Former Fort Myers Beach Community Development Director Frankie Kropacek has been offered an $11,000 severance package and former Community Services Director Jeff Hauge has been offered a $10,000 severance package. Both men were fired by Town Manager Will McKannay on October 14th after being put on paid administrative leave in August.
In return for the cash Kropacek and Hauge have to agree not to sue the town for being investigated and fired. They were given until November 4th to sign the deals. As of print time today Kropacek has signed the agreement, Hauge has not. 
Because the offers to Kropacek and Hauge are less than $20,000 they do not have to go before the Town Council for approval. They are at the discretion of the Town Manager. We asked McKannay for a comment on the severance offers. “Out of respect for the individuals involved, the Town does not discuss personnel matters publicly, and we’ll be declining to comment.”
Kropacek was making $143,185.90 per year and Hauge was making $130,425.10 per year. After irregularities were found regarding $31 million in grants the town says they were responsible for, both men were put on paid administrative leave by the Town Manager in August and subsequently fired on October 14th. And, a forensic investigation by a 3rd party outside firm was launched.
The total amount taxpayers are sending Kropacek and Hauge for sitting at home for those two months was $36,580.24. And so far the forensic accounting cost to dig into the grants being investigated was $11,459.70 from September 1st through September 15th (we’ve requested updated invoices). There is no not-to-exceed cost for the forensic audit. McKannay had originally said he hoped that cost would be about $50,000.
The total the taxpayers are on the hook for so far is $59,039.94 (including the accepted Kropacek real). That does not include any funds that may be considered lost following the investigation.
It’s unknown when the investigation will conclude. According to the town’s Public Information Officer the third-party investigation it’s still ongoing. “While Town Manager Will McKannay has completed his internal review, the official findings from the independent third-party investigation have not yet been finalized. Once those findings are available, we anticipate holding a public meeting or town hall where we will be open to discussing the results and answering questions.”
Read about the grants being investigated HERE.
Read Kropacek’s severance offer HERE.
Read Hague’s offer HERE
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