The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for Palm Beach County has uncovered concerning practices within the city's utility department. An investigation found that employees felt pressured to expedite the reactivation of contaminated water wells due to financial motivations. Stuart Robinson, an OIG investigator, reported that a former utility employee alleged Compliance Manager Dr. Anthony Williams neglected proper water quality testing protocols to cut costs. During a recent meeting, Williams addressed these claims by referencing statements made by Robinson, highlighting the challenges faced when wells were out of service. The city reportedly spent considerable sums on external water purchases and consultants to address utility issues. Inspector General John Carey emphasized that while city administration was not directly aware of the problems, they should still face consequences for inaction. Evidence showed senior staff violated reporting rules through mismanagement and deliberate actions to bypass accurate water condition reporting.

Investigator Robinson detailed how financial concerns influenced decision-making within the utility department. According to his findings, a former employee revealed that Dr. Williams did not adhere to the required number of water quality tests, driven by a desire to reduce expenses. This approach led to potential health risks for residents as contaminated wells were hurriedly brought back online. The situation became more complex when it emerged that the city had to rely on external water sources, incurring significant costs. For instance, the city spent over $1.2 million on consultants to rectify utility issues, with the possibility of additional expenditures. These financial pressures created a challenging environment where proper safety protocols were sometimes overlooked.

The investigation also delved into specific incidents that highlighted the mismanagement within the utility district. Former Utility District Manager Michael Low claimed that retesting samples positive for E. coli was avoided due to safety concerns following an incident. However, the OIG traced recommendations from the Riviera Beach Police Department, which did not advise against following proper testing protocols. This discrepancy further underscored the lack of adherence to established procedures. Council members Tradrick McCoy, Dr. Glen Spirits, and Mayor Ronnie Felder questioned the culpability of city management in overseeing senior staff like Low. Inspector General Carey clarified that their role was to identify potential misconduct rather than make management decisions.

Councilwoman Shirley Lanier expressed her appreciation for the thoroughness of the report, noting that it clearly identified the source of the problems. She believed the blame lay with the former Executive Director rather than the city administration. Despite this, the investigation concluded that senior utility staff violated reporting rules through both mismanagement and deliberate actions designed to circumvent accurate water condition reporting. This revelation calls for a closer examination of accountability within the utility department to prevent future lapses in public safety.