Commissioner Calls Budget Proposal Absurd, Wrong In Letter
August 2, 2009
One Escambia County Commissioner called County Administrator Bob McLaughlin’s proposed budget “absurd” in a letter he sent through the county attorney to all commissioners.
“The budget you have presented is not sustainable and it is absurd to use reserves to balance a budget,” District 5 Commissioner Kevin White wrote in his letter. “I will not be supporting the proposed budget as it stands now. It is poor fiscal planning on your part and I will not bear the responsibility of voting for something that I know is wrong.”
(Click the image to view the letter.)
“He’s using reserves, one time revenue, to save jobs once for this year. Next year, these people are going to be going,” White explained to NorthEscambia.com. He estimated that the county would need to dip into $5 to $8 million in reserves to meet McLaughlin’s proposed budget, just to save those jobs that he believes the county will not be able to fund in another year.
“The budget is fiscal irresponsibility,” White said. “The other four commissioners just sat there and did not say a word.”
But the District 5 commissioner did say a word — about 400 of them — all negative toward the budget as proposed by the county administrator.
One of McLaughlin’s proposals involves working on the Land Development Code in-house rather than using an outside contractor, and other proposals shift more work to county staff. White said that he does not believe that already overworked staff members have the ability to perform at the same level as outside contractors on some projects.
“It is unfortunate but I do not have the confidence in some of the staff to come up with documents that will simplify the process to do business in Escambia County. It has been proven in the past that some staff does not follow Board direction very well,” White wrote in his letter. “The Board gets out of whack when we have staff members not doing their jobs and getting involved in the politics.”
White told NorthEscambia that he wrote the letter to make his point about just how against the budget he really is.
“We must come up with a budget out of the General Fund, not the reserves,” he said.
White’s letter does not just chastise the county administrator; it also takes aim at the county’s code enforcement.
“There have been a number of complaints filed from employees to citizens and nothing has been done. I would have to say based on all the documents that an active citizen has showed me, they are probably correct about this department. As Janet Landers stated in a memo, this department is ‘dysfunctional at best’ and every time there is a complaint it is swept under the rug,” he wrote. Janet Landers is the former county attorney, and White said he was referring to a memo that she wrote several years ago .
White’s letter was distributed by County Attorney Allison Rogers who advised that she believed the letter from White to his fellow commissioners to be legal “so long as it is only a one-way communication”. She advised other commissioners against distributing their opinion on the budget proposal in any form “as it could be perceived as interaction”. She also advised against using the media as a liaison.
Florida’s Sunshine Law prevents commissioners from discussing items before the commission except at public advertised meetings.
Click here to read White’s letter with the introductory memo from the county attorney (pdf).
Thunderstorms Possible Today
August 2, 2009
Showers and thunderstorms could bring heavy rain, winds up to 45 mph and lots of lightning to North Escambia today.
Here is your official National Weather Service forecast:
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southwest between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
History In The Park
August 2, 2009
The Alger-Sullivan Historical Society’s Day in the Park was held Saturday in Century. Collectors displayed their items and shared information with others. The historical society’s museums were open, and the group sold watermelon, hot dogs and more. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Molino’s Pumpkin Wins National Cute Dog Contest
August 2, 2009
NorthEscambia.com readers helped Pumpkin win a national cute dog contest at cutepuppypicture.com. Suzanne Landry of Molino entered Pumpkin in a cute puppy contest the national web site, and we posted a story with a link to vote for Pumpkin back on July 24. Pumpkin is a one and half year old Bichon Frishe. There’s no word yet on Pumpkin’s prize, but Landry said the web site has asked for her size. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Former North Escambia Resident Considered For All-Time Navy-Marine Football Team
August 1, 2009
A former North Escambia resident is in the running to be on the All-Stadium Team to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Navy-Marine Corp Memorial Stadium.
John Skaggs, a 2000 graduate of Tate High School, is one of the finalists to be on the specials teams of the All-Time Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Team.
The Naval Academy is planning a season-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, including honoring the 1959 Navy team that defeated William & Mary in the first game played at the stadium. Additionally, an all-time Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium team will be selected with fans having an opportunity to nominate and vote for their favorite Navy players who have played at the stadium.
The all-time team will be revealed at halftime throughout the 2009 season.
Skaggs punted for Navy from 2001-2003. He is the Navy’s all-time punting leader for a single-season and a career. He broke Bill Busik’s 60-year old single-season record in 2001 when he averaged 44.8 yards per punt, while his 43.1 yards per game career average is also a school record. In 2001, Skaggs had 48 punts for 2,151 yards.
“It would be an honor to be recognized on the All-Stadium team,” Skaggs told NorthEscambia.com Friday afternoon.
To vote for the specialists on the All-Time Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Team, click here. Voting ends Sunday.
Skaggs and his wife Emily (Fillingim) Skaggs now reside in Panama City. They both have numerous relatives in the North Escambia area.
Sheriff Responds To Reports That Billings Murders Were Contract Hit
August 1, 2009
Sheriff David Morgan reacted Friday night to a CNN report that the Billings murders were a contract hit.
CNN, citing an unnamed source, reported that Leonard Gonzalez, Jr. was paid for the murders. CNN stated that “from ‘Gonzalez down’ it was a robbery and from ‘Gonzalez up’ it was a hit”.
“We are, in fact, looking at this,” Sheriff David Morgan said Friday night. “We want to ensure the citizens of Escambia County that we are not in any way, shape or form of the imagination taking that possibility or probability off the table in the conduct of the Billings murder.”
“We will consider all possibilities and review any evidence that is brought forward regarding the issue of motive in this case,” he said.
“Investigations are evidence driven,” Morgan said, saying that all avenues were being explored in the Billings investigation. He said that a contract hit was a possibility, but that determination would come later in the investigation.
“We have interviewed many persons of interest, but you will never know their names,” Morgan said, adding that persons of interested are often ruled out quickly.
“I want the citizens of Escambia County to understand that this investigation will go where it goes, and anyone who aided or abetted in the commission of this crime will be brought to justice,” the sheriff said.
Hundreds Of Teens Expected To Attend Summer Jam 09 Tonight
August 1, 2009
Hundreds of teens from across the area are expected to attend “Summer Jam 09″ tonight in Flomaton.
The contemporary Christian concert and back-to-school rally for youth will feature the band 12 Gates from the First Baptist Church of Bratt and F.A.C.E.
Over 400 attended last year’s event, and event organizers are hoping for a larger turnout this year.
The event is sponsored by the Escambia (Ala.) Baptist Association, which is comprised of 35 Escambia County (Ala.) Southern Baptist churches.
Admission is $3. Summer Jam 09 begins at 6:00 tonight at the Flomaton High School Auditorium.
Comment Period Begins On Land Development Code Changes
August 1, 2009
Escambia County is considering changes to the Land Development Code, and officials would like your input.
The Development Services Bureau has opened the initial public comment period on the Land Development Code and will be accepting comments through October 23.
The comment period is open for input and suggestions to improve the current code. Comments should be made with clarity and constructive purpose.
Some of the provisions in the proposed LDC that relate to North Escambia include:
- In order to protect the rural lifestyle of northern Escambia County,
rezonings to districts allowing higher residential densities are prohibited for
properties in the Agriculture and Rural Community Future Land Use
categories in the RPA. - In order to protect silviculture, agriculture and agriculture-related activities
no new rural communities may be established and no expansions of rural
communities shall be permitted in the RPA.
For more information, please visit www.myescambia.com, go to Quick Links and find the link titled LDC Revisions, or contact Eva Peterson, project manager at (850) 595-3118.
$4 Million In Stimulus Funding For ECAT; New Mini Buses For North Escambia
August 1, 2009
Escambia County will receive $4 million for new ECAT buses, some of which could be running the Pensacola to Cantonment to Molino to Century route in just a few months.
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the stimulus funds Friday to used to buy 10 buses and three mini-buses for Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT).
At a June meeting of the Century Town Council, Marilyn Wesley, director of Neighborhoods and Community Services for the county, said that new smaller buses would be purchased for the Pensacola to Century route. The route is currently served by full-size buses, but the low ridership prompted ECAT to seek the smaller buses to save fuel costs.
That route currently has less than 8,000 passengers per year on the three buses per day.
Wet Weekend?
August 1, 2009
It was a wet Friday across North Escambia, with up to two inches of rain across the area — and lots of lightning. According to the National Weather Service, more wet weather is in store for your weekend.
Here is your forecast from the National Weather Service:
Today: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.