Council Approves Proposal Without Knowing Cost, Discusses Support Of Brown-Curry
October 9, 2008
The Century Town Council has approved a proposal to audit the town’s books without knowing how much it will cost. And one council member expressed his displeasure at not seeing the document until it was up for a vote, despite the town having the proposal for weeks.
The council approved the proposal from Hartmann, Blackmon & Kilgore, P.C. to audit Century’s financial records from fiscal year 2006-2007 and 2007-2008, despite the proposal not telling the town how much the firm will charge.
“There’s no dollar amount in the proposal,” council member Henry Hawkins said. “It’s just telling about the firm.”
Council President Ann Brooks, who is also an accountant, told the council that she is very familiar with Hartmann, Blackmon & Kilgore, saying “years ago I worked for them in Fairhope”.
The proposal, which was the only one the town received after advertising for audit proposals, was received “prior to September 19″, according to Town Clerk Dorothy Sims.
“If this came in prior to the 19th of September, why haven’t we seen it?” asked Hawkins. “I got a problem at looking at something and voting on it in five minutes.”
Sims told Hawkins he could have set up a time to review the proposal at the Town Hall.
“If this was the only one (proposal) we got, we should have got copies,” Hawkins said.
The council also discussed supporting political candidates like Claudia Brown-Curry, who is running for superintendent of the Escambia County School District.
Mayor Freddie McCall reported that Brown-Curry supporters had reserved the town’s Ag Building on Highway 4 for a political rally on October 11. Her supporters never paid the fee for a building, so it was rented to a wedding party that did pay the rental fee.
McCall said he attempted to get the wedding party to reschedule or move to another location, but they refused. Brown-Curry’s rally was moved to Roadside Park.
McCall asked the council if building rental should be free for Brown-Curry, for whom many council members have openly expressed their support, or for all candidates.
“We cant waive the fee for every politician,” council member Sharon Scott said.
“Let’s not show any favoritism; just charge everybody to use the building,” council member Gary Riley said.
Pictured above: Century council member Gary Riley review an accountant’s proposal to audit the town’s books. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Student To Attend Leadership Conference
October 9, 2008
A Carver/Century K-8 School student has been chosen to represent the State of Florida at the National Young Leaders State Conference.
Christiful Madison requested financial help to the attend the conference from the Century Town Council. The council approved giving him $250, which is half of the council’s entire $500 yearly budget for such projects.
The National Young Leaders State Conference in Florida is a unique, life-changing experience specifically geared toward eighth and ninth grade students readying for this critical phase in their life. This regional conference welcomes scholars from Florida. The intense four-day curriculum focuses on eight core leadership power tools: communication, conflict resolution, decision making, goal setting, group dynamics, leadership techniques, project management and self awareness.
This unique program challenges each scholar to step forward with conviction and confidence, to grasp the concepts of leadership and to act upon their dreams of making a difference in their communities. With the insight and guidance of highly trained facilitators and the assistance of their peers, scholars work within each activity to hone their plan of personal leadership, leaving the conference well-equipped to begin their journey.
Pictured above: Carver/Century K-8 student Christiful Madison asks the Century Town Council for financial support to attend a leadership conference. NorthEscambia.com photo.
JV Canes Finish Perfect Season With Win Over Excel Panthers
October 8, 2008
The Flomaton JV Canes ended their season last night in Excel with a big win over the Panthers. The Canes 42-6 win ended a perfect season for the JV Canes.
Submitted photos by Mike Newton Photography for NorthEscambia.com.
Sarah Palin Brings Republican Message To Escambia County
October 8, 2008
Vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin brought the Republicans’ campaign to Escambia County Tuesday afternoon.
Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin entered the Pensacola Civic Center Tuesday afternoon to chants of “Sarah! Sarah!” after being introduced by surprise guest Florida Governor Charlie Crist.
“I bring greetings from the next president of the United States, John McCain,” Palin said after thanking the Pensacola crowd for her rock star-like welcome. “The people of Florida are ready to shake things up in Washington.”
“Now I know why Pensacola is the place they say is where thousands live the way that millions wish that they could live,” the Alaska governor said, noting that she had just received a text message from her daughter Willow back in Alaska showing three inches of snow on the ground Tuesday afternoon outside her classroom.
Even with the vast differences between Alaska and Florida, Palin said the two states have a lot in common, both being home to proud Americans. But while Alaska may be easy for the McCain-Palin ticket, she acknowledged that Florida will be battleground against the Democrats.
She drew a huge round of applause and laughter as she joked about Saturday Night Live and impressionist Tina Fey. She quipped that some of her answers at last week’s vice presidential debate “maybe they weren’t real clear”, but “I was just giving Tina Fey some more material. Job security for SNL.”
In hard times, Palin said McCain offers solutions for the future, and he will solve the nation’s financial crisis as president.
Those reforms will include tax breaks for the middle class, help for business owners to create jobs, control food and gas prices, help students pay for college and help families pay for their homes, she said.
She said McCain will impose a spending freeze on all but the most vital government services, reviewing every department and agency.
McCain proposes a $5,000 tax credit for health care, Palin said, “so that you can buy health care, the health care that you choose…It’s changing health care for the better; it’s putting health care on your side.”
“John McCain is the only man in this race with a plan that will actually help working families,” Palin told the audience, including many from North Escambia.
She said McCain talks differently than the Democratic candidate Barack Obama about America’s wars, and “unlike our opponent, he (McCain) isn’t afraid to use the word ‘victory’”.
“For just once, I’d like him (Obama) to say that he wants America to win,” she added before saying that Obama voted to cut funding for troops. She reminded the audience of McCain’s military service, including his years of training in Pensacola, before applauding the military members in the packed civic center.
Her speech was interrupted again by chants of “Sarah! Sarah” about halfway into her 30 minutes speech.
“Barack Obama is going to raise your taxes,” Palin said, saying the Democrats have a left wing agenda.
She said that the election was about “truthfulness and judgment needed in the next president. Good judgment in the next president, and John McCain has it and Barack Obama does not have it.”
“Man, I love you Florida, because you just get it,” Palin said after a rousing round of “USA! USA” chants.
Pictured above and below: Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin at the Pensacola Civic Center Tuesday.
Town’s Forclosure Attempt Against Helicopter Company Continues
October 8, 2008
The Town of Century’s foreclosure against Helicopter Technologies looks like it is headed for court action, the town’s mayor says.
Century Mayor Freddie McCall said that attempts to get the company’s owner, Georges Van Nevel, to sign the building back over to the town have not yet worked.
The Town of Century filed mortgage foreclosure papers against Helicopter Technologies, Inc. in Escambia County Circuit Court on August 26.
McCall said that Matt Dannheisser, the town’s attorney, forwarded papers overseas to Van Nevel with instructions on how to sign the papers at a U.S. embassy.
“Mr. Van Nevel has contacted him (Dannheisser) and agreed to send the deeds back to him,” McCall told the town council two weeks ago. There have been issues, McCall said, with getting Van Nevel to sign the papers at a U.S. embassy due to long lines of people seeking embassy services. As a result, McCall said, Dannheisser has forwarded additional instructions to Van Nevel how to proceed with the paperwork using a notary.
“We don’t have the paperwork back from him,” McCall said of the current status of the case. “He didn’t say he changed his mind.”
Court records indicate that the town filed for a ruling by default at the end of last month.
The Helicopter Technologies building in the Century Industrial Park was financed by the Town of Century in 1991 for $420,000 according to filed documents. The company currently owes the town about $450,000, Mayor Freddie McCall told the told council at the July meeting at which the council voted to begin emergency foreclosure proceedings.
Dannheisser located Helicopter Technologies owner Georges Van Nevel (pictured left, file photo) in Hong Kong and contacted him by email, McCall said.
“He answered some, but he did not respond to others,” McCall told NorthEscambia.com. In those emails, Dannheisser forwarded legal papers to Van Nevel to sign the building back over to the town, the mayor said, but Van Nevel never signed and returned the papers. The town was prepared to forgive Van Nevel’s entire debt if he signed the building back over to the town.
At the council’s July 7 meeting, the mayor told the council that Van Nevel told him that the building would be sold to a Pensacola buyer by July 11. NorthEscambia.com learned on July 10 that the sale was off and the buyer was backing out.
McCall said that a clause in Helicopter Technologies’ contract with the town gave the town the option to “take back” three lots around the building, and he said the town would take possession of those lots.
New Tag Design For Alabama Residents Coming Soon
October 8, 2008
A new Alabama car tag will be on the roads soon.
Tuesday, Alabama Governor Bob Riley unveiled the design for the new license plate that will go into circulation in January. The new car tag features a colorful beach scene and the phrase “Sweet Home Alabama” and will replace the “Stars Fell on Alabama” plates that have been in use since January 2002.
The new design carries the Alabama tourism department’s “Sweet Home Alabama” theme that was unveiled a year ago and appears in print ads and television commercials promoting the state as a vacation destination.
Governor Riley assigned the tourism department to design the new license plate and chose a beach scene to reflect the Gulf Coast’s importance to Alabama’s tourism industry. Together, Baldwin and Mobile counties generate more than 30 percent of the state’s $9.8 billion tourism revenue.
“A lot of people outside of Alabama don’t even know that we have beaches. When we put more than three million tags showing sea oats and a beautiful sunset over water into circulation, that will change,” Governor Riley said.
Alabama tourism director Lee Sentell said the design is a major boost to the hospitality industry. “Having the ‘sweet home’ phrase included is a real plus,” he said. “Sweet Home Alabama is the third most played song identifying a destination, behind ‘New York, New York’ and ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco.’”
Alabama Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division director Brenda Coone said car owners still have the option to select the “God Bless America” license plate with the patriotic flag design that does not identify the county where the plate was purchased.
“County licensing officials will begin issuing the new license plates January 2,” Coone said. The plates can be personalized with a maximum of seven characters, she said.
The new tag will be issued for the next five years.
Pictured above: Alabama’s new car tag that will hit the roads in January, personalized for NorthEscambia.com.
Northview Varsity Volleyball
October 8, 2008
Northview beat Straughn in Tuesday varsity volleyball action, and the Chiefs lost one to the Flomaton Hurricanes.
Northview took two of three from Straughn, 25-19, 21-25, 15-9.
Stats from Northview versus Straughn:
Candice Greenwell: Kills – 4, Aces-2
Brittney Thompson: Kills-8, Aces-4, Digs-4, Blocks-3
Amber McMillan: Digs-5
Caitlin Hall: Assists-14, Digs-2, Kills-3
Shawna Montgomery: Kills – 5, Aces-2, Digs-4
Flomaton downed Northview, 15-25, 13-25.
Stats from Northview versus Flomaton:
Angela Rodriguez: Kills – 3, Aces – 2
Brittney Thompson: Kills-2, Digs-3, Blocks-2
Amber McMillan: Digs-7
Caitlin Hall: Assists-7, Digs-1, Blocks-1
Shawna Montgomery: Kills – 3, Aces-2
Northview is now 9-9 on the season, 1-3 in district play.
Reminder: TIPS At Ernest Ward This Afternoon
October 7, 2008
The faculty of Ernest Ward Middle School reminds parents and students to attend TIPS from 4:00 until 6:00 this afternoon.
TIPS is an acronym for Teachers Informing Parents and Students. These after-school hours will be provided to give parents and students the opportunity to meet with a faculty member to discuss Spring 2008 FCAT results and the student’s Progress Monitoring Plan (PMP) for those who scored Level 1, Level 2, or 35% or lower on the NRT portion of the FCAT.
The faculty member will interpret the student’s academic strengths and weaknesses and offer suggestions for increasing student achievement.
Council Member Does Not Want $1.4 Million Loan, Heated Discussion Erupts
October 7, 2008
Century may have already received a big check for $1,755,000, but a Century town council member does not want to see the town to enter into a loan agreement for the money. She made that announcement Monday night, leading to a heated discussion.
‘I no longer feel like I can support the Rural Development loan for the water project,” council President Ann Brooks abruptly told the council at the end of Monday night’s meeting. “Out town is obviously not able to live within its means.”
The town accepted a ceremonial $1,755,000 check back in May from the USDA for water projects, but never signed the loan documents to receive the actual funds. The town is facing a $161,000 but shortfall this year, with those monies to come from the town’s reserve funds.
Chamber President Benny Barnes addressed Brooks, saying that Mayor Freddie McCall would have never suggested that the town enter into the agreement with the United State Department of Agriculture Rural Development if the town did not have the means to repay the loan.
“If we had not gone into debt years ago, we would not have the water system; we would not have the gas system,” Barnes said. “It is important to understand that economic development is an investment. I don’t see what your really big concern is.”
“We are going to spend $161,000 more than is coming in,” Brooks said.
“I thought you were smarter than that,” Barnes replied. At that point, council member Henry Hawkins asked Barnes to sit down.
“That’s OK; I can protect myself,” Brooks said.
“I know how to go home,” Hawkins said, as he gathered his things and stood up from the council table.
“That’s being childish,” Brooks told Hawkins. “Please sit down.” Hawkins remained in the meeting.
“It is because of our financial condition and the economy,” Brooks said, explaining her announcement.
McCall said the town needed the project, especially a new elevated water tank to improve the water supply for firefighting.
“If the Piggly Wiggly burnt tonight, we’d run out of water,” McCall said. “If you should have somebody else come to town…and we’d did not have enough water storage, they wouldn’t come to our town.”
Brooks suggested the town look at grants again in order to find a way to make the $71,000 yearly payment on the loan.
“The payment? That’s a gimme,” McCall said, noting that he had negotiated an $88,000 a year increase in the amount the Florida Department of Corrections pays for their water and gas service at the Century Correctional Institute.
The USDA loan, when approved by the council, was to be used for a half million gallon elevated water storage tank, three back up generators, construction of a new six inch water main and a booster pump station. Part of the original project was to be used to provide water to underserved residents along Backwoods Road.
The Backwoods portion of the project was later removed from the original proposal and funding was appropriated in the town’s current budget for the Backwoods Road improvements. That put the loan amount at about $1.4 million.
The council took no action on the loan at Monday night’s meeting.
Pictured above, left to right: Century Town Council members Ann Brooks, Sharon Scott and Nadine McCaw; Mayor Freddie McCall; USDA Rural Development State Director Ronald Whitfield; Dale Long from Fabre Engineering; USDA Area Specialist Kathy Bechard; and New Life Baptist Church Pastor Irvin Stallworth accept a ceremonial $1.755 million check back in May. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
IP Presents Ernest Ward With Grant Check For Advanced Readers
October 7, 2008
International Paper presented Ernest Ward Middle School with a $1,462 grant Monday afternoon to purchase Interactive Readers for mid-level and advanced reading students.
“One of the main focus areas for IP is literacy,” said Jessica Morris, IP’s Pensacola Mill communications director. “It feels good to be able to support you in the central and north part of the county because that is where IP is, and that is where were are shifting our focus a bit.”
About 60 community groups attended a workshop at International Paper to learn how to submit lengthy grant applications for a share of $50,000 in grant money. Of those, 34 actually applied and 15 groups were chosen by a selection committee to have their project funded.
The mid-level and advanced readers at Ernest Ward did not have new materials and were the focus of Ernest Ward’s grant application, according to Carolyn Findley, reading coach.
“That’s what we thought was special about this application,” Morris said. “This was different because it takes these mid-level readers and bumps them to the next level. Usually these projects are for lower level readers.”
“We were very fortunate and very blessed that IP did choose us,” Findley said.
“We are so appreciative of IP for helping us,” EWMS Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry said. “They are helping our middle to higher readers. A lot of the time, the focus is on the lower level readers and the upper level kids are left behind.”
For a complete list of grant recipients, click here for an August 21 NorthEscambia.com story.
