WEDNESDAY December 18, 2019
Public legal notices begin on page 3
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Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
JEA CEO Zahn Dailyfired Record by board
THE MATHIS REPORT
JACKSONVILLE
Aaron Zahn, 40, was fired Dec. 17, a little over a year after he was selected CEO.
Daily Record Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
Bad Axe Throwing coming to Springfield
JACKSONVILLE
Venue at 1719 N. Main St. plans spring opening.
Petra announced Dec. 16 that Bad Axe Throwing will join Historic Springfield in early 2020. Bad Axe Throwing will open at 1719 N. Main St., said landlord Elias Hionides, Petra vice president. He said Springboard Commercial Real Estate Solutions of Austin, Texas, represented Bad Axe in the negotiations. Hionides said Bad Axe is one of Petra’s many Main Street additions in recent years. “We knew we wanted to bring in an entertainment use to Main Street and this fit the character of the building and neighborhood perfectly,” Hionides said. Property records show that the Hionides family bought the 4,370-square-foot building in 2003 for $125,000. It was built as a retail store in 1945. Hionides said there will be a full build-out of the 4,200-square-foot interior, with completion targeted for the spring. A free open house will be offered during opening weekend. Bad Axe Throwing is licensed SEE MATHIS, PAGE 2
Photo by Max Marbut
Board Vice Chair Frederick Newbill and Chair April Green discuss the firing of CEO Aaron Zahn during the JEA board meeting Dec. 17. Green voted against firing Zahn without cause, advocating that he should be fired with cause. She said Zahn misled her and the board on several issues.
Board votes 5-1 to fire CEO without cause; COO Melissa Dykes is named interim CEO. BY MIKE MENDENHALL STAFF WRITER
The JEA board voted 5-1 Dec. 17 to fire the utility’s Managing Director and CEO Aaron Zahn without cause. The motion by board member Henry Brown instructs the city’s Office of General Counsel to negotiate with Zahn’s private attorney to reduce his severance pay. Zahn’s employment contract calls for $842,925 in payments in the event of a termination without cause. That includes 20 weeks of pay, a 12-month consulting contract worth $634,000 and COBRA insurance payments. The Office of General Counsel remind-
ed the board those payments could increase to about $1.36 million if JEA is sold to a private utility. That’s because Zahn could be eligible for a retention bonus equal to one year’s salary if he is terminated without cause. Brown wants to reduce Zahn’s consulting contract from 12 months to one month, reducing that part of the payout to about $52,800. Zahn did not attend the board meeting Board Chair April Green was the only no vote. She advocated for Zahn’s termination with cause, stating she feels the CEO misled her and the board on several issues. This includes a Long-Term Performance Unit Plan that could have cost
JEA up to $600 million if the utility were to be sold. She is concerned that an investigation into Zahn could uncover more misconduct. The board authorized the Office of General Counsel to move forward with that investigation. Zahn will be placed on paid administrative leave for seven business days. The board directive gives attorneys until Dec. 30 to amend his employment contract language. Zahn’s termination will be effective on the date the contract is amended. After returning from a 20-minute SEE ZAHN, PAGE 2
Kraft Heinz seeks new terms for incentive deal Kraft Heinz Foods Co. is asking the Downtown Investment Authority to redraft the terms of its 2016 incentive agreement with the city after failing to hit a job target at its Downtown Maxwell House coffee plant. At the same time, the DIA board will consider a resolution Dec. 18 to allow the company to receive $904,000 remaining from a $1 million taxpayer-backed Recaptured Enhanced Value grant, which is based on capital investment. Kraft Heinz is reporting a $50 million-plus investment in machinery and equipment at the plant, $20 million more than in the agreement.
VOLUME 107, NO. 23 • ONE SECTION