Alabama Moves Forward With Plans To Build Three Prisons, Close Others
June 30, 2019
Alabama will plans to break ground on the first of three new prisons by mid-2020, but exactly where they will be built still remains to be seen. The stakes are high for towns like Atmore that already have prisons because many of the current prisons in the state will be closed.
The ADOC is looking for companies to build the prisons and then lease them back to the state for up to $78 million a year. The estimated total costs of the prisons is $900 million.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s administration has taken the next step in the plan, formally issuing a request for proposals to identify companies that will bid on the new prisons later in 2019.`
The locations of the new prisons have not been announced and remain open based upon the proposals from the private companies that will build them. The proposal request posted by the ADOC, however, indicates there is no chance the largest facility would be built in Atmore.
The largest prison will have 3,960 beds with about 1.1 million square feet on an estimated 216 acres. According to documents posted by the corrections department, it will be located somewhere in the central part of the state because it will house centralized services such as medical, mental health, aged care and inmate reception. That would rule out Atmore.
The state expects to execute an agreement on the largest facility by the end of 2019. Contracts for the other two facilities with about 3,072 beds each will be executed in six-month intervals in 2020.
The state will not consider awarding all three contracts to the same developer.
All three should be located, according to the ADOC, near population centers that ensure an adequate present and future employment base with an average commute of about 45 minutes. The criteria also provides locations should be within a 45 minutes average commute of existing corrections employee locations.
The third major location criteria for the two smaller prisons is access to a Level 3 trauma center in addition to other inpatient and outpatient services within 30 minute
The construction plans came after the U.S. Department of Justice found conditions in Alabama men’s prisons violate the constitution. The DOJ concluded that there is reasonable cause to believe that the men’s prisons fail to protect prisoners from prisoner-on-prisoner violence and prisoner-on-prisoner sexual abuse, and fail to provide prisoners with safe conditions.
Pictured: Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
BOCC To Select OLF 8 Master Plan Firm Monday
June 30, 2019
The Escambia County Commission will hold a special meeting on Monday to decide between three ranked firms to create the master plan for the OLF 8 site on Nine Mile Road. The finalist list was selected by a joint Escambia County – Navy Federal committee.
The top three firms are, in the order ranked by the committee, are:
- DPZ CoDESIGN of Miami,
- Associated Space Design dba ASD|SKY of Atlanta.
- Pensacola office of Atkins North America.
During the 9 a.m. meeting Monday, the winning firm will be selected based upon the following criteria:
- Strategy for addressing Plan Objectives – 15 Points;
- Approach for conducting the Existing Conditions Analysis and Technical Analysis – 15 Points;
- Approach for conducting Economic Impact Analysis – 20 Points;
- Demonstration of innovative methods for soliciting, assessing and using community input, comments and suggestions during project development and for working with diverse stakeholders to achieve plan objective – 20 Points;
- Demonstration of successfully implementing other similar master plan – 15 Points; and
- Strategy for implementing the OLF-8 Master Plan – 15 Points.
The Firms
DPZ CoDESIGN’s accomplishments include the Perdido Key Corridor Master Plan, Pensacola Community Redevelopment Area Form Based Code, the Orange County Code and Comprehensive Plan, Reinvent Phoenix (AZ) and the Southtowne Apartments in Pensacola.
ASD/SKY’s accomplishments include the Navy Federal Heritage Oaks Campus, the Navy Federal Recreation Facility, Southtown Mixed Use Residential Project in Pensacola, the Lulu (GA) Master Plan and Hacienda Pinilla in Costa Rica.
Atkins North America’s list included the Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) Site, Babcock Ranch Economic Impact Study in Lee County, Crestview Community Redevelopment Agency Master Plan, Glenwood Park Atlanta,Grand Turk Master Plan Development Services Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Island.
OLF -8
In January Escambia County acquired the 636 acre OLF-8 in a land swap with the U.S. Navy for property in Santa Rosa County. The land exchange provided Escambia County with property that can accommodate a wide variety of residential and light industrial development options.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Take Our Quick Four Question Fourth Of July Survey
June 30, 2019
THIS SURVEY IS CLOSED.
How do you spend the Fourth of July? Who has the best local fireworks show?
Those are two of the four questions in the NorthEscambia.com Fourth of July Survey. Click here to take the survey, and look for the results in an upcoming story on NorthEscambia.com.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
New Texting, Vaping And Firefighter Cancer Laws Go Into Effect July 1
June 30, 2019
Several new laws will go into effect Monday, July 1 in Florida.
Texting and Driving
The one will impact the most people is a new law that makes texting and driving a primary offense, meaning an office can pull you over if they see you texting on your phone while your vehicle is in motion. There are also increase penalties forr texting and driving in school zones and construction zones.
Vaping Ban
A new vaping law goes into effect, banning vaping and e-cigarettes in indoor workplaces. The vaping ban is an extension of the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act, which was passed to protect people from secondhand smoke.
Firefighter Cancer Benefits
Firefighters that are diagnosed with certain types of cancer will benefit from the new law. While treatment for cancer is often covered already existing health plans, the new law requires the firefighter’s employer to cover out-of-pocket expenses such as copays and deductibles.
Navy Accepting Input On Advanced Helicopter Training Plan
June 30, 2019
The Navy has completed and released to the public a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the replacement of the TH-57 Sea Ranger training helicopter system with the Advanced Helicopter Training System at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field.
The Navy proposes to modernize its rotary-wing and tilt-rotor pilot training program at Training Air Wing Five located at NAS Whiting Field and its respective helicopter training Navy Outlying Landing Fields.
The AHTS would involve the replacement of TH-57 Sea Ranger training helicopters, replacement of existing simulators, an increase in operational training tempo, changes in operational tactics based on a new curriculum, construction of temporary and permanent supporting facilities, and an increase in personnel.
The purpose of the Proposed Action is to address the capability and capacity gaps of the current aging TH-57 helicopter training system operated by Training Air Wing (TW) 5 at NAS Whiting Field. The AHTS would provide a newer, more capable, more reliable helicopter and training system to TW-5. The proposed AHTS would meet the advanced helicopter and intermediate tilt-rotor training requirements through 2050.
Interested parties may view a copy of the Draft EA at the website www.nepa.navy.mil/ahts and at the following libraries:
CENTURY: Century Branch Library, 7991 N. Century Boulevard.
MOLINO: Molino Branch Library, 6450-A Highway 95A.
PENSACOLA: Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring Street; Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Avenue; Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 North Ninth Avenue; Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway; Westside Branch Library, 1301 West Gregory Street.
PACE: Pace Library, 4750 Pace Patriot Boulevard.
MILTON: Milton Library, 5541 Alabama Street.
Public comments on the Draft EA must be postmarked or received online no later than July 19, 2019. Written comments may be submitted online at www.nepa.navy.mil/ahts or mailed to:
AHTS EA Project Manager
Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic
Attn: Code EV22TW
6506 Hampton Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23508
Public comments on the Draft EA will be considered in the Final Environmental Assessment.
Pictured: TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters from Training Air Wing 5 sit on the flightline at Naval Air Station Whiting Field. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mechanic Testing Pickup Truck Flips It Into Cantonment Creek
June 29, 2019
A mechanic looking to test out a pickup truck flipped it into a Cantonment creek Saturday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said mechanic Craig Kittrell of Cantonment, 61, was driving the 1999 Chevrolet 1500 east on West Roberts Road near Stallion Road where he “allegedly accelerated to test the suspension and transmission. The action of the driver caused the rear tires of the vehicle to lose traction. The vehicle left the roadway, overturning into a creek.”
Kittrell and passenger Suzane Adams, age 38 of Cantonment, were both transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition by Escambia County EMS.
Any charges in the crash are pending, according to FHP.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Nine Mile, Pine Forest Crash
June 29, 2019
One person was injured in a two vehicle crash Saturday morning at the intersection Nine Mile and Pine Forest roads.
The male was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital. Traffic was slowed in the area as the Florida Highway Patrol investigated the wreck.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Responds To Letters From Medical Director’s Attorney
June 29, 2019
Escambia County has responded to letters from lawyers representing Medical Director Dr. Rayme Edler.
The Health Law Firm sent letters to the county attorney’s office and human resources department demanding that Edler not be contacted directly, instead asking that all communications be through her lawyer.
The county attorney’s office said that county staff and personnel in the day to day operation of the county are not obligated to follow the demands.
Edler’s supervisors and the interim human resources director “have the right and duty to communicate directly with Dr. Edler without your intervention or interference,” Deputy County Attorney Charles Peppler wrote in a letter to The Health Law Firm.
“…Your letter of representation would not prohibit day-to-day communication between Dr. Edler, her supervisors and employees of the Public Safety and Corrections Departments, including other department directors, such as Ms. Stallworth, on matters necessary for the efficient operation of County government,” Peppler continued. “Please advise your client that her duties and responsibilities as an employee of Escambia County require her to communicate with her supervisors, department directors, and employees within the Departments of Public Safety and Corrections on all matters arising from the course and scope of her employment with Escambia County without your having to be present and without the communication having to be made through you or any other attorney in your law firm.”
Edler oversees the medical operations in Escambia County’s Public Safety and Corrections departments.
Pictured: Escambia County Medical Directory Dr. Rayme Edler addresses the Escambia County Commission at a May meeting.
Doughnut Strike: First Responders Collect Food For Manna
June 29, 2019
First responders spent the last three days at area stores working to collect food for those in need in our communities.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia Fire Rescue, Pensacola Police Department and Pensacola Fire Department were on strike against their beloved doughnuts in an effort to collect 20,000 pounds of food.
Pictured: Escambia Fire Rescue collected food for Manna Friday afternoon at Grocery Advantage on Highway 29 in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
New Live Pensacola Beach Traffic Cameras; Cash For Tolls May Not Be Accepted This Weekend
June 29, 2019
New cameras provide a live look at Pensacola Beach traffic.
The cameras provide views of the traffic coming off the Bob Sikes Bridge and passing through the toll plaza in real time.
Live views of the cameras can be viewed on the county’s website.
Drivers traveling onto Pensacola Beach this weekend during peak traffic times may be instructed by staff to use the Toll-by-Plate system in the cash lanes in order to reduce traffic congestion, according to Escambia County.
If you are instructed to use Toll-by-Plate, you will simply drive through the toll plaza without stopping and receive your $1 bill in the mail through the Toll-by-Plate system. The toll will still be $1 each time you pass through the toll plaza, plus a $2.50 administrative fee that is charged each billing cycle. No matter the number of trips you take to the beach, you will only be charged the administration fee once per billing cycle.
You can also use your SunPass in all four lanes of the toll plaza, including the cash lanes, without stopping. With SunPass, the $1 toll will automatically be deducted from your prepaid account.
If you use Toll-by-Plate, remember you can use that method for the rest of the billing cycle with no additional administrative fee, just the one time $2.50 charge for the billing cycle.
Using Toll-by-Plate helps ease traffic congestion and allows drivers to pass through the toll plaza onto the beach much faster, which means less wait time for drivers.
Last weekend, during a test of the Toll-by-Plate system, the average wait time from Gulf Breeze proper to Pensacola Beach was approximately 10-15 minutes, compared to previous wait times of one hour.