Scott Signs Off On Raises For Elections Supervisors
April 4, 2016
County supervisors of elections will see their salaries rise, under a bill signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Rick Scott.
Without comment, Scott’s office announced that he had signed the legislation (SB 514), which supporters say is aimed at bringing supervisors’ pay into line with other county constitutional officers — a group of elected officials that includes tax collectors, property appraisers and clerks of circuit court.
Supporters argue the lower pay rate was a legacy of an earlier era, when women held the overwhelming majority of supervisors’ offices. Most supervisors are still women.
Scott’s approval of the bill was not a surprise. After a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, Scott indicated to reporters he would sign the legislation.
“I think they’ve done a good job,” the governor said in response to a question on the bill. “I think it’s the right thing to do.”
According to legislative analyses, the bill is expected to increase pay to supervisors by a total of $1.2 million, or an average of $18,540 per county. The average pay raise would be 18.7 percent.
The bill passed the Senate in a 36-4 vote early this month. But it ran into trouble in the House, where fiscal conservatives clashed with members of both parties who supported increasing the pay rate to bring equity to the system and to acknowledge the difficulty of the supervisors’ jobs.
The debate in the House split both parties before lawmakers voted 58-54 to approve the legislation. Most of the members of the House’s GOP majority — 46 — opposed the bill, as did eight Democrats.
“We need to make sure that this office is respected, just as we respect the office of sheriff, tax collector, property appraiser,” said Rep. Gayle Harrell, a Stuart Republican and supporter of the legislation.
But opponents said the bill would give some officials special treatment at a time when salary increases for state workers have been scant — though the money for the supervisors’ pay would come from county budgets.
There was no across-the-board pay increase for state workers in a new budget approved this month and signed into law by Scott, though some workers in select categories will receive a boost.
“This (the supervisors of elections bill) is nothing more than politicians feeding politicians by giving pay raises to other elected officials,” said Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach. “And frankly, if we’re going to do pay raises, I say we do them across the board for all state workers and not pick out a select group of people.”
The bill takes effect Oct. 1.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Near Perfect Weather
April 4, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 49. West wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 77. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51. East wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. South wind around 10 mph becoming west after midnight.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 68.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 67.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.
Century Tornado Assistance Waiting List Now Open
April 4, 2016
An Escambia County and Century waiting list is now open for Town of Century residents requesting housing repair or reconstruction assistance as a result of the February 15 tornado.
Only residents in the incorporated town of Century whose housing units were damaged by the tornado are eligible to apply. Owner occupants of manufactured homes are also eligible to apply if they own the property on which the home is located.
Century residents may call (850) 595-0872 to be placed on the waiting list. Residents must provide the following information when calling:
- Name
- Street address of impacted residence
- Contact phone number
Services will be made available to income-eligible owner occupants on a first qualified, first served basis as funding permits. Staff will follow up with applicants within five business days to determine program eligibility and to make appointments to begin the application process.
The following chart shows the maximum gross family household income requirements in Escambia County (effective March 28, 2016) for the housing repair and reconstruction activities through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership program, or SHIP. Household income includes income received from all persons residing in the household and from all sources providing income to the household.
Applications are still being accepted for owner occupants needing housing repair or reconstruction assistance from the February 15 and 23 tornadoes. Owner occupants in unincorporated Escambia County can call the Neighborhood Enterprise Division at (850) 595-0022, and those inside the city of Pensacola limits can call the City of Pensacola Housing Office at (850) 858-0306 to apply.
Tate Beats Pace
April 3, 2016
The Tate Aggies regained their district lead with a 4-2 win over Pace Saturday.
Cole Halfacre went a perfect 4-4 at the plate for the Tate Aggies with singles in the first, third, fifth and sixth innings. Michael Sherrill took the win on the mound, allowing just two runs for seven innings, walking one, giving up nine and striking out four.
Tate hitters – Cole Halfacre 4-4 RBI; Trace Penton 1-4 2B, RBI, BB; AJ Gordon 1-1 2B, RBI, 2 BB, SB.
WP – Michael Sherrill (7 IP, 2 ER, 9 H, 4 K, BB)
Power Restored After Substation Fire In Jay
April 3, 2016
UPDATE 5:45 p.m. — All power has been restored in the Jay area following the installation of a mobile power substation. The entire area lost power Sunday morning due to a substation fire.
UPDATE 3:00 p.m. – A mobile power substation has arrived in Jay. The mobile unit will be used to restore power to Jay and surrounding areas following a power substation fire this morning. The process, according to EREC, will take several hours.
Previous story below photo:
A fire at an Escambia River Electric Cooperative substation in Jay Sunday morning has left the area without power.
The fire was quickly contained, and crews are working to restore power as soon as possible to about 2,500 customers. The entire substation is without power.
A regulator and circuit breakers failed causing an arc which spread to other equipment causing the fire and power outage, according to EREC spokesperson Sabrina Owens.
A mobile substation is being brought in to restore power. It is anticipated that power will be restored by early evening.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Below: Another photo of the mobile substation:
Teen Driver Flips Vehicle On Bridge Across Perdido River
April 3, 2016
A teenage girl escaped serious injuries when she flipped her her SUV across part of two states Saturday morning.
The driver lost control while eastbound in Baldwin County, Alabama, and overturned onto the Barrineau Park Bridge across the Perdido River on Barrineau Park Road. The vehicle came to rest upside down on the bridge railing in Florida.
The driver was transported to a Pensacola hospital with minor injuries.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Escambia County EMS and the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Waiting List For Century Tornado Assistance Opens At Midnight
April 3, 2016
Escambia County and the town of Century are establishing a waiting list beginning at midnight for town of Century residents requesting housing repair or reconstruction assistance as a result of the February 15 tornado.
Only residents in the incorporated town of Century whose housing units were damaged by the tornado are eligible to apply. Owner occupants of manufactured homes are also eligible to apply if they own the property on which the home is located.
Starting April 4 at 12:00 a.m., Century residents may call (850) 595-0872 to be placed on the waiting list. Residents must provide the following information when calling:
- Name
- Street address of impacted residence
- Contact phone number
Calls received before April 4 will not be accepted. Services will be made available to income-eligible owner occupants on a first qualified, first served basis as funding permits. Staff will follow up with applicants within five business days to determine program eligibility and to make appointments to begin the application process.
The following chart shows the maximum gross family household income requirements in Escambia County (effective March 28, 2016) for the housing repair and reconstruction activities through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership program, or SHIP. Household income includes income received from all persons residing in the household and from all sources providing income to the household.
Applications are still being accepted for owner occupants needing housing repair or reconstruction assistance from the February 15 and 23 tornadoes. Owner occupants in unincorporated Escambia County can call the Neighborhood Enterprise Division at (850) 595-0022, and those inside the city of Pensacola limits can call the City of Pensacola Housing Office at (850) 858-0306 to apply.
AT&T Employee Killed In Traffic Crash
April 3, 2016
The Florida Highway Patrol has released the identity of an AT&T employee that died as the result of a traffic crash Thursday at intersection of Davis Highway and Olive Road.
The FHP said late Saturday that 45-year old Willie Ray Bonds was pronounced deceased at Sacred Heart Hospital about six hours after the crash.
About 3:27 p.m., 73-year old Henry Simpson of Pensacola was traveling north on Davis Highway when he ran the red light at the intersection in his 2005 GMC Envoy, trooper said. Simpson’s vehicle struck Bonds’ van on the driver’s side.
Bonds was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 9:12 p.m. Simpson was transported to Baptist Hospital with serious injuries.
Alcohol was not a factor in the crash, and both men were wearing their seat belts. Any charges in the crash are pending the outcome of a traffic homicide investigation, according to FHP.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Play Ball! Opening Day For Northwest Escambia (With Gallery)
April 3, 2016
Saturday was Opening Day for Northwest Escambia at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
April 3, 2016
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
· Interstate 10 (I-10) Widening, Escambia County – Intermittent and alternating lane closures, between State Road (S.R.) 291 (Davis Highway/Exit 13) and U.S. 90 (Scenic Highway/Exit 17), from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. the week of Monday, April 4 as crews perform construction activities.
· I-10/U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements, Escambia County – The outside lane of I-10 eastbound near U.S. 29 (Exits 10A and 10B) will be closed Sunday, April 3 and Monday, April 4 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as crews install barrier wall.
Santa Rosa County:
· U.S. 98, Santa Rosa County - Alternating lane closures, between Central Parkway and the Gulf Breeze Zoo, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday, April 3 through Thursday, April 7 as crews perform work list items.
· I-10 Widening, Santa Rosa County – Alternating lane closures on I-10, between the Escambia Bay Bridge and S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/Exit 22), from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, April 3 through Thursday, April 7 as crews place barrier wall. In addition, alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 interchange during this time as crews perform bridge work.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling in a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Pictured: Work on widening I-10 near Scenic Highway in Escambia County. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.