ECUA District 5: Larry Walker
August 25, 2008
Name: Larry Walker
Occupation: Faculty, University of West Florida (retired)
BRIEFLY EXPLAIN YOUR EXPERIENCE AS IT RELATES TO THE DISTRICT 5 ECUA SEAT YOU ARE SEEKING: Four years as appointed member of the Finance Advisory Committee and sixteen years as an elected member of the Authority.
WHAT ARE THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING ECUA (IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY) IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS:
- Completion of the Central Water Reclamation Facility project, including industrial reuse of 80-100 percent of CWRF effluent by Gulf Power and International Paper
- Continued expansion of the wastewater collection system—that is, (a) running sewer lines into old neighborhoods that need and want sewer and (b) ensuring that all new development in southern part of county is on sewer
- Reduction of infiltration of sewer lines by stormwater. Hurricanes Ivan, Dennis, and Katrina caused thousands of breaks, loosened joints, and weakened manholes in the wastewater collection lines. The cost to repair, over thirty years, will be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. A beginning must be made within the next four years.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST ISSUES FACING NORTH ESCAMBIA (MOLINO NORTH), RELATED TO ECUA, AND HOW WILL YOU ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES?
- Residential sanitation. Who will collect the garbage and yard debris, and how well will they do the job? Allied Waste Services (AWS) has had a poor service record, overall, and I favor the ending of Allied’s contract at the earliest possible date. Their contract extends until March 2010, but I am hoping to see it ended by, say, January 1, 2009. In that event, ECUA will extend service into the northern franchise area. I am confident that ECUA will provide better overall service than Allied has done.
- Northward extension of ECUA’s wastewater collection system (i.e., sewer lines) beyond the current northern limits of the Central Industrial Park on Highway 29 and housing developments on Quintette Road. A long-range goal should be to provide sewer service to the Molino business strip on Highway 29 and to new subdivisions in the Molino area.
WHAT ELSE SHOULD NORTH ESCAMBIA VOTERS KNOW ABOUT YOU AND YOUR PLANS FOR ECUA DISTRICT 5?
- As long as Allied provides the residential sanitation service, I will be an active watchdog of Allied’s performance. Ill-served customers should call to inform me of poor performance by Allied. Customers who have a defective Allied container—no lid, broken lid, no wheels—should inform me. Since December 2007, I have gotten Allied to repair or replace nearly 300 cans.
- Despite the fact that ECUA directly serves none of the NorthEscambia area, I will personally serve by participating in the community life of the North End. I am a member of the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society, the Barrineau Park Historical Society, and the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club. I will visit many churches and attend community events whenever possible.
YOUR WEBSITE ADDRESS: www.larrywalker.com
PHONE NUMBER(S): (850) 723-6094 (cell phone)
EMAIL: larry@larrywalker.com or lwalker@ecua.org
Final County Update On Fay
August 24, 2008
The Escambia County Emergency Operations Center closed at 8:00 Sunday morning. Here is their final update:
Escambia County Emergency Operations
- The Emergency Operations Center deactivated at 8:00 a.m.
- Officials will continue to monitor the rivers.
- At this time, there are no anticipated closings.
Escambia County School District
- Schools will be in session tomorrow.
Shelters
- The American Red Cross shelter at Pensacola High School Gym closed this morning.
- A total of 19 people, 15 clients and 4 special needs patients utilized the shelter.
Sand Bags
- If you have sand bags and once you feel you no longer need the sand and bags, please
- Empty the sand and spread it in your yard.
- Store the bags for future use.
- The bags will not last if stored with sand in them.
Beaches
- Pensacola Beach will continue with normal operations today.
- Yellow flag conditions (swim with caution and where lifeguards are on duty).
Citizen Information Line
- The Citizens Information lines closed at 8:00 a.m. Sunday
Flood Warning Has Been Canceled For Escambia River
August 24, 2008
The Flood Warning has been canceled for the Escambia River near Century.
Sunday morning, the stage was 5.5 feet. No flooding saws occurring, and no flooding is forecast. Flood stage is 17 feet,
Power Companies Report Few Outages
August 24, 2008
Both power companies that serve North Escambia were reported few outages from Fay. By contrast, in Alabama, power companies reported nearly 50,000 people lost power, mostly in a line from Dothan to Montgomery.
Gulf Power company was reported that less than 50 people lost power across all of Escambia County. Escambia River Electric Cooperative reported just a few isolated outages Saturday, and they said crews were quickly able to restore those customers.
Gulf Power Company and Escambia River Electric were on standby to respond to problems.
EREC outages can be reported to their automated system by calling 1-877-OUT-EREC (1-877-388-3732).Gulf Power is able to detect most widespread outages during a storm and customers should wait a reasonable time before calling in an outage report. The company encourages customers to call 1-800-GU-POWER (1-800 487-6937) for reporting outages.
EREC serves about 10,000 members in northern Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida, including Walnut Hill, Bratt, Davisville, McDavid and Jay. Gulf Power serves the rest of the North Escambia Florida area, including Molino, Century and Dogwood Park.
Falling Tree Destroys Two Century Trailers Saturday
August 23, 2008
A falling tree destroyed two trailers in Century Saturday afternoon as Tropical Storm Fay approached.
The adjacent mobile homes were hit by a dead oak tree that fell. Now two Century families are homeless.
Annie Smith and her family were inside on mobile home when the tree fell; Johnnie Carter and is family were inside the other. No one from either family was injured.
The trailers were located at 805 and 807 Salter’s Lake Road, near the intersection of Jefferson Avenue.
The highest wind gust reported in Century Saturday afternoon prior to the tree falling was 28 mph.
The Century Volunteer Fire Department responded. The Town of Century assisted with the cleanup.
Pictured above: A falling tree destroyed two mobile homes in Century Saturday afternoon as Tropical Storm Fay approached. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo, click to enlarge.
Latest Update From Escambia Emergency Operations Center
August 23, 2008
Below is the latest update from the Escambia Emergency Operations Center:
Escambia County Emergency Operations
o Emergency Management Officials are continuing to monitor Tropical Storm Fay.
o The Emergency Operations Center is partially activated at this time.
o There are no evacuations or protective actions at this time.
o The public will be advised as soon as any decisions are made.
o The declaration of local state of emergency was signed at 10:20 a.m. Friday,
August 22, 2008.
o A declaration of local state of emergency allows the county to implement
protective actions if needed.
Escambia County School District
o Officials are continuing to monitor the situation.
o A decision on closings has not been made at this time.
Beaches
o Officials would like to remind everyone to stay out of the water at least through
Wednesday. There is a high risk of rip currents during this storm.
o Lifeguards will be patrolling tomorrow.
o Expect Red Flags Conditions (no swimming) for Sunday.
Shelters
o American Red Cross opened a shelter at Pensacola High School Gym at 1:00
p.m. on Saturday, August 23.
o A nurse will be on duty for special needs patients.
o As of 3:30pm, there were 14 people and 2 special needs patients with care givers
utilizing the shelter.
o Pensacola High School is located at 500 West Maxwell Street, Pensacola.
Pensacola Regional Airport
o The airport will remain open.
o Travelers should confirm flight status through the individual carriers.
Health & Safety
o When driving, always be aware that the road bed under flood waters may be
severely damaged.
o NEVER drive through flooded roadways. Remember that it takes only two feet of
water to carry away a vehicle, including pickups and SUVs.
o When walking, do not attempt to cross flowing streams. Remember that it takes
only six inches of rushing water to knock an adult off his feet.
o If your vehicle stalls, get out immediately and go to higher ground.
o Be extra cautious at night, when it is harder to see possible flood dangers.
o These four words could save your life: TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN.
Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT)
o The Beach Trolley Service on Pensacola Beach will not operateSunday.
o All other mass transit services will operate as scheduled until further notice.
University of West Florida
o The campus plans to remain open through the weekend.
o Classes will be held as scheduled on Monday.
o For more information, please visit http://uwfemergency.org.
Pensacola Junior College
o 9th Avenue Campus
PCAT test scheduled for Sunday, 8/24/08 will be cancelled,
Motorcycle Safety class # 8000 schedule for 8/22/08 – 8/24/08, the
outdoor portion has been cancelled.
o Milton Campus
Computer lab and Life Center will be closed 8/23-24/08.
Department of Solid Waste Management
o All Recycling Bin sites are open and ready for use.
Utility Information
Fay Related Cancellations, Notices
August 23, 2008
(Updated 2:50 p.m.) NorthEscambia.com will keep you updated with any cancellations or other notices related to North Escambia and Tropical Storm Fay. If your group, business, church or organization would like to make the public aware of any cancellations or changes due to Tropical Storm Fay, email news@northescambia.com.
The following cancellations or event changes have been announced:
- The Century Branch Library closed early at 1:00 Saturday afternoon.
- Several inbound and outbound flights have been canceled at Pensacola Regional Airport.
- The Panhandle Equine Rescue meeting that was scheduled for Saturday at 1:00 at Fran’s Country Grill in Molino has been postponed until a later date.
- Pensacola Little Theatre is postponing its 2008 Crystal Awards and Volunteer Appreciation Party, which was to take place on Saturday, August 23.The Crystal Awards Ceremony and Reception will now take place on Sunday, August 31, beginning at 2:30pm, at the Pensacola Cultural Center, 400 South Jefferson Street.
- Northwest Florida Defensive Pistols Shooters Inc. has canceled Saturday’s IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) match at the Escambia River Muzzle Loader’s shooting range. The next match is scheduled for the 3rd Sunday in September.
- ECAT: All mass transit services will operate as scheduled until further notice, including the bus to and from Century, except for: Normal bus service (route 61) to and from Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach will operate until 8:00 p.m. Saturday. The Beach Trolley Service on Pensacola Beach will not operate Saturday or Sunday.
- UWF plans to remain open through the weekend. Classes will be held as scheduled on Monday.
Getting Ready For Fay
August 23, 2008
Pictured above: Part of the school district’s preparation for the arrival of Tropical Storm Fay was in the installation of storm shutters at Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo.
If you have photos related to Fay that you’d like to share, email them news@northescambia.com
Sandbags Available Saturday In North Escambia
August 23, 2008
Escambia County will provide sandbags to residents that need them beginning Saturday in North Escambia and other locations in the county.
Sandbags and sand will be available beginning at 7:00 a.m. Saturday at:
- Century Road Camp, 4901 Camp Road, near Bratt
- Old Molino School, 6450 Highway 95A, Molino
- Road Department, 601 N. Highway 297-A, Cantonment
- Turkey Farm Square, corner of Madrid & Plaza in Cantonment
- John R. Jones Athletic Park, 555 E. Nine Mile Road
- Equestrian Center, 7750 Mobile Highway
- Brent Ballpark, 4711 N “W” Street
- Baars Field, 13001 Sorrento Road
There is a limit of 25 bags per family. Residents should bring their own shovels and are responsible for filling their own bags with sand.
Bags and sand will also be available at the Road Department location only on Friday afternoon until 4:00.
One Shelter To Open In Escambia
August 23, 2008
The American Red Cross will open a shelter at Pensacola High School at 1:00 this afternoon.
A nurse will be on duty for special needs patients.
Pensacola High School is located at 500 West Maxwell Street, Pensacola.