Mayor Asks Council To Fire Flomaton Police Chief
November 17, 2010
Flomaton’s mayor is calling for the town’s police chief to be fired, but the town council refused to fire him at a special meeting Tuesday night.
Police Chief Katarius Jenkins says Mayor Dewey Bondurant fired him last Friday, but the mayor says he did not.
“Our police chief quit,” the mayor said during a special council meeting Tuesday night. “He said that I fired him, but I didn’t. But since he didn’t come to work Monday, I assume he’s fired now.”
Bondurant would not comment on what led to the disagreement with the police chief, other than to say it was “an issue with an employee”.
“For the record, I didn’t quit,” Jenkins (pictured) told the council. “It was an issue about an employee that the mayor wanted me to fire. He said the guy didn’t do anything wrong, but if I couldn’t handle it, he would. So I felt that if the guy didn’t do anything wrong, why fire him.” Jenkins, who was out of the town Friday during his conversation with the mayor about the employee, said he asked the mayor it to “handle it”.
“He said ’since you can’t do what I tell you to do, you can pack your things up and turn them into to me’,” Jenkins said Bondurant told him.
Jenkins said only the Flomaton council — not the mayor — could fire him, but the mayor said the police handbook gives him that authority. “I believe that technically, I am still the chief of police of Flomaton,” Jenkins said.
“The mayor has complete authority over the police department and can hire and fire who he wants,” Bondurant said.
“We are either going to have to have a good police department, or forget it. “This half you know what is not working,” Councilman Buster Crapps (pictured) said, expressing his displeasure over the number of police chiefs that Flomaton has had in recent years. He suggested that disbanding the police department and turning law enforcement over to the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office would be a poor idea. “So you might as well just forget about having a town if other people is going to run it. So let’s get our rear ends together and figure this thing out like it ought to be.”
Bondurant called for a motion from the council to fire Jenkins. Instead, the council requested more information about the situation and voted to go into executive session behind closed doors. After less than 10 minutes in executive session, the council returned with Bondurant once again asking for a motion to fire the chief. Instead, the council set a hearing on the matter for next Monday night.
Jenkins has served as Flomaton’s police chief for about six months.
Pictured top: Flomaton Police Chief Katarius Jenkins addresses the Flomaton Town Council Tuesday night. Pictured top inset: Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant. Pictured middle inset: Jenkins listens as the council discusses his future with the town. Pictured bottom: Council Buster Crapps. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Septic Tank Inspections Delayed For Six Months
November 17, 2010
A six-month delay in the implementation of a septic tank inspection that riled several Panhandle lawmakers was easily approved Tuesday by both chamber of the Florida Legislature, setting up an increasingly likely full repeal come regular session this spring.
On separate 38-1 and 112-6 votes, the Legislature put off requiring property owners to pay for inspections on 2.6 million septic tanks in the state every five years, a “costly mandate” that critics said prompted them to include the measure in a special session largely devoted to overriding vetoes penned by Gov. Charlie Crist.
The septic tank inspection requirement, which opponents say could cost property owners $500 per inspection, was part of a larger environmental bill scheduled to kick in January 1 to improve water quality in Florida’s freshwater springs. Crist signed the springs bill (SB 550) in the spring, so it took a new bill to delay its scheduled January4 1 implementation until July.
“This legislation…stops the implementation of a costly mandate in septic tank evaluation in order to allow the legislature to review the financial impact of this program and its scientific necessity on the people of Florida,” said Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, during debate on the floor of the Florida Senate. “Delaying the implementation date for six months…would allow the Senate and House of Representatives to readdress this issue in regular session.”
Gaetz has made it clear he intends to press for a full repeal of the septic tank inspections. Before the vote, he told the News Service he was “hopeful for a repeal.”
“Today the objective (was) to stop the implementation,” he said. “The second step will be to do what should have been done last year, and that’s to have to full and open public debates and discussions about the issue
The votes were clearly there to be had Tuesday, a sharp reversal from a strong vote in the other direction at the close of the regular session in the spring, when the bill containing the septic tank inspections was approved 30-3. The measure was designed to protect Florida’s natural springs and waterways, which are often threatened by septic tank overflow.
Opponents such as Gaetz argued the new standard was quietly tucked into the larger bill before it went before lawmakers this spring, an account which has been disputed by the bill’s sponsor, former Sen. Lee Constantine.
Constantine last week sought to clear the air over the controversial provision by writing a letter to his former colleagues in the Florida Senate, and his name was invoked in defending the bill by the lone senator to vote against the delay, Sen. Dennis Jones, R-Seminole .
“This was a large part of the springs bill that was about five years in developing due to Sen.(Burt) Saunders and Sen. Constantine,” Jones said. “With septic tanks being the number one cause, or certainly ranking, of pollution to our springs and our rivers, I’m concerned about taking this action at this time.”
Jones disputed opponents contentions the inspections would cost more than $500, saying the price would actually be about $185. Gaetz countered that the law would require inspections and “pump outs” of tanks that did not pass inspections.
“There are those in this body who believe that the mandate might be good, there are others who believe that it ought to be repealed, and there are still others who believe – along with the industry that pushed the mandate – that it was a bridge too far,” said Gaetz, who added there might be “a less intrusive, less expensive approach.”
There was more opposition to delaying the septic tanks inspections in the Florida House, but passions there were not nearly as strained. The chamber voted to approve the delay with little discussion, and House Speaker Dean Cannon (pictured top of page) only committed Tuesday to supporting the delay for now.
“All we are doing for the purpose of today is postponing the implementation date,” he said. “One of the principles that President Haridopolos and I agree on before we even considered the special session was that we shouldn’t engage in lengthy, substantive policy debates that would be appropriate for the full committee process.”
Haridopolos said there was “nothing whatsoever” that could stop Crist from striking back at the Legislature by vetoing the delay, but said “he hasn’t given any indication that he has heartburn over postponing the implementation date.”
Without a beat, Cannon said “if he chooses to, certainly we’ll work it,” reflecting a sharply changed reality as Republicans hold supermajorities in the House and Senate.
Emboldened by Tuesday’s vote, Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna, said Tuesday she had already filed a bill to fully undo the inspection requirement for the spring.
“Eliminating this government overreach remains my top priority,” she said in a statement Tuesday. “Today I filed legislation to repeal this burdensome requirement altogether in the 2011 regular session. Government should be lifting financial burdens from homeowners, not placing more on them. I’m committed to making sure that some commonsense is put back in our environmental regulations.”
Pictured top: Speaker Dean Cannon addresses the Florida House Tuesday. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
By Keith Laing
Ashton Gibbs Wins Northview Fall Talent Show
November 17, 2010
Sophomore Ashton Gibbs won the Northview High School Fall Talent Show Tuesday night with her performance of “Angel” by Sarah McLaughlin. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
$2 Million For 10 Modular Classrooms For Ransom Middle School
November 17, 2010
The Escambia County School District is adding 10 modular classrooms at a cost of almost $2 million to help alleviate overcrowding at Ransom Middle School in Cantonment.
Tuesday night, the school board approved an additional $11,812.82 in site work for the 10 classrooms, bringing the total project cost to $1,997,315.08. The classrooms are being installed by R.D. Ward Construction Company of Pensacola using half cent sales tax funds.
The classrooms are due to be completed by June 17, 2011.
Deputy Moved To Regular Room, Able To Walk
November 17, 2010
Escambia County Deputy Jeremy Cassady has been moved to his own regular room as he continues to improve following being shot October 29.
Cassady, 36, remains at Sacred Heart Hospital in good condition after being shot by Phillip Monier, 47. Tuesday, he was moved out of the progressive care unit into a regular hospital room. He is able to get up and walk around on a limited basis, according to family members.
Monier remains in the Escambia County Jail on $2 million bond. He is charged with three counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and home invasion robbery.
Cassady was shot by Monier at the Bayview Circle home of his ex-girlfriend Jackie Rosenbloom on October 29. Cassady was struck in the side. Deputy Sam Parker was hit in the chest, and Deputy Chad Brown was hit in the arm. Parker and Brown were treated and released.
Rosenbloom, who was shot in the legs and pelvis, has been released from Sacred Heart Hospital.
Court documents show the incident began when Monier forced his way into the home and demanded that a ring be returned.
Escambia, Santa Rosa Commissions, ECUA Hold Organizational Meetings
November 17, 2010
Commissioners were sworn in Tuesday, and new chairmen and vice chairmen were named for both the Escambia and Santa Rosa County Commissions. The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority organizational board meeting for 2010-2011 was also held Tuesday.
Escambia County Commission
In Escambia County, District 2 Commissioner Gene Valentino and District 4 Commissioner Grover Robinson IV were sworn in for their second terms. District 5 Commissioner Kevin White, who represents North Escambia, was named commission chairman, and District 1 Commissioner Wilson Robertson was named vice chairman. Marie Young continues to serve as the District 3 commissioner.
Santa Rosa County Commission
In Santa Rosa County, newly elected District 4 Commissioner Jim Melvin was sworn in with District 2 Commissioner Bob Cole, who took the oath of office for his third term. District 5 Commissioner Lane Lynchard was selected as commission chair and District 1 Commissioner Jim Williamson was selected as vice-chair. Commissioner Don Salter will continue to serve District 3.
ECUA
ECUA District Two member Lois Benson and District Four member Dale Perkins were sworn in. District Three representative Elvin McCorvey was re-elected to serve as the board’s chairman. District Five member Larry Walker, who represents the North Escambia area, was elected vice chairman.
Also elected to the following positions were:
- Lois Benson, District Two, to the chairmanship of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee, and Dale Perkins, District Four, to serve as the vice chairman
- James Kirkland, Charlie Nichols, Jim Ditterline, Curtis Brotherton, Tim Common, Deborah Benn, and Logan Fink, to serve as members of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee.
- Walker and Elizabeth Campbell were appointed to serve on the ECUA Fire Hydrant Committee.
Lady Chiefs Beat Central
November 17, 2010
The Northview Lady Chiefs defeated Pensacola Christian Academy in Tuesday night basketball action, 64-34.
The Lady Chiefs were coming off a season-opening loss to Central Monday night, 33-26.
The varsity girls will take part in a Flomaton tournament next week and then travel to Ponce de Leon on November 29.
GOP Legislature Stings Crist With Overrides
November 17, 2010
The Republican-ruled Florida Legislature took what may prove a final swipe Tuesday at independent, lame-duck Gov. Charlie Crist, overriding seven bills and a spending provision he vetoed last spring, while also setting the stage for a major overhaul of the state’s Medicaid program.
The three-hour special session – on the heels of Tuesday’s organizational session — marked only the third time in 24 years that a Florida governor’s vetoes were turned back by lawmakers, with lame-ducks stung in both previous instances. Democratic Govs. Bob Graham in 1986 and Lawton Chiles in 1998 both had vetoed legislation overridden by lawmakers.
On Tuesday, the bills overridden all easily drew the needed two-thirds support in the GOP-dominated House and Senate. Crist has been roundly criticized by leading Republicans since breaking with the party in April to run unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as a no-party candidate.
“We’re still friends, we don’t think politically the same as we used to,” said Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, before adding, “today was about good public policy.”
While the House pushed through most of the overrides with little debate, the most contentious exchanges Tuesday swirled in the Senate.
Several senators questioned revived legislation that would give lawmakers authority to block state agency rules that could cost businesses $1 million over five years and another that spends $31.3 million in federal stimulus money to cover rebates owed thousands of Floridians who installed qualified air-conditioning systems or made solar improvements.
A non-binding memorial to Congress underscoring the Legislature’s intent to revamp the state’s Medicaid program drew the most heat because it touted plans to expand the state’s five-county managed-care pilot program statewide.
“If you think you get a lot of calls now, put people in HMOs and the phones will ring off the hook in your district,” said Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey. “This is more than an intent. We are setting policy here.”
Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich of Weston also said the move signaled the Senate was buying into an overhaul of the almost $20 billion program advanced last year by the House, but rejected by senators.
“Medicaid is broken,” Rich conceded. “But the memorial is not a blank piece of paper. It lays out portions of a bill…that was very distressing to many of us in this chamber.”
But Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, managed to get the memorial through on a voice vote by cautioning it primarily was designed to show, “We’re no longer going to just kick the can down the road another year.”
The Senate also wrestled briefly over the rule-making measure, one of the few issues that caused the House to pause.
“Frankly, I don’t think we have the time to look at those potentially thousands of rules,” said Rep. Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach.
But Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-Keystone Heights, shot back, warning that lawmakers needed to be a check on bureaucracy. “We have state agencies that make rules, and those rules become laws without any legislative oversight, whatsoever,” Van Zant said. “Those laws are then imposed on our citizens.”
For leading Republicans, many of whom were campaigning earlier this month on shrinking government and cutting spending, the three-hour special override session included some apparent contradictions.
Revived by lawmakers was a $9.7 million budget item vetoed by Crist for Shands Teaching Hospital in Gainesville. The spending, which makes the state eligible for another $12 million in federal Medicaid matching money, will help provide health coverage for an additional 18,000 uninsured Floridians.
Lawmakers also resolved the state’s outstanding commitments to homeowners and businesses who took part in a pair of energy rebate programs, agreeing to direct $31.3 million in federal stimulus money to cover what’s owed thousands of Floridians who installed qualified air-conditioning systems or made solar improvements.
Another measure reinstated allows farmland put up for sale to retain existing agricultural property-tax exemptions, while also tripling a one-cent citrus box fee to raise $3 million for industry research.
While lawmakers raced ahead with the overrides, about 100 tea party activists from groups around Florida spent the day at the Capitol, huddled in a fourth-floor Senate committee room exchanging ideas on issues.
Most criticized state spending practices, including the Legislature’s support for high-speed rail, Central Florida’s SunRail commuter train, while supporting lawmakers’ decision Tuesday to delay the start of a septic tank evaluation program.
“We’re here to send a message,” said Henry Kelley, a leader of the Fort Walton Beach Tea Party and an organizer of Tuesday’s gathering, which drew a handful of lawmakers as speakers. “We want that to be a positive message. But we want the Legislature to know we will hold them accountable.”
He added, “We know that showing up in March is going to be too late.”
For his part, Haridopolos acknowledged that not all of Tuesday’s overrides would sit well with the conservative voters who played such a central role in this month’s Republican victories in Congress and legislatures across the nation.
“I don’t think we’re ever going to do things perfectly,” Haridopolos said.
House Majority Leader Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami, said the chambers will continue to mark their own courses.
“The Legislature today sent a message to the rest of state government,” Cantera said. “We are an independent branch of government and we will be conducting ourselves in that way over the next two years.”
By John Kennedy
8th Grader Headed To State Cross Country Meet
November 17, 2010
Micah Kemp representing Jay High School placed 12th overall in the regional cross country meet in Gainesville with a time of 18:02. The top 15 runners advanced to the state competition. The eighth grader, who runs at the high school level, will complete this Saturday at Dade City Everglades Ranch. This will be Kemp’s second trip to the state competition. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century To Consider Charter Amendment To Change Elections
November 16, 2010
The Town of Century will explore amending the town’s charter to change election days to coincide with the regularly scheduled county elections.
Under the current charter, Century’s general election is held on the second Tuesday of the month. That meant this year, for example, taxpayers footed the bill for the county and statewide general election on November 2 and then paid to hold another election a week later in Century with just two candidates in a runoff for town council.
“I felt it was a waste of our tax payer money to have this last election we had just a week after the county election,” Ann Brooks, Century Town Council president, said Monday night.
But the council can’t just amend the charter — that requires a referendum, according to Brooks who cited an email from the town’s attorney. But rather than hold an additional, special election on a referendum to reduce the number of elections in Century, Brooks suggested that the town target a charter-changing referendum for the next general election.
Brooks also recommended that the council review the town charter to determine if any other changes are needed that could be included in the referendum.
Lame duck Councilman Henry Hawkins suggested that the council consider charter changes after two new members take office in January. Brooks said the charter changes would be considered in January.
Century’s elections are managed by Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford through an interlocal agreement.
Pictured top: Ballots are counted for a Century town council election by Escambia County elections officials. Pictured inset: Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford and members of the Century Canvassing Board tabulate votes. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.