Century’s Financial Audit Late For The Fifth Straight Year In Violation Of State Law
August 16, 2019
The Town of Century’s Annual Financial Report is late in violation of state law for the fifth straight year.
The legal deadline for submitting the Annual Financial Report, often referred to simply as an audit, to the Florida Department of Financial Services is June 30. But after a series of missteps, the town did not even hire an auditor until early June.
The town council has a workshop scheduled for Tuesday, August 20 at 5 p.m. to review the audit findings for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.
At a June council meeting, Mayor henry Hawkins said he had still not hired the auditing firm because he disagreed with a price increase, but primarily because the council had not given him the necessary approval to sign the engagement letter, which is a type of contract with a CPA firm.
Council President Ann Brooks said the council had previously voted to accept the increase and authorize the mayor to sign the agreement.
“They voted to accept, but they did not authorize me to sign it,” Hawkins said.
Mayor Never Received Authority To Hire Auditor
At their last meeting in May, council members learned that the auditor disagreed with claims by Mayor Henry Hawkins as to why the audit had not started for this year, and the council learned for the first time publicly that the town had yet to sign an agreement to hire the auditing firm.
A check of a NorthEscambia.com audio recording of the May 20 meeting confirmed Hawkin’s claim that the council did not give him approval to sign off on the auditor’s contract.
“Can we have a motion to authorize our auditor to proceed with the audit at a minimum fee of $30,000?”, Brooks asked during that meeting. The motion was made by council member Ben Boutwell to pay the $30,000 fee to the auditing firm, up from $21,000 last year.
“I would think you have to vote to authorize the mayor or the clerk to sign the engagement letter,” accountant Robert Hudson advised the the council.
“Any other questions before we vote?”, Brooks asked. The original motion was not amended before being passed unanimously after several minutes of discussion and did not give the signature authority to the mayor.
“Let the records show that we’ve decided to take $9,000 from CTA (funds received from the town’s Capital Trust Agency partnership) and put it with the $21,000 budgeted for the audit,” Brooks said after the May 20 vote.
Why Didn’t The Auditor Start Months Ago, And Why The $9,000 Fee Increase?
Century’s annual audit will cost thousands of dollars more due to several factors, including a scathing grand jury investigation, and the mayor tell did not inform the council for weeks, as NorthEscambia.com learned and first reported in May.
The town was informed in an April 8 email sent to Mayor Henry Hawkins, Town Clerk Kim Godwin, and town CPA Robert Hudson that the auditing firm Warren Averett was increasing their fee from $21,000 last year to a minimum of $30,000 this year.
Hawkins repeatedly told the town council that the firm would begin the audit after tax season, but he never mentioned receiving any communication from the auditor or the $9,000 fee increase to the council. In the meantime, the audit did not begin due to a lack of an engagement letter.
But an email obtained by NorthEscambia.com shows Hawkins forwarded the auditor’s email to Chief Deputy Clerk of Finance Kristina Wood on April 9. “FYI,” Hawkins wrote. “Now where do they think we’re getting the money from?”
CPA Kristen McAllister of Warren Averett said in a May 20 email to Town Council President Ann Brooks, “I do not think you have been informed correctly. I reach out to the Clerk, Mayor, and Robert (Hudson) a month ago to discuss a change in the audit contract before we can begin.” She added the delay “did not have anything to do with waiting until after tax season”.
McAllister said the higher audit fee was due to concerns over the utility billing cycle, concerns noted in the grand jury report, incorrect information provided that required multiple adjustments in the past two audits and a failure to follow the audit timeline.
For a previous story with details on the March grand jury report, click here.
Century’s Late Financial Report Submission History
Century’s last five audits were submitted to the state as follows:
- The 2016-2017 report due June 30, 2018, was completed August 10, 2018.
- The 2015-2016 report due June 30, 2017, was completed October 31, 2017.
- The 2014-2015 report due June 30, 2016, was completed February 15, 2017
- The 2013-2014 report due June 30, 2015, was completed November 17, 2015.
- The 2012-2013 audit was completed on time on June 30, 2014.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Dept. Of Corrections: Visitor Caught With Contraband At Century Work Camp
August 16, 2019
The Florida Department of Corrections is continuing their zero tolerance crackdown on contraband of any kind.
On August 11, staff the Century Work Camp on Tedder Road discovered a visitor attempting to pass contraband to an inmate. Their visitation was terminated.
The type of contraband was not specified in a report from the FDC.
The Department of Corrections said visitors attempting to introduce contraband are subject to suspension or termination of their visitation privileges and arrest.
Salzman Outraises Hill So Far In 2020 Florida House Race
August 16, 2019
Political newcomer Michelle Salzman (R) has financially outraised incumbent Mike Hill (R) so far in the 2020 race for the Florida House 1st District seat, according to the Florida Department of State.
In July, Salzman raised $6,442.52, of which $1965.80 was cash and $4,476.52 was in-kind contributions.
Also during July, Hill raised $1,150 from four contributors, one of which was $1,000 from former Escambia County Commissioner Wilson Robinson.
All total, Salzman has brought in $14,048.32, while Hill has raised $13,40075. About 40 percent – $5,405.75 – of Hill’s total is carryover funds from the 2018 election
Pensacola Mayor Robinson Joins Century Mayor Hawkins On Florida League Of Mayors Board
August 16, 2019
Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson was elected Thursday to an at-large seat on the Florida League of Mayors board of directors, joining Century Mayor and 44 other Florida mayors on the board.
Robinson paused at the Florida League of Cities Conference in Orlando for a selfie with Hawkins. Pensacola was marking #CityHallSelfie Day.
Photo: A selfie from Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets 10 Years In Fatal Hit And Run Involving Bicyclist
August 16, 2019
An Escambia County man has been sentenced for a fatal hit and run accident two years ago.
Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Burns sentenced Jason Lee Huff to serve 10 years in state prison for leaving the scene of an accident causing death. On September 6th, 2017, Huff fled the scene of a traffic crash with a bicyclist in the intersection of Creighton Road and 9th Avenue in Pensacola. The bicyclist passed away as a result of his injuries.
The next day, a witness reported seeing a man matching Huff’s description abandoning the vehicle involved in the crash in an apartment complex parking lot. Further investigation proved it was the same vehicle from the crash and that Huff was the driver.
Ultimately, Huff admitted to fleeing the scene and was arrested on March 27th, 2019.
There is no parole in Florida, so he will be required to serve 85% of his sentence.
Escambia County To Receive $21.8 Million For New Jail
August 16, 2019
Escambia County will receive $21.8 million from the Florida Division of Emergency Management through Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement, which will go directly toward the county’s $145 million correctional facility project.
“On behalf of the board of commissioners, I’d like to thank the Escambia County legislative delegation chairman, Sen. Doug Broxson, and Rep. Alex Andrade, for their continued support of this project,” Commission Chairman Lumon May said. “Sen. Broxson has been working with our county administrator for the past six weeks on these reimbursements and we appreciate his efforts and diligence in delivering these funds.”
To date, the county has received over $111 million in funding for the correctional facility project from bond proceeds, Local Option Sales Tax, the State of Florida and FEMA.
“These funds get us closer to the completion of this priority project for our community,” Sen. Doug Broxson said. ” Making sure that Escambia County gets to close the door on a devastating incident and move forward is important and I am thankful to be able to provide meaningful assistance.”
Whitesell-Green/Caddell construction crews broke ground on the correctional facility in November 2018 and the project is on track for completion by mid-2020. The new building is located near the southeast corner of North Pace Boulevard and West Fairfield Drive and will serve as the central booking facility and juvenile housing area.
The facility is expected to provide approximately 90 new jobs. The three-story building will house 784 inmates and include an inmate intake and receiving area, and dining and kitchen service areas that will serve both the old and new facilities.
Committee Recommends California Doctor As New Medical Examiner
August 16, 2019
The Medical Examiner’s Search Committee has recommended Dr. Scott Luzi as the new First District medical examiner.
Luzi is a Forensic Pathologist currently working in California. The committee reviewed Luzi’s background including his experience, education, and references.
The counties in the First District, including Escambia and Santa Rosa will need to reach an agreement on his contract and salary before his name can be submitted to Gov. Ron DeSantis for appointment, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins. All parties involved will discuss the issue and it is hoped that a decision will be made within 30 days.
Luzi is the medical director and manager of Anatomic, Clinical, and Forensic Pathology Services in Escondido, California.
Atmore Wreck Claims The Life Of Elderly Woman
August 16, 2019
A traffic crash Thursday evening claimed the life of an elderly Atmore woman.
The two vehicle wreck occurred at 6:38 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 31 and Wilson Avenue, near downtown Atmore.
Driver Cited After Colliding With School Bus
August 15, 2019
An Escambia County driver was cited after he collided with a school bus Thursday morning.
Christopher Callaway, 33, crossed into the same lane as a school bus at Alexandria Drive and Edison Drive, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The bumper of the bus collided with the side of his Nissan Altima.
Callaway and the 15 passengers on the bus were not injured. Callaway was cited for driving on the wrong side of the road.
File photo.
Former Inmate Crushed By Tree Files Suit Against Town Of Century, Florida Dept. Of Corrections
August 15, 2019
A former state prison inmate has filed a negligence lawsuit against the Town of Century and the Florida Department of Corrections claiming he was crushed by a tree while on a work release program.
Cheyenne Nelson was participating in an inmate work release program on Jefferson Avenue in Century on March 27, 2018, under the direct supervision of two Town of Century utility workers. According to the lawsuit filed this month, Nelson was assigned the task of using an 18-inch chainsaw while about 40 feet of the ground in a boom truck bucket.
Nelson was not provided with a protective hard hat, gear, glasses of or safety roping to control falling limbs or pieces of the cut tree, his attorney claims.
A large portion of the cut tree fell on top of Nelson “crushing and pinning him inside the bucket causing serious and permanent bodily injury”, the lawsuit states.
The suit claims the Town of Century “recklessly” disregarded Nelson’s safetyby not taking measures to prevent injury, not providing safety gear, failing to properly train town employees and failing to supervise those employees.
He claims the Florida Department of Corrections was negligent by assigning him work release duties with the Town of Century knowing that the work would be detrimental to his physical well being.
Nelson is seeking an unspecified damage award from the town and FDC.
Nelson was released from prison on April 25, 2019, after serving three years on a grand theft conviction in Escambia County, according to Florida Department of Corrections records.