Century Calls Emergency Meeting To Discuss Gas Department Funding
July 27, 2019
The Century Town Council has called an emergency meeting for Monday “to discuss gas department funding”.
The town has provided no additional details.
The council recently approved to transfer $5,000 per month from the garbage fund to supplement the gas department’s payroll after the department did not have enough money to make cover paychecks and deposit the required federal taxes. The gas department has also been plagued by losses of well over a half million dollars in recent years.
The emergency meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday in council chambers.
An emergency council meeting was called in October 2018 when the gas department had $33,602 in mostly past due bills but only $674 in the bank.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Rain And Humidity Return For The Weekend
July 26, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Cleanup Progress Being Made At Century’s Alger Sullivan Property, And A Buyer May Be Interested
July 25, 2019
Cleanup is underway on the former Alger Sullivan Lumber Mill property in Century, and there’s at least one party possibly interested in acquiring the property.
The 38-acre abandoned industrial site was heavily damaged and, until recently, sat mostly untouched since 150 mph tornado winds the afternoon of February 15, 2016.
Brownfields Grant Cleanup
The current work is being funded with a $400,000 Brownfields grant, half of which is designated for the cleanup of petroleum products.
Environmental testing has been done on the property, including testing around a large above ground storage tank that is believed to have contained diesel fuel, according to Debbie Nickles, the Century town planner. The large tank is leaking, and soil cleanup may be required.
The environmental test results from the tank are expected to be back in a few weeks. There are also two propane tanks on the property that will be removed.
Testing was also done recently for asbestos and lead-based paints. Those results are also still pending.
Much of the property has been mowed (pictured above) and ground penetrating radar will be used next month to see what is lurking below the surface.
Interest In Acquiring The Property
“In addition to those grant funds that are at least going to fund part of the cleanup, there is beginning to be some interest in actually an acquisition, having a private party come and actually acquire the property,” Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry said. “That would be a fantastic outcome, and I’m optimistic that would happen in the future.”
“Three buildings on the site could be rehabilitated,” Nickles said, “but it’s going to take some money.”
While work on the site has been slow until recently, Nickles said progress is being made.
“It’s coming,” she said. “It’s just taking a while to get everything together.”
Code Enforcement
The property owner — listed in county records as DMT Holdings LLC in Navarre –was cited years ago by Escambia County Code Enforcement. The limited liability company appeared to be dissolved in 2008. Back property taxes for 2015-2017 were paid through tax certificate sales, not by the holding company.
With no response from the owners to the code citations, a special magistrate for Escambia County issued an order against the property at One Lumber Road on October 4, 2016, giving the owners until November 1, 2016, to clean up the property. The county provides code enforcement services under an interlocal agreement within the town limits of Century.
Failing to comply, the property owners were assessed costs of $1,100, and fines of $50 per day have been accruing ever since. To date, the property owners, if they exist, owe fines nearing $50,000.
Escambia County crews entered the property in 2018 and performed some cutting and trimming, cleaned around a concrete ditch, removed four 30-yard dumpsters of debris and replaced 80-feet of chain link fence that was down. The cleanup area was concentrated on the portion of the property behind residences on Front Street.
The cleanup cost assessed by the county was $5,450 — $2,589.29 for 150 hours of labor, $2,613.75 in equipment costs and $246.96 in material costs. Certified mail from the county to the listed owners was returned by the post office as invalid with no forwarding address.
Escambia County received three bids for the demolition and cleanup of the mill in 2017, but bids ranged from $800,000 to $3 million — far in excess of the county’s entire cleanup budget of about$463,425 in 2017. Property records show entire value of the property was $802,189 before the tornado, but the most recent assessment show what remains is worth $226,535.
The property is located within a Community Development Area established by the Town of Century, a Nickles said the CRA may play a crucial roll in the future of the site.
Pictured top: The damaged Alger Sullivan mill looms over a front street neighborhood in 2019. Pictured inset above and first photo below: Cleanup is underway on the property. Pictured bottom four photos: Damage to the property as seen in 2016. NorthEscambia.com photos, and photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Another Nice Day, Lower Humidity, High Near 90
July 25, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. East wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
Mosquito Fogging Planned Tonight West Nine Mile To Kingsfield
July 24, 2019
The Escambia County Mosquito Control Division plans to fog this evening between 6-9:30 p.m. in an area generally north of West Nine Mile Road and I-10, north to Kingsfield Road and east to Highway 29.
To make a request for service or an area to be listed as a no spray area, please call 850-937-2188, submit an online request here or send an email to mosquitocontrol@myescambia.com.
Click the maps to enlarge.
Middle 60s Tonight Inland Escambia
July 24, 2019
Lows tonight will be in the middle 60s tonight with a light north wind.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. East wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
Nine Mile Road Closed At Highway 29 Overnights Through Thursday
July 23, 2019
Nine Mile Road will be closed at Highway 29 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily through Thursday, July 25 as crews drive piles for a new southbound bridge deck.
Traffic control officers will be onsite to help direct motorists. The following detour will be in place:
- Eastbound Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one lane, directed to Highway 29 southbound, U-turn at West Hood Drive, and return to Nine Mile Road.
- Westbound traffic will perform the same operation at West 9 1/2 Mile Road.
Highway 29 traffic between Interstate 10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.
All work is weather dependent and may be rescheduled due to inclement weather.
Rain Today, Better Weather Thanks To A Cold Front Wednesday
July 23, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 4am, then a slight chance of showers. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 66. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 87. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
District 5 Commissioner Holding Town Hall Next Month In Walnut Hill
July 23, 2019
Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry will hold a public town hall meeting next month in Walnut Hill.
The event will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, August 12 at the Walnut Hill Community Center at 7850 Highway 97.
Rare Cold July Front On The Way With Better Weather
July 22, 2019
Showers and thunderstorms will increase in coverage on Monday and become likely as the cold front approaches on Tuesday. The front should reach the Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday night.
Don’t expect great fall-like weather, but do expect more comfortable highs in the 80s with a light northerly wind. Those northerly winds will mean lower humidity and a few nights with lows in the 60s inland. There will still be a chance of scattered showers mid-week.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
This Afternoon: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 7pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 85. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. Calm wind.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 60%.