Hurricane Francine: Here Is The Local Impact Info You Need To Know
September 11, 2024
Hurricane Francine continues on a path towards a Louisiana landfall late Wednesday afternoon or early Wednesday evening.
The track of Francine is forecast to remain west of our local area, but any shift in the forecast track to the east could result in increased impacts.
In the North Escambia area:
- There will be an increased tornado threat across the area, especially across locations near the coast. It currently appears that the tornado threat will be greatest Wednesday night into Thursday. Be sure to stay alert and have multiple ways to receive warning information.
- Heavy rainfall and flooding concerns increase Wednesday and Wednesday night.
- Escambia County will experience strong, gusty winds Wednesday into Thursday afternoon.
- There is a chance of widespread power outages.
- At the coast, storm surge up to two feet is possible.
The latest details are in the graphic above from the National Hurricane Center.
Escambia (FL) Schools In Class Today; All After-School Activities Canceled This Afternoon, Evening
September 11, 2024
Escambia County (FL) Public Schools had canceled all practices, games, and extracurricular activities for Wednesday and Wednesday evening, due to Hurricane Francine. All schools will be in session as usual on Wednesday; it’s only the after-school activities that are canceled.
George Stone Technical College will hold classes as scheduled on Wednesday evening.
“With the safety of our students and staff in mind, and due to the potentially dangerous weather approaching our area, we are canceling all after-school events on Wednesday, September 11,” said Superintend Keith Leonard. “We will continue to monitor this weather system and encourage our ECPS family to do the same.”
ECPS will continue to receive updates from the Escambia Emergency Operations Center, which collaborates with the National Weather Service, as the approaching weather system develops a landfall likely on the Louisiana coast.
At this time, it is projected that all school functions and classes will continue as planned on Thursday, September 12.
Escambia Firefighter Charged With Felony Child Abuse
September 11, 2024
A now-suspended Escambia County Fire Rescue firefighter has been charged with felony child abuse for an incident unrelated to his job.
Zackary Adam Polk, 33, was charged with felony child abuse without great bodily harm. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $20,000 bond.
On August 21, Polk committed child abuse in a domestic violence situation by striking the child with the back of his left hand, causing him to fall to the ground, according to an arrest report. The report states Polk continued to strike the child five more times, causing an injury to his elbow.
Polk’s ex-wife alleged that Polk had been abusing the male child and, and another child had unknowingly recorded a video of the incident with her tablet.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the video shows the female child hit the male child with her left arm before Polk approached and struck the victim with the back of his left hand. The child raised his arms to protect his face, at which point Polk advanced towards the boy and pushed him out of the camera view, the report continues.
“I heard (the victim) crying and screaming, and I heard what appeared to be Zackary Polk hit (the victim) five more times,” the deputy wrote about the conclusion of the video in the arrest report.
The ECSO was provided with photos that allegedly showed bruising on the child’s torso, neck and shins, and a busted lip.
Polk was taken into custody without incident at the West Pensacola Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue on W Street. Officials say he has been suspended from ECFR pending the outcome of the case.
Polk told deputies that he did not recall an incident on August 21, and denied striking the child, the report states.
Editor’s note: Polk’s jail mugshot was exempt from release by Florida law.
Pictured: ECFR firefighter Zackary Polk rests following a July 2017 fire at a mattress business on West Fairfield Drive. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Here’s A Look At What Is In Century’s $10.6 Million Budget
September 10, 2024
The Century Town Council voted unanimously a week ago to approve a tentative $10.6 million budget for fiscal year 2024-2025, which starts October 1.
The town did not make the complete budget available to the media or the public before the vote. The town provided it the following day in response to a formal public records request citing Florida statutes. The town’s delay caused a delay in our reporting.
RELATED: Transparency In Question: Century Council Approves Budget After Shutting Out Public Review
We’ve now had time to look at the complete budget and offer the following highlights of interest:
The budget summary states, “The proposed operating budget for this fiscal year is 43%greater than the previous year’s budget due to additional grants.”. The general fund grants decreased from a budgeted amount last fiscal year from just over $2.3 million to $350,000 as water fund grants increased from zero to $5 million.
The 2024-2025 budget includes an increase of $2,434,114 in both the total budget and the total expenditures of $10,607,009 this fiscal year compared to $8,172,895 last fiscal year. (Mathematically, that’s actually a 29.78% increase, not the $43% stated in writing by the town.)
Town employees will receive a 2.5% cost of living raise, while several employees that were at or near minimum wage will receive an additional $1 increase. Council members will be paid $3,606 annually, while the mayor makes $9,836 — both with no cost-of-living increase reflected in the budget.
The budget includes $132,000 for an interim town manager — split evenly three ways between the general fund, water fund and gas fund. That is much like the way the town splits the town clerk salary between departments.
The budget summary reflects $55,122 from ad valorem proceeds (property tax). There is an anticipated increase in miscellaneous revenue, mostly from $125,333 rent to be paid by AlgaPlast that located in the industrial park.
The budgets shows the town moving funds into the general fund by using $198,400 from reserves (much like a savings account), using $65,050 transferred from the garbage fund (revenue paid by residents for sanitation services) and $67,879 from the water fund (revenue from water customers).
General fund expenditures include a $6,000 increase for phone service, $1,200 more for the town hall alarm system, and increases for mayor and town manager travel, a previously unbudgeted $15,000 for council education, plus liability insurance, and $1,900 for Christmas hams and turkeys and $6,500 for fireworks (a decrease of $1,500). A “Culligan water rental” is $400. There is an increased allocation of $100,000 for street department salaries.
The “special revenue fund” shows the influx and expenditure of $554,449 in American Rescue Plan funds.
The town expects to spend an extra $72,00 on the water purchased for resale to consumers, and they allocated over $73,000 less for salaries while cutting callout time (overtime) by $10,000. There is $44,000 for a city manager/utilities director compared to zero last fiscal year.
They forecast $25,000 less revenue from natural gas customers this year. Budgeted salaries decrease $80,000, while the gas fund will contribute $44,000 for a city manager/utilities director as overtime drops by $7,500.
For the complete budget (pdf), click here.
Pictured: Last Tuesday night’s Century Town Council meeting. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.