County Takes First Small Steps Toward Cleanup Of Tornado Damaged Sawmill

April 9, 2018

For the first time in over two years since an EF-3 tornado ravaged part of Century, there has been a step, a small step, toward cleanup of the old Alger-Sullivan mill property. The 38-acre industrial property was heavily damaged and sat untouched since 150 mph tornado winds the afternoon of February 15, 2016.

Last week, Escambia County crews entered the property and performed some cutting and trimming, cleaned around a concrete ditch, removed four 30-yard dumpsters of debris and replaced a piece of fence that was down. The Mosquito Control Division was also on site to inspect and treat any areas that were favorable for mosquito breeding.

The work was performed on the north side of the property, behind the houses on Front Street.

Escambia County will bill property owners $5,450 for the work.

The cleanup was a minor step toward progress.

“Unfortunately, without either a change in behavior of the current owners, or a change in ownership through a completely private method, there is not a quick way to cleanup and abate the sawmill property. Escambia County has begun the process of being able to take the lead on a cleanup, but it will not be a swift process,” County Attorney Alison Rogers 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 in excess of $27,500.

Escambia County received three bids for the demolition and cleanup of the mill, but the low bid was $800,000 — far in excess of the county’s entire cleanup budget.  Last fiscal year, Escambia County spent $435,000 abate properties. This fiscal year, the budget is up to $463,425. Property records show the entire property is assessed at a value of $802,189.

Seizing the property under legal channels has also been problematic due to an outstanding mortgage and back taxes.

‘They owe more than it’s worth,” Century Mayor Henry Hawkins said at a recent council meeting after the town turned to town attorney Matt Dannheisser for assistance. Hawkins has told the council that there is still over $900,00 owed on the mortgage and $300,000 in back taxes – amounts the town could be responsible for paying if they were to seize the property under eminent domain. But he also said Danneheisser may have found a way to “trump the bank” in their interest in the property.

For more photos, click here.

NorthEscambia.com and courtesy file photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

11 Responses to “County Takes First Small Steps Toward Cleanup Of Tornado Damaged Sawmill”

  1. Avis on April 11th, 2018 2:50 am

    Complacency prevails. There’s a good chance the whole country will look like this within our lifetime if we the people don’t demand more action and less talk from our elected officials.

  2. A.Wilton Thompson on April 10th, 2018 3:23 am

    The town would have already taken this property if not in such bad shape.There’s a piece of commercial property on Hwy.4 that was taken and resold.That property is contaminated where chemical tanks rotted down.Cut the grass a couple times then billed owners,after so long ownership changes.

  3. Worked there on April 9th, 2018 6:59 pm

    I worked there for almost fifteen years, they can do what they want to with it but before I would do anything I would have the ground tested to see what might be in it. I know for a fact that in the late eighties during the time I worked there over 5,000 gallons of a very toxic chemical was spilled near the loading docks. I have always wondered if that might have been part of the reason for moving the plant from Century to Ellyson Field because it wasn’t but a couple of years after the spill that it was moved. It might have been cleaned up since then, but it wasn’t right after the spill other than cleaning up what was on the top of the ground.

  4. Citizen on April 9th, 2018 1:58 pm

    If the town is twarting the county’s intention to foreclosure and/or if the county is putting it back on the town, who is beyond being able to finance this, well that is purely stupid. (I guess the PC term is disingenuous)
    I suppose the county will defer to what the town may think they want when all in all there are just putting them off.

    Tired of this game.

    Watching.

  5. Citizen on April 9th, 2018 12:31 pm

    Bob C

    I don’t see why not but the council/board will have to apply. I don’t think anyone will hand it to them. The information is available to them like the rest of the counties.

    If they don’t compete or apply then no they won’t get it.

    That how life works.

  6. just listening on April 9th, 2018 12:26 pm

    “William”
    Eminent dominant or not it’s high time something gets done. If this was at my property–I would have received all kinds of fines not to say the threats from the County and/or City. Right now the value is just the dirt it sits on so the Lean holders are in for a big surprise and loss. I don’t know who would be fool enough to give a big price for this property when it is going to cost nearly $1 Million to clean it up. As the Mayor said, “It’s not worth what is against it” Get ‘er Done. TRUMP it up!

  7. Bob C. on April 9th, 2018 11:09 am

    BP Oil Spill Money — can it be used to clean up this mess?
    Seems a lot better use of those funds – than some which the county and city and beach are wanting to spend on brainless projects that benefit a few and leave the majority in a hole.

    Eyesore, Health and Safety Hazards are abundant here plus the gross negligence of the owners.
    All the county does is flap their lips about Job Growth, Attracting Business, Etc. so my feeling is this mess needs to be removed IMMEDIATELY which would make this and surrounding areas more attractive to new or expanding business.

    Why not put the “Fish Hatchery” in the North End?

  8. William on April 9th, 2018 9:53 am

    >> Eminent domain by the City seems to be the avenue to take, free and clear after the county simply drop

    Not that easy. Under eminent domain, the city would have to pay fair market value for the property and satisfy the lien holder. So that’s at least $802K. My understanding is the county can’t forgive the taxes…tax certificates have already been sold on the back taxes and would have to be paid. So we are approaching a million dollars. Now once the city owns its, it would have to be brought up to code. That’s nearly another million. But biggest problem, eminent domain is only allowable if the property is used for the greater public good and must be obtained. Does not apply.

  9. just listening on April 9th, 2018 9:32 am

    Clearly the owners are not interested in doing anything! Eminent domain by the City seems to be the avenue to take, free and clear after the county simply drop the taxes owed due to the cost involved by the county and or city to clean it up. Tough stuff Owners and Loan holders—just write it off as a bad investment. Someone needs to take action and now to clean this mess up. TRUMP IT UP AND TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORN. Make Century GREAT again!!!
    Just saying and Saying it STRONG.

  10. Gene on April 9th, 2018 6:43 am

    With Hurricane season expected to be extreme this year not to mention just afternoon thundershowers around here can send debris flying that can kill a person. This must be done somehow!!!

  11. Citizen on April 9th, 2018 1:55 am

    If the defunct DMT Holdings is the owner how can there be a mortgage on it?

    The property site shows 90K back taxes owed, does that mean they have to pay the tax certificate holder plus their interest. Is the the 300K?

    Could they Foreclose and not eminent domain. Good to know Danheisser is working with this. I thought the County was going to take it.

    Highly interested in this story.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News