Much Of Three Hour Barry District 5 Town Hall Focuses On Development

August 30, 2023

District 5 Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry spent nearly three hours Tuesday night answering questions at a town hall meeting at the Molino Community Center.

Much of the discussion centered around the growing number of proposed developments in District 5. Residents express concerns ranging from increased traffic, inadequate roads, and inadequate public services such as schools and fire protection.

One attendee drew applause when he asked why Escambia County does not learn from development in Beulah and address infrastructure needs in advance.

“Sounds like a very good idea,” Barry said. “But we have needs that exceed financial resources that we have currently. This is needs for resurfacing, for dirt road paving, for improvements on areas that exist…The likelihood of having an elected board allocate $5-10 million dollars to a road that doesn’t have a need currently is not likely. It’s an unfortunate circumstance, but it’s the truth we have needs that need to be done and you know putting a road in through the woods, just realistically, it’s not going to happen.”

“It’s just not likely to have elected officials that are going to allocate large chunks of money to projects for what might happen in the future,” he added.

Barry cautioned residents to understand that just because a development is proposed does not mean it will ever become reality.

“I understand being upset, and I would gauge the degree of unhappiness about what does happen, not what is proposed to happen,” he said.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

12 Responses to “Much Of Three Hour Barry District 5 Town Hall Focuses On Development”

  1. R on September 1st, 2023 3:08 am

    Glad to see you people finally waking up wish cottage hill would. I was always taught commissioners are work and help? His people

  2. John smith on August 31st, 2023 7:54 pm

    Blowing Smoke, as we called it in the USMC!!! He knows exactly what is happening because these are re-occurrent issues. Why do the so called voters keep voting this joker in ???? Show me and others when proposals are not approved, except for the guy who wanted some animals on his property recently. All of the developments, car washes, Dollar General, in my knowledge have been approved! Vote Barry out, but you are to blame if you vote for this guy, this manipulator who has done so much for out county: baloney ( mildest word I can use without profanity). He is listed as an independent financial planner: more growth, more money in the bank, Feckless in my opinion!!!

  3. Theresa on August 31st, 2023 11:43 am

    So why did Barry support a “road through the woods” on the west end of Kingsfield Road that goes to a utility easement in the woods, not to Beulah Road as it had been advertized?

  4. Duke of Wawbeek on August 31st, 2023 9:12 am

    ENOUGH!

  5. BIG JOHN on August 30th, 2023 8:09 pm

    YES IT TIME FOR MR. BARRY TO GO, AND YES JIB YOU ATE RIGHT IN WHAT YOU SAY !!

  6. M in Bratt on August 30th, 2023 3:45 pm

    If development is so damn good, how come it costs the ones of us that have been here so much money?

  7. Cantonment Mom on August 30th, 2023 11:56 am

    “Jlb”…I didn’t vote him back in last time he ran!! I agree…time to vote him out!

  8. Jlb on August 30th, 2023 11:48 am

    Barry will listen to you…in one ear out the other…your concerns will be addressed an he’ll do what he wants… time to vote him out…he’s now a politician.

  9. FL_31 on August 30th, 2023 9:20 am

    Yeah, cut taxes! Then those roads will never be allocated.

  10. Phil on August 30th, 2023 8:03 am

    This guy does not represent district 5, he represents himself.
    Time to go Steve !

  11. bobk on August 30th, 2023 8:03 am

    A gentle reminder;
    The horse goes in front of the cart.

  12. RW on August 30th, 2023 7:50 am

    HOW ABOUT LOWERING PROPERTY TAXES