Century Drops Some Late Fees From ‘Confusing’ Utility Bills
July 21, 2022
The Town of Century has cut some late penalty fees for water, sewer and gas customers.
The town council recached a consensus this week that the wording of utility bills had just simply become confusing and needed some updates to reflect current policies,
For instance, a recent utility bill we examined stated that the total current amount due was $135.38, and if payment was not received by July 15, the balance would be the same $135.38 “which includes a $5.00 penalty” that was not actually added. The bill also indicated that a fee of $10 for water and $10 for gas will be applied to the account, in addition to more fees on the 24th of the month.
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“This is kind of contradictory because they’re saying $5 up top and the bottom is saying $10,” council member Sandra McMurray Jackson said as she brought the confusing bill to the attention of the entire council
“I also looked at my bill this month and that was really confusing to me also,” council President Luis Gomez, Jr. added.
The council voted to eliminate the $5 fee, which may have been printed on the July bills by error. They also voted to eliminate the $10 each penalties for water and gas bills not paid by the 15th of the month.
“We’re living off of fixed income and if you take in that kind of money out of the household, it’s already hard to pay the rest of your bills or buy you a piece of chicken or a piece of bread,” local resident Herman Pleasant told the council at a meeting this week.
But the other late fees will still apply for customers that have not paid by the 24th of the month, which may also mean they will be disconnected.
Going forward, the billing policy to be stated on bills will be:
“This bill is due upon receipt. If not paid by the 24th, a penalty of $25 for water and $30 for gas will be added and services will be subject to disconnection on the 25th with no further notice. This is the only notice you will receive.”
The town also plans to use a larger font for the “only notice you will receive” statement because the town does not call or mail late payers before disconnections. The town currently cuts off service for about 30 later customers per month.
Adjustments will be made to the next business day for weekend and town holidays.
The town is currently exploring options to move to an electronic meter reading and billing platform with online payment availability.
Storm Topples Tree (Almost) Into Bratt Home
July 21, 2022
A thunderstorm toppled a tree almost into a Bratt home Wednesday afternoon.
The pecan tree came down in front of a home just off Highway 4 about a mile east of Northview High School. The tree barely hit the home, doing just very minor damage to the edge of a porch.
No one was home at the time. The resident said that if she had been home, her car would have been parked where the tree fell.
The peak wind gust recorded by the weather station at Northview was 34 mph. A special weather statement from the National Weather Service warned of winds possibly up to 40 mph from the storm.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview NJROTC Cadets Conduct ‘FOD Walkdowns’ Cleaning Up Two Local Parks
July 21, 2022
The Northview High School NJROTC performed a little community service Wednesday, and learned a new skill at the time same time.
The cadets picked up trash at Travis M. Nelson Park in Bratt and at the Byrneville Community Center.
They walked methodically side by side in what’s known as a foreign object debris (FOD) walkdown. On the deck of an aircraft carrier or a runway on land, sailors conduct FOD walkdowns scanning for any foreign objects, no matter how large or small, to prevent mishaps.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Man Charged With Intent To Distribute Meth After Flomaton Traffic Stop
July 21, 2022
An Escambia County (FL) man is facing multiple drug charges after a traffic stop Wednesday in Flomaton.
Jontae Yochae Williams, 40, was charged with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center without bond.
The Flomaton Police Department stopped Williams’ vehicle for a switch license plate. According to police, K-9 Boo alerted on the vehicle and officers found nine grams of alleged crystal methamphetamine packaged is separate baggies and a glass pipe.
Williams was also cited for a switched tag, driving with a suspect license and operating a motor vehicle without insurance.
Woman Sentenced For Defrauding Employer Out Of $300,000
July 21, 2022
An Escambia County woman has been sentenced for defrauding her employer out of over $300,000.
Cassondra Leigh Moreno, 43, was sentenced to seven years in prison to be followed by 20 years probation. She was convicted of organized fraud and money laundering.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation into Moreno began in June 2020 when Moreno’s employer, a beverage distributor, advised FDLE that it had noticed a $300,000 accounting discrepancy involving stolen money orders, which appeared to be linked to Moreno. The employer oversees sales in numerous stores from Pensacola to Panama City. The investigation revealed that over a four-year period, Moreno used her position as Transportation Supervisor to engage in a scheme to defraud. She modified her employer’s accounting system to conceal the amount of money orders she had stolen.
Analysis of her personal financial records revealed that she received over $300,000 between 2017-2020, by depositing hundreds of stolen money orders into her accounts. She resigned from her job in May 2020.
Bicyclist Struck By Car In Century
July 20, 2022
A bicyclist is recovering after being hit by a car Wednesday morning in Century.
The individual was hit by a Chevrolet Malibu at Highway 29 and East Highway 4.
According to the Florida Highway, the bicyclist was transported by Escambia County EMS to Jay Hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life threatening.
The FHP investigation is continuing. The Century Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue also responded.
Escambia County Asking DeSantis To Investigate If Doug Underhill Remains Qualified To Serve
July 20, 2022
Escambia County is asking Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Office to investigate if District Commissioner Doug Underhill remains qualified to hold office after selling his home in District 2 and purchasing property in District 5.
“Upon information and belief, Commissioner Douglas Underhill no longer resides in the district he was elected to represent. The official records reflect that his residence was sold in 2022, and he purchased a property in another district in 2021,” the letter signed by Commissioner Chairman Jeff Bergosh states.
Underhill sold his Perdido Key home earlier this year. Redistricting moved the home from District 2 to District 1, but the law allows him to remain in office through the end of his term — if he lives in District 2. In 2021, Underhill purchased a District 5 property in North Escambia, just over a mile from Atmore.
“Underhill has vacated the grandfathered residence and now resides in a different district of Escambia County,” according to the letter to the governor.
A screenshot provided to Bergosh of a July 7 Facebook post with free furniture and other items posted by Underhill’s wife stated that they had two days remaining to clear everything off their Sally-damaged property “before the buyer takes possession”.
“So we sold and rent back until I’m done with my service. None of this is news, and if you are worried about this more than our budget you suck and you are why Escambia County sucks,” Underhill wrote on Facebook Tuesday night in another post cited by Bergosh,
“It seen incongruent. It seems inconsistent. So I think we need to get to the bottom of it based upon citizen complaints,” Bergosh said during a Tuesday morning commission meeting.
“Guys, do what you want to do. I certainly look forward to an investigation from Tallahassee into what is clearly more of the pattern of retribution against me whistleblowing on y’all’s 401(a) thing,” Underhill said.
“I don’t take the 401(a),” Bergosh interjected.
“I know you don’t, but you certainly supported what these guys are doing,” Underhill replied to Bergosh. “In my opinion, it’s theft, and I whistle blew on it.”
The commission currently has a lawsuit pending over a 401(a) annuity plan the county contends is legal for local for elected officials and senior management. It does not cost taxpayers anything beyond a typical FRS plan.
“Redistricting me out of my district, taking me off all of the committees, all of the other things we’ve done. The censure, that little foray we had,” Underhill continued. “All of those are really the same kind of pattern of retribution for what I did for outing this issue for the 401(a).”
In reference to the Facebook post stating the family needed items out of the home for the new buyer in two days, Underhill told Bergosh that “is none of your business”.
“The matter is very clear…but if y’all want to do this, let’s send it to Tallahassee; let’s have that discussion,” Underhill said. “Gentlemen, do as you wish. It really makes no difference.”
Underhill gathered his things and walked out of the meeting during the motion and 4-0 vote. It was the last item on the agenda for the day, and the meeting concluded less than a minute later.
Escambia County Approves Sheriff’s Budget For The Next Three Years
July 20, 2022
The Escambia County Commission on Tuesday approved a funding agreement with the Sheriff’s Office for the next three fiscal years.
The interlocal agreement will set the Sheriff’s Office budget from the BOCC at $77.4 million for 2023, $82.7 for 2024 and $88.2 for 2025.
The funds will include all costs for personnel services, operating expenses and capital outlay as required to operate the law enforcement agency.
The agreement also has additional contingency funds of $1.25 million for 2023, $1.25 million for 2024 and $1.5 million in 2025. The contingency funds may be used for additional costs, including but not limited to, increased retirement costs, employee healthcare or higher fuel costs.
If the Sheriff’s reserve funds are not used, they will roll over to the next fiscal year of the agreement, up to a maximum reserve of $2.5 million.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
FHP Now Estimates 40 Plus Vehicles Were Involved In Friday’s I-10 Crashes
July 20, 2022
The Florida Highway Patrol now says an estimated 40 or more vehicles were involved in multiple crashes that closed I-10 in Escambia County last Friday.
The crash happened on I-10 westbound near the Palafox Street overpass, which is just east of Highway 29. There were only a few non-life threatening injuries.
The incident was treated as a multitude of individual wrecks. FHP Lt. Jason King said it took an extensive amount of time to complete the investigation and clean up the scene.
“And truly we lost count of how many cars were actually involved,” he said.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos: Traffic cameras and ground-level photos show the aftermath of multiple crashes on I-10 Friday afternoon. Photos: FDOT and Donnie Dixon for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Applications Open Today For Escambia County Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program
July 20, 2022
Applications open today for the Escambia County Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program.
The program is designed to provide assistance for homeowners struggling to pay mortgages or utilities due to COVID-19. Funded under the Community Development Block Grant Corona Virus Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program, eligible households may receive assistance of up to but not exceeding three months’ costs, or $8,000.
Applications are available by clicking here.
Emergency mortgage assistance may be provided to eligible Escambia County residents and families under the following conditions:
- The property must not be listed for sale
- The household must have been financially impacted by COVID-19
- The homeowner must have homestead exemption
- The property must be located in Escambia County outside of the City of Pensacola limits
- The household must not have received additional mortgage assistance
Payments will be made directly to the lending institutions and utility companies. In order to apply for the program, residents must provide documentation to determine eligibility, including qualifying COVID-19 impact or financial hardship; proof of identification for applicant/co-applicant and all household members over 18; and current proof of income for all household members. Households will be able to apply for mortgage assistance beginning Wednesday, July 20.
Click here for additional program requirements.
Citizens may use the computers at the following public libraries to complete their application:
- Century Branch Library – 7991 N. Century Blvd., Century
- Molino Branch Library – 6450-A Hwy. 95A, Molino
- Tryon Branch Library – 1200 Langley Ave., Pensacola
- Genealogy Branch Library – 5740 N. Ninth Ave., Pensacola
- Pensacola Library – 239 N. Spring St., Pensacola
- Southwest Branch Library – 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
- Westside Branch Library – 1301 W. Gregory St., Pensacola
Once the portal opens July 20, a call center will be available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (850) 595-0022. For more information, email at EMAP@MyEscambia.com.