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Century Receives Another Offer For Vacant Industrial Property
June 18, 2019
The Town of Century has received another offer from a company looking to occupy the town-owned former Helicopter Technology building.
A “letter of intent” was emailed last Friday to Mayor Henry Hawkins on behalf of Noble Trucking Solutions, LLC, of Sheridan, Wyoming. The letter says the company specializes in oilfield water and sand hauling and wishes to expand to Century.
The building will serve as “multi-use facility that will house and serve as the Century Florida Annex for our Trucking, Logistics and CDL Trucking School with a CDL Certification Program”, according to the letter.
“Our presence in Century will allow us to bring a variety of services resulting in the creation of employment resources and enhanced skilled trades options, all under one roof to be nurtured and developed into a sustainable business,” stated the email from Felecia L Knight, a consulting agent for ACTS Entertainment Management on behalf of Noble CEO Devin Harper.
In 2017, the building was appraised for $550,000 with a fair market rent of $80,000 per year ($6,667 per month).
Nobles offered rent of about $3,500 per month for a minimum term of 3-5 years with a negotiated “moderate” annual rental increase. The company also asked for deferred payments for 90 days to “accommodate the necessary construction build-out, repairs and equipment implementation”.
According to Wyoming Secretary of State, Noble Trucking Solutions, LLC was organized April 11, 2019, and uses and address and registered agent address of a Sheridan, Wyoming, law firm. No company officers are listed.
The lack of immediately available information about the company led town council members to express concern at their Monday night meeting.
Council President Ann Brooks and councilman Ben Boutwell both told Hawkins they want to know more about the company before considering their officer. Hawkins said he would attempt to get more information from company principals soon.
Three weeks ago, the council rejected a $240,000 deal for the building.
West Florida Gin Manager Robert Earl Godwin and businessman Larry Baxley, who are in the process of setting up North Escambia Warehouse and Storage, LLC, made a preliminary lease-to-own offer on the town-owned building at $4,000 per month for five years, for a total of $240,000. The company would have made an $8,000 deposit, paid the first month’s rent in advance, and paid for any upgrades to the building. At the end of the lease term, they would have had the option to buy the building for $100, a proposed lease agreement prepared by the town’s attorney stated.
The cotton storage would likely not create any jobs, which was one major concern for some council members.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
34 Responses to “Century Receives Another Offer For Vacant Industrial Property”
It is really Sad, and I am guilty too, to think that Anything having to do with the Town of Century is now viewed with great suspicion and hesitant speculation.
There are many good people there who are near powerless to change things around and as a result suffer from the alleged misdoings and stigma that has come to be synonymous with the mayor and town leadership.
Thanks I stand corrected. I still feel the basic concept is the same.
We need to rename the Town of Century and call it Hawkinsville.
“This makes offer number four on the building. remember the offer to grow organic vegetables, then the company that wanted to”wire up” the TOC using solar”
A little clarification…the veggie people wanted the old Alger Sullivan property, not this building. The solar people did not want the building…they wanted to sell their products *for the building.
This makes offer number four on the building. remember the offer to grow organic vegetables, then the company that wanted to”wire up” the TOC using solar. (remember the plane tickets). There may have not been a lot of new jobs with the cotton company but they would spend some money in TOC. The real question would be with the “trucking company” where would the students live. Maybe in the building.
Should have taken the initial offer. It would pay the town more and the lease would be local and not some shady out of state start-up. This second business (if you can call it that, sounds more like a scam), which “…the company specializes in oilfield water and sand hauling”. My bet is that the warehouse will be filled with toxic waste from oilfield operations and left for the town to clean-up while at the same time getting stiffed on the lease funds. Run as fast as you can back to the first offer and drop this latest one.
Do a little research to find out what it takes to even become a CDL training facility in Florida and then see if this outfit has what it takes before you leap!
Why would Hawkins even bring this up the topic if he didn’t have more information. Sure looks like someone is trying to appear to do something big for the town and it’s a sad failed attempt at that too. This one sounds like a fluke, the cotton gun idea from little house on the prairie was also fishy enough, but this one takes the cake. I really have not much to say and can’t wait until he brings more information on this trucking company. Like how many years they’ve been in service. What areas and businesses they have served. Other references to the outstanding service provided and how many students have graduated through their program. Heck how long is the training program, I would love to sign up now.
If that’s the case regarding Wyoming and their somewhat loose LLC requirements, then this whole deal sounds fishy. I would run, not walk, away from this one.
These companies may be “legitimate”. Anyone can set up a LLC, 501(c), etc., even scammers.
Why would a trucking company in Wyoming go through an entertainment company – which shows a Georgia contact phone number on their FB page – to set up a business in Century, FL? They should have first sent a professional letter to the mayor/council with their intent and then established phone and email communication. If legitimate, they should send a properly credentialed representative to Century to speak with the Mayor and the Council. They should expect to sign a contract, put down a deposit and pay rent from beginning, as well as pay for any repairs, renovations, etc. they make to the building.
Why would the Mayor and Council even consider this offer of $3,500 per month for 3-5 years with deferred payments for 90 days from people they do not know, when they recently turned down a legitimate offer from established local businesses that would have made an $8,000 deposit, paid for any upgrades to the building, paid the first month’s rent in advance and paid $4000 a month rent for five years? This does not pass the common sense test. Unless you are Mayor Hawkins…
It seems that he is not interested in taking care of the best interests of the TOC, just “taking care of business” by any means necessary for “the community” which is NOT Century as a whole. Hawkins knows the folks associated with ACTS Entertainment Management. They have a bigger agenda and he is a part of that agenda. He also controls the Council vote (3-2) and is a big part of the problems the TOC currently have.
The residents of the Town of Century and the surrounding area need to wise up!
I should have added… just the fact that the LLC WAS made in Wyoming is a warning sign. It’s well-known that scam artists and bad actors use that state to incorporate since they are the only state that doesn’t require listing any of the people involved.
This business is almost certainly not based in Wyoming. Wyoming is a state (like Delaware) that a lot of people use to get a LLC because they allow out-of-state residents to form LLC’s, have no filing fees, allow you to form an LLC without listing officers, and don’t charge a state income tax on the those LLC’s.
So it could be anyone in the world… Not saying he is, but the mayor himself could be behind the whole thing and no one would know…
“Hawkins said he would attempt to get more information from company principals soon.” Attempt? Is there something that the taxpayers are not being told? If a company wants to locate you would think they would be forthcoming with the dissemination of information. Unless, of course they have something to hide.
M,
Is TOC a magnet for flim flam artists…or could it be that Henry Hawkins is a magnet for flim flam artists?
Funny, a search did not locate a DOT number for a trucking company of that name in Wy, or anywhere else for that matter, and a DOT number is a necessity before a big truck gets on a public hwy. hauling any kind of freight anywhere. It seems like the TOC is a magnet for flim flam artists, this company may not be one, but the TOC needs look carefully at what is being offered, and make sure any contract is performance based. Make sure they are contractually obligated to hire and train x number of people in a given period of time or move out.
So what are they doing about the Grand Jury and Izners recommendation?
Looks like Hawkins is trying to keep his foot in the door for his agenda.
Yes– Look up what Alan said.
There may not even be a trucking business.
Baxley should bring up his offer again, before TOC is mired in a transition and has decision making taken away after this audit.
Why is a Wyoming trucking company interested in setting up shop in the Panhandle? Not enough business in WY?
something about these non profits, LLC and Reverends and democrats just seem flim flam. ACTS Management ACTS entertainment Apostles radio shows on and on, ACTS reentry
There is probably not even a trucking company but a non profit wanting the keys to the building
Scam Scam Flim Flam
yep they are on facebook
At least two people on the council have some sense..They shouldn’t let the Mayor spring this stuff on them, by charter the president of the council is supposed to set the agenda.
So, a greater than 40% rent discount, and carry the note for 90 days? Something is not right about this.
Rember the guy that brought a flim flam deal before the council about a year ago. ..maybe he has something to do with this deal..huh Mayor??????
Some, perhaps all, States do not require the same information for an LLC as an S or C type corporation, just requiring a registered agent, usually a lawyer. This is one of the wonderful things about LLC’s, no one knows who owns it.
I did find it interesting that going to the ACTS Entertainment Management Facebook page will show it is run by a Felecia Leslie, whose FB Friends list includes Henry Hawkins and Devin Harper.
Why does a building in Century have a sign that reads “attention job seekers.” Seems out of place.
I don’t believe many realize that the cotton gin hire alot of seasonal workers during cotton season and I know alot of century people going to work there….it’s only about 20 mins away.
The fact they need more storage space means they are expanding means they can hire more at the gin. And having a warehouse here means more traffic for our existing restaurants and convenience stores.
Alot of startups close within the first few years……..
Let’s get smart folks…..
SW is right. This deal is about as credible as the town council. How can they pass up this deal up? Fly by night offer to a fly by night town council.
@ mark
I agree with you. maybe he bought them airplane tickets.
I like the way they think, rent lower, we can get less.
Even for Century, something seems off about this deal.
Maybe the Mayor can buy some more airline tickets to investigate.
A company formed in Wyoming two months ago which does not list its officers with the state in which it was incorporated? Sounds like a great deal, but not for Century.
Century needs to come up with a plan to live within its means before selling or leasing its few remaining assets.
Sounds fishy to me
Let’s see here. 2 well known successful LOCAL businessmen offer immediate and steady money for a building that has been vacant for 10 years and their offer was rejected. This opportunity will probably not create jobs.
An email from an out of state company that was formed 2 months ago offering less money and delayed payments. With the promise of creating jobs.
I understand Century and the surrounding area needs jobs. But The town of Century is in a huge financial crisis and should have taken the steady proven money when it was offered.
Take some advice, Century Counsel!!!
Opportunity only knocks so many times – ANSWER THE DOOR!!!
Beggars can’t be choosers. Take what you can get while you can still get it.
Well this is not surprising, they turned down a LOCAL business that’s been established for years over a fly by night company. Must be some kick backs involved for the mayor.
Either the mayor has some unlawful scheme with this LLC formed only 2 months ago, or Hawkins is as gullible as he is inept. At this point, it’s a coin toss either way with this clown and his circus.
Be consistent. Go for it!
We need more jobs around here. As stands the main job seems to be saling drugs. Century is mainly poverty. We have 2 apartments complexes based on income and its so easy to get in them cause no one has income to prove cause they sale dope and its basically out in the open. I don’t even wont my kids walking down the street. We need to clean up the streets and get some jobs in here. Making that place a Warehouse and Storage isnt gonna put anyone around here to work.
So an entertainment company is acting on behalf of a trucking company from Wyoming and they will also offer a school and CDL certification program.
They appear to have no track record having just been created.
Wonder if they have any trucks, motor carrier licenses, contracts??
They want to pay less than the prior prospective buyer and want 90 days free rent.
Here we go again.