Past Due Sewer Services To Be Shut Off; Courtesy Calls Coming For Past Due Accounts In Century
February 5, 2008
Monday night, the Century Town Council voted to move forward with plans to shut off sewer service to some non-paying Central Water Works customers and to start making courtesy calls before shutting off water and gas for other customers.
“We’ve got a major problem in areas where Central Water Works has the water and we have the sewer,” said Mayor Freddie McCall.
When a customer that receives water and sewage service from Century fails to pay their bill, their water is shut off. But there are several customers in the town limits of Century that receive water service from Central Water Works and sewage from the town of Century. When those customers fall behind on their accounts, the city was unable to turn off their water.
So the council voted 5-0 to purchase sewage shut off valves for those customers. When they fail to pay in the future, their sewage service will be stopped. Each valve s was estimated by the mayor to cost about $300.
McCall said one customer owes the town about $2,000, and another owes back payments of $800-$900. They will receive letters notifying them that their service will suspended unless payment arrangements are made.
The town will also start making courtesy calls before disconnected a customer’s water or gas.
“We have a quite a few elderly people usually one time paying their bills,” council member Gary Riley said. “Some times, they just forget.”
Florida TaxWatch Says Property Taxes Doubled In Escambia
February 5, 2008
The non-profit group Florida Tax Watch says property taxes in Escambia County essentially doubled between 1999 and 2006. Millage rates remained the same, but taxable property values doubled.
The study also found that:
- Escambia County’s operating millage rate was the highest of the three comparable counties – Leon, Manatee, and Marion counties
- Population growth has been minimal since 1999 in Escambia County
- Total revenues and expenditures per person increased more than the 67-county average,
exceeding amounts necessary for inflation adjustments
Complete results from the study will be released on March 31. The study was funded by private donations.
Florida TaxWatch offers its analysis to assist the county in budget adjustments necessary to implement
Amendment 1, now part of the Florida Constitution following its recent passage on January 29th.
According to Escambia County officials, Amendment 1 is expected to reduce county tax revenues by
approximately $11 million.
Florida TaxWatch is a statewide, non-profit, non-partisan research institute.
Beth Moore Bible Study At Walnut Hill Baptist
February 5, 2008
A Ladies Bible study from Beth Moore will continue tonight at Walnut Hill Baptist Church. “The Patriarchs” study will take place each Tuesday evening at 6:00 at the church.
The study will be lead by Ellen Boyd, and it is open to women regardless of whether or not they attend Walnut Hill Baptist. The cost is $14.95 for the book.
The church is located at 5741 Arthur Brown Road, about about 1.5 miles from Highway 97. For more information, call 327-4595.
Molino VFD, Forestry Respond to Seely Road Brush Fire
February 4, 2008
The Molino Volunteer Fire Department and the Florida Division of Forestry responded to a small brush fire off Seely Road north of Molino Monday afternoon.
Firefighters were called to the approximately one acre fire just after 3:00. Forestry assisted with a bulldozer due to the remote location of the fire. Firefighters found a downed power line in the area; it is was not immediately clear if the downed line sparked the blaze.
Seely Road is located off Highway 97, just south of the Dogwood Park Baptist Church.
District 5 Commission Candidate Launches Website
February 4, 2008
Chris Washler, Republican candidate for the District 5 seat on the Escambia County Commission, officially launched his campaign website this week.
VoteWashler.com provides residents in North Escambia with the means to learn about Washler’s background and his position on the issues, according to his campaign manager, Judy Fehl.
“It is also a tool for voters to get involved in the campaign, whether signing petition cards, contributing to the campaign or just requesting a yard sign,” Fehl said. The site also includes a blog that Washler plans to use to stay in contact with the voters in District 5.
For more information, contact the campaign at campaign@votewashler.com or his campaign manager, Judy Fehl at 393-6205.
Flood Warning Canceled For Escambia River
February 4, 2008
The National Weather Service canceled a flood warning for the Escambia River near Century. At 8:00 Monday night, the river was at 16.8 feet and falling. Flood stage is 17.0 feet.
The river is forecast continue to fall Monday night into Tuesday. At 17 feet, considerable flooding of lowlands can occur.
County Continues Lawsuit Against Allied Waste
February 4, 2008
The impasse between Escambia County and Allied Waste continues, with both sides unable reach an agreement on what the county claims is over a million dollars in unpaid fees.
The county filed a $1.3 million lawsuit on November 16 of last year against Allied over commercial tipping fees, a charge per ton for waste dumped at the county’s Perdido landfill.
The county recently passed an ordinance requiring Allied and other garbage haulers in the county to dump at the Perdido Landfill and pay tipping fees. The county says Allied dumped commercial trash outside the county, but still owes the fees.
Back on November 1, the county gave Allied 15 days to pay up, prove they did not owe the fees or end up in court. Those 15 days passed with the county filing suit. The suit did not move forward in the courts right away while the county and Allied continued negotiations.
But now the suit will continue, with the county adjusting the amount claimed to $1.1 million total for 2005 and 2006.
“For the period Jan. 1, 2005, to Jan. 29, 2008, Allied has delivered more solid waste to the Perdido Landfill than it was required to deliver under the terms of the Franchise Agreement,” Allied Waste said in a written statement. “Allied Waste will continue to honor its obligations under this contract and expects Escambia County to do the same.”
Allied Waste provides commercial service across the county, as well as residential service across North Escambia from 10 Mile Road north to the Alabama line.
The Town of Century contracts waste pickup in the town from Allied. The town bills residents for Allied’s pickups. Recent changes will have Allied directly billing the town’s businesses for commercial waste pickup.
New Time For Century Council Tonight
February 4, 2008
The Century Town Council will meet at 7:00 tonight, an hour later than usual. At the last town council meeting, the town moved all council meetings to 7:00 on the first and third Monday nights of the month.
Meetings had previously been held at 6:00. The change was made to make it easier for people who are employed to attend meetings.
The council meets at the Century Town Hall at 7995 North Century Boulevard. Meetings are open to the public.
Blog: Go Home Truck
February 3, 2008
“I rejoice knowing that Drew is the arms of Jesus this morning.”
Those are the words that Hank from Molino wrote on our memorial message board about 2-year-old Drew Marlow.
” I rejoice knowing that Drew is the arms of Jesus this morning.”
Drew and his father Danny died instantly in a two vehicle accident on Highway 97 Monday. Joyce McGahan died a few hours later at a Pensacola hospital. Those are the facts we all know by now about the accident that has shaken communities from Walnut Hill to Molino to Cantonment and beyond.
“I just can’t imagine losing my child and my husband and trying to understand why,” someone from Walnut Hill wrote in. I can’t tell you why it happened, beyond the fact that God has a plan. We may not alway agree with that plan, nor can we understand it all time.
I’m not going to try to provide any answers; I can’t. But I’m going to share a thought with you.
I drove past the accident site Tuesday afternoon, pretty close to 24 hours after the crash. A song by the contemporary Christian group “Casting Crowns” was playing in the car.
“Jesus, You know just how far the east is from the west…In the arms of Your mercy I find rest ’cause You know just how far the east is from the west.” That’s the chorus of that song.
There along that straight stretch of Highway 97, many of you have enjoyed many a splendid sunrise as you drove by and looked to the east across the wide open fields. Many of you have driven that same stretch of Highway 97 in the late afternoons and enjoyed a spectacular sunset to the west. It’s probably one of the best places along all of Highway 97 to enjoy both the sunrise and the sunset. But just how far is it from the east to the west? It’s just one of those things about God’s world we can’t comprehend.
Drew understands. He knows. He has sat with the maker of the universe, the maker of the east and the west.
Many tears have been shed across the area this week for all three victims. People, myself included, that never knew Drew have been deeply touched by that little boy. He’s brought our communities together, and he has glorified the name of our Lord Jesus.
No preacher in the area will reach as many people this week as 2-year-old Drew did in the local media.
How you say? Read the Memorial Message Board that we started Tuesday. That’s just a small sampling of the overwhelming number of comments were received. But you’ll notice one common thread…Jesus. Most of the comments talk about God, Jesus, heaven and prayer.
Look at the front page of this past Wednesday’s Atmore Advance. Scripture is quoted from the Bible in an article by Publisher Adam Prestidge. Look at the editorial by Ryan Carter in this week’s Atmore News, or read it online here. In this week’s Tri-City Ledger, Janet Little Cooper explains what the Bible says about death.
Hundreds, thousands of souls have been touched by Drew. He’s touched lives in unimaginable ways this week. He has caused all of us to remember just how fragile our lives are, and caused many to exam their relationship with the Lord. He’s caused people to talk openly about life, death and eternity. Perhaps by losing his life, he’s caused many more to be saved.
I spent a lot of time this week reading your comments about Danny, Drew and Joyce. Not just the ones you read on the site. There were many more where someone just wanted to express a thought, but they just did not want to share it publicly. I know many of you have cried as you wrote your memorials, and the rest of us have cried right along with you as we read them.
But there was one that just tore me up. You see, I’m one of those people that when I read, I visualize things in my head. I never knew Drew. But I pictured this cute little boy, an innocent face, a sweet smile, a simple young child’s voice when I read this comment from Walnut Hill:
“My sweet Drew, I will miss you like crazy. I am so happy to have had the day to spend with you last week. I will forever treasure it. You will always be in my heart. If I could only hear you say “Go home truck?” again.”
Go home truck. Imagine a little boy saying that, wanting to do one of his favorite things and ride home in the truck.
Go home truck. Go home truck.
Drew did go home truck Monday afternoon. Home to the streets of gold to touch the face of God.
“I rejoice knowing that Drew is the arms of Jesus this morning.”
–William
Colmus Family Was In Concert Sunday In Molino
February 3, 2008
The Colmus Family was at Aldersgate Methodist Church in Molino Sunday morning. The Colmus Family is a Christian Country band from Michigan and Kentucky, according to their website.
Their music is described as “country with a Jesus kick”, not Southern gospel and not bluegrass. They have toured since 1983 with their own brand of Christian country music.
The Colmus Family is made up of Edith Colmus Hunt , Dick Hunt and Todd Hunt. Edith plays piano and guitar, and she sings lead and harmony vocals. Dick plays bass and sings lead vocals, and Todd plays lead guitar, mandolin and dobro, and sings lead and harmony vocals.
Their latest CD, “Washed Clean”, is currently receiving airplay across the U.S. and around the world. Their “Bible Stories” CD features two original songs…the title track and “He Didn’t Have to Do It”. They have released several other CD’s that feature old time gospel favorites and original songs.
Aldersgate Methodist Church is located at 6915 Highway 29 North in Molino, just south of the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97.
For more information on the Colmus Family, visit www.colmusfamily.com