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Secret Deal? Century Mayor to Negotiate No-Bid Anonymous Contract To Sell Town-Owned Land
January 3, 2024
Tuesday night, the Century Town Council approved the mayor’s request to allow him to negotiate an anonymous, no-bid sale of vacant residential land currently owned by the town to a private individual.
“The resident would like to make a no bid offer,” Gomez said, bringing up the item that did not appear in that agenda.
“The reason to put anonymity. It is if the property’s jacked up. It’s just tied up or the boundary lines or not clear. Is he don’t want his name out there,” the mayor said after declining to name the person or the location of the property.
“He don’t want his name out there,” he said again.
Gomez said he would work with the town attorney to draft a sale contract that will come back to the council for final approval. He said the contact, any title searches or subdivisions would take place at no cost to the town but did not identify the individual that would be responsible for the costs.
“Everything is above board with the attorney involved,” Gomez said.
“All that’s got to come back and be approved publicly by the council at a public meeting. You’ll have the name of that person. You’ll have all that information before you. The mayor can’t enter into any agreement without council approval,” interim town manager Howard Brown said.
The mayor’s request was approved 4-1 by the council, with Shelisa Abraham voting no.
Florida law allows anonymous negotiations with potential businesses for the purpose of economic development, but there’s no obvious provision to secretly negotiate with individuals for residential property.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
35 Responses to “Secret Deal? Century Mayor to Negotiate No-Bid Anonymous Contract To Sell Town-Owned Land”
Let’s just hope he isn’t selling to China or some other outsider. Something stinks about this whole thing.
To me, this looks like a stare down game of chicken between the Century Town Council and Senator Broxson. It will be interesting to see how this plays out with Senator Broxson being in his final term. He opened up the suggestion of the Legislature dissolving Century, and meanwhile the Council hasn’t flinched.
“Everything is above board with the attorney involved,” Gomez said.
If he must state that, it’s probably not above board. Someone is getting a piece of the action somewhere and what he’s proposing is probably not legal, this council has been known to break state laws and Gomez has proven his incompetence time and time again.
The secrecy is needed to keep others bodering the property from making a bid. The value of property seems to rise when several people show interest.
Would the town lawyer participating in this scheme be grounds for an ethics complaint against him?
Governor needs to step in if Senator Broxson, Atttorney General etc., do not heed the call. Representative Salzman was involved with TOC at one time but where did she go?
I raise my bid to $21 but that’s as far as I’m going!!
I’ll bid $20.00 site unseen!! Or better yet maybe just report this to the state attorney.
The citizens of Century put no effort in researching the candidates qualifications, track records etc., for these positions. They pick what looks right and then don’t understand why it keeps failing. Smh. They deserve this outcome imo.
The question I have is why would anybody expect anything different out of this town council and mayor? They have been doing the same kind of stuff and worse as far back as I can remember, and nobody has held them accountable. The legislature and the Governor don’t seem to care, and the state attorney seems to ignore it. The voters in Century must like it because they keep electing the same caliber of leaders. The best thing any of us could probably do is come up with some kind of scheme to get our hands in the till and enjoy it too.
@Oversight… Just check the county appraiser site and search Town of Century under Real Estate Record Search. There’s 17 properties listed.
Where are our state representatives. Why are they letting this happen? One of you should do something about this coruption in Century!
We agree with the resident. There is nothing fair or right about this deal.The town has gone to the dogs. I have lived here most of my life and the town has did nothing but go down. I am so sad; I tell my children and grand children what it use to be like and that was the town we were proud for people to know was our home;
I suppose they will give him a loan too
This type of behavior from the Mayor is just so suspect and then to be supported by the majority of the council. Glad to see that at least one council member seems to understand this is no okay.
I truly shocked anybody would think that Mr Gomez would do anything under the table
How much more will the century tax payer take? Get your town back geez.
public action. maybe i want the property
This Mayor has more tricks than a Magician.
@BufordT….If the State revokes the town charter, the county has no choice but to take over, whether it wants to or not.
Since the soft coup which removed Mayor Boutwell, Gomez and his clowns have run unchecked. They make a mockery of the institutions of good government.
Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The Prichard of NW Florida. Coming on strong.
Ok so the Town charter is revoked. Then what??? The State doesn’t want this mess and it appears the County does not either. Without their approval what happens to Century? It’s not as easy as just revoking the charter, someone has to take it over.
This guy is really something else! … Not in a good way
Sunshine law?
Put the land up for PUBLIC AUCTION
LET STATE ATTORNEY STEP IN.
PUT GOMEZ BEHIND BARS ALONG WITH BROWN
PUBLIC KNEW BROWN WOULD BE GOMEZ RING MASTER.
There has got to be a moment when the skullduggery has to stop.
The town is failed. The town government has failed. The citizens of the town must stand up against the tomfoolery.
The state must step in, revoke the charter and sell off assets.
Representative Salzman, Senator Broxson, Attorney General Moody, Governor DeSantis, FL Secretary of State Byrd, your action is needed, ASAP.
TOC Leadership is a circus and Gomez is the clown….Please Help State Attorney ASAP This can’t be above board and the corruption is ampyfing….Thank you Shelisa for standing against corruption and I guarantee you that Mr Brown and Gomez will benefit for their backroom deal that was made. “INVESTIGATION ASAP”
I bid one dollar.
Me thinks the State Attorneys Office needs to hear about this.
Okay. Time for a public record request for a listing of all town owned residential properties, and publish it.
omg I really can’t believe this!
omg I really ca’t believe this!
I’ll be the first to file a lawsuit….who’s next?
No way this is above board. Property should be declared surplus an old not needed for the common good of citizens and then sold at public auction. Anyone should have the right to buy it at public sale, not a backroom deal with someone the mayor knows. When will someone investigate? Disappointed this new town manager is on board with this.
Florida operates in the Sunshine. Period.