Amid Investigation, Former Gulf Breeze Mayor Retiring From CTA. Here’s Why CTA Matters A Lot To Century.
September 3, 2020
The former mayor of Gulf Breeze is retiring amid a state investigation, but he says it has no connection to the Capital Trust Agency (CTA).
CTA benefits Century financially in a big way.
The Gulf Breeze Police Department received a complaint that was referred to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. In August, FDLE raided the home of Ed Gray, who was employed by the City of Gulf Breeze as executive director of the Capital Trust Agency. Two days later, he placed himself on leave and has now announced his retirement from CTA.
“It’s known I have been the subject of an investigation regarding accusations made which have no connection with affairs of the city of capital trust agency,” Gray said in his retirement letter. “There is no escaping such a matter becomes a distraction to performing my duties.”
Capital Trust Agency has provided the tax-exempt financing about $2 billion worth of projects, including affordable housing projects, airport facilities, hotel and convention developments promoting tourism, health care projects, and K-12 educational buildings across Florida and beyond.
It’s a role that has provided significant income for Century.
Century has received over $1 million dollars in fees since signing on to CTA, and balancing the town’s draft budget for the next fiscal year relies on the anticipation of least $115,000 in fees from CTA. That’s over 10% of the town’s total budget.
On the surface it might seem unlikely that Century, one of the poorest small cities in the state, could play a part in the financing of dozens of multi-million projects including the Community Maritime Park in Pensacola, $439 million in hotel and convention centers for the Seminole Nation, airport cargo terminals, schools and apartment complexes.
The approvals were granted by Century and Gulf Breeze as members of the Capital Trust Agency, an independent public body for the purpose of financing or otherwise accomplishing development programs. Century entered into the Capital Trust Agency with Gulf Breeze in 1999 with Century essentially serving as the “second signature” for CTA, certifying that the projects meet a public purpose under IRS rules and regulations.
The CTA is structured in such a way to indemnify Century from any financial risk, whether it be from a company that defaults on repayment or any other legal liabilities, according to Michael Stebbins, CTA attorney. The funds used for the bonds are from the CTA’s funds, not from Century or Gulf Breeze.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
COVID-19 Hospitalizations Continue To Decline In Escambia County
September 3, 2020
The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Escambia County are continuing to decline.
As of Wednesday, there were 107 patients current hospitalized for COVID-19 in Escambia County. It is first time since July 3 the number has been below 110. Once month ago, the hospitalization number was 217.
Click graphic to enlarge.
Source: City of Pensacola.
Century Man Charged With Battery Of His Wife
September 3, 2020
A Century man was arrested after allegedly pushing and hitting his wife, who is the mother of his child, multiple times in the head and forcefully taking her phone.
Alexander Hayes, 23, was charged with with battery and felony robbery following the incident.
Hayes and his wife were living apart, but he went to her residence to look for his clothes and a cell phone cover that contained his identification and credit cards. As she attempted to walk out of the residence, Hayes closed the front door and hit her approximately nine times on the side of her head with an open hand, according to and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. He then pushed her into a chair and struck her in the head about five more times before snatching her iPhone, the report continues.
The Sheriff’s Office said the victim suffered injuries to her head and neck.
Hayes was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
Grandma Presses Charges Against McDavid Man For Stealing Her Pickup Truck
September 3, 2020
A McDavid man’s grandmother pressed charges after he allegedly hotwired and stole her her pickup truck.
Jimmy Lavon Wiggins, 22, was charged with with felony grand theft of a motor vehicle and remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $4,000.
His grandmother told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that Wiggins had to hotwire the 1993 Chevrolet pickup truck in her yard on Perdue Road because she had the only keys. She said she reached Wiggins by phone and tried to get him to leave the truck somewhere for her to pick it up, or he could bring it back.
According to an arrest report, the woman told deputies that Wiggins is “constantly stealing things to get money to buy drugs”.
Escambia Animal Shelter Offers $10 Cat Adoption Rate; Cats Moved Here Due To Hurricane Laura
September 3, 2020
The Escambia County Animal Shelter is now housing cats from shelters and welfare organizations in Louisiana impacted by Hurricane Laura, and they are offering a special $10 adoption rate.
All cat adoptions are now just $10, plus an $11 fee for a required county tag. Due to the pandemic, appointments are still required for all adoptions. To make an appointment to meet or adopt a pet, call (850) 595-3075 or email animalshelter@myescambia.com.
Tthe Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals transported 33 cats from Terrebonne Parrish Animal Shelter and 25 cats from Louisiana SPCA to the Escambia County Animal Shelter. Several cats have also been placed with the Pensacola Humane Society.
All recently transported animals belonged to Louisiana animal shelters and were available for adoption at the time Hurricane Laura made landfall. They are not animals that have been separated from their owners by the storm. The transported animals were taken out of Louisiana shelters in order to make room for incoming animals who were displaced by the storm, giving those displaced animals an opportunity to be easily reunited with their owners by remaining nearby.
Animal Services Manager John Robinson said using the Escambia County Animal Shelter to rehome these cats will provide a better opportunity for displaced storm animals in Louisiana shelters to receive the proper care and attention they need, without experiencing an overcrowding situation alongside the existing shelter animals. All cats were given a thorough medical exam and checkup upon arrival to the Escambia County shelter.
“Escambia County Animal Services is happy to lend a hand to our neighboring Louisiana shelters,” Robinson said. “We were able to collaborate with the Pensacola Humane Society and a few other local partner organizations, and we are looking forward to finding loving homes for the animals we took in this week.”
FHP Collecting Donations For Louisiana Hurricane Laura Victims
September 3, 2020
The Florida Highway Patrol is asking for donations to assist Louisiana residents following Hurricane Laura.
FHP is requesting items like non-perishable food, water, Gatorade, plastic containers, cleaning supplies and board games for kids.
The items are being collected at the Florida Highway Patrol station at 150 West Stumpfield Road in Pensaccola through 5 p.m. on September 18, For more information, call (850) 484-5000.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Cat Country 98.7’s Brent And Candy Nominated For CMA Personalities Of The Year
September 3, 2020
Local radio personalities Brent Lane and Candy Cullerton from Cat Country 98.7 have been nominated by the County Music Association (CMA) for Radio Personalities of the Year for their Cat Pak Morning Show.
This is the third nomination for the national award; the morning duo was also nominated in 2017 and 2018.
Brent and Candy are on the air each weekday from 5 a.m. until 10 a.m. with their local morning show.
Last year, Cat Country 98.7 was named the CMA Station of the Year.
The CMA Awards will air on WEAR ABC 3 on November 11 at 7 p.m.
FHP Issues Arrest Warrant For Driver That Killed Bicyclist In Palafox Street Hit And Run
September 2, 2020
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of man troopers said killed a bicyclist in a hit and run on August 27.
Patrick Dale Taber, 50, was riding his bicycle north on Palafox Street just north of Johnson Avenue when he was hit by a Chevrolet Cruze that fled the scene. Taber was pronounced deceased on the scene.
The Florida Highway Patrol said they have found the vehicle, and an arrest warrant has been issued for the driver. He is identified as 22-year old Isiah Pierre Reynolds.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Reynolds is asked to call troopers at *FHP or (850) 424-5000, or call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Reported Wrong-Way Driver Killed In Fiery Highway 29 Crash
September 2, 2020
A reported wrong-way driver was killed in a horrific crash on Highway 29 in Molino Tuesday night.
The crash happened in the southbound lanes of Highway 29 near Morgan Cemetery Road about 9:50 p.m. A passenger car was reportedly northbound in the southbound lane when it crashed head-on into a southbound vehicle. The vehicle traveling in the wrong direction burst into flames, claiming the life of the driver.
The driver of the southbound vehicle was airlifted by MedStar helicopter to a Pensacola hospital in critical condition.
Witnesses told NorthEscambia.com that the vehicle was traveling the wrong direction at least as far south as Jimmy’s Grill, about four miles away.
The Florida Highway Patrol no longer releases the names of traffic crash victims.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Century Agrees To Sell Industrial Building And 40 Acres For ‘Project Fusion’, Again Rejects Local Cotton Gin
September 2, 2020
The Century Town Council Tuesday night approved selling a building and 40 acres in the town’s industrial park to a company described as using an agricultural product to manufacture plastic alternatives. They council also rejected a new proposal from West Florida Gin to purchase the building and just five acres for about 10 percent less money.
Council members expressed more interested in the company known by the codename “Project Fusion” because their offer came with the promise of more jobs.
In May 2019, West Florida Gin made a lease-to-own offer on the town-owned building that has been empty for 12 years. They offered $4,000 per month for five years, an $8,000 deposit and to pay for any upgrades with an option to purchase it at $100 at the end of the lease. The council rejected the proposal.
The town advertised the building for lease this year and received just one offer — $6,000 per month for five years with an option to renew the contract for an additional five years from West Florida Gin. As the town council was set to vote on the cotton proposal that promised six jobs, they received a last minute offer through Pensacola real estate company Beck Partners for Project Fusion at $879,000 for the building and 30 acres. They came with a promise of employing 30 or more people within a couple of years.
The council tabled a vote on the lease proposal from West Florida Gin in Walnut Hill in order to negotiate with the Project Fusion company.
During the next week, the Project Fusion offer decreased by $119,000 as their project increased by 10 acres, and West Florida Gin made a cash offer to purchase the 40,390 square foot “Helicopter Technology” building.
West Florida Gin’s Rejected Offer
West Florida Gin offered $700,000 for the building and lot, a total of about five acres and has already made a $50,000 earnest deposit. It would have been a cash sale at closing with no actions required from the town. The town would have paid title insurance at closing and no broker compensation.
Project Fusion’s Accepted Offer
Project Fusion offered $760,000 for the building and the lot upon which it sits, plus seven other lots in the industrial park for a total of about 41 acres. The sale will be contingent upon a clear Phase I environmental assessment at the town’s expense (estimated at $2,500 to $6,000) and a determination at the town’s expense (cost unknown) that none of the property is wetlands.
Project Fusion has offered $50,000 in earnest money (not yet received), and the town will be required to offer owner-financing of 80% of the purchase price ($680,000) at a 4.5% interest rate on a 20-year amortization with a seven-year balloon payment. That equates to monthly payments of $3,847 with a lump sum balloon at seven years for $453,667.
The town will also be required to provide fiber optic connectivity and phone access to the lot with the building at the additional lots with 60 days, pay closing costs that include half of the title insurance (estimated $1,900), doc stamps (about $5,320), and a 3% broker fee ($22,800) to Beck Partners.
The company also requested security at the Century Industrial Park with a daily document log by a patrol officer and a waiver of all future impact fees. Both were sticking points for the council and their attorney. The town will instead request daily patrols and logs from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. And they won’t waive water and sewer impact fees because that will violate provisions of grant agreements that encumber water and sewer revenues.
The council approved the Project Fusion Offer on a 3-2 vote, with council President Ann Brooks and member Brenda Spencer voting against.
NorthEscambia.com will continue to follow this developing story.
NorthEscambia.com photos.