Contractor says Collier commissioner owes crew nearly $100,000

NAPLES, Fla.- A Collier County government leader is being confronted about a legal dispute. Papers claim Commissioner Georgia Hiller owes contractors nearly $100,000 that she refuses to pay.

The legal issue sparked a protest outside the government building Tuesday. The contractors were carrying signs stating “Hiller abuses power.” They say their goal is to get the issue into the public eye.

The WINK News Nightbeat tracked down Commissioner Hiller to ask a few questions. Hiller would not say much about the lawsuit only stating each time it is a “private civil matter that will be handled in the courts”.

We reached out to the contractor, Randy Johns, who filed the complaint against Hiller.

“I did really feel she was a dear friend, I never expected her to turn on me like she has,” said Johns of his past connection to Commissioner Hiller. ”

According to Johns, his company Phoenix Associates and subcontractors, did over $150,000 of work on Hiller’s home. The work included the roof, stucco and other upgrades. Johns says Hiller paid the deposit but refuses to pay the subcontractors the rest of the money. The outstanding bill on the legal documents is $98,000.

“For me, I just want to make sure the subcontractors get paid,” said Johns. “I don’t want anything from her for us, I just want to get those guys paid.”

Johns says his company filed a construction lien on Hiller’s property for the amount owed, but Hiller bought it out.

“She bonded off the lien,” said Johns. “So she put the amount of the lien up, plus the 20 or 30 percent that’s required instead of paying us.”

That brought Johns out to the government building with signs in protest of Hiller.

“This isn’t the first time Hiller hasn’t paid a contractor,” said Johns. “We did the protest because we want the public to know she is not paying these people.”