Inflation: Century Wastewater Project Bids Come In $1.2 Million Over Grant Funds
December 13, 2022
The Town of Century expected the cost of the first phase of a multi-million wastewater project to be higher than first anticipated due to inflation. They did not expect about three times — nearly $1.2 million — higher due to inflation, as they learned Monday night.
The project was to replace a sludge press at the wastewater treatment plant and two lift stations, which ensure wastewater, more commonly called sewage, keeps flowing rather than backing up into homes and businesses.
The town received a $650,000 Community Development Block Grant for the project, based upon a calculation and grant application about two years ago. But the lowest bid for the work came in at $1.9 million.
Town engineer Dale Long suggested dropping the WWTP sludge press for now, moving it to a second phase. That would leave the town on the hook for about $350,000 over the value of the grant.
Century Town Council President Luis Gomez asked Long whose fault it is that the Pilgrim Lodge lift station has been down for three years, and Long said it was ultimately fault because the state took a couple of years to get from the grant application to an award. The lift station is located across from Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church on Jefferson Avenue. It has been out of service with a temporary bypass pump in place for months.
“The State of Florida needs to bite that over half million,” Gomez said, referring to the cost increase for the two lift stations.
“Good luck with that,” council member James Smith said. “At that time, that was the estimate, but everything is skyrocketing now.”
The Pilgrim Lodge lift station is the town’s top priority because it’s totally non-functioning. Second priority is a failing a lift station that keeps the wastewater flowing from an area that includes the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center
“When that lift station goes down, it backs up the entire nursing home,” Heath Burkett said. “They call us at 2 o’clock in the morning and tell us their toilets won’t flush.”
“Astronomical,” is how grant consultant Robin Phillips described bids on grant applications for multiple governmental entities. “I’ve had to cut back on all my grants.”
“The economy has crashed,” Phillips said.
The council voted 3-0 to move forward with awarding the $1.9 million project to Brown Construction of Northwest Florida, but include a change order to remove the sludge press. The town will contribute $350,000 above the grant, and seek the funding from Escambia County, the Local Options Sales Tax or American Rescue Plan Act funds, rather than from the town’s general fund.
Pictured: A wastewater lift station near Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church on Jefferson Avenue in Century out of service and running on a temporary pump as seen May 10, 2022. Pictured inset: Engineer Dale Long addresses the Century Town Council Monday night. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Mailing A Package For Christmas? Here Are The Post Office Deadlines
December 13, 2022
This is the last week to get holiday gifts and greetings in the mail by the recommended deadlines. Customer traffic at all post office locations has been steadily increasing since December. 5, and this week is expected to be the busiest, according to the U.S. Postal Service.
The postal service recommends the following Christmas shipping deadlines:
- Dec. 16 — APO/FPO/DPO (except zip 093) USPS Priority Mail Express Military service
- Dec. 17 — USPS Retail Ground service
- Dec. 17 — First-Class Mail service (including greeting cards)
- Dec. 17 — First-Class packages (up to 15.99 ounces)
- Dec. 19 — Priority Mail service
- Dec. 23 — Priority Mail Express service
And the deadlines are a bit different if you are shipping to Alaska or Hawaii:
Alaska
- Dec. 18 — Alaska to/from continental U.S.– First-Class Mail and Priority Mail
- Dec. 21 — Alaska to/from continental U.S.– Priority Mail Express
Hawaii
- Dec. 17 — Hawaii to/from mainland – First-Class Mail and Priority Mail
- Dec. 21 — Hawaii to/from mainland – Priority Mail Express
And here are some other helpful tips from the post office:
- Packages containing used electronics or other hazardous materials — lithium ion batteries, in particular — must now be shipped via surface transportation using Parcel Select Ground, USPS Retail Ground, Parcel Return Service or Ground Return Service.
- Certain items may have restrictions or prohibitions when sent through the mail. See the list of hazardous, restricted and perishable mail or ask a Postal Service employee for more information on what can and cannot be sent through the mail.
- Mail and packages that weigh more than 10 ounces and/or are more than a half-inch thick and use stamps as postage cannot be dropped into a collection box or left for a carrier to pick up. Instead, take them to a retail associate at a post office location. This requirement does not apply to Click-N-Ship customers.
Pictured: The Cantonment Post Office. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
What’s A ‘Purple Alert’? One Was Issued In Escambia County
December 13, 2022
Many people are asking what’s a “Purple Alert” after one was issued in Escambia County.
The Purple Alert was issued Sunday night for a missing and endangered 33-year old woman last seen on West Fairfield Drive. By early Monday afternoon, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office reported that she had been safely located.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement began issuing Purple Alerts on July 1. A Purple Alert is used to assist in the location of missing adults suffering from mental, cognitive, intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Purple Alert Criteria:
- The person is 18 or older and does not qualify for a state- or local-level Silver Alert.
- The person has an intellectual or developmental disability, brain injury or another physical, mental or emotional disability that is not related to substance abuse and does not have Alzheimer’s disease or a dementia-related disorder.
- The local law enforcement agency’s investigation concluded the disappearance poses a credible threat of immediate danger or serious bodily harm to the missing person and they can only be returned to safety through law enforcement intervention.
- There is a detailed description of the missing person suitable for distribution.
- The missing person information has been entered into the Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC).
- The law enforcement agency of jurisdiction recommends activation.
When issued, Purple Alert information is distributed to citizens who have signed up to receive the alerts, displayed on dynamic highway message signs when applicable and local alerts will be posted by media including NorthEscambia.com.
Flomaton Man Charged With Catalytic Converter Thefts In Century
December 13, 2022
A Flomaton man is facing charges in connection with catalytic converters in Century.
Nikki Lee Odom, 31, was charged with grand theft, attempted grand theft, attempted burglary of a vehicle, two counts of felony criminal mischief, two counts of burglary, misdemeanor criminal mischief, and petit theft.
Odom was caught on a video as he tried and failed to steal a catalytic converter from a Lincoln Town Car parked at Century Marine, next door to the Century Town Hall on North Century Boulevard, according to an arrest report. The owner found one of the vehicle’s catalytic converters nearly sawed off on both ends, and made a report with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said Odom returned the next night, Odom returned and was caught on video once again as he used a battery operated saw to remove both catalytic converters from the same Town Car. The damage to the car suffered $1,000 in damage, and the converters were worth $1,400, the report states.
Four days earlier, Odom attempted to cut a catalytic converter from a Ford Escape at a home on Maple Street in Century, the ECSO said. The homeowner scared him away, but not before video and photos were captured.
The Sheriff’s Office said Odom was identified in the photos by two Flomaton Police Department officers and his mother.
Odom remained the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $33,500.
Escambia Commission Cancels Workshop Meeting
December 13, 2022
The Escambia County Commission Committee of the Whole workshop meeting that was scheduled for this Thursday has been canceled.
It was the last scheduled meeting for the commission for this calendar year. A regular BOCC meeting is set for Thursday, January 5, 2023, at 5:30 p.m.
Pictured: The Escambia County Commission meeting on December 8. Image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Welcome to Tateville: Tate Baseball Outs The Grinch In Christmas Parade
December 13, 2022
Everyone down in Tateville loved Christmas a lot.
Except the Grinch, who lives outside North Escambia, did not.
The Tate Aggies baseball team had made
The choice to march in the Pensacola Christmas Parade.
In their “Welcome To Tateville” float they were a go.
Who better tossing beads than a baseball team that knows how to throw.
But there too was the Grinch
Trying to steal Christmas in a pinch.
But in a big Christmas triple play,
Tate Baseball saved the day!
In a big Christmas grand slam play,
It was a Merry Christmas parade day.
Merry Christmas to all,
From Tate Aggie baseball.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Pictured: Tate High Baseball’s “Welcome to Tateville” float in the Pensacola Christmas Parade. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Resoliciting Proposals For North Escambia Residential Fiber Internet
December 12, 2022
Escambia County is resoliciting bids for a company to provide fiber internet to North Escambia homes and county facilities.
The county originally accepted proposals to provide fiber to homes north of 10 Mile Road and approved entering into a memorandum of understanding with Escambia River Electric Cooperative. Cox Communications retained a law firm and filed a formal protest against the award.
The proposal from EREC included only their electric franchise territory, an area essentially north of Barrineau Park Road. As a member owned electric cooperative, EREC would provide fiber internet service to all 4,000 plus homes and businesses in their territory. Cox submitted a proposal to provide broadband internet to about 2,500 homes in unspecified areas north of 10 Mile Road.
The New Request
In the new solicitation, Escambia County is seeking a company to provide the high speed broadband in area from Muscogee Road/Becks Lake Road north to the Alabama state line.
In addition to providing broadband services in unserved and underserved areas of the northern part of the county, the county is seeking an estimated 104 miles of fiber to serve 40 county facilities in the geographic region. The broadband service must be capable of achieving symmetrical residential speeds of 1 GB or greater.
The “leading-edge” broadband services” must also list retail prices and include a rate cap for residential customers for the first three years after connection and specify a maximum annual increase percentage.
Escambia County is committing up to $10 million American Rescue Plan Act funds toward the project, with the company owning and operating the network.
Proposals are due by December 22.
Escambia County has committed another $12 million in a second phase for a future fiber to the home buildout and service to county buildings to the south.
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL DETAIL
EREC Proposal
Under their original proposal, EREC requested $6 million from the county toward a $24 million project. They proposed fiber internet to some 4,000 plus homes and businesses — every single home and business in their footprint — and a fiber ring connecting about two dozen county facilities. The first homes would receive service as early as next summer.
Three basic speed tiers proposed by EREC were:
- 100 Mbps/100 Mbps — $49.95/month
- 1 Gig/1 Gig — $79.95/month
- 2 Gig/2 Gig — $99.95/month
Cox Proposal
In their original proposal, Cox requested the county provide $16.3 million toward a $24.4 million project to construct a 132 mile fiber ring to 44 county facilities and provide fiber internet to 2,514 “underserved” households. Their proposed timeline was 18-36 months to complete the residential portion, with 36 total months needed to ring the county facilities.
Cox proposed package pricing as follows:
- 100 Mbps/100 Mbps — $49.99/month
- 250 Mbps/250 Mbps — $87.99/month
- 500 Mbps/500 Mbps — $99.99/month
- 1 Gig/1 Gig — $119.99/month
- 2 Gig/2 Gig — $149.99/month
Tate High School Names Students Of The Month
December 12, 2022
Tate High School has announced their Students of the Month for October. They are Lena Litton and Christian Neptune. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF Head Football Coach Pete Shinnick Resigns
December 12, 2022
The University of West Florida has announced Sunday that Pete Shinnick has resigned as the school’s head football coach to accept the same position at Towson University. The announcement came the day after UWF’s semifinal loss Saturday to Ferris State.
Shinnick has spent the past eight years at UWF building the program from the ground up. He was hired as the first coach in school history in 2014 and compiled a 56-21 record in six seasons. During that time, he created a culture that was second-to-none and made UWF a top destination for student-athletes from across the country.
UWF won the 2019 Division II National Championship in just its fourth season of play, matching the NCAA record for fastest startup to win a title. The Argonauts appeared in the NCAA Playoffs four times, advancing to the national championship twice and were one of just two teams to advance to the semifinals three times in that span.
“My family and I have enjoyed every moment of our time at UWF and in Pensacola,” Shinnick said. “This university has supported us in so many ways and the success on and off the field is a direct result of that. A special thank you to Dr. Bense for wanting to start football, Dave Scott for believing in me to be the man to do that and Dr. Saunders for her continued support of our program. Arete! Go Argos.”
“We are grateful for Coach Shinnick and thank him for the dedication he has shown the Argo football program,” UWF Athletics Director Dave Scott said. “It is no easy feat to build a program from the ground up, but Coach Shinnick did just that — accomplishing much in the program’s six seasons.
“We look forward to the future of Argo football and the new opportunities that are to come. We are committed to finding a head coach who embodies the Argo spirit and will continue the legacy of building champions for life, on and off the field.”
Shinnick has a 159-67 career coaching record, which includes a 50-24 record in seven seasons at UNC Pembroke from 2007-13, and 53-22 in seven seasons at Azusa Pacific from 1999-2005.
Photo: Morgan Givens/University of West Florida
Charges Dropped Against Century Man Accused Of Stalking Of Female PSC Student
December 12, 2022
Charges have been dropped against a Century man accused last month based of stalking a female student at a local college.
Kenneth Tyrese Lowery, 23, was originally charged with felony aggravated stalking with the threat of injury.
The victim and victim’s mother declined to press charges, according to a court document filed last week.
Lowery texted a fellow student the Pensacola State College Century Campus multiple times and made “inappropriate sexual comments” to her on various social media platforms, according to an Pensacola State College Police Department arrest report. The text messages included harassing language, and Lowery threatened to rape the female student, the report continues.
The victim had told college police that she did not feel safe at her home or at school due to sexual threats allegedly made in text messages sent by Lowery, according to an arrest report.