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Shots Fired: Century Debates Community Center Security
January 27, 2011
The Town of Century is once again looking at its rental policies for the town’s community center after the mayor says shots were fired at an event.
“It was reported to me that there was a shooting that took place inside the building,” Mayor Freddie McCall said, adding that he could not find any bullet holes. “But there was evidence there that someone stuffed somebody’s head through one of our windows. The window was knocked out, and there was blood and hair.”
Century’s community center is often rented for community and family events like birthday parties, wedding receptions and baby showers. But sometimes even those events are not problem free, McCall said, citing an incident last summer in which the Ag Building on West Highway 4 was rented for a baby shower. After that event, McCall said he found two 55-gallon trash drums full of “whiskey bottles”.
“We are walking on thin ice,” he said. “We are to the point that we need to insist that we have some kind of security there (at events).”
The mayor said security needs to be in place at community center events to insure that the town’s drug-free and alcohol-free building policies are followed.
“We are going to be sued sooner or later.”
Off-duty Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies won’t work security at any type of party, but they will work other event types at $25 per hour per deputy,” McCall said.
The problem, according to the mayor, will be determining what type of functions will be required to have on-site security and what functions will be exempt. And, another problem, he said, will be trusting that events like family gatherings will be what the organizers claim.
“It’s not fair to everybody else that uses the building appropriately like they should with respect to the community and the neighbors,” Council Member Nadine McCaw said, “because it hurts everybody.”
The Century Town Council will consider a possible community center security policy at a future meeting, perhaps as early as their next regular meeting on February 7.
Pictured: A sign on the entrance of the Century Ag Building clearly states that no alcohol or drugs are allowed on the premises. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
7 Responses to “Shots Fired: Century Debates Community Center Security”
I no longer live in Century, but I have family that does and we’ve had several family functions at the Century Ag Building. It’s a great building for the price. Century is so small and there aren’t any other buildings to rent for such events. If the rental price goes up too high, the Town of Century will see fewer people renting the building. Fewer people=less revenue. Outrages rental fees will hurt the city and I’m sure the city needs all of the funds it can get. Perhaps an employee can be present at events and paid an adequate amount of money for their time and the amount paid to the employee can be added to the rental fee. That seems sensible to me.
stuffing some dude head out the window that just ain’t right
no shooting?
government’s just getting too intrusive when you can’t shoot each other for fun.
Common Sense….your idea would work IF those people had as much common sense. Even with security, some people just do not care. And you are correct, these are the times. And it is so very depressing that people do not want better, do better and have pride and self control.
If the officers are going around checking business and around the bar in Century why can;t they help out with the ag building it’s going to be where Century what have that building for the public…..my family uses the ag building and have the best time and its also a very nice building…a large dept aint gonna stop trouble makers cause if that dept goes up any higher i want use it!!! i agree the mayor should get an employee to stand by on the building when it is rented dont worrie about an office anything happens they still have to be called out so there you go they still have to show up !!!!!
It’s quite simple when someone is trying to have the kind of affair to act according. It’s as simple as incoperating the Security Fee in the Total Rental of the Center for any Affair. Someone with the authority to Arrest, or use what ever force needed in the event something does happen. Sad but this is the times we live in. The City should have the rights to protect it’s self and the citizens who occupy the building. Incoperate Security (Law Enforcement) in every event.
Maybe a larger securtiy deposit is in order, say like $500 or even $1,000. And if the lease is broken in any manner, it is forfited. Also the town could assign a staff member to go by and check on the event even if it is after hours, and the cost of that empolyee’s time should be added to the rental fee. Come on Century, this isn’t rocket science; but it is taking responsibility and being proactive.