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Leesville, La. —
Picerne Military Housing announced on Thursday that "MFS has not experienced an interruption in the normal payment schedule under its contract with Picerne."
MFS, also known as Multi-Family Services, was formerly contracted with Picerne for landscaping services on Fort Polk. MFS terminated its contract on July 30. Since then, more than 30 employees of MFS have complained that MFS still owes them a significant amount of money. MFS has said that it cannot pay its employees until Picerne pays MFS.
"At this time, Picerne is not holding back funds that would have otherwise been paid to MFS," said Picerne spokesman Mark Williams. "The next regularly scheduled payment that would have otherwise been paid to MFS was scheduled for August 10, 2010."
Jeremy Parrott, one of the owners of MFS, said earlier in the week that Picerne had notified MFS President Clint Thomas via email shortly after the contract was terminated that no payment would be rendered to MFS from Picerne until Picerne had documented and accounted for all costs incurred or expected to be incurred as a result of the breach of contract.
According to Parrott, Picerne owes MFS approximately $100,000, which is preventing Parrott from paying his emplyees.
Williams said in an email to Leader staff on Thursday that Picerne has documented several performance related deficiencies on the part of MFS for work it was contractually obligated to perform during the month of July.
"Those deficiencies may warrant certain deductions in the amount that would have otherwise been paid to MFS," he added. "In addition, Picerne expects that it may incur other costs relating to MFS’ failure to complete its contractual obligations for the five year contract term. We are carefully working through these issues in order to determine exactly what amounts we may be obligated to pay MFS on August 10th. "
The announcement from Picerne has done little to mend hard feelings, however.
Jerry Biron, former foreman over a special services crew with MFS thinks that the two companies should work out their differences quickly, he said.
"The vibe I get from [Picerne} is they don't care," he said in a phone interview. "They're not faced with the unfortunate fact of not having a job and feeding a family. What's a slap in the face is they tell us they hope everything works out for us. It's sad for all of us that worked and sweated out about 10 gallons of sweat for these people, and this is how we're appreciated," he said.
Biron said MFS owes him about $2,000, after sending him $200 when he called to complain that he'd not been part of the distribution of funds on Wednesday, when more than 30 MFS employees each received about $150. Biron said that Parrott wired him $200 soon after they talked.
But that only paid one bill. Biron said his family barely escaped having their truck repossessed. "I was [always told you put in an honest day's work for an honest day's wages." MFS did offer to give him equipment in exchange for the money he was owed, but the equipment turned out to be a broken down lawnmower.
If he doesn't hear any good news by Monday, he said, he 'll be seeking a lawyer to take whomever necessary to court to get his money.
In an email to Biron's wife, Parrott indicated that MFS had already sold several pieces of equipment in Georgia. He said he was unsure of the amount of money that the sale would bring but that the Fort Polk employees "are my top priority...and your husband is on the top of that list."
Picerne Military Housing announced on Thursday that "MFS has not experienced an interruption in the normal payment schedule under its contract with Picerne."
MFS, also known as Multi-Family Services, was formerly contracted with Picerne for landscaping services on Fort Polk. MFS terminated its contract on July 30. Since then, more than 30 employees of MFS have complained that MFS still owes them a significant amount of money. MFS has said that it cannot pay its employees until Picerne pays MFS.
"At this time, Picerne is not holding back funds that would have otherwise been paid to MFS," said Picerne spokesman Mark Williams. "The next regularly scheduled payment that would have otherwise been paid to MFS was scheduled for August 10, 2010."
Jeremy Parrott, one of the owners of MFS, said earlier in the week that Picerne had notified MFS President Clint Thomas via email shortly after the contract was terminated that no payment would be rendered to MFS from Picerne until Picerne had documented and accounted for all costs incurred or expected to be incurred as a result of the breach of contract.
According to Parrott, Picerne owes MFS approximately $100,000, which is preventing Parrott from paying his emplyees.
Williams said in an email to Leader staff on Thursday that Picerne has documented several performance related deficiencies on the part of MFS for work it was contractually obligated to perform during the month of July.
"Those deficiencies may warrant certain deductions in the amount that would have otherwise been paid to MFS," he added. "In addition, Picerne expects that it may incur other costs relating to MFS’ failure to complete its contractual obligations for the five year contract term. We are carefully working through these issues in order to determine exactly what amounts we may be obligated to pay MFS on August 10th. "
The announcement from Picerne has done little to mend hard feelings, however.
Jerry Biron, former foreman over a special services crew with MFS thinks that the two companies should work out their differences quickly, he said.
"The vibe I get from [Picerne} is they don't care," he said in a phone interview. "They're not faced with the unfortunate fact of not having a job and feeding a family. What's a slap in the face is they tell us they hope everything works out for us. It's sad for all of us that worked and sweated out about 10 gallons of sweat for these people, and this is how we're appreciated," he said.
Biron said MFS owes him about $2,000, after sending him $200 when he called to complain that he'd not been part of the distribution of funds on Wednesday, when more than 30 MFS employees each received about $150. Biron said that Parrott wired him $200 soon after they talked.
But that only paid one bill. Biron said his family barely escaped having their truck repossessed. "I was [always told you put in an honest day's work for an honest day's wages." MFS did offer to give him equipment in exchange for the money he was owed, but the equipment turned out to be a broken down lawnmower.
If he doesn't hear any good news by Monday, he said, he 'll be seeking a lawyer to take whomever necessary to court to get his money.
In an email to Biron's wife, Parrott indicated that MFS had already sold several pieces of equipment in Georgia. He said he was unsure of the amount of money that the sale would bring but that the Fort Polk employees "are my top priority...and your husband is on the top of that list."
