New Traffic Signal To Be Activated Monday At Mobile Highway, Klondike Road
February 7, 2024
A new traffic signal at the intersection of Mobile Highway and Klondike Road was placed into flash mode on Monday, February 5, and will become fully operational next Monday, February 12.
The activation is weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Pictured: A new traffic signal at the intersection of Mobile Highway and Klondike Road shortly after installation. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mayor Says Water Is Safe; Century to Hire Firm For $33K And Attorney For $350/Hour To Answer FDEP
February 7, 2024
“The water is safe…We’ve been testing it.”
That is how Century Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. reassured citizens at a town council meeting Tuesday night. Questions about the town’s water supply were raised after NorthEscambia.com reported on Sunday that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) issued a warning letter on January 30, identifying 35 potential violations in the water system of Florida statutes and codes .
The town council voted Tuesday night to allow the mayor to hire U.S. Water Services Corp. in New Port Richey for up to $33,630 to address FDEP water warning letters from 2023 and a wastewater treatment plant consent order. The company will not address the most recent January 30 warning letter’s 35 items; the town’s request for proposals was issued prior to that date.
Instead, the town will hire an attorney recommended by the town attorney Matt Dannheisser to respond to the latest allegations. The second attorney will charge $350 per hour.
Credit Union Breaks Ground For New Cantonment Location
February 7, 2024
A local credit union held a groundbreaking recently for a new Cantonment Branch.
My Pensacola Credit Union Cantonment area branch will be located at 10330 Pensacola Boulevard, just south of East 10 Mile Road.
“We have been busy behind the scenes planning and getting everything approved to get to this point of initial celebration of another physical location to serve our members and local community!” said James Phetteplace, President and Chief Executive Officer of My Pensacola CU. “With the support of our Board of Directors and great partnership with Joy Gordon Construction and Sam Marshall Architects, we are ready to get started bringing our new branch vision to fruition… This new facility offers local residents the opportunity to conveniently bank with us in-person through our lobby and drive-thru. This new location will also include such features as an open outdoor area with cover for special events.”
My Pensacola CU’s other Pensacola location is located on South Reus Street in downtown.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Senior Clay Philley Signs With Birmingham-Southern College
February 7, 2024
Tate senior Clay Philley signed with Birmingham-Southern College Tuesday afternoon. Philley played outside linebacker for the Tate Aggies and is a member of the Tate tennis team. He also plays French horn for the Tate High School Showband of the South, and is a member of the Class of 2024 Hall of Fame.
“Clay is an outstanding student,” said Tate football head coach Rhett Summerford. “He’s very well-liked by not only his peers and teammates, but among faculty as well.”
Photos courtesy Tate Yearbook for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Recognizes January Leaders Of The Month
February 7, 2024
Bratt Elementary School recently celebrated their January Leaders of the Month with pizza, cookies, and a great book. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Anti-terrorism Exercises Continues This Week At Local Navy Bases
February 7, 2024
An annual anti-terrorism force protection exercise, known as Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain, is continuing at area Navy bases.
“Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain evaluates and assesses our force protection conditions, command and control, and existing as well as new capabilities to evaluate how we respond to multi-dimensional security threats,” said Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. “This exercise utilizes realistic scenarios to identify areas where we can improve our procedures and decision-making processes, and strengthen our response as one joint warfighting team made up of fleet and shore security forces across naval region, installation commands, and partner agencies.”
It is a regularly scheduled exercise and is not being held in response to any specific threat.
Measures have been taken to minimize disruptions within local communities and to normal base operations, but there may be times when the exercise causes increased traffic around bases or delays in base access. Area residents may also see or hear security activities associated with the exercise. Advanced coordination has taken place with local law enforcement and first responders.
Latest Century Audit Shows ‘Deteriorating Financial Condition; Over $4.5 Million In Fund Deficits
February 6, 2024
The Town of Century’s audit for the previous fiscal year has now been posted by the state and shows the town is again in deteriorating financial condition.
The audit, which was due June 30, 2023, had not been received and posted online by the Florida Auditor General as of December 21, 2023. Century has missed the state law mandated audit deadline every year for about a decade.
A 2019 grand jury report found gross mismanagement in the town, over a million dollars lost in utility operations, missing natural gas, about $3 million improperly borrowed from accounts with a 750-year payback plan, and a state of financial emergency. The town has never worked to follow many of the grand jury recommendations.
According to the 2021-2022 fiscal year audit, as of September 30, 2022:
- The Town’s overall financial condition demonstrates signs of a deteriorating financial condition described by Florida statute. Overall factors contributing to this condition include lack of short- and long-term financial planning, improper cash management activities and lack of analysis of existing tax rates and fee structures for proprietary operations. The local option sales tax revenues recorded in the special revenue fund are restricted for specific purposes; therefore, these funds will have to be repaid or it will be considered an inappropriate use of the restricted revenues. The town has experienced recurring operating deficits in the natural gas fund causing cash shortages.
- There was a deficit of $2.7 million in the town’s general fund and $1.9 million in the natural gas fund. Both of these funds have borrowed significant amounts from other funds of the town. The general fund and natural gas fund owed the special revenue fund approximately $2.8 million and $212,000, respectively. In June 2018, the council approved a repayment plan of $300 per month for the interfund loan between the general fund and special revenue fund.
- The town experienced the following cash management issues during the fiscal year, with inadequate funds held for customer deposits in the natural gas fund, and inadequate funds were held for required debt service reserves in the natural gas fund.
- The town did not properly reconcile multiple general ledger accounts as of year end. The town’s general ledger accounts should be reconciled monthly to detail subsidiary ledgers, and any reconciling items be promptly investigated and adjusted, and adequate supporting documentation for the adjustments be maintained.
- The town may have assets that have not been correctly recorded in the Town’s records, and there may be assets recorded on the Town’s records that are no longer in use or cannot be located. The town had not completed an inventory of assets on hand.
- A list of deficiencies and problems were also identified, many repeated from previous years.
Cantonment Man Celebrates 107th Birthday
February 6, 2024
A Cantonment man celebrated his 107th birthday Monday at the Sodalis Senior Living Facility.
Army veteran Duane Brewton was born February 5, 1917. He was married for 78 years and has four children and a multitude of children and grandchildren.
Brewton has told facility staff that the secret to a long life is putting God first and taking care of your health.
He served in Europe during World War II.
Brewton had a big birthday cake and celebrated the momentous occasion with family and friends.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry To Host Cantonment Town Hall
February 6, 2024
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry will host a town hall meeting on Monday, February 12 at 5 p.m. at the Langley Bell 4-H Center.
This is an open forum event and residents of District 5 are invited and encouraged to attend. County staff will be in attendance to address any additional questions or concerns from residents.
The Langley Bell 4-H Center is located at 3730 Stefani Road in Cantonment.
Pictured: Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry held a town hall meeting in April 2023 at the Langley Bell 4-H Center in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Reminder: Escambia Schools Canceled February 7 Early Release Day
February 6, 2024
Escambia County Public Schools will operate on a normal, full-day schedule on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.
The day was previously planned on the school calendar as any early release day.
The early release was canceled after students began this semester with two weather days at home — one for storms, one for cold temperatures.
“In order to do our best to ensure there is no question about meeting our state-mandated instructional minutes requirement, we will change Wednesday, February 7 from a half-day for students to a full day for all students and staff,” said ECPS Superintendent Keith Leonard. “All normal school activities and extracurricular activities will proceed, as well.”
All district offices and services, including Transportation and Food Services, will operate on a normal, school-day schedule.