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Mayor: Councilman’s Claims About Code Enforcement Problems Are Wrong
April 21, 2009
Century’s mayor presented evidence at Monday night’s town council meeting that he said proved that complaints made about code enforcement by Councilman Henry Hawkins were incorrect.
At the council’s April 6 meeting, Hawkins made specific complaints about code enforcement citations issued at properties in the 9500 block of North Century Boulevard.
“The two buildings down across the street from Piggly Wiggly, they issued citations on them dated the 22nd, but they did not put the citation up until the first of April,” Hawkins told the council at their April 6 meeting. “These folks have 10 days from that day on the citation.”
“I stopped and looked at the citations,” Hawkins continued. “They were dated either the 22nd or 29th of March and they were posted on the first. Now if that is the kind of stuff we are going to be doing and blindsiding folks with a 10 day cutoff to get stuff done…that’s crazy.”
Monday night, Century Mayor Freddie McCall produced copies of the Escambia County Office of Environmental Enforcement citations issued for properties at 9500 and 9510 North Century Boulevard…the buildings across from the Piggly Wiggly. (Click the citations to enlarge them.)
Both citations provided by the mayor were dated April 1, not March 22 or March 29 as stated by Hawkins.
“I can’t find March 22 on there anywhere,” McCall said Monday night. “Can you help me, Mr. Hawkins?”
Hawkins did not indicate a March date on the citations.
“What they have is here is different than what they posted,” Hawkins said.
“They are doing a lot of things that they told us they wouldn’t do,” Hawkins added. He again referred to the 10 days that citizens have to comply with code citations.
Both of the April 1 code citations the council reviewed Monday night had a “Comply By” date of April 22 — 21 days after the issue date.
McCall said he has heard nothing but positive comments about Century returning code enforcement to the town on March 4.
“We are getting nothing but great results all over town,” the mayor told the council. “The only complaints I have had are here at this table.”
The property owners at 9500 and 9510 North Century Boulevard were cited for nuisance conditions, trash and debris, overgrowth and for structural deficiencies. The buildings at 9500 North Century Boulevard (next to the auto parts store) have been demolished.
Pictured top and top inset: This building at 9510 North Century Boulevard was cited for several code violations, including structural deficiencies. In the top picture, it is evident that building is missing a roof and back wall. Pictured bottom inset: Mayor Freddie McCall asks Councilman Henry Hawkins to find the March date he claimed was on code citations. Pictured below: The property owner of buildings cited at 9500 North Century Boulevard had the buildings demolished. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
9 Responses to “Mayor: Councilman’s Claims About Code Enforcement Problems Are Wrong”
I’ll be so happy when Century and Flomaton look like we have pride again. So many of our older folks have passed away and the towns both just reflect old and dead. the time and money being put in for improvement will pay off. If we look like we want to continue to live and raise children here it will be noticed by companies looking to boost the economy by coming here to set up new businesses, which in turn will put our residents that need jobs ones to go to right here. It will help all of our businesses by keeping our monies in our towns. People think about how you can help your neighbor improve- just something small or take a plant to the mayors asked that it be planted along hwy29 and soon we will be proud to ride around our town. Little things go a long way. Thank you for the work to all who are making and effort.
Seems like all Mr.Hawkins wants to do is stir trouble. It really doesn’t matter about the dates violations were issued or posted. Most people with half a brain KNOWS their building is in violation…and they KNOW they have been skirting all around the violations thinking no one would ever have the guts to enforce the codes.GREAT JOB mayor and most of the council members for getting this done FINALLY!!!!!
Good work Freddie. But wait for the race card as it wil be played when all else fails just as sure as I’m sittin here.
Good Work Mayor McCall!!! We need the council to act and pass on things that you bring before the council at meeting not go around town stiring up trouble. Do they know what ther job really is. Keep cleaning up the town and one of these days Mr. Hawins will finally wake up an see that it is a good thing.
The date shouldn’t really matter, the buildings should have been cleaned up years ago. Where they recently tore down the one building, LOOKS GREAT! And it is true when you come into Century, all you see is run down buildings. Doesn’t say much about the town or the owner. The one by Odoms, (that sells junk) has had the ceiling fallen down for awhile now and should be condemmed for health reasons. There shouldn’t be any bickering over the issue – at all – simply work and get it cleaned up.
If the town of Century,Fl is going to be cleaned up and restored to a respectable town that everyone can be proud of, everyone will need to work together and quit the childish bickering and nitt-picking.
Its really embarrassing and makes the Century,Fl council look like a bunch of hill billies. If we want potential companies and industry to locate in Century, Fl, and take us serious, the local government needs to conduct themselves in a business like and professional manner and get along. This is so very imperitive!
Last week, my husband drove to town to take care of personal business and came back home all excited saying that FINALLY they have started tearing down some of the condemed buildings and shacks that have been a eye sore for too long. As far as us northend citizens and tax payers go, we are happy to see changes being made, with more to go. It’s long overdue!
PLEASE….let’s all work together for a common goal and quit acting like children.
Thanks
You know why so many people speed through Century. They come over the overpass and see these old buildings, unkept sidewalks, junk dealers and they say “What a Cr*p Hole!, Looks like a high crime type of town”. Then they speed up to get out before they get carjacked or shot at. Tear all of it down and plant some trees and flowers!!
Great job Mayor McCall! Thank you for calling Hawkins out on his “allegations” concerning Code Enforcement. The more Century needs to change for the better there are those like Hawkins who are antagonistic to the town’s efforts to clean up the area and all he is doing is keeping the status quo in Century. How long is it till the next election?
I for one am glad that those buildings are being taken care of.One is gone,and the other one needs to come down also.It has been an eyesore for years,
Century has made great strides in cleaning up Hwy 29,and the latest project right at the overpass to alabama,is beautiful.
There will always be people who fight any kind of regulations or rules,unles they serve their own agenda.I say keep up the good work.