Town Wants $300,000 From Prison For Water Overages
February 4, 2009
The Town of Century is looking to collect almost $300,000 from the Florida Department of Corrections for water bills the town says the state owes.
Under the town’s contract to provide water for the Century Correctional Institute, there is an added charge for water usage above 6 million gallons per month.
Mayor Freddie McCall says ongoing high water consumption by the prison has been somehow overlooked, and now the town wants the prison system to pay up a grand total of $298,751.54 in overusage charges dating back to January 2000.
The state did pay overusage charges totaling $18,362.38 for June, July, August and September of last year, McCall said. But they failed to pay the town’s bill for charges from January 2000 to May 2008.
“They’ve done admitted guilt because they sent me those checks,” McCall said of the four payments received from the state.
The town will turn the water overusage bill over to Matt Dannheisser, the town’s attorney, to being collection proceedings.
The Town of Century was successful in recovering over $300,000 for prison system natural gas usage. The town received a $302,488.40 check in late October to cover back gas billings for the Century Correctional Institute.
The dispute stemmed from billing practices that dated back to 2000. Under the town’s agreement with the DOC and Century Correctional Institute, the prison was to pay for natural gas at the rate of 120 percent of the town’s actual cost. The town’s billing system would generate a bill at the normal rate, then town employees would re-rate the bill and send a new bill about 10 days later at the 120 percent rate. That adjustment was originally done twice a year based upon the rate from nine months earlier.
But in 2000, there was spike in natural gas prices, Matt Dannheisser, the town’s attorney said, and the town went back to the DOC that agreed to pay 100 percent of the town’s cost on a monthly basis. But they did not agree to pay the 20 percent profit margin until a new agreement was reached.
Town Accountant Robert Hudson had reported to the council several months ago that the DOC owed about $569,000 in back payments. But that amount included $127,000 in interest that Dannheisser said the DOC was not willing to pay, and the DOC disputed some of the billing amounts.
The check received in October was deposited into the town’s gas fund, McCall said, with the town council to make the eventual decision what to do with the funds.
Man Busted For Stealing Assault Rifle, Other Items From Police Cars
February 4, 2009
A man arrested for stealing items that included an AR-15 assault rifle from from five police cars is not the phony cop that has stopped several area women in Escambia County.
John Kelvin White, 23, of Pensacola was arrested early Tuesday morning for breaking into five law enforcement vehicles parked at officer’s homes. White is suspect of stealing items from a marked Escambia County Sheriff’s Department cruiser, two marked Pensacola Police Department cars and two state Department of Transportation officer vehicles.
But sheriff’s department officials say White is not the same man that has impersonated a law enforcement officer in several traffic stops in Pensacola, including one where a woman was violently assaulted.
Deputies say that about 2:00 Monday morning, a Pensacola Police Car was burglarized in the driveway of the officer’s residence in the area of the Coral Creek subdivision. Stolen from the police car were an AR-15 assault rifle and several magazines of ammunition.
Early Wednesday morning, Escambia Deputy Mark Smith, being aware of the burglary the previous evening, was on patrol in the subdivision when he observed a red 1987 Ford pickup truck stopped partially in the roadway and partially in a driveway in the 2100 block of Coral Creek Drive.
Deputy Smith exited his patrol car and approached the Ford Pickup where he observed a white male rise up from behind the steering wheel as if trying to hide, according to Sheriff’s Department spokesman Ted Roy.
The suspect, later identified as White was observed wearing a jacket with the Department of Transportation patches and sewn on badge on it. Deputy Smith then observed an Escambia Sheriff’s Office Jacket, bullet proof vest and a bag of chemical protective gear lying in plain view in the passenger side of the vehicle.
As Deputy Smith made contact with the suspect and lone occupant, the suspect exited the pickup, took off the jacket and stated someone had just stolen his truck and he chased them to this point.
Suspect White was immediately detained and handcuffed. A pat down of the suspect revealed two sets of handcuffs and two wallets belonging to the victims in the suspect’s pockets.
White was then placed under arrest. Items recovered included police car keys, an AR-15 rifle with four fully loaded magazines, a flashlight, a digital camera with lens, identification cards from the officer’s vehicles, handcuffs, chemical protective gear and miscellaneous items including a police badge and jacket.
White was charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, burglary, possession of burglary tools, fraud-unlawful use/possession of a police badge and possession of marijuana. The suspect’s vehicle was also seized and transported to the Sheriff’s Office. It was also learned that the suspect had an outstanding warrant out of Texas for felony marijuana possession. The officers whose items were stolen were contacted and responded to the scene and recovered their items.
White’s bond was set at $22,000. He remained in the Escambia County Jail early Wednesday morning.
Fish Fry, Motorcycle Ride To Benefit Toby Quimby Saturday
February 4, 2009
Toby Quimby and the Quimby family have been there for countless families in the North Escambia and Atmore areas for many years, and now they need your help with Toby’s mounting medical expenses.
Toby and the Quimbys have worked with area residents for years at Johnson Quimby Funeral Home and Atmore Memorial Chapel. Now Toby is battling two types of Lyme disease, spending most days in bed. He is in Kansas City, Missouri, for treatments that was last a minimum of three months.
Every week of those treatments is $2,000. Some of the cost is covered by insurance, but not all.
“God is really at work in our lives right now and we are aware that He is walking hand and hand with us through all of this,” Toby’s wife Maggie wrote in a journal that is chronicling Toby’s treatments. “He has really been through a lot of pain and weakness these past few days.”
The Atmore First United Methodist Church will hold a catfish plate fund raiser for Toby from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. next Saturday at the church. Catfish plates will be $6. Tickets are available at the church office. For more information, call (251) 368-8297. There will also be a yard sale in the church fellowship hall from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. next Saturday.
A benefit motorcycle ride for Toby will be held Saturday, February 7 beginning at Atmore First United Methodist Church. The ride will follow a scenic route through Escambia and Monroe counties. The sign up is at 9:00. The first bike will be out at 9:45 and the last one will be out at 10:30. The ride is $20 per person, including lunch. For more information, email BigDCMA@mchsi.com or call (251) 294-0386.
All proceeds from both events will go to the Friends of Toby Quimby Fund.
To read Toby’s Caringbridge journal, click here.
Contributions can also be made to the Friends of Toby Quimby Fund at the First National Bank & Trust, P. O. Box 27, Atmore, AL 36504.
Pictured top: Toby Quimby. Pictured below: The Quimby family: Blake, 14; Brad, 10; Bryant, 7; Maggie and Toby. Courtesy photos.
Gulf Power Low-Income Customers Can Get Help Paying Their Bill
February 4, 2009
Cold winter weather means higher energy bills and for low income households that may cause difficulties. But Gulf Power Company has several programs that help customers save money on their energy bills, make their homes more energy efficient or help them get direct assistance.
Some of those programs include:
Gulf Power participates with the Salvation Army in Project Share, a program that provides emergency assistance to those who need help with energy bills, repairs to heating and air-conditioning equipment, and other energy-related needs. Project Share and other non-profit programs assist the elderly, the disabled, the sick, and others experiencing financial hardship. Eligible customers can apply for Project SHARE assistance at The Salvation Army office in their county. Eligibility requirements for Project SHARE recipients are set by The Salvation Army. Gulf Power customers can donate to the program by indicating so on their power bill.
Gulf Power offers a bill payment option called Budget Billing. Budget Billing can “levelize” monthly payments so customers can know approximately how much their bill will be each month and avoid high cost fluctuations caused by increased energy purchases during very cold or hot periods.
Gulf Power also has many excellent programs to help customers save money by making their homes and businesses more energy efficient (see list below following assistance programs).
The WAP (Weatherization Assistance Program) and LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) are federal, statewide programs that help pay energy bills for low-income households. To find out more about qualifications, contact your county’s local WAP and/or LIHEAP agency, which can be found on the Department of Community Affairs Web site at http://www.floridacommunitydevelopment.org/liheap/index.cfm or by calling the state’s information line at 2-1-1.
Florida Low-income energy assistance programs Florida Division of Housing and Community Development The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP & WAP-LIHEAP) annually provides grant funds to community action agencies, local governments, Indian tribes and non-profit agencies to provide specific program services for low-income families of Florida. The assistance includes: repair or replace inefficient heating and cooling units, air-infiltration/weather stripping, caulking, thresholds, minor wall, ceiling and floor repairs, window and door replacement, attic insulation, repair or replace water heaters, install solar screens, apply solar reflective coating to manufactured homes, and attic ventilation.
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides grants to local governments and non-profit agencies to assist eligible low-income households in meeting the costs of home heating and cooling. Assistance includes utility bill payment, crisis and emergency assistance (bill payment, utility deposits, fees for restoring power, fans, repair or replacement of heating or cooling equipment, blankets and other items as needed, other items specific to the emergency). These programs receive funding from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. The extent of services to be provided depends on available funding. The LIHEAP program also is funded each year by the federal Department of Energy.
Local community assistance programs (listed below) accept applications, and the Department of Community Affairs (Division of Housing and Community Development) sets guidelines for participation.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
WAP-LIHEAP
Community Action Program Committee, Inc.
Mailing Address: Post Office Box 628
Pensacola, Florida 32591
Street Address: 1380 North Palafox Street
Pensacola, Florida 32591
Executive Director: Ms. Brenda Trimble, Executive Director
E-MAIL: trimbleb@capc-pensacola.org
Program Director: Ms. Agnes Doering
E-MAIL: agnes@capc-pensacola.org
LIHEAP Coordinator: Ms. Sandra Johnson
E-MAIL: sandra@capc-pensacola.org
Finance Officer: Ms. Janet Saunders
E-MAIL: janet@capc-pensacola.org
Phone: (850) 438-4022 ext. 12
FAX: (850) 438-0121
WAP Coord: Ms. Connie Parker
E-MAIL: connie@capc-pensacola.org
Phone: (850) 438-4021
Counties Served: Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa WAP, WAP/LIHEAP
Santa Rosa-CSBG and LIHEAP served by Tri County Comm. Action Agency
FL Dept. of Community Affairs Consultant-CSBG/LIHEAP: Ms. Joe Anne Jones
Former Admin. George Touart Wants Legal Bills Paid Over Ethics Complaint Filed By Walnut Hill Man
February 4, 2009
The county attorney is recommending that the county deny a request by former Escambia County Administrator George Touart to pay legal bills related to ethics complaints filed against in part by a Walnut Hill man.
After Touart resigned in September 2007, an ethics complain was filed against him by Preston Solomon of Walnut Hill and Michael Coonan of Pensacola. The complaint was dismissed by the state’s ethics commission.
The ethics complained alleged that Touart was linked to company that was contracted to remove post-hurricane debris in the county. There were also allegations that Touart’s wife was improperly hired by the county.
County Attorney Allison Rogers will present a recommendation to the Escambia County Commission Thursday night that Touart’s request for $3,629.60 be denied.
“The defense of complaints filed by Preston Solomon and Michael Coonan with the State of Florida Commission on Ethics by former County Administrator George Touart does not meet either statutory or common law criteria for reimbursement of legal fees and costs by Mr. Touart,” Rogers says in a letter presented to commissioners.
Mike Patterson of the law firm Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon requested that the county pay $3,446 in legal fees and $183 in other costs for the firm’s representation of Touart in the ethics matter.
ECUA: Your Bill Is In The Mail
February 4, 2009
The bill is in the mail — that’s the word from the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority.
ECUA took over the former Allied Waste residential waste service in North Escambia back on January 1. But former Allied customers did not receive a bill during January.
That was because there was a delay in converting Allied’s billing database to the software used by ECUA, according to Nathalie Bowers, ECUA spokesperson.
The January ECUA bills for North Escambia residents were to be printed last Friday, stuffed in envelopes on Monday and put into Tuesday’s mail. Many customers reported receiving their ECUA bill on Wednesday.
While Allied billed quarterly, ECUA bills a monthly rate of $17.99, a reduction from $19.62 charged by Allied Waste. A small fuel charge of 45 cents is added to the base rate.
ECUA bills can be paid with a mailed check, automatic checking draft, at ECUA’s office in the Ellyson Industrial Park, at Wachovia Bank locations, online or on the phone. There is an additional $1.95 fee for using the pay-by-phone or online payment option.
For more information on ECUA billing, visit ECUA’s web site.
Jay’s Lady Royals Advance In Tournament Action
February 4, 2009
The Jay Royals girls basketball advanced in the District 1-2A Tournament Tuesday night.
The Lady Royals beat Vernon 49-11. Jay is now 14-8 on the season.
Tessa Hendricks scored 12 for the Lady Royals. Other scorers: Ginger Jennings 9, Joy Gandy 8, Danelle Skaggs 6, Amber Steadham 6, Leely Trevino 5, Haley Mulford 3.
Jay 17 15 12 5—49
Vernon 3 0 2 6—11
Town Looks Toward Cold Weather Shelter, Substandard Housing
February 3, 2009
As the temperature plummets into the 20’s the next three nights in North Escambia, it’s no secret that many people will be very cold. Many live in substandard housing with inadequate heat that just does not keep them warm on these cold winter nights.
The Century Town Council took action Monday toward two solutions — one short-term and one long-term — to provide a solution in their town to keep residents warm.
The council voted to work with the EscaRosa Coalition For the Homeless to develop an inclement weather shelter in the town as a short-term solution.
Brunie Emmanuel from the homeless coalition will work with the council to explore the possibility of using the old Carver School as a cold weather shelter. Under the plan, the American Red Cross would provide cots for the shelter, and area churches would provide volunteers and food.
The shelter would provide a refuge from the cold for not just the homeless, but also for those in substandard housing.
“You have folks that may be in a house but it’s not a safe shelter for them,” Emmanuel told the council.
Emmanuel told the council that in addition to the short-term shelter solution, he hopes to look at ways to improve the substandard housing that might drive people to use the shelter.
The council appointed council member Gary Riley to work with Emmanuel to explore options for the shelter and improving the housing situation.
The council also discussed investigating expanding the capabilities of the shelter into serving as a hurricane shelter for the town.
Century Develops $7 Million Wish List For Obama Stimulus Money
February 3, 2009
The Town of Century has developed a $7 million wish list for money they hope to receive from the state from President Obama’s economic stimulus plan.
High on the list are water system improvements and a drainage project to eliminate flooding along Highway 29.
The wish list include $1.4 million for a 300,000 gallon elevated storage tank, two gas operated back-up generators and six inch water mains to improve water system reliability. Mayor Freddie McCall wants to bump the dollar figure up to $1.7 million to increase the elevated tank capacity to 500,000 gallons and install water mains to provide adequate water pressure to underserved residents along Backwoods Road.
$1.9 million is also on the wish list for drainage improvements along North Century Boulevard. A portion of the highway flooded during Hurricane Georges. Plans call for the improvement of a ditch from Highway 29 across Jackson and Zion streets to an existing lake. The plan had been considered by the state nearly 10 years ago, and some preliminary engineering work was done. But the project was never completed.
McCall said the opening of the four-lane Highway 113 in Alabama as a hurricane evacuation route spawned a renewed interest in the project by the Florida Department of Transportation.
The Century Town Council voted Monday night to spend $5,000 to have Fabre Engineering update the town’s eight-year old Facilities Plan in order to be able to apply for funding for projects on the wish list.
“This is critical; we must do something,” McCall told the council when asking for the $5,000.
There was some discussion from the council about the funds because they were not budgeted.
“We already made the decision to not spend money we did not budget,” Council President Ann Brooks said.
“We need to find the money somewhere even if we have to amend the budget,” council member Gary Riley said. And that’s what the council did — voting 4-0 to amend the budget for the $5,000 payment to the engineering firm.
Other projects on Century’s economic stimulus wish list include:
- $40,000 to replace aging natural gas meters
- $75,000 to install a flow meter to ensure adequate billing to the Century Correctional Institute
- $500,000 to improve drainage in the Dogwood Lane area
- $100,000 to improve the water system along Fannie Road
- $1 million to clear and regrade existing clogged drainage ways to improve flow and reduce upstream flooding
- $1.5 million to relocate about 6,000 feet of exisiting 6-inch gas main from under Highway 29 to the right-of-way
- $360,000 miscellaneous improvements to the towns wastewater treatment plant.
Man Trapped For Three Hours Inside Grain Silo
February 3, 2009
(Updated 2:40 p.m.) A man trapped for nearly three hours inside a grain silo in Walnut Hill has been freed and is in good condition.
The victim, identified as Escambia Grain Manager Ed Nowlin, walked away under his own power from the silo where he was trapped Monday morning.
Nowlin became trapped waist-deep inside the 100-foot tall concrete silo at Escambia Grain Corporation about 9:45 this morning. Dozens of emergency workers spent three hours to rescue him. They worked slowly to avoid a further collapse of 10-foot high wall of soybeans over Nowlin.
Emergency workers cut plywood and other wood supports to prevent the grain from collapsing around Nowlin.
The Escambia County Fire-Rescue Special Operations team worked to free Nowlin by lowering a harness from the top of the grain silo and then pulling him upwards and free from the soybeans about 12:45. He refused to be transported to the hospital. He walked back to work from the silo to the Escambia Grain office.
Nowlin had crawled into the silo this morning to work. He entered through a ground-level access hole.
NorthEscambia.com was first on the scene, arriving before the first fire units. We have exclusive photos in our photo gallery. Click here to access a complete photo gallery covering the entire three hour rescue, including exclusive photos from inside the silo.
Dozens of emergency workers from the Walnut Hill, Molino, Century and Brent stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the call. The Escambia Fire Rescue Special Operations team, the Atmore Fire Department and Atmore Ambulance also responded.
Pictured top: Firefighters work outside the grain silo where a man was trapped for nearly three hours today in Walnut Hill. The firefighter kneeling to the right of the photograph is looking into the small hole that accesses the inside of the silo. Pictured middle top: A rescue worker reaches inside the access hole into the silo. Pictured middle bottom: Nowlin (center, no hat) walks out of the silo. Pictured below: An exclusive photo inside the silo showing the 10-foot tall wall of grain at the rear that threatened to collapse on the trapped man. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
