Cement executives agree to Miami-Dade County fines

Cement executives agree to Miami-Dade County fines Executives from a cement company that had pitched the Port of Miami for a no-bid lease for a bulk cement facility at the port in 2006 have agreed to pay fines of $750 and pay for $3,000 in investigative costs for ethics violations related to unregistered lobbying.
   Sergio Martinez and Raul Gonzalez, co-owners of the cement company Sermar USA, have each agreed to pay the fines in a settlement with the County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust, according to county documents. The agreement is not an admission of guilt.
   The Sermar bid was withdrawn last year after other companies complained about the proposed award of a no-bid lease for a cement facility. The agreement was reached under former port director Charles Towsley, but was stopped by the county inspector general. A subsequent investigation showed the company had violated ethics rules that say companies cannot attempt to influence local government officials unless they have registered as lobbyists.