Councilman Votes Against $900 For $1.1 Million Grant; Votes For $550 Ad

March 18, 2010

At their last meeting, the Town of Century voted 3-1 to spend $900 so a $1.1 million grant project could move forward and voted 4-0 to spend $550 for a newspaper ad.

The town is in the middle of a Federal Emergency Management Agency review to receive $1.1 million to improve drainage off Highway 29 in the north part of town. The project includes purchasing all or part of five parcels of property. In order to receive the grant, the town must provide FEMA with a fair estimate of the cost to purchase the property.

Engineer Dale Long recommended to the town council that an appraiser be hired for $900 to determine how much should be offered to each property owner.

“We are doing things without counting our costs,” Councilman Henry Hawkins said before voting against spending the $900. “I’m tired of acting like we’ve got tons of money we don’t have.”

Later in the same meeting, the council — including Hawkins — voted 4-0 to spend $550 to purchase a full page ad in an upcoming “Progress Edition” of the Tri-City Ledger.

Comments

4 Responses to “Councilman Votes Against $900 For $1.1 Million Grant; Votes For $550 Ad”

  1. Safebear on March 18th, 2010 3:20 pm

    Well – maybe he wasn’t going to get his picture in the federal money grant but it will be in the newspaper. I can’t see a full page ad for Century without a picture of the council.

    I do hope Mr. Hawkins sits down and reads and considers what he does and how stupid what he did really is.

  2. Escambia Reader on March 18th, 2010 10:01 am

    I certainly hope the citizens remember these antics when the time to vote comes around. If I read an earlier article correctly, Mr. Howkins’ seat is up fo re-election this year. This will be the time to make changes.

  3. Time for change on March 18th, 2010 9:24 am

    So, the City of Century was against consolidation? 1.1 million for $900.00? I’ll do it.

  4. JJ on March 18th, 2010 12:22 am

    So he voted FOR spending $550 for a newspaper ad, but AGAINST spending $900 in order to receive $1.1 million. Was anything else voted on while Mr. Hawkins was out cutting his nose off to spite his face?