Century To Discuss Increased Water, Sewer Rates
August 24, 2009
The Town of Century will hold a special meeting Tuesday morning to hear the results of a rate study that recommends water and sewer rate increases for most customers and new fees for future customers.
The typical residential water bill for a customer using 3,000 gallons per month would increase from $12.45 to $15.95 if the town followed the recommendations in the study from the Florida Rural Water Association. The new $15.95 minimum charge would include 3,000 gallons; the current minimum water bill is $9 for 1,500 gallons.
Commercial customers would see their minimum jump from $9 for 1,500 gallons to $19.95 for 3,000 gallons.
Both commercial and residential customers would see an increase per 1,000 gallons over the 3,000 minimum to $2.78 to $3.16 per 1,000 gallons. The current additional charge per 1,000 gallons is $2.27. Institutions and churches would pay the residential rate.
Sewage rates would also increase if the water association proposal were to be approved by the town.
The current sewage rate is $13 for the first 6,000 gallons and $3.50 per additional $1,000 gallons for residential and commercial customers. For the first 3,000 gallons, the recommended rate is $12 for residential customers and $25.50 for commercial customers. Each additional 1,000 gallons of sewage would cost $3.
Under the rate proposal, a family using 8,000 gallons of water per month would see their water bill increase from $23.75 to $30.13, and they would see their sewage bill increase from $20 to $27. The total monthly increase for that family would be $13.38, or $160.56 per year.
A business using an average of 8,000 gallons per month would see their water bill jump from $23.75 to $34.13 and a sewage increase from $20 to $40.50. The total annual increase would be $370.56.
The Florida Rural Water Association Proposal recommends that the town also charge a “capacity” fee for new hookups, in addition to the $125 water connection fee and $1,000 sewage impact fee currently charged. The study does not offer a specific recommendation on the amount of the new fee.
The Town of Century has not increased water or sewage rates since 1995. The water association recommends that the town make yearly rate increases based upon the consumer price index.
Before considering the recommended rate increases, the town will meet with a representative of the Florida Rural Water Association at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Century City Hall.
Flomaton Grad Killed in Alabama Wreck
August 24, 2009
A Flomaton High School graduate was killed last week in a Dadeville, Ala., wreck.
Nicole (Gatwood) Ordis, 29, of Camp Hill, Ala., was the driver of a 2002 Mercury that collided with a 2002 Chevrolet on Alabama Highway 49 near Dadeville at 2:53 p.m. last Monday. Ordis was pronounced dead at the scene. Her one-year old son was seriously injured and transported by ambulance to East Alabama Medical Center and then airlifted to Birmingham’s UAB Hospital. He has since been released from UAB.
Originally from Brewton, Ordis was a 1997 graduate of Flomaton High School. She was a teacher at an Orlando, Fla., school until losing her job due to budget cutbacks. She and her husband Gene recently moved to family property in Camp Hill, located near Lake Martin northeast of Montgomery.
Family members say that Ordis was on her way to cash her unemployment check with the accident occurred. Her husband had recently found a job at a Alabama hospital, but the couple had no medical or life insurance, according to family members.
Pictured above: Nicole Ordis in an undated photograph from the Seminole County (Fla.) Public Schools.
A+ Weather For Back To School
August 24, 2009
The back to school forecast for today earns an A+ with low humidity and highs in the upper 80’s.
Here is your official North Escambia forecast for this week:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 86. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. North wind around 5 mph becoming south.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. South wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
2009 ACT Scores Released; Northview Shows Improvement
August 23, 2009
Florida’s class of 2009 scored worse on the ACT college entrance exam than seniors last year, while Northview High School showed a full half point increase.
Across Florida, scores released Wednesday showed the class of 2009 had an average 19.5 on the college entrance exam, .03 points less than last year’s average. The national average was 21.2. Only students in Kentucky, Mississippi and the District of Colombia scored lower than the 62 percent of Florida’s graduates — 105,297 students — that took the test.
Just over half of 106 seniors at Northview High School took the 2009 ACT during their high school careers; the 56 students had an average composite score of 19.4. The top composite score in Escambia County was 20.4 at West Florida Tech and Washington High Schools. Tate High had a composite score of 20.2. Northview scored better than Pine Forest High (18.2) and almost as well as Escambia (19.5).
Northview’s 19.4 composite score for the class of 2009 was an improvement over the 18.9 composite earned by the class of 2008.
The 2009 composite score at Jay High School was 19.6, the lowest composite of any regular high school in Santa Rosa County. The 2008 composite at Jay was 20.0.
Three People, Two From Molino, Injured In Hit And Run Crash In Cantonment
August 23, 2009
The accident was reported about 7:10 pm at Highway 29 and Woodbury Circle. Three vehicles were involved, but one left the scene, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The FHP says the vehicle that fled, described as a silver or gray color older model truck, should have left front of side damage with possible red paint marks from another vehicle. The vehicle is possibly from the Cantonment of Molino areas, the highway patrol said
The FHP says the pickup that left the scene was northbound on Highway 29 in the right lane. A 1989 Chevrolet was northbound in the left lane when the truck changed lanes and struck the right side of the Chevrolet. The driver of the Chevy lost control, entered the grass median and began to spin, crossing into the southbound lanes.
In the southbound lanes, the Chevrolet was struck by 2009 Chevrolet SUV. Both vehicles came to rest on the southbound shoulder of Highway 29.
The driver of the older Chevrolet has been identified as James E. Sapp, 49, of Molino. His passenger was Bakari K. Taylor, 27, of Molino. They were both transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where they were critical condition early Sunday morning,
The northbound lanes of Highway 29 were closed for about two hours due to the accident, reopening about 9 p.m.
The accident is still under investigation by the FHP. Anyone with information on the vehicle that left the scene or its driver is asked to call Corporal Johnny Freeman at the Florida Highway Patrol at 484-5000 ext. 316.
Helicopter Technology Building To Be Sold Monday At Courthouse
August 23, 2009
The Town of Century is prepared to bid on the former Helicopter Technology building in the town’s industrial park when it is sold at a foreclosure auction tomorrow — up to about $785,000.
The town council voted to bid up to $745,000 for the building, and then increase their bid up to $785,000. The building will be sold at public auction at 11 a.m. Monday in the second floor lobby of the Escambia County Courthouse.
The final judgment against Helicopter Technologies in favor of the Town of Century was for $740,999.43 — $420,000 as principal, $307,345.08 as interest through July 30, $200 for a title search, $1,125.35 as costs, and $17,342 in attorney’s fees. With interest accruing daily, the total amount of the foreclosure is now about $745,000.
Town Attorney Matt Dannheisser told the council on August 6 by conference call that the town could essentially bid any amount up to the $745,000 and not write a check. By including a second additional judgment in the amount of about $40,000, the town could bid up to $785,000 and essentially not be out of any money since the building proceeds go to the town. If they bid the full $785,000, Dannheisser said the town would have to write a $41,242.71 check to the court, but that money would be returned to the town in about two weeks.
The building was appraised by real estate agent Dee Dee Richie for $800,000 to $900,000. Property appraiser Chris Jones said that the 2009 appraisal on the building would be about $814,000.
“In all likelihood, there’s not going to be any other bids offered,” Dannheisser said. He said there had been no inquiries on the building since it went into foreclosure.
“We just want to get a business there that is viable and working, and get some jobs,” Mayor Freddie McCall said of the town’s desire to keep the building from being sold at auction at a low price.
“If they want to be in Century that bad, I’d love to have them,” Council President Ann Brooks said at that meeting of anyone willing to outbid the town’s $785,000 proposed bid.
If the town makes the winning bid for the building on August 24, the town will be required to pay back taxes from 2008 of $16,824 plus additional property taxes that have accrued since January 1.
Click here to read the court’s judgment ruling (pdf)
Pictured top: File photo showing the inside the Helicopter Technology building in February 2008. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
NWE Midgets Beat Ensley, Gulf Breeze
August 23, 2009
The 2009 season for Northwest Escambia Football got underway Saturday at the Gulf Breeze Jamboree.
The NWE Midgets beat Ensley Gold 6-0 and dominated Gulf Breeze Blue 13-0. NWE rushed for 200 yards combined in two 25 minute quarters.
The NWE Mini-Mites beat Gulf Breeze White 6-0.
Northwest Escambia’s regular season gets underway next Saturday at the Ernest Ward football field against Pace Blue. The Mini-Mites take the field at 9:00; the Mites play at 10:30 and the Midgets are in action at noon.
NWE is off on September 5 and travels to Myrtle Grove on September 12.
Everyone is invited to support Northwest Escambia Football — the future Ernest Ward Eagles and Northview Chiefs.
Special Section: Back To School Info You Need To Know
August 23, 2009
School starts Monday in Escambia County, and we have the last minute information you need to know, including start times, school supply lists, lunch prices, and information on free and reduced price lunches.
Click a link to visit that story.
- School Start Times
- School Lunch Prices
- Free And Reduced Lunch Guidelines
- School Lunch Menus
- School Supply Lists
Lay, Freeman Defense Fund Surpasses $32,000 In ACLU Prayer Case
August 23, 2009
The criminal defense fund for Frank Lay and Robert Freemen continues to grow.
Lay, the Pace High School principal, and Freeman, Pace athletic director, face federal criminal charges for praying before a meal at a field house dedication despite an order against prayer in Santa Rosa County Schools issued in response to an ACLU lawsuit.
Started on Monday, August 3, the fund was at $5,220 by Thursday, August 6. By this past Friday, the fund balance was at $32,246.81. The funds will be used to pay the legal expenses for Lay and Freeman, and fund organizers say that if there are any funds leftover after all legal fees are paid, they will be donated to the Liberty Counsel. The non-profit Liberty Counsel provides legal services and actively fights the ACLU.
The Liberty Counsel was actively involved in the defense of Michelle Winkler, cleared by a federal judge on Friday on charges she violated the no-prayer order. (Read more here.)
A web site set up for the two men, layfreemandefense.com, asks supporters to make donations to the Lay and Freeman Defense Fund at any First National Bank of Florida. The site is also selling t-shirts for $10 and plans a fund raising supper and concert September 10 at the Farmer’s Opry in Chumuckla.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in federal court almost a year ago against the Santa Rosa School District, Pace High School Principal Frank Lay and then-Santa Rosa Superintendent John Rogers. The suit alleged that Santa Rosa County Schools “persistently and persuasively promote their personal religious beliefs in the public schools and at school events”.
A federal court order earlier this year prohibited, among other things, any prayer in schools, “reading from a sacred text”, “calling upon a deity to offer guidance, assistance or a blessing” and religious services such as baccalaureate services. There are circumstances were student-led prayers are permissible, but school employees are prohibited to participate in the prayer, even prohibited from “a posture or manner that is likely to be perceived as an endorsement of prayer, e.g. bowing their heads, kneeling or folding their hands”.
Fall In The Air? Great Weather Continues
August 23, 2009
Our great weekend weather continues today. Low daytime humidity, and cool nights will continue.
Here is your official North Escambia weather forecast:
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 88. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 59. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 90.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
- Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89.