from a HEC-2 simulation from the initial FIS for the Island of St. Croix, dated April 16, 1980. Typically, if a floodway is designated along a stream, the effective hydraulic model that the floodway was based on would serve as the baseline. Unfortunately, the effective base flood and floodway HEC-2 models for Gut No. 6 were not available from the FEMA Engineering Library, and a recent subsequent search performed by another FEMA contractor also did not uncover the effective model. Due to the unavailability of the effective model, based on discussions with FEMA Headquarters, FEMA Region 2, the community, and other stakeholders, a replacement, or substitute, hydraulic model was proposed to serve as the baseline to address this current violation. The substitute effective modeling was initially discussed on weekly FEMA calls with the Territory in February 2021. Gemini submitted a substitute effective model for Gut No. 6 to FEMA for review in April 2021. FEMA's Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) approved the substitute effective modeling in May 2021, allowing Gemini to proceed with our numerical analysis. Although this documentation describes the No-Rise Analysis and Certification along Gut No. 6, please note the following relevant details. ¢ In August 2018, following the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, FEMA published USVI Advisory Data and Products which included approximate “Base Level Engineering (BLE)” HEC-RAS modeling for Gut No. 6. This modeling was developed to calculate Post-Disaster Advisory BFEs (ABFEs) and mapping for the USVI using the latest available topographic information. This riverine hydraulic analysis was not intended to update or revise the effective analysis for Gut No. 6, therefore the modeling used for the advisory effort is not suitable for the No-Rise analysis. ¢ During discussions with FEMA, the applicability of a Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) was suggested. To complete the regulatory requirements associated with the stadium and the effective Special Flood Hazard Area and floodway along Gut No. 6, a separate CLOMR has already been submitted and approved, case no. 21-02-1318R. This official No-Rise Analysis documentation is a subset of the CLOMR analysis, therefore the CLOMR and No-Rise Analysis are inherently consistent. ¢ Lastly, although the focus of the CLOMR is an overall conditional map revision (SFHA, BFE, and floodway) along Gut No. 6 which involves both riverine and coastal wave height analysis, this No-Rise Analysis and Certification is specific to only the riverine HEC analysis since the intent is specifically to address the floodway violation. 2950 Halcyon Lane. Suite 501 Jacksonville, Florida 32223 ‘@ T 904.217.7485 www.geminiengineering.com