Century Approves Formation Of Community Redevelopment Area
February 24, 2016
The Town of Century has approved the formation of a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).
Upon declaration of an area as blighted, the CRA works to improve conditions. As property tax values rise, most of the increase is funneled back into the redevelopment area for further improvements. An estimate provide by Escambia County showed Century might, in a best case scenario, receive about $5,300 in tax funds for the first year of a CRA that included a full maximum 80 percent of the town. However, Council President Ben Boutwell said 100 percent of the town will be eligible for inclusion in the CRA.
Essentially, CRAs use redevelopment funds within a deteriorating area to transform it into one that again contributes to the overall health of a community. The money can roll over year to year, up a 40-year life for a CRA.
CRA funds can be used for a variety of public purposes, including items specified in the agency’s redevelopment plan, planning and surveys, acquisition of real property, affordable housing development and community policing innovations.
Century will enter into an interlocal agreement with Escambia County for assistance in forming and managing the CRA. Their next step will be the formation of a seven member board — the five council members plus two at-large members — to oversee the Century CRA.
There are currently nine other redevelopment districts in Escambia County — Atwood, Barrancas, Brownsville, Cantonment, Englewood, Ensley, Oakfield, Palafox and Warrington — and three within the City of Pensacola.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Local Lawmakers Thank Scott For Disaster Declaration
February 24, 2016
Escambia and Santa Rosa County Delegation members – Sen. Greg Evers, Rep. Doug Broxson, Rep. Mike Hill, and Rep. Clay Ingram — sent letters to Scott morning extending their sincere appreciation towards the governor’s actions on the behalf of the residents of Escambia County who suffered following the devastating aftermath of last week’s tornado.
Delegation members sent a letter to Scott that was signed Saturday as the group toured the damage in the Century area.
With the disaster declaration from the governor, those who experienced significant damage may be able to apply for possible grants, loans, and other restoration funds as they begin to rebuild their homes and lives.
The letters were as follows:
Dear Governor Scott,
I am truly grateful for your generous response to the disasters that occurred in the town of Century and Escambia County on Monday, February 15. Thank you for declaring one of the poorest counties in the State eligible for emergency disaster funds after last week’s devastating tornado.
The residents of Escambia County and I are grateful for all the efforts of the local Emergency Management Services and the continuous communications with the Department of Emergency Management, to provide swift assistance to all those who suffered in the tornado’s devastating wake. The rescue and aftermath labors were greatly appreciated from all local & state resources.
Thank you for your thoughtfulness and leadership of this great State in our time of need.
I am, respectfully,
State Representative Mike Hill
District 2
Dear Governor Scott:
Thank you for your leadership in declaring Century, FL a state of emergency following the devastation caused by a tornado on February 15, 2016.
This declaration will provide vital assistance to Escambia County and the residents of Century affected by the tornado. Our communities in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are resolute, resilient, and have come together to help the residents of Century during this difficult time, but the people of Century are in need of all the assistance that can be provided.
I am grateful for your response and will continue to work hard to help those in need.
Respectfully,
Doug Broxson
State Representative
Dear Governor Scott,
Thank you for your immediate response to the recent devastation in the Town of Century and Escambia County, in the wake of the tornado on February 15th. The efforts of volunteers, local and state disaster relief teams, and the Escambia Emergency Management Services and the Florida Department of Emergency Management have been greatly appreciated. I know that under your leadership, the residents of Escambia County and the Town of Century will receive the best care during their time of need.
The declaration of the State of Emergency for the Town of Century and Escambia County is just the beginning to the road to recovery for the victims of the tornado last week. I appreciate all you have done to begin the fiscal recovery opportunities in one of the lowest income areas of my district.
Sincerely,
Greg Evers
District 2
A copy of Rep. Clay Ingram’s letter was not immediately available.
Pictured top: Local legislative delegation members sign a letter to Gov. Rick Scott last Saturday in Century. Pictured top inset: Evers and Rep. Clay Ingram (left) drag debris out of Front Street last Saturday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Computer Coding As A Foreign Language Bill Ready For Senate Vote
February 24, 2016
The Senate is poised to vote on a bill that would allow high-school students to take computer-coding courses to satisfy two credits of foreign-language requirements.
Senators, however, changed the bill (SB 468) on Tuesday to remove a proposed requirement that high schools would have to offer computer-coding courses.
After an amendment, the bill now says schools “may” provide opportunities for students to take the courses. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Margate, has drawn debate throughout the legislative session, including Tuesday on the Senate floor. As an example, Sen. Dwight Bullard, D-Miami, said he was concerned some students might not have access to the courses because of antiquated technology. But Ring said the bill would take effect with the 2018-19 school year, which would provide time. Also students would be able to take the courses through the Florida Virtual School, he said.
The Senate could vote on the bill as early as Wednesday. A House version (HB 887), filed by Rep. Janet Adkins, R-Fernandina Beach, is ready to go to the full House.
by The News Service of Florida
Firefighters Save U.S. Postal Service Vehicles From Truck Blaze
February 24, 2016
Quick work by firefighters from Florida and Alabama saved a couple of U.S. Mail trucks Tuesday night at the I-10 Welcome Center on the state line.
Firefighters from the Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Baldwin County arrived to find the cab of a flatbed 18-wheeler fully involved. Fire crews were able to quickly extinguish the blaze and prevent further damage to two U.S. Postal Service vehicles it was carrying. One postal vehicle did receive minor damage.
There were no injuries reported and no immediate word on the cause of the fire.
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Government Agencies Working Together On Century Tornado Cleanup
February 24, 2016
The ECUA grappler truck is on the job during the tornado cleanup on Jefferson Street in Century. It’s being operated by an Escambia County employee, with the assistance of a Town of Century Gas Department employee.
“It’s true intergovernmental cooperation,” said Larry Walker, ECUA District 5 board member.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century’s Leaders: Thank God, And We’ll Be Back Better Than Before
February 23, 2016
The Town of Century is resilient and will rise again following the destruction of an EF-3 tornado….that was the message relayed during a Century Town Council meeting Monday night.
“Oh God we thank you for sparing the lives of those that have been spared in this catastrophe that we have gone through. We just want to say thank you,” said Councilman Gary Riley has he opened the meeting in prayer.
“I was out there watching it as it went over my house,” Riley said. “(I) thanked God that he sent it over, but at the same time, as the mayor was saying, let us keep praying for the ones that were hit.”
Mayor Freddie McCall, his voice often cracking with emotion, continued during the meeting to offer praise to God for sparing lives during the tornado and offering thanks to the multitudes of people that have lent in helping hand or donated to Century’s hardest hit. Over five dozen homes in the town limits were heavily damaged or destroyed as the tornado swept through town.
“People have brought food, brought clothing, from every direction and it’s still coming. And I just want to thank everybody for what they’ve done in that way,” McCall said. “We are going to stay together, and we are going to come through this. We are going to be better than we were before.”
“I just can’t think everybody enough for what they are doing for this little town,” an emotional McCall said.
“It’s bad what happened to our town,” Council President Ben Boutwell said, “but it could also be a gift from God….Just be there for each other, and be good neighbors.”
Escambia Fire Responds To Smoke At EMS Post
February 23, 2016
Escambia Fire Rescue responded to reported smell of smoke early Monday night at the Escambia County EMS Post 50 on Industrial Boulevard. After a short investigation, firefighters determined that the smoke was from a motor on an ambulance bay door.
There was no major damage reported and no injuries.
Tornado Recovery: The Latest Need To Know
February 23, 2016
Here is the latest tornado repair and recovery information:
Permitting
- No demolition will be allowed in Century town limits until next Monday, February 29, 2016 to allow time for removal of storm related debris. Demolition permits are required.
- All repair work and demolition will require issuance of an approved Town of Century Land Use Certificate and a building permit for Century residents. Only building permits are required outside the town.
- The Escambia County Building Inspections Department Permitting Staff are available at Century Town Hall to process permits between t9 a.m. 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- Permitting fees for tornado repair resulting from the February 15 storm have been waived, upon submission of the required permit application documentation, by the Town of Century and Escambia County Board of County Commissioners.
- You may verify any contractor’s license status with the Escambia County Contractor Licensing Section at (850) 595-3509. Licensed contractors are regulated by laws designed to protect the public. If you contract with and/or pay a person who does not have a license, the Construction Industry Licensing Board and Department of Business and Professional Regulation may be unable to assist you with any financial loss that you sustain as a result of a complaint. If you obtain an owner-builder permit and wish to hire a licensed contractor, you will be responsible for verifying whether the contractor is properly licensed and the status of the contractor’s workers’ compensation coverage.
- For further assistance, contact the Building Inspections Department at (850) 595-3550 or buildinginspections@myescambia.com
- Legal Services of North Florida will be at the Century Business Center providing free property related legal assistance on Friday, February 26th from noon – 4:00 p.m. They hope to hold office hours on additional days TBD. Those not able to meet with them while they are in Century can still receive help by calling (850) 432-8222.
- The Small Business Development Center is available to assist local businesses with disaster related issues. Contact (850) 474-2528.The Red Cross is no longer in Century assisting with disaster recovery. Healthy Start will resume WIC services beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday
- The Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE) is operating a Volunteer Team Assignment Center (VTAC) at 7811 N Century Blvd (Chamber of Commerce Bldg.) from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Tuesday; Wednesday and beyond TBD. What the VTAC does is register survivor needs (such as tarping roofs and debris cleanup) and deploys affiliated volunteer teams to affected areas to provide relief. If anyone in the community needs assistance with installing tarps (or just the tarp itself) please have them come by the Chamber building to fill out a request for volunteer support. If any groups or organizations would like to be a part of our coordinated response effort please have them email t jondiamond@bereadyalliance.org.
- United Way of Escambia County – Dial 2-1-1 for resource referral.
- Lumber for repairs – Anyone needing wood for repairs due to the destruction of the tornado is encouraged to go to Bondurant Lumber and see Tim or Bubba. TheChurch of Christ is absorbing this cost or the citizens that received damage due to the tornado, according to a release from the Town of Century.
- Displaced residents – If you are displaced and find a place to rent, the Church of Christ is offering to pay the deposit and the rent for one month, according to the Town of Century. Dial 211 for information.
- Bluff Springs Campground – Bluff Springs Campground has free sites available for tornado victims and recovery volunteers. www.bluffsprings.org or (850) 256-2767.
Century Denies Variance To Allow Liquor Store
February 23, 2016
The Century Town Council voted 4-0 Monday night to deny a variance requested by Al Ramani of Pensacola to open what Mayor Freddie McCall described as a “whiskey store”.
Ramani said he would invest up to $1.5 million to open the business in a former thrift store location next to a Dollar General on North Century Boulevard. He first told the council that the business would be a convenience store offering beer, but later said it would be a liquor store with a selection including beer, wine and hard liquor. The business, he said, would employ 20 people within a year.
Ramani was forced to seek the variance because his store would be about 300 feet from the nearest church; the town’s ordinances requires liquor stores to be 600 feet or more from the nearest church.
Pictured: Al Ramani requested that the Century Town Council approve a variance that would have allowed him to open a liquor store in the 9000 block of North Century Boulevard. NorthEsambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Ruling Could Mean $100 Million To Counties, Including Escambia, In Juvenile Dispute
February 23, 2016
An appeals court ruling could mean the state owes more than $100 million to counties — including Escambia — in a long-running dispute about who pays to detain juvenile offenders.
The ruling last week by the 1st District Court of Appeal came as senators consider a bill aimed at resolving the dispute, which centers on what are known as “predisposition” costs before underage offenders are sentenced. Counties contend that the state has forced them to pay too large a share of the costs.
A panel of the appeals court upheld an earlier ruling against the state Department of Juvenile Justice. The effect is that the department would have to give counties credit toward overpayments in juvenile-detention bills from the state.
Last week’s ruling is worth more than $100 million to the dozens of counties involved, said Florida Association of Counties spokeswoman Cragin Mosteller.
“Based on DJJ’s own stipulation (of figures involved in the dispute), the counties have been overcharged between $100 (million) and $200 million dollars,” Mosteller said.
The ruling came as Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, seeks to pass a bill (SB 1322) aimed at creating a new cost-sharing formula while putting past quarrels to rest.
The measure would mandate a 50-50 split between the Department of Juvenile Justice and the participating counties — along with an agreement by the counties to drop any claims to back payments.
With three weeks left in the annual legislative session, however, it remains unclear whether Latvala’s bill could pass. The bill still faces two Senate committees, while the House version (HB 1279), filed by Rep. Chris Latvala, R-Clearwater, has not been heard in committees. Chris Latvala is the son of Jack Latvala.
The dispute centers on DJJ’s handling of a 2004 law that requires counties to help pay for predisposition costs. It affects 38 counties, many of which have taken cases to the state Division of Administrative Hearings.
In 2013, the 1st District Court of Appeal upheld an administrative law judge’s ruling that the Department of Juvenile Justice had shifted more responsibility for the costs to counties than the law required. The 2014 Legislature then tried to come up with another formula. But a bill proposing a 50-50 split died when the counties sought hundreds of millions of dollars in back payments. As a result, Gov. Rick Scott and the department settled on the current 57-43 percent formula, which the counties have argued is too high.
The billing process also has sparked a series of disagreements between the state and counties — some of which were addressed in last week’s appeals-court ruling. Currently, the counties pay annual estimated costs in advance. They contend this frequently results in being owed millions in overpayments or getting hit with unexpected bills at the last minute.
Under Latvala’s bill, counties would pay their actual costs for the previous year. The measure would require the counties to pay a total of $42.5 million for detention costs during the upcoming 2016-17 fiscal year, while the state would pay the rest. After that, the state and counties would split the costs evenly.
The Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee unanimously passed the measure Feb. 11. But Chairman Joe Negron, R-Stuart, warned then that the deal would be off unless all the counties — many of which have active cases pending against the department — signed letters waiving their claims.
Negron said Friday he stands by that condition in the wake of the ruling.
“The counties are still in a precarious legal position because you never know how the (Florida) Supreme Court will rule,” he said. “And the decision — while favorable on its face to the counties — also involves a remand to trial courts to make final determination as to a specific amount. The bottom line for me is: Now is the right time to settle our differences and move forward as respectful partners together.”
Okaloosa County Commissioner Nathan Boyles, whose county has played a key role in the dispute, said he was “very optimistic that we’ll see a legislative resolution to this issue this year.”
Boyles said his understanding of the ruling was that it gives counties the right to withhold money to settle bills with the department. The Legislature and the department have argued the counties can only be reimbursed through the legislative process.
However, Boyles said the counties would be wise not to “flaunt” the ruling.
“I think what you’ll find with most folks who represent county government, the preferred method to settle this issue is not through a forced withholding from the DJJ by virtue of a court ruling, but rather through legislative action that is a result of compromise and negotiation between the Legislature and the counties,” he said.
Negron agreed.
“It’s in the best interests of everyone to resolve this matter now with a 50-50 split,” he said. “And I’m optimistic that we have the votes in the Senate to do that. I hope the House of Representatives will consider bringing all the litigation to a close and moving forward on a 50-50 basis.”
Asked about the ruling Thursday, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, was noncommittal as lawmakers move toward hold budget conference negotiations. He said moving to a 50-50 split instead of the current 57-43 formula could cost the state about $12 million a year, which would not include addressing the past overpayment issue.
“There’s still a conversation that can take place on the dollars and cents, maybe not so much the policy, but we understand that to be about a $12 million recurring price tag,” Crisafulli said. “It’s a discussion that will take place, most likely, with our Senate partners as we move through the conferencing process.”