Future Gulf Power Owner Completes Gas Company Purchase
July 31, 2018
NextEra Energy, Inc., said Monday it has completed the purchase of Florida City Gas as part of a multibillion-dollar package announced in May that includes NextEra buying Gulf Power Company.
Florida City Gas has about 110,000 commercial and residential natural-gas customers in Miami-Dade, Brevard, St. Lucie and Indian River counties, according to NextEra, which is also the parent company of Florida Power & Light.
The deal announced in May, totaling $6.475 billion, includes NexEra buying Florida City Gas, Gulf Power and interests in two power plants from the Atlanta-based Southern Company. The Gulf Power purchase is expected to close during the first half of 2019, NextEra said in May. Gulf Power is the largest electric utility in Northwest Florida.
by The News Service of Florida
Atmore, Other South Alabama Airports Receive Grants
July 31, 2018
The airport in Atmore and seven others in Southwest Alabama were awarded federal Department of Transportation grants.
The Atmore Municipal Airport was awarded $72,000 to construct a fuel farm and update their Airport Master Plan Study.
“Having a well-maintained and quality airport is critical in terms of economic development and helping bring new jobs to our region,” Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-AL) said. “These grants will be put to good use to help improve our infrastructure in Southwest Alabama.”
In addition to Atmore, other grants awarded were:
- The Bay Minette Municipal Airport was awarded $45,000 to update their Airport Master Plan Study, and $55,000 to remove obstructions.
- The Jack Edwards National Airport in Gulf Shores was awarded $150,000 for runway safety improvements.
- The Monroe County Aeroplex was awarded $506,105 to rehabilitate the runway.
- The Jeremiah Denton airport on Dauphin Island was awarded $149,400 to rehabilitate the runway.
- The Foley Municipal Airport was awarded $259,149 to construct a taxiway.
- The Mobile Regional Airport was awarded $1.1 million to improve airport drainage, acquire friction measuring equipment, and update airport mast.
- The Brewton Municipal Airport was awarded $300,000 to rehabilitate runway lighting.
Suspect On The Run In Jay
July 31, 2018
One person was taken into custody during a manhunt Monday evening in Jay as a second suspect remained on the run at last report just before 8 p.m.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office sad the two were in a vehicle that had been reported stolen.
The suspect still on the run was described as a black male, thin-build and wearing a red shirt by Sgt. Rich Aloy, spokesperson for the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. He said the suspect is about 24-years old.
A witness told NorthEscambia.com that she saw three deputies pulling over an older white SUV near the tractor dealership on Highway 4 near Smith Tractor Company. She said the SUV then fled south.
Further details have not been released.
Photos by Jennifer Ashworth for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bowman Avenue To Remain Closed Until Friday
July 31, 2018
The Bowman Avenue closure and detour that began on Wednesday, July 18 has been extended until Friday, August 3.
Bowman Avenue South between West Nine Mile Road and Fretz Street will remain closed to through traffic. Traffic is being detoured along Ashland Avenue South, Cove Avenue South and Bush Street. Crews are installing sanitary sewers and new manholes as part of utility upgrades.
Firefighters Rescue ‘Lucky’ Kitten From Storm Drain
July 30, 2018
A sweet little kitten was rescued from a storm drain recently by Escambia Fire Rescue.
Someone heard the kitten crying out for help and called for asssistance. When the firefighters of Engine 6 arrive from the Ensley Fire Station, they could hear the little guy still meowing away.
The crew jumped into action and removed the closest storm drain cover, monitored the air for safety and entered the drain to safely remove the kitten.
The caller was able to keep the kitten and will be taking it to the vet for a checkup. Firefighters named him “Lucky” — because he was such a lucky little guy.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Councilwoman Says Century Is Not Following Purchasing Rules, Needs To Cut Health Insurance Costs
July 30, 2018
Century’s council president said the town is not following proper purchasing procedures, and she also said the town needs to cut back on employee insurance costs.
“Until we develop and adopt a procurement policy, we need to follow our charter,” Ann Brooks said.
The town charter states:
“The council shall request and receive bids and award contracts involving expenditures of Five-Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or more. Except in emergencies, the council must approve the expenditure of amounts greater than One Hundred Ninety-Nine Dollars($199.00) and less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), prior to the expenditure.”
Brook said the council needs to request and receive bids and vote on contracts. “We are not allowed delegate this responsibility to anyone else according to our charter. We have not been following our charter regarding purchases, but we need to start doing so.”
She questioned the planned purchase of two pickup trucks. At a recent council meeting, Mayor Henry Hawkins presented price quotes from a Pensacola dealership totaling $80,655 for the trucks without receiving bids. Almost two weeks ago, NorthEscambia.com made a public record’s request for the town’s specifications used to obtain the bids, but the information has not been received.
Brooks obtained a price quote for what she believed to be two similar trucks at $57,498 from Hub City Ford in Crestview because they are the closest dealership on the state bid list. However, town officials said the vehicles quoted by the Crestview dealership were not adequate for their intended work purpose.
“We must start trimming our budget,” the council president said as she took aim at the health insurance benefits offered to town employees.
“We have to stop being so generous. We provide the Cadillac of health insurance plans for our employees, and we are paying 99 percent of the employees’ insurance cost and 78 percent of the families’ cost. We cannot afford to continue to do this, or we are going to…result in that future financial emergency that the auditors warned us about,” Brooks said.
FDOT Weekly Traffic Alerts: Highway 29 And More
July 30, 2018
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to U.S. 90 (Nine Mile Road) – Drivers traveling U.S. 29 and Nine Mile Road will encounter traffic pattern changes from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 29 through Saturday, Aug. 4.
- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 overpass: North and southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. Alternating traffic shifts will direct all traffic onto the westbound or eastbound lanes as crews continue construction of the new center bridge deck. Nine Mile Road lane restrictions are Sunday through Friday.
- U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations. U.S. 29 lane restrictions are Monday through Saturday.
- Northbound traffic has been shifted onto the newly constructed bridge section as demolition efforts continue.
· U.S. 29 Resurfacing between U.S. 90 and Muscogee Road – Paving operations continue between Muscogee Road and West 9 ½ Mile Road. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 29 through Thursday, Aug. 2.
· I-10 / U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements Phase I – The following traffic impacts are planned on I-10 and U.S. 29 near the interchange (Exits 10) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 29 through Thursday, Aug.2.
o Alternating east and westbound I-10 and north and southbound U.S. 29 lane closures.
o The U.S. 29 on-ramps to I-10 eastbound will be intermittently closed. Traffic will be detoured on U.S. 29 to access I-10 eastbound.
o Alternating lane closures on the I-10 westbound exit ramp to U.S. 29 north and south (Exit 10).
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Alternating lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, July 29 through Sunday, Aug. 5 as crews perform construction activities.
- U.S. 98 (Lillian Highway) Resurfacing from Perdido Bay Bridge to Dogtrack Road– Alternating lane closures east and westbound U.S. 98 from Perdido Bay Bridge to Dog Track Road from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, July 29 through Thursday, Aug. 3 as crews perform paving operations.
- State Road (S.R.) 750 (Airport Boulevard) from S.R. 291 (Davis Highway) to S.R. 289 (9th Avenue) – Intermittent lane closures on Airport Boulevard east and westbound, between Davis Highway and 9th Avenue from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 29 through Thursday, Aug. 3 as crews perform construction activities.
- S.R. 296 (W. Michigan Avenue) Routine Maintenance between Sun Valley Drive and Mobile Highway- The east and westbound, outside lane will be closed between Sun Valley Drive and Mobile Highway from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1 through Saturday, Aug. 4 as crews trim tree limbs around utility lines.
Santa Rosa County:
- I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/Exit 22) – Alternating lane closures on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of Avalon Boulevard, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 29 through Friday, Aug. 3 as crews work to widen the roadway. In addition, alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, will also be encountered as crews reconstruct the travel lanes.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Alternating lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, July 29 through Sunday, Aug. 5 as crews perform construction activities.
- S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to Hickory Hammock Road – The following construction related traffic impacts are planned for S.R. 87 the week of Monday, July 30:
-
- All four lanes between Eglin Air Force Base boundary and two miles south of the Yellow River will be opened to traffic.
- Intermittent north and southbound lane closures, between the Eglin Air Force Base boundary and two miles south of the Yellow River, as crews perform construction activities.
- Traffic between Hickory Hammock Road and the Eglin AFB boundary will continue to be restricted to loads less than 11-feet wide. The restriction will be in place until the project is completed.
- S.R. 87 Landscape between U.S. 98 and River Road – Drivers can expect intermittent turn lane restrictions between U.S. 98 and River Road 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday as crews install landscape and irrigation.
Molino Man Charged With Failing To Remit State Sales Tax
July 30, 2018
A Molino man has been charged with felony theft of state funds for failure to remit sales tax.
Eddie Lamar Craig, Sr., age 57, collected $11,421.10 in state sales tax that was not remitted to the Florida Department of Revenue, according to an arrest affidavit signed by a FDOR financial investigator.
Craig collected the sales tax through the now closed Eddie Craig’s Express Automotive and filed tax returns with the state, the arrest affidavit states. No payments were made with multiple returns during the February 2014 to March 2016 time period.
Revenue specialists made 45 contacts with Craig in an effort to resolve the delinquencies and secure voluntary compliance, the report states. Tax warrants totaling $16,955.37 were filed with the Escambia County Clerk of the Court.
Craig entered into a payment agreement with the Florida Department of Revenue, but the agency said he subsequently defaulted. The FDOR said the business’ bank account statements were subpoenaed and show the company had sufficient funds in the account to pay the taxes due.
Craig was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $2,500 bond.
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
July 30, 2018
Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings for the week of July 30-August 3
Monday, July 30
Emergency Medical Services Specialist Interviews – 9 a.m., Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 N. “W” St.
Escambia County Local Mitigation Strategy Board – 2 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, Room 115
Tuesday, July 31
Emergency Medical Services Specialist Interviews – 9 a.m., Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 N. “W” St.
Environmental Code Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, Room 104
Wednesday, August 1
Emergency Medical Services Specialist Interviews – 9 a.m., Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 N. “W” St.
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Thursday, August 2
Board of County Commissioners Agenda Review Session – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, Board Chambers, 221 Palafox Place
BCC Public Forum – 4:30 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, Board Chambers, 221 Palafox Place
BCC Regular Meeting – 5:30 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, Board Chambers, 221 Palafox Place
Friday, August 3
Emergency Medical Services Specialist Interviews – 9 a.m., Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 N. “W” St.
Century Fire Softball Tourney Raises Money For Fire Victims
July 30, 2018
The First Annual Century Firefighter’s Coed Charity Softball Tournament was held Saturday at Showalter Park in Century. Proceeds will benefit fire victims in the Century and Byrneville areas. “Who’s Next” won the tourney, that also included (below, descending order), “The Red Team”, “Southern Hitters” and “Beulah Chapel”. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
