Complaint Review: Andrew L. Smith

Andrew L. Smith, contractor for Dublin Glass, headquartered in Dublin, GA and on the board of Directors for the Kirk Healing Center, a corrupt residential oversight organization, has consistently refused to pay those he employs on time, and misleads his recruits about his ability to pay. He recruits often from 584 W. Oglethorpe Hwy, Hinesville GA 31313, the residence he helps to oversee. This residence is advertised for low income persons who agree to job search and to pay rent if working, equivalent to 10% of their regular paycheck (or 30% up to 200 dollars, they often cant make up their minds)while they take steps for future financial stability and to move elsewhere.

He has employed the following residents including myself during my tenure; Chris Griggs, Richard Anderson, Kelvin Jones, Lester Meena, Robert Hicks and others. There was something that i did not trust about this man from the beginning, and my employment was short with him. I was coerced by management into accepting a position as a general laborer making 8.00/hr in Feb 2010, and even though it is not part of the contract, The Center liked to make threats of eviction or future mistreatment if their personal desires were not complied with.

Physical labor was not compatible with my skills and interests, certainly not doing anything that involved digging deep holes in hard concrete or dirt with a shovel, i did not have the physical strength for this type of thing. I wasnt told exactly what i would be doing during work either.Andrew informed us that we would be paid in about 10 days after the start of work. As we later discovered, Andrew did not have the funds readily available to pay us. I would have never worked for someone, even getting pressure from a group, if i knew he had no money in the bank.

I worked for a day and a half at the Pooler, GA, site, quitting right after receiving a threat on the workplace from some former military enlistee.I planned to quit anyway,not trustiing Andrew, after realizing what i had to do, and with the knowledge that i would be working at Sonic in the next few days.Andrew Smith arbitrarily judged me mentally incapable of performing the simple task of installing windows, something i could have learned quickly. He paid almost everyone else at the residence 10.00/hr to do this. This was more in line with my skills and interests.

The work day reminded me of military extra duty, the tasks consisted of what was mentioned above, in addition to lifting heavy objects and picking up disgusting pieces of trash infected with sewage-like liquids and smells all day long, practically nonstop. Clothing often became dirty with this filth.

When it came time to pay, Andrew L. Smith said that there would be a delay. He claimed "busyness" at first, a meeting, then he said that the funds were late in coming. While he paid me about five days late, two other residents, Chris Griggs and Richard Anderson, he paid almost 3 weeks late. He didnt have the money to pay them.

He owed both of them at least $250 each. I knew that once i quit i was never working for this man again and urged Chris Griggs not to either. Richard Anderson suffered a back injury while working, so he eventually stopped. Chris Griggs at first agreed, but months later he gave in, being taken advantage of by Andrew because he needed money for family purposes.

Chris Griggs was treated even worse than the first time.

He worked for him around april/may, and he was not paid completely until July, after Andrew had promised to pay him on time after the first screwup. All the money he was paid, amounting to about $174 in July, went to the Kirk Healing Center. They harassed him about the fact that he was not paying in the way they wanted (month by month)Chris Griggs received disability checks for an injury he suffered prior to arriving at the residence, and much of that money went to help support his wife and kids.

Chris complained of possible health and safety violations while working at the construction site.

Kelvin Jones who worked for them in April, was not paid on time, neither was Robert Hicks. The fact that Andrew did not pay promptly did not bother other members of the board in the slightest.

In fact, I was illegally "evicted" from the residence, with one reason allegedly used for the  automatic illegal eviction being that i quit my job working for Andrew. This I heard from Pastor Nancy Kornegay, co-chairperson of Kirk Healing Center's board of directors. The "eviction" was completed without court processes and without  a  sheriff's affidavit, and involved very shady activity. The residence they oversee is a four bedroom house, privately owned by Gary Dodd, who also owns McDonalds in the Hinesville area.

Andrew Smith and that Center totally rips people off.