Century Residents Sign Petitions To Keep Courthouse Open

May 27, 2009

About 200 petition from Century area residents have been delivered to Escambia County’s tax collector and clerk of courts in an effort to keep the courthouse in Century open. Unless the two county officers change their minds, this is the last week of business for the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century.

jackjulie31.jpgJack and Julie Moran, Century business owners (left), hand-delivered the petitions to Pensacola Tuesday asking officials to keep the Century courthouse open. Unless Escambia County Clerk of the Courts Ernie Lee Magaha reconsiders, Tuesday was the last day of court in Century. Friday will be the last day that Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley’s office will be open, unless she changes her mind.

The Escambia County Commission passed a resolution last week asking the two constitutional officers to reconsider the Century closures, but they are under no obligation  to take instruction from the commission.

jackjulie30.jpgThe nearest tax collector office to Century will be in Cantonment, 28 miles to the south of the Billy G. Ward Courthouse. The nearest physical location to access court services, including paying a traffic ticket in person, will be 45 miles away in downtown Pensacola. Both agencies do offer many services online.

Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan has told NorthEscambia.com several times that his Century precinct in the courthouse building will remain open.

Photos courtesy WEAR.

Comments

7 Responses to “Century Residents Sign Petitions To Keep Courthouse Open”

  1. Sparerribs49 on May 30th, 2009 11:57 am

    Century Woman, why would you think the city of century can control the county? Also how can they control there money? If they dont have enough do you think the city can fix that? The grass it was a grant honey, that paid for that. I think it was great we got it, I would rather century than Jay or Milton. But I know if they had got it, it would have just give you something else to gripe about ,cause century didn’t ask for it. Oh if century looses anything else it might be because the people are not useing it.You can’t pay employee’s to sit and wait for people in hopes they’ll come.I hate as much as any one. I’ve lived here all my life.But then again I know that I cant change you mind no more than I can theirs. I know cause I did try!

  2. Century Woman on May 29th, 2009 9:56 am

    Century has lost 3 Schools, the Health Dept, the Driver’s License Office, and now the Tax Office. The only thing that we have left is Piggly Wiggly and CVS. What more can we afford to lose we need to come together and stand for Century. The City Hall, Council, and Mayor and not not doing anything except pulling up grass and planting weeds on the side of the road.

    Someone needs to stand up for Century!

  3. Jay on May 29th, 2009 8:10 am

    Pensacola –

    You’re out of line. The clerks office provides other services besides court. Check out the clerk of the court’s website to learn more.

  4. Pensacola on May 28th, 2009 9:31 pm

    Yes, by all means lets keep this county building open so that the broke lawbreakers in poor old Century dont have to drive to Pcola to pay fines.

  5. Century Girl on May 28th, 2009 12:06 pm

    Thank you to the area residents for signing those petitions! On the one hand in the past few years, we have had many positive changes…a new sheriff, an emergency out-patient rural health clinic, Camp-fire USA Daycare, several area food programs, a Whataburger, Century’s first visioning meeting, extended ECAT route and Carver-Century became a “B” School! NOt to mention the desire and efforts by many to work to make Century and the surrounding area a better place to live!

    Then It is ashame that when you look over the past year, what the north-end has lost! Our tag office, the driver’s liscense office, the health department , the closing of Carver-Century K-8.

    “As for me and my house, I will serve the Lord”.

  6. jbean on May 27th, 2009 7:40 pm

    Thanks to them for at least doing something.I wish nuthill could have got on board with this. It doesn’t seem like anybody up here notices anything.

  7. Jay on May 27th, 2009 2:40 pm

    Good luck to Jack and Julie, and I wish them well with the petition. Century and the surrounding area can not afford to loose another North End government service.