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‘Blindsided’ – Century Council Members Balk At Water, Wastewater Contract Over Lack Of Information
August 6, 2026
Blindsided.
That’s how Century Town Council President Dynette Lewis described a five-year, $17,410 per month contract with a company to run the town’s water and wastewater treatment facilities.
This week, the entire council balked at signing the contract, not because they disagreed with mayor’s recommendation to hire the company, but because council members never saw the contract and really didn’t know what was happening.
Mayor Ben Boutwell requested approval of the contract with Clearwater Solutions, the company that has provided the services for years. Council members only received a one-page proposal in advance of the meeting and have yet to see the actual contract with all of its terms and conditions.
“It’s unfortunate that we are just hearing about this, and we were not given anything that we were able to read over this and come to an understanding on the agreement prior to this meeting,” Lewis said. “That’s basically an element of surprise at a meeting.”
She said she did not see the immediacy of a vote this week, but Boutwell, who attended the meeting by phone, said a contract would lower the month-to-month payment from $20,000 to the $17,410 per month.
Council member John Bass interjected that he believed the town missed a step and the council was not informed.
Back in April, the council voted to end an expiring contract with Clearwater and directly hire two Clearwater employees, one as a contractor and one as an operator.
The mayor said both individuals are still running Century’s water and wastewater systems, but they still work for Clearwater, and they were hired on paper but never actually went to work for the town due to a Clearwater agreement.
“I feel it’s interesting that we didn’t hear anything about it until now,” Lewis said, “at a particular time we have a proposal placed in front of us at the meeting.”
“I don’t want to vote on this because I don’t feel like I have enough information,” Shelisa Abraham said. “I would like to be able to compare the old one (contract) to this one. I did not appreciate us approving to hire people, and we find out (differently) at the meeting and are expected to give a decision tonight. We haven’t had time to get details or make a well-informed decision.”
With recent rate increases, Century can afford the Clearwater contract, Boutwell said, describing the company as a “great partner for the last several years.” The council agreed, but opposed taken action without reviewing the contract.
Following a unanimous vote to table action on the Clearwater contract, Lewis said, “It seems like we should have somebody in place that should be providing these issues where we’re not basically blindsided like this.”
The town council is expected to consider the contract again at their next meeting on August 25.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
9 Responses to “‘Blindsided’ – Century Council Members Balk At Water, Wastewater Contract Over Lack Of Information”
@derek because the County doesn’t want to. Century is a burden they don’t want. I heard that out of many County mouths since the late 90’s including past Admin and Commissioners.
All you have to do is look at their faces. This council has no idea what is going on or what to do about it. Why did they previously agree to something that they now say wasn’t clear to them at the time? I have lived in Century for over 75 years and I love it dearly, but for years now it is just going downhill. I really think it is time for the county to step in and take over and save us from total and willful disaster.
Century should be paved over and turned into a solar farm, just build panels over the city…
the town is NOT functional. period
We’re going back to the beginning of the Town of Century, over and over again. Not much works and when it does…it breaks. Obviously, the council has no idea what they’re doing. I’d be interested in what kind of education they have; their past work experience and any experience in they’re present position. This has been going on for years and years. People already are sick of it.
@M…because that might actually make sense.
Every time the Mayor tries to do something good, the Town Council stops him. Too bad the town can’t get rid of the council members!
Why in this world don’t these idiots turn water, and wastewater over to the ECUA. They have a proven record of managing and maintaining a water and sewer system and could take it over with few glitches. The City of Pensacola turned their water and sewer over to the ECUA 30+ years ago and have been happy about it since.
The real question should be why isn’t the 5 stage sewage plan the county put in place back in 2005 after hurricane Ivan to bring all of Escambia county under the ECUA and have all waste go the central treatment facility in cantonment that the residents of Escambia county, the federal government, soluta/ascend, and the paper company paid for back then. Why has the plan been abandoned and not completed as layoff out 20 years ago??? If it had been this would not be a problem with century now. Has someone violated the anti deficiency act by not doing what they were supposed to with federal grant money???!
Why can’t the county assume control of Century and let ECUA take over water and sewer? This is not working!