Century To Try Again To Approve Tax Increase, Budget For Next Year
September 22, 2021
The Town of Century will redo a meeting to pass a tentative property tax increase and budget for the next fiscal year after botching the process on the first try.
An agenda for the public hearing held last week improperly indicated that property taxes would not increase. Council President Louis Gomez read from agenda, and with a 4-0 vote the council approved no property tax increase. But the resolution required, and signed at the end of the meeting by the council president, set a different millage rate than discussed and actually included a tax increase. The percent of the increase as stated in the resolution was also calculated wrong. The mistakes were caught by NorthEscambia.com and pointed out to town officials after the meeting.
Town Attorney Matt Dannheiser recommended that the council hold another meeting to approve the tentative tax rate and budget before moving on to a final approval.
The special meeting will be held September 28 at 5:30 p.m. The town is proposing a property tax increase with a millage rate of .9204, which is 7.61% greater than the rolled-back rate of .8553 mills. The rolled-back rate is the tax rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as approved for the prior year. The town is proposing a $5.7 million budget for fiscal year 2021-2022, up from $4.14 million during the current fiscal year. The increase is mostly due to income from grants.
Pictured: The Town of Century will hold another meeting to correct property tax millage mistakes made in this September 13 meeting. Pictured are Century’s accountant Robert Hudson (foreground, right), and council members (L-R) President Luis Gomez, Jr., Sandra McMurray-Jackson and Dynette Lewis. Pictured below: Other than NorthEscambia.com, no member of the public attended the public hearing. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Your ECUA Bill May Arrive Late
September 22, 2021
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authorities says their third party bill printing and mailing processor is running behind due to a COVID-19 related staffing shortage.
“As a result, some of our customers’ bills are being delivered near or after their due date,” ECUA Public Information Officer Nathalie Bowers said. “Customers’ account standing will not be adversely affected nor be charged a late fee if they received a delayed bill. Customer accounts enrolled in ECUA’s and E-Notification billing programs are not affected by these delays.”
Customers who wish to access their bill online may do so by going to the ECUA website at https://ecua.fl.gov/my-bill and clicking on ‘View Your Bill’ to set up an account. Once on the Click2Gov website, customers may also opt-in to receive an email notification that their bill is ready to be viewed online on the same day that it is generated by the billing system.
Pictured: ECUA’s drive-thru in the Ellyson Industrial Park. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
West Florida High Students Collect Diapers, Wipes, Formula For Hurricane Ida Victims
September 22, 2021
The National Honor Society Chapter at West Florida High School collecting diapers, wipes and baby formula for the littlest victims of Hurricane Ida in Louisiana.
The supplies were delivered to Pensacola law firm Lorium Law for transportation to Louisiana.
WFHS club sponsor Teressa Doman and her National Honor Society students collected over 1,500 diapers. numerous baby wipes, and baby formula.
“The kids have really come together and gotten behind this initiative,” said Doman. “We are just happy to be able to lend a little bit of relief to our neighbors in Louisiana.”
“It is our privilege to be able to gather and deliver tens of thousands of dollars worth of desperately needed donations and supplies directly to the people of Louisiana who were hardest hit by Ida,” said Garrett P. LaBorde, Pensacola managing attorney for the law firm.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Central Defeats Northview Volleyball (With Photo Gallery)
September 22, 2021
The Central Jaguars defeated the Northview Chiefs 3-0 Tuesday evening in Bratt.
Central won 25-7, 25-19, 27-25.
Up next, the Chiefs will host the Jay Royals Thursday. Junior varsity action begins at 4 p.m. Northview’s Senior Night will take place at 5 p.m. to be immediately followed by the varsity.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wednesday Is An Early School Release Day In Escambia County; Dismissal Times Have Changed
September 21, 2021
Parents of Escambia County School District students take note….Wednesday, an early release day and dismissal times have changed since last school year.
Early release days offer teachers and staff the opportunity for professional development, according to the district.
On all early release dates, schools will serve lunch and regular transportation will be provided.
In addition to September 22, there will also be early release days on November 3 and January 26. Early release times for each school are below.
Searchers Return To Bratt Looking For Body Of Murdered Pensacola Woman
September 21, 2021
Authorities were back in Bratt Tuesday morning, searching an area less than two miles from Northview High School for the body of a murdered Pensacola woman.
Giles Curt Jones, 38, was charged with first degree murder for the death of 40-year old Latonya Antionette Baxter. She was reported missing by her daughter on September 12, the day after his vehicle was confirmed to be in Century.
Acting on a tip from the public, officers from the Pensacola Police Department, assisted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, were on 4-wheelers and on foot Monday afternoon searching areas along Highway 168 east of Pine Barren Road. Nothing was found.
The search continued Tuesday morning with the Pensacola Police Department, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, KlaasKIDS, and a drone from the Flomaton Police Department.
For a photo gallery from Tuesday’s search, click or tap here.
The drone located one area of interest north of Highway 168, but when searchers reached the area on foot they found rocks and dirt that were not suspicious. Nothing else was found, and the search was called off for the day.
A picture of an obviously deceased Baxter was found on Jones’ phone, according to Pensacola Police. The photo was taken at 1:54 on Saturday, September 11. About noon that day, Jones’ gray 2009 Nissan Maxima with Florida tag #45BAFU was captured on camera northbound on Highway 29 in Century. The vehicle headed back south on Highway 29 through Century about 3 p.m.
Pensacola Police spokesman Mike Wood said the department is asking anyone with trail or game cameras in the North Escambia area to check them for anything suspicious, especially during the day on September 11.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1901 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
For additional details about the murder and photos from Monday, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
State Release School Grades, But Not For Escambia County. We Have The Grades Here.
September 21, 2021
The Florida Department of Education on Monday released school grades, but don’t expect to find grades for school in Escambia County on the list. The only place you will find them is on a list released last month on NorthEscambia.com, and reprinted below.
Escambia County A-F school grades were not released this year because the district did not request them. In fact, only 11 of Florida’s 67 counties requested and received their school grades.
Checking the school grades — officially called the Florida School Accountability Reports — on the Florida Department of Education website, Escambia County’s 2021 grades are blank.
But in late August, in a NorthEscambia.com exclusive, Escambia County school grades were posted. The letter grades were calculated by Rep. Michelle Salzman using test scores that were released by the state and the precise formula that would have been used by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE).
“I received a lot of inquiries about school grades from constituents, community leaders and media outlet,” Salzman told NorthEscambia.com at the time. “I am extremely proud of our teachers, and these grades are a direct indication to the importance of having your children in school. Now that we know where we are, we can navigate together.”
A.K. Suter Elementary, Byrneville Elementary, Cordova Park Elementary, Hellen Caro Elementary, Molino Park Elementary, Pensacola Beach Elementary, Brown Barge Middle, West Florida High, and Escambia Virtual Academy were all A schools under Salzman’s calculations.
On the other end of the scale 11 schools received an F — Bellview Elementary, Ensley Elementary, Global Learning Academy, Lincoln Park Elementary, Myrtle Grove Elementary, Navy Point Elementary, O.J. Semmes Elementary, Sherwood Elementary, Warrington Elementary, Bellview Middle, and Workman Middle
Escambia County opted not to have the state calculate the school grades under a pandemic-related FDOE emergency order issued in April that gave that choice to school districts, just as 55 other counties did.
Escambia County school grades, as calculated by Salzman, were as follows for the 2020-2021 school year:
Escambia Fire Rescue Takes Part In Annual Volunteer Firefighter Weekend
September 21, 2021
Three Escambia Fire Rescue volunteer firefighters took part in the 16th Annual Northwest Florida Volunteer Firefighter Weekend.
The volunteer firefighter training event featured hands-on training opportunities including vehicle extrication, wild land operations, USAR, medical training, and more. There were also workshops, seminars and live burn training at the event at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville.
Cheyann Smith from the Beulah Fire Station, along with Nathan Thomas and William Tharp from the Ferry Pass Station, took part in the training event on their way to becoming certified volunteer firefighters.
“It’s imperative for volunteer firefighters to train and become certified,” said Michael Aaron, Escambia Fire Rescue assistant volunteer fire chief. “This allows them to become functional on the fire ground and help the overall mission of the organization. This training also gives the taxpayers the best service possible as a combination fire department.”
Eglin Air Force Base career firefighter Reed Moss, also a volunteer firefighter at Station 2-Beulah.
Beulah volunteer Reed Moss also took part in the weekend. In addition to being an Escambia volunteer, he works a career firefighter for Eglin Air Force Base.
Pictured top: Volunteer firefighters (from left) Cheyann Smith, Beulah; Nathan Thomas and William Tharp, Ferry Pass; and Eglin AFB career firefighter Reed Moss, who is also volunteer from Beulah. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia COVID-19 Hospitalizations Fall Below 200 For First Time Since July
September 21, 2021
On Monday, Escambia COVID-19 hospitalization fell below 200 for the first time since July 30.
There were 184 COVID-19 patients in the hospital Monday, three of those under age 18.
Two weeks ago, there were 344 hospitalizations. There were 284 one week ago, and 330 the week before that. The hospitalizations aggregate date reported by Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, West Florida Hospital and Baptist Hospital.
Century Approves Leases For Non-Profit, Church At $1 Per Month; Town Will Repair A/C
September 21, 2021
The Century Town Council voted Monday night to repair or replace heating and cooling units and move forward with $1 per month leases for a church and a nonprofit at what is known as the Century Business Center on Pond Street.
Leases were prepared for approval for an building (pictured below) at for Northwest Florida Community Outreach (NWFCO) and for a room (pictured above) at the center for Wesley Chapel CME Church.
Under the terms of both leases, HVAC and other maintenance would be the responsibly of the tenant, not the town, due to the low rent. Ratifying the leases was postponed earlier this month after the potential tenants notified the council that the HVAC systems did not work properly.
A tentative evaluation found that some of the units may need to be replaced if repairs are not feasible considering the age of the equipment. If reasonable repairs can be made, the town will use their general fund. If more expensive replacements are required, they will use local option sales tax funds.
Monday night, the Century Council voted 3-0 to approve a five year lease for the Northwest Florida Community Outreach and a two-year lease for Wesley Chapel. Both will pay for any future upkeep and their monthly utility bills.
NWFCO is a nonprofit that has held several food giveaways and other public benefit events over the last year in Century.
Wesley Chapel CME Church has held church services at the Business Center for several years, but without a lease. The church’s Jefferson Street location was heavily damaged — shifted off its foundation — by the February 2016 tornado that ripped through Century. The remains of the building were reduced to rubble after an arsonist set fire to it in October 2016.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
