Local firms remain unpaid for work

By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
June 15, 2002
At least two subcontractors are seeking more than $110,000 for work they completed on a Meridian shopping center earlier this year.
Meridian businessman Robert Smith, who owns Glass Inc., said he is due more than $15,000 for installing windows and store fronts to three stores at Meridian Town Center a new shopping center south of Interstate 20/59 near the Wal-Mart Supercenter that houses Office Depot and Apple's Dollar Store.
And a spokesman for FL Crane &Sons Inc. of Fulton said $95,666 is owed to the company for work done on the same shopping center. Both subcontractors said the work was done four to six months ago and they have only received a few small payments.
Mattiace Properties of Jackson is the developer of the shopping center and John A. Glassel of Memphis is listed as the general contractor.
Mattiace has developed other shopping centers in Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee. Meridian Town Center is its first local project.
Bob Flowers, executive vice president of Mattiace, was reported out of town and unavailable for comment Thursday and Friday. A receptionist said no one else at the company could comment on the situation.
Glassel could not be reached for comment, either; a recorded message said his phone had been disconnected.
Nancy Stevens, who handles collections for FL Crane &Sons, said the unpaid bills date as far back as last November.
Smith said another local company, Edwards Electric, also hasn't been paid for the project. But, he said, two other local subcontractors have been paid.
Smith said his company has paid its workers and suppliers for their work and he is "still hoping that someone will respond to us and pay us."