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Century Council Member Receives $12,000 Loan Refinance From Town
July 25, 2018
The Century Town Council has approved a $12,000 loan refinance for a council member, but details surrounding the loan remain unclear.
At the Monday, July 16 town council meeting, the refinance was approved for council member Sandra McMurray-Jackson, but few details were provided on the loan program. And, over a week later, a public records requests for loan documentation has gone unanswered.
“I have an existing loan in the amount of $12,000, and I am asking the town for a refinance of the loan….at six percent,” Jackson said at the council meeting, requesting a three-year term. No details were provided on the status of the loan being refinanced.
Council member Ben Boutwell questioned the purpose of the loan, with Jackson responding that it was an economic development loan for her funeral home business.
“We had a few (business loans). My business was one like 20 years ago when I built my office. I got the revolving loan,” council President Ann Brooks said. “The funeral home was one, and then one was the flower shop. The only three that we have done through the revolving loan.” The “flower shop”, we are told, has since gone out of business. There was no mention if the loan was or was not repaid (*See update below.)
“That’s the first I’ve ever heard of it,” Boutwell said.
No other council member questioned any details about the loan before it was approved 4-0. Jackson did not cast a vote.
After the meeting, Brooks said she received a $50,000 loan in 1997 and made her final payment in 2011. Brooks was not in office at the time the loan originated. She ran unsuccessfully for a council seat in 2003 and mayor in 2006 before being elected to her current council seat in 2007.
She said she applied for the loan after being informed of its availability by then-mayor Benny Barnes.
On Tuesday, July 17, NorthEscambia.com made a verbal and written request to Town Clerk Kim Godwin for numerous documents that would provide the details on the three loans and the overall program. As of early Wednesday morning, July 25, no documents had not been provided in response to our public records request.
Update: After publication of this article, the town provided a spreadsheet Thursday morning showing a loan history on a $60,000 loan to “Purrfect Creations” that originated in August 1999 was paid off in June 2015. The record does not include payment dates for the first two years of the loan (it does not indicate that payments were late – the dates simply are not listed). It does indicate that payments were late or missing several times. No loan terms, loan agreement, ownership or other documentation was provided.
Comments
36 Responses to “Century Council Member Receives $12,000 Loan Refinance From Town”
Both My Husband and Myself are registered voters and Century is our “Home of Record”- We have Voted in every single election for the past 15 years.
I have NEVER received any information about “LOW-INTEREST, LOANS BEING AVAILABLE” Did anyone else (NOT EMPLOYED BY THE CITY) get any notification about these “Sweet Loans”? I mean other than Board Members and people who worked for the city- Why would anyone approve a “REFINANCE” on a LOW-INTEREST, LONG TERM, Overly excessive amount Loan? This chick had 3 loans that totaled over a hundred and ten thousand dollars and she had nerve to demand that the terms of one of those loans be changed? SHADY, Shady, shady.
It sounds like it’s about time to go to Florida’s Capital and talk to our State Attorney General. I want JAIL TIME for anyone who is involved with improper banking procedures! JAIL TIME! ….I’ll also ask about one of those low interest rates, extended time to pay back, excessively high amount loan.
>> why isn’t the amount that the city gave Ann Brooks for her business publicize?
A public records request for those documents was made about two ago, and nothing has been provided on Brooks’ loan.
What I don’t understand is how can you expect to know anything if you don’t attend the council meetings? Another question that I have is why isn’t the amount that the city gave Ann Brooks for her business publicize?
So u can loan her money but town is too broke to put up survalence at parks or lower gas water tax smh i need a loan too
Awwwww the council’s privite piggy bank
What I don’t understand is why hasn’t the auditor general and/or the Joint Legislative auditing committee caught this? We also pay for their over sight via our tax dollars.
I think the state grant providers would follow up on the subsequent sending of the funds and grants.
Are they not part of the budget and the town accountant’s responsibilities?
So how does this administration turn this around? Looks like this fund has been around for at least 20 years. They need to let the public know how much was originally in the fund, how much is remaining, and every person who has benefited from it and their repayment status. Then offer it to the public. Do a business plan contest or a rent reduction program. Use it to grow Century not only a select group. A row of small businesses up and down highway 29 would be great and cluster of little manufacturing shops at the industrial park would be wonderful. Start small and grow big.
Who says Century is broke?
A quick search on the “sunbiz.org” website and… Surprise, Surprise, Surprise: The former Century Mayor gets a sweet loan deal!
Fictitious Name Search
PURR-FECT CREATIONS
Filing Information
Registration Number G98279000177
Status EXPIRED
Filed Date 10/06/1998
Expiration Date 12/31/2008
Current Owners 2
County ESCAMBIA
Owner Information
HAMMOND, EVELYN L
601 E. HECKER ROAD
CENTURY, FL 32535
@William; Has anybody researched to find out the process by which this town charter could be revoked? The water, sewer and gas could be sold, and with the rest of the meager assets of the town pay off the debt. The county could take over the parks, and this clown show could be laid to rest.
Is anyone living in century going to contact their attorney general?
As funny as this may seem the important questions need to be addressed. Obviously this municipality will be in the spot lite and the state will be involved, it a matter of time. The municipality by statute is not directly under the county. There will be a transition for it to become district 5. The important question as silly as it may seem for the people inside the town limits is the running fresh water and the disposal of the sewage and the garbage pick up. I am not sure of the answer and yes I have a ballot..but if anyone doesn’t see that is the next step.. Well I am pretty sure it is.
>>What does the sunshine law say about a time limit to provide access to public documents, have any laws been broken by them withholding information, yet?
Excerpts from a much longer section in the Sunshine Manual:
“The Public records act does not contain a specific time limit (such as 24 hours or 10 days) for compliance with public records requests. however, “delay in making public records available is permissible under very limited circumstances.”
“…under Ch. 119, F.s., “is the limited reasonable time allowed the custodian to retrieve the record and delete those portions of the record the custodian asserts
are exempt.”
William,
What does the sunshine law say about a time limit to provide access to public documents, have any laws been broken by them withholding information, yet?
If there are no loan documents, then how can the city force any type of collections or hold someone responsible for repayment. As far as the date payments where made, maybe someone should ask the person who received the loan for proof of payments. It seems to me that council members are afraid to investigate or ask the questions that citizens want to know. So maybe there needs to be a meeting so the tax payers have an opportunity to ask for themselves, and those who don’t show up, don’t complain.
Let’s all run for city council so we can have a meeting and loan each other some taxpayer money. It makes me wonder if the fouled up audits are a smoke screen for other shenanigans this bunch is pulling. The only way these taxpayers in Century are ever getting a break is if this town’s charter is revoked , and the few services they provide (water gas and sewer) are sold to pay off the debt they are and have been accumulating.
I’m a Century resident. I need a personal loan with a low interest rate! I didn’t realize this was available. Or is it just for crooked politicians?
Can the Century Football teams get a loan for the equipment they need from the city?
Good comments all!
Now that we have Northescambia.com, its a lot easier to keep up with the goings on of this county.
Anxious to hear how this turns out in future updates.
Thank you Northescambia.com
What a Joke
Disband the town administration and sub it out to Escambia County, they couldn’t be any more backwards than Century is.
seems like it is a like the movie, “groundhog day”. the same thing over and over. can we go a week without the town of century doing something questionable?
Finally, a mayor and city that may be as corrupt as the City of Pensacola. Congrats.
I want a new truck , what kind of interest rate can I get ? I need 50,000 for a nice ride. I am nice , decent , cool , but kinda poor. Lol
So…the town had economic development money at least since the late 90s but kept it to themselves and didn’t make it available publicly. Only the council and their friends benefitted from it. Sad.
I Hope Someone Will Tell Me I’M Wrong / But The Town Of Century Owes The State Several Million And Went To A Bank In Brewton And Borrowed Money At High Rate For Several New Truck’s But Yet There Loaning Money To Board Member’s / The Mayor And Board Member’s Don’t Have A Clue About Govt. Business
we in century will do what we want when we want and nothing looks suspicious, so just leave us alone and give us more money.
Maybe it’s time for a state audit of Century’s management of taxpayer dollars. I don’t live in Century but I’m sure the taxes I pay help subsidize it.
@Gman
I’m with you sounds easier than going to the bank. Can we dicker on the interest rate???????????
DID NOT KNOW CENTURY HAD ALL THAT SPARE MONEY
Since when did our local government get in the loan business. This sounds a little fishy to me!
There seems to be so much questionable practices going on in Century over the past couple years. I’m not a resident of Century, but I keep a check on the news from this website to see what weekly absurdity comes from the mayor and council. This place reminds me of tinyville Detroit. I won’t be surprised whatsoever when one of these days I’m reading about Century scandal and bankruptcy filing. Hollywood can’t make up the craziness coming out of Century.
Perfect, now we can just round up some town employees to go to the funeral home and do the work. This seems legit.
Who says Century doesn’t have a bank?
Where can I pick up my loan application?
No further questions asked, I’m sure the citizens of Century would like to know more details about this matter.
I suppose it would be documented in the budget and the accountant would have the information as well as the State of Florida in the audit? RIGHT? Why is this funny?