Gov. Scott Names Members In Opa-Locka Financial Emergency Board
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OPA LOCKA (CBSMiami) -- Florida Governor Rick Scott has named the members meant to help Opa-Locka during their financial emergency.
On Thursday, Scott released the names of those on the financial emergency board for the City of Opa-Locka. It includes members from various departments from housing to environmental protection to the former director of the Miami-Dade Police Department.
The list is as follows:
- Melinda Miguel – Florida Chief Inspector General, Executive Office of Governor Rick Scott
- Christian Weiss – Policy Coordinator, Executive Office of Governor Rick Scott
- Kim Mills – Director of Auditing, Florida Housing Finance Corporation
- Andrew Collins – Chief of Financial Monitoring and Accountability, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
- Angela Knecht – Program Administrator, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
- Marie Walker – Director of Auditing, Florida Department of Revenue
- J.D. Patterson, Jr. – Former Director of the Miami-Dade Police Department (Retired)
- Vernita Nelson – Assistant City Manager, City of Miami Gardens
- Frank Rollason – City Manager, North Bay Village
The announcement comes more than a week after the governor declared a financial emergency in the city and issued an order on the matter. This means the state will oversee everything for the city of Opa-Locka.
The city will be required to hand over all its records and assets to the governor's office and that of the emergency board.
The emergency board will report their findings, recommendations and actions that need to be taken to change the city's dire financial situation.
City officials say Opa-Locka is facing a $1.4 million shortfall plus millions more in previous debts. Meantime, the FBI has also been investigating Opa-Locka's mayor over allegations of corruption. Several other top officials are under investigation as well.
CBS4 News was first to air the only television interview with FBI's inside man in Opa-locka, Frank Zambrana,who says he wore a wire and recorded a number of city officials shaking him down for bribes.
Back in March, federal agents raided city hall over an investigation. No arrests were made.
While the city is under state control, Opa-Locka will need the governor's approval before passing or making changes to the annual budget.