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Century Tornado Two Years Later: County, Town Can’t Afford To Clean Up Damaged Sawmill
February 15, 2018
On this second anniversary of an EF-3 tornado that ravaged part of Century, there has been significant progress in recovery. But looming over the progress is a heavily damaged industrial property that has sat untouched since the 150 mph tornado winds just before 4 p.m on February 15, 2016.
“It’s like a giant sleeping monster, ready to come back to life and destroy our homes again,” a Front Street resident said. Their home suffered significant tornado damage is being replaced under a government program; they did not wish to be identified due to fear of retribution. “At any time another storm, even a big summer thunderstorm, could move through here with 70 mph winds and send that metal into our homes.”
“I’m very proud of the recovery strides that have been made by the town, the county, and countless non profit and faith based organizations. Unfortunately, many of those successes are within sight of the destroyed Alger Sullivan Mill property,” Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry said.
Front Street is directly adjacent to the former Alger-Sullivan Lumber Mill — a sprawling property encompassing 330,200 square feet in eight buildings on 38 acres. Damage included the collapse of the rear portion of the largest building. Portions of the buildings blew into, and in some cases through, houses along Front Street. Since the tornado, residents have pushed the Town of Century and Escambia County to clean up the property.
The property owners — listed in county records as DMT Holdings LLC in Navarre and DMT Holdings LLC in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada — were cited by Escambia County Code Enforcement. The county provides code enforcement services under contract within the town limits of Century.
With no response from the owners. a special magistrate for Escambia County issued an order against the property at One Lumber Road on October 4, 2016, giving the owners until November 1, 2016, to clean up the property. Failing to comply, the property owners were assessed costs of $1,100, and fines of $50 per day have been accruing ever since. To date, the property owners have accrued fines of about $23,500.
In June 2017, Escambia County obtained three estimates to demolish the buildings and clean up the property. Those bids came in at $800,000, $2.3 million and $3 million. The low estimate from Bellview Site Contractors in Pensacola included the caveat that costs would rise above their $800,000 estimate if concrete foundations were greater than six inches thick or if asbestos were to be found.
But there’s a huge problem for Escambia County — there’s not enough in the budget to pay for even the lower cost cleanup option.
“In most instances like this, when we have a property owner unwilling, or unable to clean their property up to code, then Escambia County will solicit low bids for the the demolition and cleanup of the property, and then lien the property until the bill is paid by the current or subsequent owner of the property,” Barry said. “However, in this case, the low bid was $800,000, and that is the problem holding back the demolition and cleanup.”
Last fiscal year, Escambia County spent $435,000 abate properties. This fiscal year, the budget is up to $463,425.
“That $463 thousand is the entire clean up budget for the entire county for the year,” Joy Tsubooka, county public information officer said.
“I have had multiple conversations with former Mayor Freddie McCall and current Mayor Henry Hawkins, but we have not been able to come to a feasible method to pay for the cleanup. I am optimistic and open minded and I desperately want to see the property cleaned up and put back in its highest and best use for the town, but I am not exactly sure how we are going to accomplish that goal,” Barry said.
“Someone has to find some way of getting that sawmill cleaned up,” the Front Street resident said. “It’s not just that it looks bad. Somebody is gonna get their house tore up, or somebody is going to get hit by flying tin in a storm and be killed.”
NorthEscambia.com and courtesy photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
22 Responses to “Century Tornado Two Years Later: County, Town Can’t Afford To Clean Up Damaged Sawmill”
I am not sure of the actual way of doing this but I have a vision and idea.
I support the county taking it by eminent domain, if that could be done. They have the attorneys would could probably clear the title.
They may be able to reassess the taxes, or perhaps take off the fire fee that is contributing to the back taxes, the code violation fines because if they abate it like it is then that would be attached to the title also. It makes it worthless. And I doubt it would be sold if all those liens are on it.
Back taxes are 90K and mounting. Tax certificates are purchased and more could be.
Can they even get in touch with the owner at all?
I think the town should get their consultant involved and change the Land use on the FLUM to RESIDENTIAL, if they can with the Brownsfields designation. Didn’t they get some grants for doing cleaning up the Brownfield EPA? The problem is it is owned by a company who is inactive, I don’t know, but it looks like some kind of tax evasion scheme, shell company (maybe) to me.
Century already has an entire empty Industrial Park.
Change that area at One Lumber and if the county takes title, then they can sell it to a developer and perhaps put in houses similar to the ones being built in the Historic District.
Then Century has new residents new people on the tax rolls, just make sure you charge an impact fee and those taxes you were learning about so the waste treatment plant can be upgraded.
You don’t want the county coming in and putting a dump or a concrete crushing place and be like Long Leaf or Wedgewood.
No industrial uses near residential.
Change the FLUM and zoning to Residential.
The Dawn of a New Century.
It’s doubtful if that property is worth the $800000 price tag to clean it up. That would be $22000 per acre. Where is the organic farm the mayor was bringing that would hire 50 people? It will probably work out to the county cleaning it up and winding up with title to the property. Then maybe it will be looked at as a possible industrial park which could be a real asset to the Century economy.
Looks like no news could be good news.. If law enforcement, or an official sees a problem with any of these suggestions better step up and ammend the article and put the word out.
They can not give permission, they don’t own it nor can be liable,
If I see a good person helping themselves. I tell you now. I might just offer you a free meal and a glass of water….Thanks and be blessed.
Maybe get a bid to remove the metal and trash above ground and leave the concrete which I am sure was a major expense. That would bring much peace of mind if a tornado or severe thunderstorm or worse a Hurricane hits.
Talk about a piece of tin decapitating a person id something is not done.
Humm, wonder how this would be handled if it were on Pensacola Beach or out on Perdido Key?
Bet the County Commissioners would be out cutting lawns on weekends to raise the money to have any mess “over there” removed and cleaned up ASAP.
Like the realtors say, “Location-Location-Location”.
100% agree, open the gates to scrappers and turn a blind eye to what is removed to be recycled or re-purposed (a new hipster term) and when they’re done with that get an estimate for what is left behind.
I asked this last year when they were saying it would take over a million dollars to pay for the clean up. I see by the comments today alot more people see it as I do. Let the locals clean it for the scrap metal.
So what does that mean?
“optimist opened minded and desperate”?
Can a “political speak” interpreter tell me what that’s supposed to mean?
Why not let a salvage company come in and clean it up for the scrap metal?
@retired
Century residents are citizens of Escambia county. There is an agreement with the county to enforce the code here, as the article states.
Property tax for escambia comes to these address also, it’s just an extra layer of government.
If the tin or debris kills some one or damages property..who gets the suit?
Pay it now or pay it later.
The “owner” apparently is absent.
Neighbors do not call the law if you see some one scrapping.
Law don’t arrest anyone.
This is one time that old school Mayberry needs to step up to the plate, for the first round.
sounds to me like the property is inside Century city limits. their problem not the citizens of Escambia county
Stumpknocker and Ted have got it right! Open the gates and have a free for all. I want the stairs to nowhere. The price of scrap has fallen, but most of us need a piece of something out there. Sign the wavier and have a nice day . Why does everything have to cost a million dollars?
You people do know that buildings are made of more than just metal, right? Scrappers aren’t going to do anything with the insulation, concrete, or wood. That’s not end all solution
If this was on one of our politicians property I bet it wouldn’t cost $800,000 to clean up, they need to realize the money they spend is not theirs and to actually work on reasonable solutions.
How effective is a lien on property that nobody seems to be interested in purchasing?
You cannot use inmates on private property.
No, let’s don’t be creative or think outside the box! The answer is to raise taxes, or go up on water, or something easy. Give more raises in wages that helped the town’s prosperity!
scrap metal people could have this cleaned up in a matter of months..with use of inmates as help. save 800,000 dollars . why doesnt govt use common sense.
Simple solution; open the gate and let the scrap metal haulers in. They will have the building torn town, picked up, and across the scales at a junk yard in a matter of weeks.
Just an idea, advertise free scrap and have a county lawyer draw up a waiver of liability and have it limited to only a handful so as to make it worth their while. The remaining could be cleaned up by using inmates with the help of the town of Century and county equipment, and it wouldn’t hurt if the local residents got involved since it directly benefits them. Kinda like a barn raising just the opposite, there’s always a way if the the people that are concerned are willing to put the effort in without just throwing money at it.
Why can’t you use prisoners to clean it up? Or is that to cruel? Since taxpayers pay for the prisoners meals and beds, I’d rather pay for them to clean up things like this! And make a difference in the community.
Open the gates and tell all the metal scrappers that it’s a free for all. It would be all gone in no time at all, for free, problem solved.