When I contracted with Labagh Marine Contracting to install the pilings for my dock on the Rainbow River in Dunnellon, the person I spoke with was Mr. Alex Scanlan. I subsequently communicated with him via phone and email. In my conversation with Mr. Scanlan, I asked if Labagh could take responsibility for the whole project, including permitting the job, if required. His response was that, because the dock was less than five hundred (500) square feet and was replacing an existing dock, a permit was not required. In later discussion, while the job was being performed, he modified his opinion telling me that he was "ninety-nine percent (99%) certain that was the case, but that he couldn’t guarantee that he was correct". As it turned out, it wasn’t correct; Marion County has advised me that a permit was required.

When we first talked, Alex quoted me a price of $250/man/per day plus materials to complete the job. In a subsequent conversation he accepted the project, but upped the quote to $1,500, though materials cost less than $500, it took two (2) people to do the job, and the job was completed in one day. This reflected twice the labor cost, but because I needed the job done and I recognized there was some traveling required, I accepted the increased quote and engaged Labagh to do the work.

To Mr. Scanlan’s credit, though we had only discussed replacing the nine (9) pilings in the water, when he installed the pilings, he installed three (3) additional pilings because, as he said, it improved the quality of the dock by having pilings on the land at the edge of the water. For this I am appreciative.

When the job was completed, one of the installed pilings was shorter than the others, so much so that it didn't reach the top of the dock stringer to which it had to be bolted. As a result, only one bolt could be installed connecting the lower portion of the stringer to the piling. Mr. Scanlan stated that this deficit would not materially affect the structural integrity of the dock, and I don't disagree, however, with this structural defect, it is not possible to get certified engineered drawings required for permitting. An engineer will not attest structural standards are met with an undersized piling not connected to the dock structure with two (2) bolts like with all the other pilings on the dock.

In a follow-up conversation with Mr. Scanlan, while discussing the possibility of his installing a bulkhead at the property, he agreed to replace the undersized piling. However, despite repeated emails and phone voice messages, including an emailed draft of this letter, I have had no subsequent response from Mr. Scanlan or Labagh. I have requested that he contact me, schedule a date for the correction at his convenience, return to the installation site within a reasonable period of time, and replace the undersized piling on the dock. This is necessary to get acceptable engineered drawings in order to obtain required Marion County permitting. I advised that I didn’t mind waiting until a convenient time for them to get this return visit into their work schedule, but that it was something that must be handled. To date, I have had no response whatsoever from Mr. Scanlan or Labagh Construction. All attempts to contact them, including a Certified Letter, have been to no avail. They don't respond to emails and they don't return phone calls.

All I wanted was for them to do the job they were paid to do, but they have failed to do so. I have records documenting everything stated in this review. I regret being left with no other alternative than to advise the community of the lack of professional, ethical conduct by Mr. Scanlan and his willingness to accept payment for a job not completed properly. Now I have no alternative but to pay someone else to replace the undersized piling, properly completing work Mr. Scanlan was paid