Century Considers Code Enforcement Again
August 29, 2008
The Century Town Council talked code enforcement Thursday, with some members admitting that it was going to be a touchy political subject.
The town severed an agreement with Escambia County to provide code enforcement in Century. Under that agreement, the county’s code enforcement officers worked Century and wrote citations that were turned over to the town for abatement. The services were provided by the county at no charge to Century.
The arrangement came under fire, with allegations that the county’s officers provided selective enforcement, citing some people but no others. That prompted the council to sever the relationship with Escambia Code Enforcement. Now, there is no code enforcement at all in the town.
But now, council members are ready to look at returning code enforcement to the town.
“I see a real need for something to be done to clean up the town, particularly dilapidated building,” Council President Ann Brooks said. She suggested one of two options: the town could return to the code enforcement business with its own code enforcement officer, or the town could once again rely on Escambia County to enforce the town’s code book.
Mayor Freddie McCall told the council that he wants to see the town use the county’s code officers and that the county has offered to return one to Century at no cost to the town.
“I plead with y’all to lets sit down with the county and work out the details,” McCall said. “We can’t afford a code enforcement officer.”
But money was not McCall’s only concern about the town having its own code enforcement officer. He said he was afraid the town doing its own code enforcement could become too political.
“This is going to be a hot bed. This is going to be political. There’s going to be some picking and choosing,” McCall said of the town having its own code officer. “I don’t think we should put ourselves in this position.”
Council member Nadine McCaw expressed her concern about small town politics coming into play if the town were to act on its own with enforcement.
“We might be more lenient to your momma or Gary’s sister,” McCaw said to Brooks. “I want somebody that doesn’t know anybody here.”
“I believe that I am as capable of voting against my mother as I am anyone else,” Brooks said later in the meeting.
The town has a clear code in place that defines violations and outlines the steps to require a property owner to bring their property into compliance.
The code outlaws any property or structure that is a nuisance due to rats, vermin, flies or other things that cause disease; a lot that has an accumulation of rubbish, trash or garbage; a building that is dilapidated or an unsafe menace; a lot with an accumulation of one or more inoperable vehicles, excluding businesses such as auto repair shops and junkyards; and overgrown vegetation except for a lot with no building in or returning to a natural state, or property that is zoned as agricultural.
Residents are to be notified of the violation and have 20 days to begin to rectify the situation or contest the citation, per the code. If the property owner does nothing, the town would have the right to clean up the property or demolish the dilapidated building and file a lien against the property. If an alleged violator wanted to appeal their citation, they would face the town council in a code hearing.
“I can’t do it; I don’t agree with it,” McCaw said about the council acting hearing code enforcement appeals.
“You don’t have to be a building inspector to look down Highway 29 at those buildings falling down,” council member Henry Hawkins said.
“If we could just enforce what we have on our books, we could be in much better shape, council member Gary Riley said.
McCaw expressed concern that a code officer hired by the Town of Century might hold a physically dangerous position.
“Their life might be at stake,” she said. “People will kill over something like that.”
The council voted to hold another public hearing at a date to be announced with officials with the county’s code enforcement division to discuss how the two might could work together.
Pictured above: A dilapidated home on Freedom Road in Century. Pictured below: An abandoned building on North Century Boulevard in the southern part of Century. Building such as these could become the target of code enforcement in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos.
NHS Football Team, Cheerleaders Prep For Season Opener
August 29, 2008
The garnet and gold has hit the green football field at Northview High School as the Chiefs prepare for the September 5 season opener on the road against Pensacola Catholic.
The first home game for the Chiefs will be September 19 against Walton County.
Pictured above and below: The Northview football team and cheerleaders practice in preparation for a September 5 battle against Pensacola Catholic. Submitted photos by Heather Leonard for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Beats Flomaton And McCall In Volleyball
August 29, 2008
The Ernest Ward Middle School volleyball team’s season is off to a good start after they defeated both Flomaton Middle School and McCall Middle School.
The Eagles beat the Flomaton Hurricanes 25-23 in the first game and 25 to 20 in the second game.
Ernest Ward downed McCall Middle School in a double header Thursday night. They Eagles won the first game 25 to 12, lost the second 25-24 and won the third 15 to 0.
Submitted cellphone photos by Wayne Holland for NorthEscambia.com.
Video Update On Gustav
August 28, 2008
Look for a video update on Gustav in the upper right hand corner of the NorthEscambia.com homepage. It contains expanded Gustav information, tracking charts, models, satellite photos and more.
Lost Your Dog In Walnut Hill?
August 28, 2008
A medium sized tan female dog, with just some white on her, was picked up by animal control at Ernest Ward Middle School Thursday.
The folks at Ernest Ward say she appeared to be well cared for. She was wearing a multi-color cloth collar, but no tags. She had previously had puppies, but not too recently.
If this sounds like your missing dog, contact Escambia Animal Control at 595-3075.
Win Tickets To Bull Riding Blowout, Country Concert
August 28, 2008
NorthEscambia.com is giving four lucky people the chance to win tickets to a Bull Riding Blowout and country concert this weekend in Flomaton.
Tri Cities Rotary Club, MK Farm and Rafter L Farm will present a Bull Riding Blowout with a live concert from up and coming Nashville stars Brad Caswell and Anna Garrett on Saturday. Gates will open at 6 p.m. and the event starts at 8 p.m. at Highway 31 and Highway 113 in Flomaton, Alabama. Adult tickets are $10, student tickets are $5 and kids under six are free. Concessions will be available; and you should bring your lawnchairs.
NorthEscambia.com will draw the names of four lucky people to win a free ticket to the event. If you’d like the chance to win, email your name, city and phone number with the subject line “Bull Riding” to news@northescambia.com before midnight Thursday. The winners will be drawn early Friday morning, and they will be required to pickup their tickets in Century between 8 am and 5 pm on Friday.
Bratt Pastor Reacts To ACLU Lawsuit Over Prayer At School Events
August 28, 2008
A Bratt pastor is speaking out about the ACLU’s lawsuit against the Santa Rosa County Schools for holding prayer at school events, including baccalaureate ceremonies.
The ACLU has also requested records of all prayers at graduation and baccalaureate ceremonies in Escambia County, including Northview High School.
The Northview Class of 2008 voted on the speaker for their baccalaureate service last May. They chose Gary Wieborg, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Bratt.
Here is what Pastor Wieborg had to say Wednesday night about the ACLU lawsuit:
“The ACLU may attempt and even be successful at ending the freedom Christian parents and students in Escambia and Santa Rosa County Florida, currently have to hold and attend Baccalaureate services at our local high schools.
“The ACLU may be successful at ending the freedom students currently possess to lead Christian prayers at school-sponsored events. The truth is that no man nor power, on the earth, under the earth or above the earth can stop true Christian parents and their children from praying and worshiping Jesus Christ in their homes.
“My greatest concern is not whether the ACLU is successful in stopping baccalaureate services from being held voluntarily in the public schools. My greatest concern is whether Christian parents and children will voluntarily give up the practice of prayer and worship of Jesus Christ in their homes.
“The history of Christianity teaches us that when parents and children pray and worship Jesus Christ first and foremost in their homes, those parents and children influence their schools, their communities and even the world for Christ regardless of what action(s) the local, state or national government may take to stop Christians from accomplishing their mission of living for the glory of God in all they say and do.”
ACLU Sues Santa Rosa Over Prayer; Seeks Records From Escambia Schools
August 28, 2008
The ACLU and two students have filed suit against the Santa Rosa County Schools over prayer, and NorthEscambia.com has learned that the ACLU has requested documents concerning prayer from Escambia County Schools.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit in federal court Wednesday against the school district, Pace High School Principal Frank Lay and Santa Rosa Superintendent John Rogers. The suit alleges that Santa Rosa County Schools “persistently and persuasively promote their personal religious beliefs in the public schools and at school events”.
Events specifically mentioned in the lawsuit, which was brought on behalf of two students at Pace High, include baccalaureate services, prayers at graduations and other school events. The suit seeks a specific end to baccalaureate services.
The lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday in federal court in Pensacola, names specific events at several Santa Rosa schools, including Jay. The suit states that Jay High School held an invocation and benediction prayer each year from 2004-2008 led by students from groups such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The ACLU also complains in the suit that Jay High School has held baccalaureate services that were religious in nature.
“Religion is best served when parents — not the public schools — are responsible for directing their children’s religious education,” said Benjamin Stevenson, staff attorney with the ACLU of Florida’s Northwest Region office. “Religious freedom is eroded when the government endorses any particular religious viewpoint.”
The ACLU has also requested documents from the Escambia County School District that might relate to religion or prayer. Specifically, the ACLA requested records from Escambia Schools about graduations and baccalaureate services. The ACLU public records requests also asked for the notes of all speakers at the event as well as any audio or video recordings of the events. The ACLU request extends to all schools in Escambia County, including Northview High School.
The Santa Rosa suit alleges that the school district violated students’ rights by “endorsing and promoting religion”. The ACLU seeks a “permanent injunction forbidding the School Board, the Superintendent, Pace High School Principal and other School District from sponsoring, facilitating or promoting prayer at school events, including graduation; organizing, promoting, or otherwise supporting religious baccalaureate services; holding school-sponsored activities at places of worship when appropriate secular venues are available…”
Click here to read the ACLU’s lawsuit against Santa Rosa County.
Click here to read the ACLU’s public records request in Escambia County.
Pictured above: The Class of 2008 Baccalaureate Service at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Century To Discuss The Return Of Code Enforcement
August 28, 2008
Code enforcement could be returning to Century. The Century Town Council is slated to discuss that possibility at a council workshop at 9:00 this morning at town hall.
The town severed an agreement with Escambia County to provide code enforcement in Century back last year. Under that agreement, the county’s code enforcement officers worked Century and wrote citations that were turned over to the town for abatement. The services were provided by the county at no charge to Century.
The arrangement came under fire, with allegations that the county’s officers provided selective enforcement, citing some people but no others.
The workshop meeting at 9:00 this morning at the Century Town Hall is open to the public.
Open House Tonight At Bratt; Other Schools Soon
August 28, 2008
Open house events have been scheduled at area elementary schools. The first, at Bratt Elementary School, takes place tonight.
Open House at Bratt will be held at 6:30 following a PTA meeting at 6:00 tonight.
Carver/Century K-8 School will hold Open House Thursday, September 11 at 6:00 at the school.
Molino Park Elementary School will hold Open House Thursday, September 11 at 6:30 at the school. Molino Park will hold a PTA board meeting on September 4 at 5:00 in the afternoon at the school.