Century Seeks $4.9 Million In Oil Spill Money For Five Town Projects
September 12, 2017
The Town of Century has approved five projects totaling $4.9 million to be submitted for possible funding with oil spill money.
The projects, which are detailed below as submitted, were discussed in a recent joint workshop with the Century Area Chamber of Commerce. The projects will now be submitted to the Escambia County Commission for possible funding through Triumph Gulf Coast.
The Gulf Coast Economic Corridor Act signed by Gov. Rick Scott on June 2 directs $1.5 billion to be spent over a 15 year period in eight counties in Northwest Florida that were impacted by the oil spill. The act directs Escambia and other seven other counties to seek proposals from other local governing boards withing their county.
Activities eligible for funding include ad valorem tax rate reductions, workforce skill development, local funding match requirements, public infrastructure projects, equipment and personnel for local disaster action plans, promotion of tourism and workforce and educational career development programs.
The town council Monday night chose the five project from a field of six, rejecting a Welcome Center project as be to related to tourism, which town consultant Debbie Nickels said would not score well with Triumph.
The five projects are:
Century Workforce Development and Readiness Program — $750,000
This project will consist of a collaboration between PSC, CareerSource EscaRosa, the Century Area Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Century. Funds will be utilized to expand and develop Workforce Education programs available in the areas of manufacturing, information, logistics, technology and skilled trades. Tuition assistance for ABE/GED classes and testing as well as employment readiness, financial literacy and soft skills training will be provided. It will expand the poverty reduction initiatives already in place through “Century Area Getting Ahead” and establishing a Bridges out of Poverty/ Bridges to a Sustainable Community development team.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements – $338,897
This project includes numerous improvements to the Town’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. The plant is aging and a number of its critical systems are beginning to fail. The improvements include the following: Clarifier repairs; return activated sludge pump replacement; effluent pump replacement; sidestream wastewater return pump replacement; gas chemical feed equipment replacement; grit removal from plant tankage; equalization basin repairs; and, filter repairs.
Century Grown — $30,000
This project will establish a “Century Grown” community partnership market-garden-kitchen which will establish sustainable food source through gardening, food and nutrition education and culinary arts. A project of this nature could be a strong catalyst to facilitate spin-off business as well as a farmers market. Added benefits would also establish stronger community bonds through partnerships. To build the concept, the Town will reach out to the American Community Gardening Association, USDA and the UF Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences for technical expertise. Partnership opportu nities exist within the community to involve organizations such as the Century Chamber, Churches, educational institutions, individual residents as well as local restaurants and farmers.
Town of Century Sewage Lift Station Repair — $1,291,568
This project includes the replacement of twelve vacuum-type sewage pumps with new submersible sewage pumps. The existing vacuum-type sewage pumps have outlived their useful lifespan and Town staff are having problems finding parts to service the stations. Submersible pumps are more efficient, easier to maintain and less like to be vandalized. Supervisory Control and Date Acquisition (SCADA) systems are proposed for each station as well as further improve reliability and troubleshoot problems quickly and efficiently.
Century Community Recreation and Youth Development — $2.5 million
The former Century High School/Carver Middle School Gymnasium, currently owned by Pensacola State College, has not been used since 2003. Vandalism, lack of use/maintenance and tornado damage has made it in dire need of renovation in order to make it available for after-school and summer youth activities, recreational, fitness, and college readiness programs for the community at large. A youth development organization such as Boys and Girls Club would be funded to manage the activities that would support K-20 educational programming, violence/drug use prevention, career exploration and youth leadership.
REJECTED PROJECT
Welcome to the Northern Gate of Escambia County — $500,000
This project is to construct a walking park around the large retention pond located at the comer of West Cottage Street and U.S. Highway 29 in Century and to purchase a one-acre parcel (the former town hall) directly adjacent to the retention pond in order to construct a Welcome Station, construct a parking area, install landscaping, move the Welcome to Florida sign to this site and create a photo-op area. Currently, hundreds of travelers annually pull over near the Welcome to Florida sign at the end of the Alabama-Florida overpass and risk injury to cross the road and walk up the embankment for a photo-op.
Construction of a new Welcome Station in conjunction with moving the Welcome to Florida sign would eliminate safety concerns for visitors. A kiosk for brochures about Escambia County, Pensacola, the beaches, Naval Air Museum, etc., could be provided. In addition, benches and picnic tables could be installed around and/or near the walking trail. These improvements would encourage travelers to stop, take pictures, enjoy the facilities, eat and/or make purchases at local businesses.
Pictured: The properties that were considered for a half million dollar “Welcome to the Northern Gate of Escambia County” Triumph Gulf Coast project. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sunny Skies Return
September 12, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. West wind 5 to 15 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southwest after midnight.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Man Charged After Deputies Find $300,000 Worth Of Stolen Lawn Equipment
September 12, 2017
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has recovered nearly $300,000 worth of stolen lawn care equipment.
Deputies said the equipment was discovered after a search warrant was executed at the home of Steven Lee Hill in 300 block of Lenox Parkway.
The Sheriff’s Office said stolen equipment was located on the property that had been taken from the Leon County School District and other businesses . A Woodchuck wood chipper and a Big Tex dump trailer were among the items seized.
Hill was arrested and charged with multiple counts of grand theft. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $50,000.
Tate Aggies Reschedule Homecoming
September 12, 2017
The Tate Aggies have rescheduled their “Music Fest” Homecoming to next week.
The Aggies will face Milton on Friday night, September 22 in their homecoming game.
There will be no dress up days this week, and the Homecoming Dance has been moved to Saturday, September 23.
Homecoming Events
The Pep Rally will be Friday, September 22 at 8:50 a.m. with float parade, games and a skit by a special guest. The parade will be Friday, September 22 at 6 p.m. with floats, candy, Senior Court parade, underclassmen Homecoming Court presentation and, for the first year, the Showband of the South.
The game, Tate versus the Milton Panthers, will kickoff at 7 p.m. Tickets will be $5 at lunches, $7 at the gate. The Homecoming Queen will be crowned at halftime.
The Homecoming Dance will be Saturday, September 23 at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale during lunches, $20 per student. Forms for non-Aggies are located outside room 422.
Theme Days
- Monday, Sept. 18 – Mathlete vs. Athlete
- Tuesday, Sept. 19 — Tacky Tourist Tuesday
- Wednesday, Sept. 20 — Woodstock Wednesday
- Thursday, Sept. 21 — Music Fest Character Day
- Friday, Sept. 22 — Battle of the Classes Class Color Day: 12 – Blue, 11th – Red, 10th – White, 9th – Pink
Pictured: Gloria Jones was crowned homecoming queen last year at Tate High School. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Winds Down Tree Across Roadway
September 12, 2017
The outskirts of Tropical Storm Irma brought a little rain and gusty winds to North Escambia on Monday, with no damage reported. About 8:55 Monday night, a large pine tree fell across and blocked North Pine Barren Road near Breastworks Road near Bratt. Firefighters from the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue were able to quickly remove the tree from the roadway. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Approves Increased Budget, Sets Tax Rate
September 12, 2017
The Century Town Council gave preliminary approval Monday night to a $4.6 million budget — an increase of 23 percent over the last fiscal year.
The budget is $4,609,519, up from $3,746,888.36 last fiscal year.
The council also approved a tentative rollback millage rate of .9204, which is no increase over last year.
Before becoming final, the 2017-2018 Century budget faces another public hearing on Monday, September 18 at 6:50 p.m., just prior to a regular council meeting at 7:00.
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
September 12, 2017
Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings this week:
Tuesday
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Merit System Protection Board — Canceled
1st Budget Public Hearing – 5:31 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place
Wednesday
Development Review Committee – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Thursday
Committee of the Whole – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place
Saturday
Escambia Cares Community Resource Expo – 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. De Soto Street
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Gulf Power Crews Deploy To Restore Power After Irma
September 12, 2017
As Tropical Storm Irma pushed out of Northwest Florida Monday, Gulf Power crews continued to respond to customer outages and planned to join many other utilities to deploy crews to help rebuild and restore power to those areas in the southeast hardest hit by the massive storm.
The 100-person storm team was set to depart Tuesday morning.
“Irma proved to be a powerful and deadly storm,” said Jeff Rogers, Gulf Power spokesperson. “Now that we have enough Gulf Power crews on the ground in the Bay County area to quickly restore power, our crews are ready to join the massive coordinated effort focused on rebuilding the electric grid and restoring power and hope to those hardest hit areas.”
Rogers added that Gulf Power sent additional lineworkers from the western end of the company’s service area to Bay County to ensure there were enough resources to get the lights back on quickly and safely for Gulf Power’s customers.
“Restoring power to our Gulf Power customers is our priority. With plenty of resources on the ground in Bay County, we’re prepared to send crews to help those areas so devastated by Irma,” said Rogers. “It’s what we do — we’re there for our neighbors in their time of need and when we need them — they send the troops to us.”
Gulf Power has a strong history of restoring power — both at home and away assisting other utilities. Crews have deployed more than 36 times since 2008 to help other energy companies restore power to their customers. This deployment will be different, as much of the restoration effort will require total rebuilding of power grid systems.
“Our crews are ready and anxious to help our friends to the southeast. Many remember what it was like after Hurricane Ivan in 2004, and they are anxious to restore power and hope to those that have lost so much.”
Recently, in 2016, Gulf Power responded to the City of Tallahassee and Georgia Power following Hurricane Hermine’s landfall. A month later, Gulf Power storm teams responded rapidly to calls for aid from Florida Public Utilities and Georgia Power, assisting with recovery operations following Hurricane Matthew. For these efforts, Gulf Power was awarded the Edison Electric Institute Assistance Award or its extraordinary work assisting in power restoration efforts in a neighboring or nearby electric company.
“Gulf Power is part of a mutual assistance network consisting of dozens of utilities. As part of this partnership, Gulf Power line crews provide assistance to other utilities when service to their customers is interrupted due to severe weather, and have traveled as far away as New York to assist with restoration following Superstorm Sandy,” said Rogers.
Pictured: Gulf Power crews roll out of their Pine Forest Road office Tuesday morning for Tampa. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Tours Impacts of Hurricane Irma
September 12, 2017
Gov. Rick Scott got an aerial view Monday morning of damage to Florida from Hurricane Irma.
The governor left Pensacola and flew from Mobile to the Keys. Scott joined Vice Admiral Karl Schultz and members of the U.S. Coast Guard for aerial tour from a C-130. The governor flew along Florida’s West Coast and over the Florida Keys to assess damage from Hurricane Irma
Irma made its initial Florida landfall about 9 a.m. Sunday at Cudjoe Key — less than 30 miles northeast of Key West — with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph.
Pictured top: Gov. Rick Scott surveys Hurricane Irma damage from a Coast Guard C-130. Pictured below: Scott at the Coast Guard base in Mobile. Photos for NorthEcambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deadline Extended For Mass Transit Advisory Committee Applications
September 12, 2017
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to be considered for a vacancy on the Escambia County Mass Transit Advisory Committee, or MTAC.
Escambia residents interested in serving on the Escambia County Mass Transit Advisory Committee are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve on the Committee by close of business on Friday, Sept. 15. Resumes should be submitted to Judy Witterstaeter, Program Coordinator, Board of County Commissioners, P.O. box 1591, Pensacola, FL 32502, or emailed to jhwitter@myescambia.com.
