ECUA Settles On 9.5% Sanitation Rate Increase With ‘Free’ Second Can, 5% Hike For Water And Sewer
July 26, 2023
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authorities Tuesday settled on a 9.5% rate increase for all sanitation customers and 5% for water and sewer.
Facing a potential $1.8 million shortball and big problems with the wrong items being placed in recycling cans, staff had proposed a more modest 3.5% rate increase for sanitation customers plus a $3 a month recycling fee.
“You either raise the base rate (for sanitation services) from which you draw funds, or you put more of that actual recycling cost on those who are using the service by raising the rate,” ECUA Executive Director Bruce Woody told the board during a Tuesday afternoon meeting. He said those who “use recycling as a trash can, then perhaps influencing them financially by having a financial difference so if they are not interested in recycling”.
“Contamination has to come down,” board member Larry Williams said. “If education is not working, if enforcement is not working, and we are not making money, then I don’t why we are doing this unless we are going in the right direction.”
“I don’t think additional education is going to work,” District 5 member Kevin Stephens said.
Board member Dale Perkins made a motion to increase sanitation rates by 9.5% across the board and eliminate the charge for a second garbage can. Residential customers will have the option to receive a second can — their choice of trash or recycling — at no additional charge. The motion was seconded by Stephens and passed 5-0.
“People like more, and people like free,” Perkins said. “ECUA will pick up your recycling can and bring you a garbage can for free. It might seem that we are discouraging recycling, but the people who don’t want to recycle will call in, especially if it’s free. We can promote that and get them off. We don’t want people recycling that don’t want to recycle.”
The 9.5% increase will raise the rate for a 90-gallon container from $27.67 to $29.88 and include an optional additional trash or recycling can at no cost.
District 1 board member Vicki Campbell first said she could not support the 9.5% increase with a “free” additional can because some could not afford it, or those like widows, the elderly and empty-nesters simply don’t need a second can. She made an amendment to Perkins’ motion for the originally proposed 3.5% increase with $3 for a second can whether it be garbage or recycling. She later withdrew her amendment to the motion.
ECUA is also raising rates on seven entities outside Escambia County — like Foley, Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa County — from their current $15-$45 per ton for recyclables to a flat $60 per ton due to high contamination levels.
ECUA staff had proposed a 4% rate increase for water and 6% for wastewater. The board voted 5-0 to increase both water and wastewater by 5%.
Both rate increases will return to the ECUA board in August for public hearings and a final vote.
DUI Manslaughter Charge Dropped Against Man In Death Of 19-Year Old Pensacola Christian College Student
July 26, 2023
All charges have been dropped against a man charged earlier this year in a crash that killed a 19-year old Pensacola Christian College student.
Oscar Daniel Martin, Jr. was charged with DUI manslaughter following the March 21 crash on Airport Boulevard.
According to an arrest report, Martin told a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper that he had consumed three beers over the course of three hours before the crash, and the trooper noted in the report that he could “smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from (Martin)”. FHP also said Martin “exhibited multiple clues” of being under the influence during a field sobriety check.
But according to the State Attorney’s Office, lab tests conducted at the state lab showed no alcohol in Martin’s system at the time of the crash. A second laboratory in Pennsylvania also found Martin had no alcohol or drugs in his system.
The State Attorney’s Office also said Martin will not face reckless driving charges because there was no evidence that he was driving recklessly before the crash.
FHP said a pickup truck driven by Martin was eastbound when it “drifted” onto the Airport Boulevard sidewalk west of Memory Lane. The pickup truck collided with Jadon Goins, a PCC student who was cleaning up around a college facility, troopers said.
Goins was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
D.R. Horton Lowers OLF-8 Offer From $42 Million To $24.1 Million As BOCC Holds Back 241 Acres
July 26, 2023
D.R. Horton has lowered their offer for the OLF-8 property from $42 million to $24.1 million, according to Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh.
The homebuilder’s original offer was for 540 acres on Nine Mile Road, but now the Escambia County Commission wants to retain 241 acres for economic development and job growth.
New plans from D.R. Horton show 99 acres for commercial use including restaurants, retail, offices, medical and a town center. The plan also shows 170 acres with 1,133 residential units, including 360 townhomes and 336 apartments.
The BOCC is expected to discuss the $24.1 million offer as early as their next meeting on August 3.
Chosen 10U Wins Montgomery Tournament
July 26, 2023
The Chosen 10U softball team played up and took first place in a weekend tournament in Montgomery.
Due to scheduling conflicts, the team was forced to play as a 12U tournament team and still finished first place in that bracket. The Chosen 10U team plays out of Century and includes athletes from Northwest Escambia, Century, Jay and Pace.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Threatened Two With A Gun, Was Involved In $34,000 Check Fraud: ECSO Says
July 26, 2023
A Cantonment man was booked into the Escambia County Jail this week after allegedly threatening two people with a gun and for outstanding financial crimes related to check for more than $34,000
Alejandro Jairay Roper, 21, was charged with two counts of felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill.
He was also arrested on outstanding felony warrants for bank fraud, forgery, uttering a forged instrument, criminal use of personally identifiable information and grand theft.
In 2022, Roper allegedly deposited a $34,027.72 fraudulent check into his local credit union. The check was from an Ohio funeral home. The funeral home told Ohio authorities that the check was stolen and “washed”; it was originally made out to a management company in Ohio.
Roper allegedly threatened two people with a gun in the area of Tennessee Drive and Georgia Drive in Escambia County.
Roper was released on a $37,500 bond.
Wahoos Top The M-Braves 3-2
July 26, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos did the little things right on Tuesday night, scratching out just enough offense to beat the Mississippi Braves 3-2 in their series opener at Trustmark Park.
Of the five runs scored in the game, only one came in on a run-scoring hit. After a José Devers RBI single in the third, Pensacola’s pivotal runs came in the middle innings on RBI groundouts from Will Banfield and Griffin Conine.
Evan Fitterer was sharp through three innings in his start for the Blue Wahoos, but ran into trouble in the fourth and departed with the bases loaded in a 1-1 tie. Austin Roberts (W, 3-1) needed only one pitch to strand all three runners, and ultimately retired all 10 batters he faced in his first appearance back from Triple-A Jacksonville.
Banfield put Pensacola ahead in the fifth with an RBI groundout, and Conine provided insurance in the sixth with an RBI groundout of his own. Domingo Robles (L, 5-7) was the tough-luck loser, turning in a quality start for the Braves on a night when Mississippi managed only two hits.
Eli Villalobos gave a run back in the eighth thanks to a pair of walks and a groundout, but Jefry Yan (S, 9) struck out the side in order in the ninth to lock down the win.
In his Double-A debut, 2022 first round pick Jacob Berry was 1-for-3 with a single, walk and stolen base.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Braves on Wednesday.
by Erik Bremer
Male Driver Found Fatally Shot In Atmore
July 25, 2023
A fatal shooting in Atmore Tuesday is under investigation.
The Atmore police and fire departments were dispatched to a reported vehicle crash on Brooks Lane near King Street just after 5 p.m.
“When the officers arrived, they discovered the driver had been shot,” Sgt. Darrell McMann said.
The victim was transported to Atmore Community Hospital where he died from injuries.
“Investigators are working to identify the victim’s family and identify a suspect,” McMann said. Additional details were not released.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Cantonment Man Charged With Fleeing Deputies At Over 100 MPH
July 25, 2023
A Cantonment man is facing multiple charges after an alleged battery and fleeing from deputies at speeds topping 100 mph.
Everett Lamont Norman, Sr., 51, was charged with felony fleeing and eluding, battery and criminal mischief with property damage. Due to a probation violation charge, he remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Pensacola Police Department were attempting to located a reported rolling disturbance in a vehicle described as dark colored SUV with no license plate, a missing rear window and a flag hanging from the rear.
Deputies initiated a felony takedown on the driver and vehicle near the intersection of W Street and Massachusetts Avenue. Norman complied at first, but stopped obeying commands and drove away, according to an arrest report.
The vehicle reached speeds over 100 miles per hour on W Street before deputies called off the pursuit near Airport Boulevard. A few minutes later, the vehicle was found wrecked and rolled over in a curve on W Street near Marcus Pointe Boulevard.
Norman attempted to walk away from the crash, but was ordered to the ground and was taken into custody without further incident.
Tate Aggie Day Is Thursday, Orientation Set (With New Date)
July 25, 2023
Aggie Day and the freshmen/new student orientation events are set for Tate High School with a new date for the orientation.
Aggie Day is Thursday, July 27 from 9-11:30 a.m. It is a chance for incoming freshmen and new transfer students to get to know the school. Students will meet in the cafeteria to be placed into groups led by Aggie student leaders. They will then rotate from class to class to hear about different topics and get a tour of the school. Parents should plan to drop off and pick up their student(s) in front of the Tate building for this event. Parents are asked not to participate in the groups as this is an event led by and for students.
Students need to be prepared to walk the campus and bring a bottle of water RSVP for Aggie Day on the Tate High School webpage. Schedules will not be available at this event, nor will teachers, staff members, or guidance counselors be there to answer questions since this is a student-led event.
Freshman and new student orientation is Monday, August 7 from 9-11 a.m. (This is a date change.) Orientation is for both parents and students.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Florida’s Two-Week Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Is Underway
July 25, 2023
Florida’s two-week back to school sales tax holiday is underway through August 6.
Items exempt from sales tax include:
- Most school supplies selling for $50 or less
- Clothing, footwear and accessories selling for $100 or less
- Computers and related accessories selling for $1,500 or less (when purchased for non-commercial and personal use)
- Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles selling for $30 or less
“Getting ready for the new school year can be an expensive time for Floridians, and that is why I’m encouraging Florida families to take full advantage of the back-to-school sales tax holiday. This tax break will help families ensure their children have all the supplies they need to reach their full academic potential this school year,” said Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis.
For the complete, detailed list, click here.