Memorial Day Closures
May 22, 2014
The following offices in Escambia County will be closed Monday in observance of the Memorial Day holiday:
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners
- Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- Escambia County Tax Collector
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
- West Florida Public Library System
- Perdido Landfill administrative offices.
- Town of Century
Escambia County’s 911 dispatch, EMS and fire Services will operate as normal on Monday.
Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) will only operate 59 Express, 64 Beach Jumper and Beach Trolley routes on Monday.
ECAT administrative offices will be closed on Monday, May 26, office hours and regular services will resume on Tuesday, May 27. For more information visit, goecat.com or call (850) 595-3228.
The following offices in Santa Rosa County will be closed on Memorial Day Monday:
- Santa Rosa County Board of Commissioners, including the library system and animal shelter
- Santa Rosa County Clerk of the Court
- Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser
- Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections
- Santa Rosa County Tax Collector
The Central Landfill will be open Monday from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Sheriff Warned County About Jail: ‘Future Flood Might Be Much More Serious’
May 21, 2014
Following the flooding of the Central Booking and Detention facility in June 2012, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan wrote a letter warning Interim County Administrator Larry Newsom and county commissioners that restoring the basement to “pre-flood” condition without safeguards against flooding could result in severe consequences.
“The ramifications of a future flood might be much more serious,” Morgan wrote in his November 14, 2012 letter to Newsom.
“I strongly object to restoring the facilities in the CBD basement to their original location. Now is the time to relocate these critical functions to an above-ground site that will not be subject critical services to the risk of becoming disabled in the event of a future flood or rain event,” Morgan concluded.
Morgan listed in his letter numerous problems associated with restoring the basement, which the county did. Morgan’s warnings about future flooding included:
- The central feed for all power, including the direct line and emergency generator is in the basement. With a flood, there is no power at all in a facility holding up to 697 inmates. Without power, the sheriff said water pressure drops, decreasing sewage capacity. A sewer pump is disabled, and sewage will eventually stop up. ECSO warrants, booking and classifications go offline. And the five story building loses elevator service.
- Chiller units serving the CDB, main jail, and Juvenile Justice are disabled in a flood, causing a wet and a hazardous environment for inmates and staff.
- Boiler units were a total loss in the June 9, 2012, flood, as was the basement laundry facility for CDB. The basement also houses a kitchen that supplies food to the CDB and serves as a main jail backup.
“The list is extensive, but not comprehensive, and if any of the above systems are not restored in a timely manner inmates may have to be evacuated at a cost of both money and human resources possibly placing the public at risk if mass relocation is required,” the sheriff wrote.
Escambia County responded with a press release Tuesday afternoon.
The release said the Escambia County Commission and Administrative staff had a difficult decision to make. Moving all flood damaged equipment to the next floor of the CBD building, possibly the best way to prevent issues caused by a 100 year storm event, was not considered cost feasible. The insurance holder for the County’s correctional facilities had no issues with the County’s plan to repair the damaged facilities, as long as there was proactive improvement measures included in the plan.
The county release said the county plan did include improvements that, once completed, would have helped mitigate the threat posed by severe weather. Those steps included:
- Adding a wall and pumps to the bottom floor of the CBD (the back wall was built, but the pumps had not been installed before the April 2014 flood)
- Adding additional retention ponds to the area around the jail (property for one new pond had already been purchased before the flood, but construction on a retention pond had not yet begun)
Escambia County’s response pointed out that there was no FEMA Disaster declaration following the storm which flooded the CBD building in 2012. This meant that any large-scale changes and improvements would have been paid for solely by the tax payers of Escambia County.
Currently, leaders with the Escambia County Administration, Corrections and Facilities divisions are working with consultants to create a cost benefit analysis of all possible options for “the future of corrections facilities. This includes the cost of relocating jail facilities, consolidating operations to comply with the U.S. Department of Justice requests, increasing the use of technology to lower staffing costs while providing the safest, most modern correctional facilities possible,” the county release stated.
The Central Booking and Detention Center basement flooded again on April 20, 2014. An explosion occurred that killed two prisoners and injured about 200 inmates and corrections staff. The building has been deemed a total loss and will require replacement. Investigators have determined the explosion was caused by a natural gas leak, but the cause of the leak and explosion are still under investigation by the ATF.
Womanless Beauty Pageant Thursday To Help With Lung Transplant
May 21, 2014
A Womanless Beauty Pageant will be held Thursday, 7 p.m. at Northview High School. All proceeds will benefit Cheryl Stacey.
Stacey is critically ill in a Birmingham hospital awaiting a double lung transplant. She is the mother of two current Northview students and a Northview graduate. She was extremely active in the band and football programs at Northview for several years.
The Womansless Beauty Pageant was organized by several band and musical theater students to benefit Stacey. The program begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Northview Theatre. Admission is $5, with all proceeds going towards Stacey’s medical expenses.
Additional donations are welcomed, and $15 t-shirts will be sold. Checks should be made out directly to Allen Stacey or to the NHS Band Boosters.
School Board Conveys Property To Century For Existing Ball Fields
May 21, 2014
The Escambia County School Board has conveyed a 5.59 acre parcel to the Town of Century for $1 for existing ball fields. The move came after the town discovered it does not actually own the property that contains all or a portion of four ball fields at a town park.
The ball fields at Century’s Showalter Park are on a parcel owned by the Escambia County School District. The Town of Century will pick up the $1429.75 tab to Fabre Engineering for the required boundary survey.
Pictured top: The highlighted area shoes all or part of four ball fields at Century’s Showalter Park that were constructed on property owned by the Escambia County School District. NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Record Florida Budget Lands On Scott’s Desk
May 21, 2014
Florida’s record $77.1 billion, election-year budget went to the governor Tuesday along with 21 other bills, including a proposal to increase highway speeds that is expected to be vetoed.
Gov. Rick Scott and his staff have 15 days to scrutinize every line in the 431-page budget document, weighing legislators’ earmarks against the need to score political points in allowing individual items to remain or be vetoed.
And for the most part, Scott and his staff haven’t offered clues on what will stay or what will go.
The spending plan (HB 5001), the largest in state history, spreads around a hefty surplus, adding new money to public schools, state colleges and universities, environmental projects and child welfare while leaving room for about $500 million in tax and fee cuts that are already being used as a centerpiece for Scott’s re-election campaign.
Among the more-unique individual items in the budget are $2 million for public transportation improvements so people can get to the planned 1,000-foot SkyRise Miami tower, $123,000 for a dog park in Jacksonville and $350,000 for restoration of an Addison Mizner-designed fountain in Palm Beach.
Scott has line-item veto power. Last year, he cut $368 million from what had been a $74.5 billion budget.
He cut $142.7 million from the spending plan in 2012, after nixing $615 million his first year in office.
The Florida Democratic Party wasted little time in calling for Scott to veto unspecified “pork” in the budget and direct the Republican-dominated Legislature to instead shift more money to education.
“With over a billion dollars in new revenue this year, there’s no excuse for public schools not to be fully funded,” Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Tant said in a prepared statement.
The budget provides the highest education funding in Florida history in terms of its total amount. However, on a per-student basis, education funding is still almost $190 below where it stood before the 2008 financial collapse.
Senate Appropriations Chairman Joe Negron, R-Stuart, expects the governor will have a difficult time finding “pork” in the budget.
“The burden of proof rests with an individual legislator on any budget item, but I’ve had good conversations with Gov. Scott and with his budget staff,” Negron said. “I strongly disagree with the assertion about pork in the budget. Under our constitution the Legislature is the appropriating body. The budget should contain items that individual, elected legislators think are important to their community.”
Negron noted that the spending plan includes $7.1 million for a new 4th District Court of Appeal courthouse on state-owned land in West Palm Beach. Negron said the item, which he backed, will be far different from the $48.8 million 1st District Court of Appeal building in Tallahassee that has been dubbed the Taj Mahal.
“The (4th District) building will be smaller, it will be more efficient, it will be appropriate for what is transpiring in the building,” Negron said. “We’re going to show how a public building can be done in a very efficient and effective way.”
The replacement of the 44-year courthouse in West Palm Beach comes as the current building has mold in the courtrooms and was in line for $3 million in renovations to comply with security and Americans with Disabilities Act needs.
The delivery of the budget will also soon spur Florida TaxWatch’s annual list of “turkeys,” which are projects the Tallahassee-based group says the governor should consider vetoing.
TaxWatch spokeswoman Morgan McCord said Tuesday that no date for the release of the turkey list has been set.
Among the 21 other bills sent to the governor on Tuesday is a measure (SB 392) that would allow the state Department of Transportation to increase speeds from a maximum of 70 mph to 75 mph on certain highways.
Scott announced last week he would “stand with law enforcement,” which has opposed the possibility of higher speed limits, and veto the bill.
Sen. Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican who was one of the sponsors of the measure, intends to bring the proposal back next year.
Another bill (SB 2514) now before Scott gives him a second chance to decide on the future of the Coast to Coast Connector.
The bicycle and pedestrian path — backed by incoming Senate President Andy Gardiner — is up for $15 million to link an existing patchwork of trails across Central Florida.
The bicycle path proposal was vetoed last year when it was listed as a $50 million line item spread over five years.
Gardiner, an Orlando Republican who views the project as an economic driver, has been working to change Scott’s opinion of the trail between Titusville and St. Petersburg.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Molino Park Melodic Minors Present A ‘Make A Difference” Musical Message
May 21, 2014
The Melodic Minors Chorus of Molino Park Elementary School presented “Make A Difference” Tuesday evening at the school. The concert featuring songs about how even the little things can help make the world a better place. Photo by Crystal Jackson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Concert Bands Present Spring Concert
May 21, 2014
The Tate High School Concert Bands presented their Spring Concert on Tuesday evening at Hillcrest Baptist Church. The concert included a tribute to Erin Benson as the Wind Ensemble performed a piece based on the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul” conducted by Joe Hooten featuring Leslie Ann Godwin with vocals. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
EWMS Spring Concert On The Lawn
May 21, 2014
The Ernest Ward Middle School Chorus and Band held their Spring Concert Tuesday evening on the front lawn of the school. A large crowd brought their lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the event, which also included an available fund raising BBQ sandwich plate. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Health Department Resumes Clinical Services
May 21, 2014
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (DOH-Escambia) and the Florida Department of Health’s Children’s Medical Services Pensacola regional office (CMS-Pensacola) are partnering to enable DOH-Escambia to recommence clinic services in Escambia County. DOH-Escambia’s need for alternate clinic facilities was prompted by the temporary closure of its Fairfield Drive location due to the April 2014 flood event.
“This partnership highlights the integrated nature of the Florida Department of Health,” said DOH-Escambia Director, Dr. John Lanza. “We appreciate the hospitality afforded by CMS-Pensacola Director Dr. Rex Northup and his staff, which enables us to resume providing clinic services to the public.”
CMS-Pensacola will permit DOH-Escambia to use the clinic space located in the regional CMS-Pensacola facility located at 5192 Bayou Boulevard in Pensacola. DOH-Escambia will be providing clinic services, by appointment, at this location, on the days that CMS-Pensacola does not have clinic services operating in the facility. The CMS-Pensacola staff will continue to serve their clients on their regular schedule, and DOH-Escambia will serve their clients the remaining days and times.
Starting immediately, DOH-Escambia will again be able to provide healthcare services to individuals seeking family planning services, and to established Medipass clients. DOH-Escambia healthcare professionals will also be providing evaluation and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. Pregnant women seeking presumptive Medical eligibility will now be served at the CMS-Pensacola location, rather than the Northside facility. Individuals seeking any of these services may call 850-484-5040×1125 for an appointment. Due to limited capacity, services will be provided on an appointment basis only. Individuals needing these types of services who wish to receive them elsewhere may refer to the healthcare access resource list at www.escambiahealth.com, or may call 2-1-1.
Longleaf Pine Landowner Incentive Program Now Accepting Applications In Escambia, Santa Rosa
May 21, 2014
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Florida Forest Service is now accepting applications for the Longleaf Pine Landowner Incentive Program. The sign-up period will run until June 27 and is available for non-industrial private forest landowners, including those in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Longleaf pine forests are highly valued for their resistance to damage by insects, disease, wildfire and storms. They are also favored for their yield of high-quality wood products, biological diversity and scenic beauty. The goal of this program is to increase the acreage of healthy Longleaf pine ecosystems in Florida by helping non-industrial private forest landowners make the long-term investment required to establish and maintain this valuable ecosystem.
The Longleaf Pine Landowner Incentive Program is offered for private lands in Florida counties located west of the Apalachicola River and counties adjacent to the Ocala or Osceola National Forests (map attached).
The program provides incentive payments for the following:
- Improving timber stand
- Controlling invasive species
- Conducting prescribed burning operations
- Planting Longleaf pine
- Establishing native plant understory
- Conducting mechanical underbrush treatments
To obtain an application form, contact a local Florida Forest Service office or visit www.FloridaForestService.com. All qualifying applications will be evaluated and ranked for funding approval. This program is supported through a grant from the National Fish and Wildland Foundation with funding from the Southern Company, the U.S. Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, the Natural Resource Conservation Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
For more information in Escambia County, call (850) 587-5123. In Santa Rosa County, call (850) 983-5310.