County Employees Get A Raise, With A Catch
June 17, 2011
The Escambia County Commission voted Thursday night to give county employees a raise effective October 1, but there’s a catch.
County employees will receive a 3.1 percent across the board raise, but that will be offset by the new state-mandated contributions they will be required to make to their retirement plans. The idea, according to County Administrator Randy Oliver, is keep the take-home pay the same for county employees. The increase will cost the county about $1.3 million.
There will also be a 5.5 percent increase in employee health insurance premiums, shared between the county ($550,000) and employees ($1.60 monthly for single on a base plan to $22 monthly for full family coverage on the complete plan). County employees will lose a paid holiday with the elimination of one of two days off at New Year’s.
Century To Hold Energy Savings Workshop
June 17, 2011
The Town of Century will hold a special council workshop Monday afternoon to discuss the town’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan.
Town council members, Century Chamber of Commerce members, and a Gulf Power representative will meet with residents to solicit input on how the town can save money through energy saving ideas and measures. Guest speaker will be Kim Lundgren, program manager from Vanasee Hangen Brustlin, Inc.
The special council workshop will take place at 5:30 p.m. Monday, prior to the council’s regular session at 7 p.m.
State Workers Drug Test Plans Delayed, Except For Dept. Of Corrections
June 17, 2011
Gov. Rick Scott has at least temporarily backed away from requiring drug tests for state workers, putting the plan on hold amid a constitutional challenge.
Scott, who issued an executive order in March requiring the tests, quietly sent a memo to agency heads last week suspending implementation. The plan will only continue moving forward at the Department of Corrections — which already tests most of its employees.
In the memo, Scott said he is “confident that the drug testing called for in the order is consistent with the constitution, with the government’s rights as an employer and with sensible practice to ensure a safe, effective, productive and fiscally accountable workforce.’’
But Scott also said that while the federal court challenge is pending, it “does not make sense for all agencies to move forward with the logistical issues involved in instituting the new policy.’’
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, however, said Scott was backtracking from the drug-testing plan. The ACLU filed the lawsuit May 31 and contends that the plan violates the U.S. Constitution’s ban on unreasonable searches and seizures.
“This is nothing less than a massive and embarrassing retreat on the part of Gov. Scott,’’ ACLU Executive Director Howard Simon said in a statement posted on the group’s website. “Despite his continuing rhetoric, he must now realize that Floridians won’t simply roll over but will stand up and defend our constitutional rights.’’
Added Randall Marshall, the group’s legal director: “We are pleased that this new order has delayed subjecting thousands of state employees to demeaning, invasive and illegal tests of their bodily fluids. But it does not change our constitutional challenge.’’
After a Cabinet meeting Thursday, Scott insisted that the decision was simply a minor — and temporary — delay.
“We’re going forward with it,’’ Scott said. “We’re going forward, it’s just a process.’’
Scott said taxpayers expect state workers to be drug free, and he was committed to finding a way to implement the plan.
“The private sector does this all the time,’’ Scott said. “Our citizens of this state expect our workers to be productive.’’
Scott’s March executive order called for drug testing before workers are hired and random testing for already-hired workers. It raised the possibility of employees being tested at least quarterly.
The executive order gave agencies 60 days to amend drug-testing policies and notify employees. Agencies were supposed to begin tests for prospective employees immediately after the policy amendments and start random tests 60 days after notifying current employees.
Scott’s memo last week, however, indicates that state officials had been working on the “feasibility and logistical steps” of multi-agency contracting for testing services. With that process ongoing, agencies did not have to meet the executive order’s deadlines for starting the tests.
Two of Scott’s spokesmen downplayed the suspension of the testing plan Thursday, with press secretary Lane Wright saying the governor is “not backing off.’’
Deputy Communications Director Brian Hughes said the governor’s office had built in time for implementing the program to account for possible logistical problems.
Hughes said the Department of Corrections was told to continue with the program because it already tests many employees and was ready to move forward.
Gretl Plessinger, a spokeswoman for the prisons agency, said correctional officers and probation officers are already subject to drug testing. She said the executive order also will lead to testing of administrative staff.
Fire Damages Crowndale Road Home
June 17, 2011
Fire damaged a home in the Cantonment area Thursday night.
The cause of the fire in the 100 block of Crowndale Road is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office. The Cantonment, Molino, Ensley, Beulah and Brent Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze about 7:50 p.m.
Pictured: Fire damaged this wood frame home on Crowndale Road Thursday night. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Farmer’s Market Returns Saturday; Vote For America’s Favorite
June 17, 2011
The Market at Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church is in the running for the 2011 America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest presented by American Farmland Trust.
The Market is open on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 8 a.m. until noon with a variety of locally grown produce and other merchandise. This Saturday, the Market will feature A&N Blueberries, Blue Gate Coop, BBG’s Country Corner, C&D Mill, The Farm and Enoch’s Walk, Heiden’s Honey & Whole Wheat Bread, Kelly’s Mayhaw Berries & Jelly, Ladybug Acres Natural Growers, Po Man’s Pickins and Patty Putters Crafts. There will also be hot dogs, sno-cones, bottled water and soda for sale.
Voting in the 2011 America’s Favorite Farmers Market contest will continue through August 31. To vote, click here. After voting, American Farmland Trust will solicit a donation to protect American Farmland. Donations are not required to vote.
The Market at Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church is located at 699 County Road 95-A South in Cantonment.
Pictured: Scenes from the first Market at Saint Monica’s in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Quintette Shooting Range Closed
June 17, 2011
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Pace Shooting Range on Quintette Road in Santa Rosa County is closed to the public until Saturday, July 23.
A previously scheduled hunter safety class will take place at the range on Saturday, June 18. For more information, contact the FWC’s Northwest Regional Office in Panama City at (850) 265-3676.
EscaRosa Coalition Receives Grant To Aid Homeless Vets
June 17, 2011
The EscaRosa Coalition on the Homeless has received an economic boost to help the homeless.
The U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded the EscaRosa Coalition $142,499 to provide housing for homeless veterans in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
The EscaRosa Coalition on the Homeless provides services across the two-county region, including in northern Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Mistake Downs Power Lines, Sparks House Fire And Gas Leak
June 16, 2011
A falling tree downed power lines on Bluff Springs Road this morning, sparking a minor house fire, a gas leak and a power outage.
The tree was cut down by a tree service working in the area just after 10 a.m. As the tree fell, it caused power lines to fall and short on the back of a home in the 200 block of Bluff Springs Road. The lines also closed Bluff Springs Road. The resulting fire caused little damage, but led to a gas leak.
The resident had extinguished most of the small fire prior to the arrival of Escambia Fire Rescue, and the gas leak was contained by the Town of Century Gas Department. There were no injuries reported.
The Century, McDavid, Molino and Walnut Hill stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the incident, along with the Flomaton Fire Department.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Rain For Some Today
June 16, 2011
Showers and thunderstorms developed rapidly this morning across North Escambia. There’s a 30 percent chance of rain on Friday.
Pictured above: A farmer’s John Deere tractor and a Walnut Hill Water Works tower are dwarfed by a massive storm cloud west of Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Driver Charged With DUI After HittingThree Vehicles, Slamming Into Building
June 16, 2011
A Pensacola man was jailed for DUI have hitting another vehicle and slamming his pickup into an auto repair shop and home Wednesday night near McArthur Elementary School.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Thomaz Quasuan Johnson, 39, first hit the rear of a 2001 Mazda driven by Daniel Sage Desousa, 17, of Pensacola about 10:40 p.m. on Chemstrand Road. He fled the scene, crashing into two other vehicles and finally into a combination auto repair shop and home at the corner of Chemstrand and East 10 Mile roads. The front of his truck came to rest inside the concrete block building, causing significant damage.
Johnson, who was uninjured, was charged with DUI property damage, leaving the scene with property damage and careless driving by the Florida Highway Patrol. He remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond Thursday morning.
The drivers of two other vehicles hit by Johnson — Bradley K. Stewart, 56, and Christopher Chapman, 25 — received minor injuries in their respective crashes.
The Ensley and Brent stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the wreck, along with a Special Ops rescue team.
Pictured: A pickup crashed into a building on Chemstrand Road at East 10 Mile Road Wednesday night. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
