Escambia County Awards $273K In Athletic Park Mowing Contracts, Estimates $50K Savings
February 27, 2018
Escambia County has awarded grounds mowing and trimming bids for 16 athletic parks totaling $273,603.50 for the year.
Each park will be mowed and trimmed 40 times during the year.
The Escambia County Parks and Recreation Department assumed some of the mowing and trimming responsibilities for a total of 16 athletic parks, to alleviate the costs of maintenance for athletic associations at county parks.
The county estimates that they will save over $50,000 per year using private contractors versus county staff performing the work. (Click here for the cost savings breakdown.)
The logistics of mowing and trimming during a short playing season, combined with the distances between parks, and the playing schedules make it impossible for one contractor to meet the needs of all the parks in a cost-efficient and responsive manner, so the Parks and Recreation Department divided the 16 parks into six zones, with each zone containing at least two parks of similar size, located within a reasonable distance of each other
Bids were awarded as follows, with an option to renew each for two additional one year terms:
Zone 1: Total Landscape Service, Inc / $29,450
- Bradberry Park, 4760 Highway 99A, Walnut Hill, 7 acres
- Ernest Ward, 7650 Highway 97, Walnut Hill, 2 acres
- Travis Nelson Park, 4525 West Highway 4, Bratt, 40 acres
Zone 2: Rhett James Landscaping, Inc / $63,990
- Cantonment, 681 Well Line Road, 30 acres
- Quintette, 2490 Quintette Lane, 18 acres
- Molino, 2320 Crabtree Church Road, 12 acres
Zone 3: Emerald Coast Grass Company, LLC, $36,172.50
- Brent, 4711 N. “W” Street Pensacola, 30 acres
- Raymond Riddle, 1704 N. “W” Street Pensacola, 5 acres
- Mayfair, 50 S. Garfield Pensacola, 5 acres
Zone 4: Coastal Landscaping and Maintenance, Inc / $36,950
- Bellview, 2750 Longleaf Avenue Pensacola, 20 acres
- Lewis Powell 7000 Rolling Hills, Pensacola, 2 acres
- Myrtle Grove 99 N. 61st Avenue, Pensacola, 17 acres
Zone 5: Big Orange Enterprises, LLC, d/b/a Escape Landscaping and Lawn Care / $54,720
- Brosnaham Park, 10370 Ashston Brosnaham, Pensacola, 110 acres
- John R. Jones, 555 E. Nine Mile Road, Pensacola, 20 acres
Zone 6: Gulf Coast Environmental Contractors, Inc / $52,320
- Southwest Complex, 2020 Bauer Road, Pensacola, 217 acres
- Baars, 13001 Sorrento Road, 8 acres
Pictured: The Travis Nelson Park in Bratt is mowed on Monday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cottage Hill Boil Water Notice Lifted For Area Including Jim Allen Elementary
February 27, 2018
Cottage Hill Water Works has lifted a boil water notice put into place last week due to a broken water main.
The boil water notice was issued last Thursday after natural gas pipeline crew hit a water main. The accident left the area bounded by Neal Road, Wellline Road and Highway 29 without water temporarily, including Jim Allen Elementary School.
The utility said the water main has been repaired and bacteriological sampling showed the water to be safe to drink.
The Escambia County School District provided bottled water and hand sanitizer to students at Jim Allen Elementary during the boil water notice.
NHS Girls Weightlifting Presents Awards
February 27, 2018
Northview High School’s girls weightlifting team recently held an end of season breakfast banquet and presented several awards.
Pictured above are Team Leadership Award winner Lexi Bagget, MVL (Most Valuable Lifter) Natasha Walker-MVL (most valuable lifter), and Team Dedication Award winner Abigail Nelson.
Other winners and honorees are listed below their photos (scroll down).
First year lettering in weightlifting: Libby Pugh, Ayiana Courtney, Emily Stabler, Naudia Carach, Hailey Harigel and Lynnsey Holzapfel.
Three Year Awards: Rhayeshawanna Davidson, , Coach Natalie Nall and Lexi Bagget
Second Year Awards: Lexi Broadhead, Susannah Amerson and Crystal Douglas, Coach Natalie Nall.
First Year Awards: Shelby Bashore and Natasha Walker.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Jazz Band Scores Superior Rating At District Assessment
February 27, 2018
The Tate High School Jazz 1 Band scored a superior rating recently at the District 1 Florida Bandmasters Association Music Performance Assessment at Washington High School. The band, under the leadership of Jakob Wisdom, will travel to Gainesville on March 26 for state competition. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Division of Law Enforcement Receives Reaccreditation
February 27, 2018
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Division of Law Enforcement has completed the review process to maintain its accreditation status. The FWC was initially accredited in 2009. This was its fourth completion of the accreditation process.
“The FWC Division of Law Enforcement continues to maintain the highest standards of credibility, effectiveness and professionalism,” said Eric Sutton, FWC executive director. “Our staff work diligently to uphold these important standards each and every day. Reaccreditation by the Commission validates the hard work they do, and provides a strong vote of confidence in their ability to protect the public and conserve Florida’s natural resources.”
Florida law enforcement accreditation is certified by an independent reviewing authority, the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA). There are approximately 240 prescribed standards reflecting best management practices that a law enforcement agency must consistently meet or exceed over a three-year period in order to achieve this status.
“Accreditation is a voluntary but important process intended to hold an agency to a higher level of accountability by an external source,” said Col. Curtis Brown, director of the Division of Law Enforcement. “We are very pleased with the CFA’s determination that reaccreditation of the Division was earned.”
An accreditation assessment team composed of law enforcement representatives from other accredited Florida law enforcement agencies conducted on-site inspections of the division’s procedures, policies, practices and equipment to determine compliance. The team visited FWC headquarters in Tallahassee and several other offices around the state, interviewing individuals, reviewing written materials and observing activity.
“We sincerely support the accreditation process,” Brown said. “It has been an effective way to ensure that we are operating efficiently and providing the best service we possibly can.”
Pictured: The FWC Division of Law Enforcement at Fischer Landing in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
State Revenue Estimate Cut By $167 Million
February 27, 2018
State analysts have reduced their previous estimate for state tax and revenue collections by $167 million, citing a continued decline in corporate income tax collections.
The new estimate reduces a Feb. 9 forecast of a two-year increase of $462 million to $274.4 million. The revised estimate means House and Senate members who are working on an $87 billion budget for 2018-2019 will have a little less money to use as they negotiate a final budget deal. The previous forecast acknowledged that corporate income tax collections were $113 million below estimates through December.
But analysts concluded that was caused by a state decision to let businesses impacted by Hurricane Irma hold off on tax payments until Feb. 15. They projected the shortfall would be negated when the delayed payments began coming in, the analysts said. It didn’t happen.
“While the data for February is still preliminary, it appears that only a small fraction of the expected total was actually received,” the new forecast said. Analysts cut their projection for corporate income tax collections in 2017-2018 by $94.3 million and by $73.1 million in 2018-2019, resulting in the $167 million decline in the overall estimate.
Facing a March 9 end to the annual legislative session, lawmakers have not started formal negotiations on a new state budget, which will take effect July 1.
Molino Highway 29 Crash Claims Life Of Mobile Man
February 26, 2018
A wreck Sunday afternoon on Highway 29 in Molino claimed the life of a Mobile man.
According to the FHP, 56-year old Franklin Webb was traveling east on Barrineau Road when he failed to properly yield his Toyota Tundra at a stop sign at the intersection of Highway 29. His vehicle was hit by a southbound Chevrolet Silverado driven by 49-year old Dean Dagen-Daw of Pensacola.
Webb was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Dagen-Daw and her passenger, 19-year old Kyleigh Daw, were transported with minor injuries to Sacred Heart Hospital.
A 2018 Audi Q7 driven by a Pensacola woman was struck by debris from the initial collision. No one in Audi was injured.
Alcohol was not a factor in the crash, according to the FHP.
The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Deputies: Cantonment Mom Had Marijuana In Her Baby’s Diaper Bag
February 26, 2018
A Cantonment mom was arrested on multiple charges after deputies reported finding marijuana in baby’s diaper bag.
Erica Leanne Tull, 32, was charged with felony possession of marijuana over 20 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, and felony destruction of evidence. She remained in the Escambia County Jail Monday morning with bond set at $5,500.
A relative reported that Tull was not properly caring for her four-month old daughter and was not fit to take care of the child. Deputies responded to her home and found no signs of physical abuse or neglect on the baby, and Tull showed deputies that she had several extra boxes of diapers and containers of baby formula.
As Tull grabbed a diaper bag and her purse and left the residence with the baby, deputies reported the strong odor of fresh marijuana coming from her person, according to an arrest report. The report states deputies asked her about marijuana use, at which time she dropped the diaper bag responded that she did not use drugs because she was caring for her baby.
Deputies reporting they could clearly see a plastic bag half full of marijuana in the open diaper bag that was dropped on the ground while Tull was still holding her baby. After a relative took custody of the baby, deputies said they observed Tull push a metal object under a patrol vehicle, and that item was determined to be a metal pipe.
Tull said the pipe was already on the ground and told officers that the diaper bag, where the marijuana was located, was not hers, the arrest report states.
The Department of Children and Families was notified of the incident.
Constitution Revision Commission To Hold Pensacola Public Hearing Tuesday
February 26, 2018
Florida Constitution Revision Commission will hold a six hour public hearing Tuesday at the University of West Florida.
Public hearings are free events open to all Floridians who would like to attend. No tickets or RSVPs are required. To speak at a CRC public hearing, Floridians must fill out an appearance form and hand it in to CRC staff. The appearance form is available online at flcrc.gov and printed copies are available at public hearings. Appearance forms will not be accepted in advance of the public hearing.
Public speakers will be called in the order in which appearance forms are received by CRC staff at the public hearing.
The hearing will take place from 1-7 p.m. at theUniversity of West Florida Conference Center & Ballroom at 11000 University Parkway, Building 22.
The Constitution Revision Commission has a May 10 deadline to finish its work.
Manna And Rotary Team Up To Fight Hunger
February 26, 2018
Over 300 Rotary Club members helped Manna Food Pantries create 65,000 meals Saturday for those that are in need.
The Rotary Against Hunger is a project of the Combined Rotary Clubs of Pensacola (CROP) launched in 2012.
Volunteers packed nutritious lentil casserole packets. CROP’s donation will provide much needed food to those in need. According to Manna Executive Director DeDe Flounlacker, the project has become a critical part of their ability to meet the needs of the hungry throughout the year in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
“The Rotary Against Hunger project provides much-needed food during winter and early spring when donations are always low, and need is always high,” said Flounlacker. “Last year, Manna provided food assistance to 20,269 people; 42% were children under the age of 18. These are your neighbors and mine — folks who are the working poor, grandparents raising their grandchildren, moms and dads who do not have enough money to pay their bills and buy food for their family. Thanks to Rotary, thousands of people will be helped this year through this gift of nutritious food.”
Since the first year of the Rotary Against Hunger Project, CROP has packed well over a half million meals for the hungry.
“This will be the seventh year that Rotary has teamed up with Manna, ensuring that these meals will be distributed in a manner that will serve the needs of many families in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties,” said Ed Carson, Rotary Against Hunger Project Chair. “Through this project, Rotary is striving to exemplify Service Above Self, the Rotary motto.”
