Public Comment Period Ends Thursday On Beulah Master Plan, Century Wastewater Plant, Other RESTORE Projects
February 5, 2020
The public comment period ends Thursday on Escambia County’s RESTORE Act funding requests, including a master plan for Beulah and wastewater treatment facility improvements for Century. There are eight total funding requests.
Escambia County will receive approximately $70 million through 2031 in RESTORE Act Direct Component (Pot 1) funds as a result of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. The RESTORE Act requires a Multi-Year Implementation Plan (MYIP) be approved by the Treasury Department prior to submittal of individual project Grant Applications and dispersal of funds.
The county also removed a funding request for an OLF8 Master plan, replacing the funding ask with a campus expansion at the Pensacola International Airport.
Public comments can be submitted on an online public comment form or by email to RESTORE@myescambia.com.
Beulah Master Plan
$300,000 to develop a master plan for the Beulah area
Escambia County will procure the services of an urban/land-use planning firm to develop a master plan for approximately 30,000 acres in the Beulah community of Escambia County. The master plan will be based on the University of West Florida HAAS Center Citizen Survey, an existing conditions analysis, technical analysis, and on stakeholder engagement and community participation.
The Beulah Master Plan will establish a vision for allowing for the continued growth in the area while preserving the quality of life and sense of place enjoyed by the current residents. The final deliverable will be a master plan and/or zoning overlay district and implementation plan, dependent on the technical guidance provided by the procured consultant and concurrence provided by Escambia County Developmental Services staff.
The Beulah community has experienced extensive growth resulting from improved economic conditions and the expansion of Navy Federal Credit Union’s Beulah campus, which is expected to employ over 10,000 people by 2022. Subdivision development orders in Beulah have increased exponentially, with 7,000 residences permitted for development since 2010. Beulah does not currently have a master plan nor zoning overlay district to effectively plan or manage growth. Development of the Beulah Master Plan will balance the highest and best land uses of the subject area with the needs of the County, region, and the Beulah community in creating a plan for sustaining growth while preserving the character of the community.
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Town of Century Wastewater Improvements
$500,000 to design and permit repairs to Century’s failing wastewater treatment facility
The wastewater treatment and collection system has fallen into disrepair as the town has struggled financially for the last decade to keep pace with maintenance and replacement activities.
Direct Component funds will be utilized to fund planning, design, and permitting associated with wastewater treatment and collection system improvements, including lift station, treatment plant, and piping repairs and replacements.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has strict requirements for the proper operation and maintenance of the utility system, and Century is responsible for meeting these requirements. Funding design and permitting of wastewater treatment and collection system improvements will allow the town to work with FDEP to secure funding to implement the improvements from the State’s Revolving Loan Fund as a rural, disadvantaged community.
OTHER PROJECTS:
Pensacola International Airport Campus Extension — $1.524 million, replaces OLF8 Master Plan on funding request
Perdido Bay Boat Ramp — $2.5 million for the construction of a boat ramp
Brownsville Community Center Renovation — $300,000 to renovate the interior and exterior, add incubator retail space
CRA Community Center – $500,000 for a community center in a yet to be determined CRA but likely in the Palafox CRA
CRA Economic Development Program -- $1.5 million to institute the complete streets program in CRAs
Little Sabine Bay Restoration Program – $2 million for a multi-tiered restoration effort
Pictured top: The Century Wastewater Treatment Facility, NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge. Pictured below: The Navy Federal campus in Beulah.
Tate High Quarterback Club Elects New Officers For 2020
February 5, 2020
The Tate High School Quarterback Club has elected new officers for 2020.
They are President Brian Byrd, Vice President Neal Johnson, Treasurer Stacy Lambeth, Secretary Debbie Westergreen, Head Football Coach Jay Lindsey and members at large Robin Foster and Megan Walters.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
February 5, 2020
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period ending January 23 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
No report received for Escambia County.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
K-9 Officer Hutchinson was on patrol in the Blackwater State Forest when he observed a truck stop near a field. While watching the truck, he observed a bright light shine from the open driver side window. The light was being swept across the field in a manner capable of disclosing the presence of deer. The truck slowly drove along the roadway and continued to shine the field. Officer Hutchinson followed the truck and conducted a traffic stop. While questioning the driver he admitted to shining the field to look for deer. Officer Hutchinson also observed a scoped hunting rifle in the passenger seat of the truck. The driver was charged appropriately, and Officer Hutchinson seized the rifle and the light as evidence.
This report represents some events the FWC handled during the time period; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Northview High Students Place At FBLA District Competition
February 5, 2020
The following Northview High School students placed at this year’s FBLA district competition:
- st Place Accounting 1 – Weslyn Dunn
- 1st Place Business Communication – Raeleigh Woodfin
- 1st Place Computer Applications – Abigail Levins
- 1st Place Health Care Administration – Libby Pugh
- 4th Place Health Care Administration – Bradi Edwards
- 1st Place Introduction to Business Procedures – Mackenzie Hoover
- 1st Place Introduction to Financial Math – Emily Levins
- 4th Place Introduction to Financial Math – Alana Shelly
- 1st Place Journalism – Kayla McKillion
- 2nd Place Journalism – Jacob Hawkins
- 4th Place Journalism – Holley Gilley
- 2nd Place Introduction to Business Communication – McKenna Simmons
- 3rd Place Agribusiness – Destiny Cleckler
- 4th Place Advertising – Christian Hixon
- 4th Place Cyber Security – Kenna Redmond
- 5th Place Organizational Leadership – Corteria Leslie
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Registration Open For Escambia County Adult Softball
February 5, 2020
Registration is underway for the Escambia County Parks and Recreation Department’s spring softball league for adults 18 and up, offering options for co-ed, competitive and recreation teams. Registration and payment are due Friday, Feb. 28 to the Parks and Recreation Department, 1651 E. Nine Mile Road. League play begins Tuesday, March 3. The cost is $400 per team, and all leagues use United States Specialty Sports Association modified rules.
- Co-ed League: 12-game schedule on Monday nights, played as double headers.
- Recreation League: 12-game schedule on Tuesday nights, played as double headers (3HR/out).
- Men’s League: 12-game schedule on Wednesday nights, played as double headers.
League management reserves the right to reassign teams to different divisions.
Click here for a registration form. For more information, please call 850-475-5220 or email mahumphreys@myescambia.com.
Century Botches Meeting Time Public Notice; Finishes Meeting Before Posted Start Time
February 5, 2020
The Century Town Council, sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), held and completed a meeting Monday earlier than the time publicly noticed in some locations.
The town posted a notice at locations including the town hall and emailed on January 15 it to media including NorthEscambia.com, WEAR 3, NewsRadio 1620, Pensacola News Journal and WKRG that indicated a yearly scheduled for CRA meetings – including February 3 at 6 p.m. The notice stated “until further notice”.
It was immediately followed by another email to the media outlets with a public notice stating the February 3 CRA meeting would be held at 6:15 p.m. Monday night. The notice indicating the 6:15 p.m. time was still posted after the meeting in the Century Post Office. It was also published on NorthEscambia.com.
The CRA meeting was held at 6 p.m. and complete before 6:15 p.m. Only one person, who chairs the CRA’s Hope Garden project, attended the full meeting in which the CRA’s annual report for fiscal year 2018-2019 was presented and approved.
Town Clerk Kimberly Godwin said the 6:15 p.m. meeting time was wrong, and after first publication was corrected in the local weekly newspaper. No correction was sent to NorthEscambia.com.
Florida’s Sunshine Law requires public boards to provide proper public notice of meetings. In 2016, four members of a Century Citizens Advisory Task Force were charged with non-criminal violations of the Sunshine Law after a public meeting advertised for 4 p.m. was actually held at 2 p.m.
“There was a clear violation of the Sunshine Law by holding a public meeting at a time other than what was advertised in a public notice,” Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille wrote following the 2016 meeting.
Pictured: A public notice still posted Monday night in the Century Post Office indicates the CRA would meet at 6:15 p.m, but the board actually met at 6 p.m.
Pedestrian Struck And Killed On I-10; Troopers Seeking Tractor Trailer Truck
February 4, 2020
A pedestrian was struck and kill on I-10 in Escambia County Monday night, and the Florida Highway Patrol is search for a tractor trailer that may have hit him.
It happened about 8:45 p.m. on I-10 eastbound just east of Highway 29.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 23-year old Cory Reddick of Pensacola was walking in between the center and far right lane of I-10. Troopers said 21-year old Amber Jones of Milton saw Reddick in the roadway and attempted to swerve, but her 2013 Kia Soul collided with him.
“Through the course of our investigation we have determined that the pedestrian in last night’s fatal crash was also struck by a tractor-trailer after the initial collision,” Lt. Robert Cannon, FHP public affairs office, said. “We have no description of the tractor-trailer but there will be physical evidence on the semi from the collision. We are asking for assistance from the public in helping us to locate and identify the tractor-trailer.”
Anyone having information can contact the Florida Highway Patrol at (850) 484-5000, or by dialing *FHP (347) from a cell phone.
The investigation is continuing.
Photos Show Just How Close A Century Bridge May Be To Collapse. And It’s Going To Take $300K To Replace It.
February 4, 2020
Photos obtained by NorthEscambia.com show the dangerous conditions that led to the emergency closure of a bridge on Freedom Road in Century last week.
Several pilings under the wooden bridge are no longer properly supporting the structure, and some of the pilings are split or have extreme deterioration.
Monday night, the Century Town Council voted to move forward with replacing the bridge. The first step will be for town staff to determine how to pay the estimated $300,000 price tag. The council voted for the replacement over an estimated $75,000 to $100,000 for repairs that might last a decade, according to Interim City Manager Vernon Prather.
The council may use Local Option Sales Tax revenue for the new bridge, but a final determination of a funding option will come at un upcoming meeting.
Last week, Mott McDonald engineers conducted a limited inspection of the bridge and found the following problems:
- A backwall has deflected toward the water, pushing piles toward the water and causing them to rotate, split and no longer bear weight.
- One bridge piling has a split at the top of the pile, but it is providing some support.
- A second pile has been pushed completely out and no longer supports the bridge.
- A third pile has split, and only half the pile is providing support.
- A fourth pile has deterioration with only a three-inch diameter section remaining about six feet below the bridge. The outer pile section has broken.
- There is soil loss behind a backwall.
- There is a large void underneath the roadway on the east side the bridge
“We cannot predict when the…backwall lateral loads will complete fail…causing the bridge the collapse,” engineer Bart Hendricks wrote in his report. “We also cannot predict when the roadway over the void on the southeast corner will collapse”
The age of the bridge was not provided to the engineer, but he determined the timber pilings may be at or beyond the typical life of 30 years. “A better long-term financial decision may be to replace this structure rather than perform repairs,” Hendricks wrote.
Mott McDonald engineers also recommended that the town perform bridge inspections for all bridges that are not inspected by the Florida Department of Transportation. Those inspections are required every two years for longer bridges by the Federal Highway Administration.
Century Mayor Henry Hawkins Has Been Hospitalized For Nearly Two Weeks
February 4, 2020
Century Mayor Henry Hawkins has been hospitalized for nearly two weeks.
Hawkins was admitted to West Florida Hospital on January 22 and spent time in intensive care with flu symptoms along with blood sugar and kidney problems.
Century City Manager Vernon Prather reported Monday night that Hawkins remains in the hospital, but his condition has greatly improved. He has been moved to a regular room at West Florida Hospital and is allowed to have visitors.
ECSO: Man Steals 23 Guns And $40K In Jewelry From Pawn Shop
February 4, 2020
An Escambia County man has been charged with stealing 23 guns and about $40,000 worth of jewelry from a local pawn shop.
Terry Cook,42, allegedly used a sledgehammer to break into a pawn shop on Pensacola Boulevard about 3 a.m. on January 31.
During the investigation surveillance video was used to identify Cook. A search of his residence in the 8500-block of Ryan Avenue revealed 13 guns and some of the stolen jewelry, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Cook was charged with possession of a weapon by convicted felon, felony criminal mischief, burglary of a structure (armed), grand theft, grand theft of a firearm and dealing in stolen property.
Deputies served another search warrant in the 600 block of Caro Street were five more firearms were located. The ECSO said charges in the search are pending.
Investigators are still looking to recover five more firearms and additional jewelry. If you have any information about this incident, call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
