District 5 Cantonment, Farm Hill Neighborhood Cleanup Day Is Wednesday
October 25, 2022
Residents of a portion of Cantonment and Farm Hill can dispose of yard debris and other items free of charge during a District 5 Neighborhood Cleanup this Wednesday.
During neighborhood cleanups, Escambia County departments team up to bring services to residents in an effort to keep local neighborhoods clean and safe. Participating is easy: Residents in the cleanup area simply leave eligible items at the curb to be disposed of free of charge by Escambia County and partnering agencies.
All debris must be at the curb directly in front of residences in the area by 7 a.m. on the day of the cleanup. Tires and paint cans should be separate from all other debris. Debris piles should not be placed under low-hanging lines or near poles, fences or mailboxes. All items, including containers, will be collected.
Only residents in the designated cleanup area are able to participate in the neighborhood cleanup. Items left at the curb outside of the cleanup area will not be collected.
Items eligible for removal include:
- Household appliances and electronics
- Household junk and debris
- Bicycles and toys
- Old furniture and mattresses
- Barbecue grills
- Household hazardous waste (old paint, motor oil, chemicals, batteries)
- Tires (limit 10 per household)
Items NOT eligible for removal include:
- Building materials (concrete, bricks, blocks, roofing, drywall or lumber)
- Explosives or ammunition
- Auto parts
- Dirt or sod
- Vehicles or vessels
- 55-gallon drums of fluids
The neighborhood cleanup initiative involves an aggressive cleanup effort, targeting different neighborhoods throughout the county, with crew members and volunteers picking up a variety of debris and waste, including electronics, furniture and household items.
Since 2016, more than 5,312 tons (10,624,000 pounds) of debris were collected and disposed of through the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Safe Neighborhood Program.
Tate Baseball Holds Fall Halloween Costume Game
October 25, 2022
Tate Baseball held their annual Fall Baseball Halloween Game Monday evening.
Kids were able to trick or treat with the players before watching them compete in costumes. Kids also had a chance to compete in games for prizes between innings.
There was also plenty of food and sweet treats.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Winner Collects $57K For Winning Fantasy 5 Ticket Sold On Nine Mile Road
October 25, 2022
We now know who purchased a winning Fantasy Five ticket in Beulah last week.
The Florida Lottery says the ticket worth $57,057.87 was sold to Jerome Earl Atkins, Sr. of Dauphin Island who purchased the quick pick ticket at the Circle K at the corner of Nine Mile Road and Beulah Road Other winning tickets in the October 20 drawing were sold in Orlando and Odessa.
The 180 tickets matching four numbers won $153 each. Another 6,545 tickets matching three numbers are worth $11.50 each, and 66,642 ticket holders won a free ticket for picking two numbers.
The October 20 winning numbers were 03-22-24-32-35.
Boil Water Notice Lifted For Hwy 29 From Neal Road To Cantonment Lodge
October 24, 2022
UPDATE: THIS BOIL WATER NOTICE HAS BEEN LIFTED.
A water service interruption occurred Monday on the west side of Highway 29 at Harvest Hill Drive.
Cottage Hill Water Works customers along the west side of Highway 29 may have been impacted from Neal Road to Cantonment Lodge Water service was interrupted for repairs.
A precautionary boil water notice is in effect until further notice.
The utility is advising, as a precaution, that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. As an alternative bottled water may be used.
This precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until the problem has been corrected and a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.
This story will be updated when the boil water notice is lifted.
Construction At Halfway Point On New FPL Solar Farm In McDavid. It’s The Second Of Three In North Escambia.
October 24, 2022
Construction has reached about the halfway point at the second of three Florida Power & Light solar farms in North Escambia.
The First City Solar Energy Center, located along Holland, Cox and Roach roads in McDavid, is on track to go into operation in early 2023, Kimberly Blair, FPL spokesperson, told NorthEscambia.com. The site will have more than 223,000 photovoltaic panels with a planned output of 75 megawatts.
For more photos, click or tap here.
The 300,000 solar panels at the Cotton Creek Solar Energy Center on Bogia Road near McDavid have been in operation since early 2022 and were officially dedicated in March. It produces. enough electricity to power about 15,000 homes.
The Sparkleberry Solar Energy Center is planned for 553 acres south of the end of Pilgrim Trail. According to FPL, over 200,000 solar panels will generate nearly 75 megawatts — enough energy to also power 15,000 homes.
“Sparkleberry Solar Energy Center is fully permitted, and construction is expected to begin in early summer of 2023,” Blair said. “It is expected to go into operation in early 2024.”
Pictured: Construction is at about the halfway point for the First City Solar Energy Center in McDavid. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Residents Without Power For Hours After Highway 196 Wreck
October 24, 2022
A wreck on Highway 196 late Sunday afternoon left residents in the area without power for nearly six hours.
The crash happened just before 5 p.m on Highway 196 at Schifko Road. A pickup truck crashed into a utility pole, bringing down the pole and powerlines.
The Florida Highway Patrol has not confirmed the cause of the wreck, but witnesses told NorthEscambia.com that the driver reportedly swerved to avoid another vehicle that left the scene.
There were no injuries reported.
Florida Power & Light said about 150 customers were left without power until just before 11 p.m.
Photos by Asa Schlobohm and others for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Names Homecoming Queen And Her Court (With Photo Gallery)
October 24, 2022
Friday night, Tate High School named Homecoming Queen McKenzie Alfred. First runner-up to the queen was Savannah Guilford, and second runner-up was Emily Brabner.
Members of the Tate High School 2022 Homecoming Court are:
Seniors
- McKenzie Alfred
- Trinity Blackwell
- Emily Brabner
- Ansli Brown
- Kiersten Crooke
- Savannah Guilford
- Adyson Illian
- Aspen Meadows
- Taylor Whalen
- Anna Whetzel
- Brooklyn Wilcox
Senior Boys
(King will be announced Saturday night at dance)
- Ian DeLay
- Jace Fryman
- Ethan Harper
- Nathan Killingsworth
- Rilee Lowery
- Tristin Lynn
- Ethan McAnally
- Aidan McKinney
- Jacob McLemore
- Drew Reaves
- Jamil Sardar
Juniors
- Taylor Fitzgerald
- Reese Forehand
- Lexi Nelson
- Ella Parker
- Alicen Ray
- Delaney Weaver
Sophomores
- Brooke Alvare
- Faith Etheridge
- Carlyn Ham
- Hailey Locke
- Jasmine Stainger
- Savanna Wadsworth
Freshmen
- Jordyn Banks
- Payten Burdette
- Taylor Dyler
- Laciee Glass
- Kati Ingram
- Aubree Vincent
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
McElhaney Wins Century Lions Club Cross Country 5K (With Results)
October 24, 2022
James McElhaney won the Century Lions Club Cross Country 5K recently with a time of 17:23.
Top finishers were:
- James McElhaney — male runner — 17:23.0
- Jeff Word — male runner — 28:44.7
- Alan Ash — male runner — 30:45.6
- Audrey Hammac — female runner — 33:39.6
- Miles Hammac — male runner — 33:40.0
- Steve Campbell — male runner — 38:37.0
- Michelle Criswell — female walker — 39:32.1
- Susan Campbell — female runner — 41:19.8
- Dale Ash — female walker — 41:30.0
The 5K was held at Anthony Pleasant Park as a fundraiser for the Century Lions Club
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Average Gas Prices Deline 6 Cents
October 24, 2022
Florida gas prices declined 6 cents per gallon last week.
On Sunday, the state average was $3.36 per gallon.
In Escambia County, the average price per gallon was $3.18. A North Escambia low of $3.17 could be found at several Cantonment stations Sunday night, while Pensacola prices were as low as $2.91 on Nine Mile Road.
“Oil prices dropped 8% two weeks ago, then hung relatively steady last week, enabling pump prices to decline,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Drivers should see pump prices drift even lower this week. But a sudden jump at the pump is likely on November 1, when the state’s gasoline tax holiday ends.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Century Has Finally Passed A Budget And 151% Tax Increase. Maybe.
October 23, 2022
Last week, the town clerk opened a meeting with prayer that people would understand that Century was not raising taxes by 151%.
But according to the State of Florida, that’s exactly what they did, in a meeting that may or may not even count.
It was the latest in a long string of events as Century tried, and tried again, and again, to pass a property tax rate and a budget for the fiscal year that began October 1. By the time the process was over, a council member had resigned, public notices had been botched, a vote was taken possibly without the required quorum, and another public notice didn’t tell the truth. And the town still raised property taxes by 151.68%.
The municipal budget process in Florida can be a little complicated, but the Florida Department of Revenue publishes a handy 206-page guide and a 97-page workbook with step-by-step guidance. In a nutshell, the process is to hold two public hearings, advertise them a certain way and don’t mess up.
Like most governments in the state, Century started the process back in the summer with workshop meetings to develop a budget. Forms are completed that determine the ad valorem tax. And that was the first big problem.
Town Clerk Leslie Howington said she discovered the forms had not been completed correctly by those before her, and that led to the property tax increase. Back in 2017, the council declared part of the town to be “blighted” and formed a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). As property tax values rise, most of the increase in tax revenue was funneled back into the redevelopment area for further improvements, none of which have been done to date. Howington said the CRA was not properly reported on the state tax forms, drastically dropping the rolled back rate.
The rolled back rate is a computed millage rate that would generate the same amount of ad valorem tax dollars as the prior fiscal year, based on the proposed year’s tax roll, excluding new construction. A millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate is defined by the State of Florida as a tax increase and the law says it must be advertised as such.
The rolled back rate — the no tax increase by definition rate — came in at 0.3657 mills. The town approved keeping the millage rate at 0.9204, a 151.68% tax increase.
First Budget Meeting
The town’s first attempt to tentatively approve the budget and property tax increase was stalled after one council member was a no show. At 151.68%, the tax increase was so great that the state required a unanimous vote, or the approval of voters at the ballot box.
Council member Leonard White did not attend the meeting Howington said she did not hear from White on meeting day, but he is employed at Century Correctional Institution where he is not allowed to have his phone for security reasons. She stated that she had been told that the prison had gone into a “class 2″ lockdown at noon that day while he was presumed to be at work.
Second Try At The First Budget Meeting
White resigned from office just hours before a rescheduled meeting in late September, citing time constraints due to his job as correctional officer at the prison.With White officially off the council, that left four members present at the meeting for the unanimous vote needed to approve a property tax increase.
Questions were raised about the legal notice for the meeting.
It was advertised in a published “Notice of Continuation” as being continued from the early September meeting, and stated that the meeting was recessed. That was not correct; that September 8 meeting was adjourned. The big budget guide from the state says that continuation is acceptable, but the meeting must not be adjourned (as it was).
Howington later provided a string of emails between her and the Department of Revenue that ended with apparent instruction to run the continuation notice., even though it was not true.
Second Budget Meeting
On October 4, three days after the fiscal year started with no budget, Century attempted to hold the second meeting.
But due to an error in the public notice — which had different numbers that the actual budget — the meeting adjourned.
Second Budget Meeting, Second Try
A rare, but legally allowed, Saturday afternoon meeting was held October 8, hours before a final report was due to the state.
The council approved a tax increase of 151.68% over the rolled back rate.
Action on the budget was tabled after it was discovered that a balanced budget was not advertised due to an apparent typographical error made by the town. The typo in the budget summary public notice for the meeting showed $10,000 more in expenditures than revenue; state law requires that a budget balance.
The meeting was recessed.
Second Budget Meeting, Third Try
Last week, the council met again in an attempt to square away the tax rate and budget.
The meeting opened with prayer led by the town clerk.
“Father God, we’ve worked hard on this budget. We’ve worked hard on the millage rate,” she prayed. “As I explain it again for people to clear their mind and hear that we are not raising taxes by 151 percent.”
Only three of the four remaining council members were present in the room as the millage rate vote was taken; council member James Smith was on the phone.
The Florida Sunshine Law states that a quorum must be present for a vote, and a person taking part on the phone does not count. That’s why the fifth council member resigned a few weeks ago — so the remaining four could have tax rate discussions and vote.
When questioned by the public, Howington said they would move forward with meeting and check with the state.
A lengthy discussion ensued, with Howington providing multiple explanations how the 151.68% tax increase was not really a tax increase, despite the state law, the town’s own legal notice of a tax increase, and the meeting’s agenda all spelling out that it’s a tax increase. She provided sample tax numbers for her home…which showed the extra 151.68% in taxes, amounting to about $30.
Florida law requires the council to openly provide the reason for the tax increase at the meeting. Century provided the somewhat vague explanation “to fund the budget” without providing specifics.
For the final meeting, several citizens filled the updated council chambers, which had recently painted walls and new Mohawk laminate flooring.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.