Commissioners Name ‘Hot Topics’ In Each District

January 16, 2009

Escambia Commissioners detailed their “hot topics” at a Thursday morning meeting, with commissioners laying out the issues they believe are the most important in their districts.

The following is the “hot topic” list from commissioners:

Kevin White, District 5 (including all of North Escambia)

  • Budget reduction and economic development
  • Countywide transportation roads, including paving and resurfacing
  • Land Development Code (LDC) re-write. “It’s the poorest document I’ve ever seen.”
  • Code enforcement attitude.

“These people need to become more proactive instead of reactive. When they go to see a citizen, instead of dropping the hammer…give them a chance to do something,” White said about the county’s current code enforcement. “I get just as many complaints  about code enforcement and the way people are treated as  I do ‘I need my road graded or a pothole patched’.”

White said he had discussed the code enforcement issue with County Administrator Bob McLaughlin.

Wilson Robertson, District 1

“I’m just going to zero in on  one because like a lot of this issues are like my number one is really going to countywide,” he said, mentioning items like the LDC and economic development. But issue number one for Robertson was:

  • Cleanup, leveling and repair of the old Saufley Landfill.  He called it a “health hazard” where area residents must wear masks when going outside.

Commissioners White, Valentino and Robinson committed funds from their own LOST monies for the cleanup. But county attorney Allison Rogers said the county could not cleanup the site at the present time because it is still privately owned.

Gene Valentino, District 2

  • Economic development is priority number one, the commissioner said.
  • Expansion of Escambia Fire-Rescue Station 19 with Local Option Sales Tax dollars and some grant funding, including a helicopter pad on the building rooftop. The project is currently in the design phase.
  • Sidewalk project on old Gulf Beach Highway with LOST money.
  • Regional transportation planning.
  • A proposal of a Waterfront Development Authority, similar to the Santa Rosa Island Authority to manage development along the entire coast of the county, plus inland bays and rivers.

Grover Robinson, District 4

  • Budget reductions including addressing ECAT funding.
  • Solid waste consolidation and integration.
  • Pensacola Beach issues, including drainage and core development
  • Olive Road improvements
  • Land Development Code (LDC) re-write
  • Selective District 4 code enforcement issues

“These people need to become more proactive instead of reactive. When they go to see a citizen, instead of dropping the hammer…give them a chance to do something,” White said about the county’s current code enforcement. “I get just as many complaints  about code enforcement and the way people are treated as  I do ‘I need my road graded or a pothole patched’.”White said he had discussed the code enforcement issue with County Administrator Bob McLaughlin.

The county’s Internet video streaming of Thursday morning’s meeting failed before District 3 Commissioner Marie Young was able to relate her “hot topics”.

Comments

2 Responses to “Commissioners Name ‘Hot Topics’ In Each District”

  1. Bratt-FSU-Fan on January 19th, 2009 1:30 am

    OK Kevin White, you’ve talked the talk, now it’s time to walk the walk. While it is understood that the current economic situations in our county are very dark, this is all the more reason to fight for your area. With limited funds, if you don’t stay after it, we won’t see any improvement to our area. We have plenty of work that needs to be done and we will be behind you all the way. BUT, please know that we are watching. District 5 residents need to get involved and let your voices be heard.

    Also, Mr. White, concerning this “All4One” campaign, the majority of the residents that you represent do NOT support this initiative. Please keep this in mind when the time comes, and let’s not waste our precious dollars on researching it.

  2. Land Owner on January 16th, 2009 6:24 am

    I am so happy to see that the current land development codes are on Mr. Whites list to revise. The current codes hold land owners “hostage” if you have a significant peice of property that was not subdivided before some of the codes were adopted in the early 90’s. I have parents that are getting up in age and are looking at possibly having to sell there home and 40 acres in Walnut Hill, but we have been told we need a 60 foot easement and we also fall into a “family land” code that blocks us from selling to anyone outside of the family. No one told us this 8 years ago when we pulled permits to build this house. We did not learn about this code until a few months ago. Maybe the commissioners will give the land owner a few rights back and not allow the developers with “big money” to take over North Escambia.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News