Official’s Comments Stir Up Florida Offshore Oil Drilling Debate
January 22, 2018
Despite U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s declaration last week that Florida wouldn’t be considered as part of a White House offshore oil-drilling proposal, waters near the state’s Gulf and Atlantic coasts may continue to be under review.
But that all depends on how to interpret comments from Walter Cruickshank, the acting director of the Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. He told members of the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee on Friday that there has been “no formal decision yet on what’s in, or out, of the five-year program.”
“We are following the process conducting a full analysis of all areas included in the draft proposed program,” Cruickshank added.
Democrats quickly pounced on his statement that “no formal action” has been taken on Zinke’s announcement. Yet Cruickshank also said Zinke’s statement “stands for itself,” the secretary’s decision would be “reflected in the proposed program” and that Congress has treated Florida waters differently, noting a decades-long moratorium against oil drilling in an area of the eastern Gulf of Mexico used by the military for air and sea training.
Cruickshank had been asked why Florida was carved out of the plan, as governors and leaders of other coastal states have sought similar exemptions to the one Zinke announced after flying into Tallahassee International Airport on Jan. 9.
Zinke, appearing alongside Gov. Rick Scott at the airport, said Florida coastal waters would be removed from plans to open previously protected parts of the Atlantic Ocean and eastern Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas drilling. In making the decision, Zinke praised Scott, an ally of President Donald Trump, for working with the administration.
Scott hailed Zinke’s announcement, while some others questioned the quick decision and manner of announcement as an attempt by the Trump administration to further Scott’s political career.
In a release Friday, the office of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson — a Democrat expected to be challenged for his seat later this year by Scott — said Cruickshank’s comment confirms that Zinke’s airport announcement was a “political stunt” and not an official policy.
The drilling proposal was introduced less than a week before Zinke’s trip to Tallahassee. Scott and Florida politicians from both parties voiced opposition to opening waters beyond the nation’s outer continental shelf — a jurisdictional term describing submerged lands 10.36 statutory miles off Florida’s west coast and 3 nautical miles off the east coast.
Sierra Club Florida Director Frank Jackalone called Cruickshank’s testimony an administration “flip-flop” that should be an embarrassment for Zinke and Scott.
“It also makes a mockery of the entire offshore planning process and this administration’s ability to do its job and responsibly manage America’s public lands and waters,” Jackalone said. “Zinke’s promise to take Florida ‘off the table’ was never anything more than a PR stunt to greenwash Governor Scott’s record, but Floridians won’t be fooled.”
Nelson has filed legislation to permanently ban drilling off Florida’s coasts and on Wednesday placed a “hold” on the confirmation of three Interior Department nominees, which he said would remain in place until Zinke rescinds the current draft five-year drilling plan and replaces it with a new draft that fully protects Florida’s coasts.
Asked about Nelson’s legislation on Thursday, Scott said he had not seen what was being proposed, but maintained his opposition to offshore drilling.
“I’ve been clear, I oppose offshore drilling,” Scott said.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
January 22, 2018
Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings for the week of January 22-26:
Monday, Jan. 22
Library Board of Governance – 4 p.m., Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St.
District 5 Roads and Bridges Town Hall - 5 p.m., Walnut Hill Community Center and Ruritan Club, 7850 Highway 97N
Tuesday, Jan. 23
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Escambia County Health Facilities Authority – 4 p.m., 1019 N. 12th Ave.
FDOT U.S. 98 (West Garden Street) at Barrancas Avenue Public Hearing - 5:30 p.m., Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St.
Delta Contractors Concrete/Asphalt Recycling Facility Permit Renewal Town Hall – 5:30 p.m., Marie K. Young-Wedgewood Community Center & Park, 6405 Wagner Road
Wednesday, Jan. 24
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Santa Rosa Island Authority Quasi-Judical Hearing-Rezoning – 5 p.m., 1 Via de Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach
Santa Rosa Island Authority Committee Meeting – 5:10 p.m., 1 Via de Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach
Thursday, Jan. 25
FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance Board of Directors/Pensacola-Escambia Development Commission Board of Directors – 8:30 a.m., 321 N. De Villiers St.
Escambia Extends Permit Fee Waiver for Freeze-Related Pipe Damage
January 22, 2018
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners has extended the waiver for permitting and inspection fees for damages to plumbing piping related to the recent hard freezes in the area.
Fees will be waived until close of business Wednesday, January 31. The waiver is not retroactive, and refunds will not be issued for fees incurred prior to January 4.
Please note that this waiver only applies to permit and inspection fees. Permits are still required as usual.
The waived fees were proposed by the Escambia County Building Services Department and the Building Services Inspection Fund Advisory Board in an effort to lessen the hardship or cost to the consumer for freeze-related pipe damages. Once the consumer obtains a plumbing contractor to make the appropriate repairs, they will obtain the permitting with the waived fees reflected.
The Town of Century approved a similar fee waiver during their council meeting Monday night.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
January 22, 2018
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period ending January 11 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Pettey checked a pair of fishermen at Quintette Boat Ramp. He discovered that they were in possession of 120 panfish, 20 over their allowable daily bag limit. A notice to appear citation was issued for the violation.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Hutchinson was working late at night in the Blackwater State Forest when he observed two vehicles with a bright light being shined from the driver side window of the first vehicle. As he watched, the driver shined the light into the tree line and across an open field on private property. When the two vehicles stopped at a large tree beside the roadway, Officer Hutchinson pulled in behind them and observed one of the subjects standing in the road shining his light in the top of the tree. Officer Hutchison determined that the men were hunting raccoons with the use of a light from a moving vehicle which is prohibited. Officer Hutchison issued the man who used the light a notice to appear for attempting to take racoon with the use of a light from a moving vehicle.
Officer Hutchinson and Lieutenant Hahr assisted Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources with a night hunting case before the 2017 hunting season. The case involved two subjects who killed two bucks in velvet in Alabama at night before the hunting season. Officer Hutchinson and Lieutenant Hahr caught the subjects in possession of the deer in Florida and worked in conjunction with the Alabama officers to make the case. Officer Hutchinson appeared in court in Alabama along with the Alabama Conservation Officers resulting in a conviction for one of the subjects. The other subject failed to appear in court.
Officer Jones was on patrol in South Santa Rosa County, in Navarre Beach, when he noticed a man exit an old sailboat that was anchored in Santa Rosa Sound. The man boarded a small dinghy and proceeded to the boat ramp. As Officer Jones approached the vessel to conduct a boating safety check, the operator of the vessel turned the vessel and began to motor away. The subject refused to comply with repeated instruction to return to the dock and returned to his sailboat, where he removed the small motor from the dinghy. The operator then paddled to the dock where Officer Jones was located and was placed under arrest for interference with an FWC officer and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail. The subject was also issued a uniform boating citation for an expired registration.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Congressman Cancels ‘Open Gaetz Day’ Due To Government Shutdown
January 22, 2018
Due to the government shutdown affecting federal agencies and employees, Congressman Matt Gaetz has postponed planned “Open Gaetz Day” events scheduled for Monday, January 22 Escambia County.
Appointments previously scheduled for Mobile Office Hours at PenAir on Nine Mille will go on as scheduled with members of Gaetz’s staff in attendance from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.
“While I’d rather be in Pensacola for the scheduled town hall meeting and other planned Open Gaetz Day events, I’ll be at work in Washington to help make sure our government gets back to business and continues funding our military. We will reschedule our town hall meeting soon,” Gaetz said.
For more information or to contact Gaetz’s office about a pressing issue, call (850) 479-1183.
Counties Face Increased Pension Costs
January 22, 2018
Florida counties will have to contribute an additional $66 million to the state pension fund in the new budget year, according to legislation that has started moving in the Senate.
As a result of a decrease in the assumed rate of investment return on the $160 billion pension fund, counties, school boards, state agencies, universities, state colleges and other government entities will have to increase their contributions in the 2018-2019 budget year to make sure there is enough money to pay retirement benefits in the long term.
The increased payments total $178.5 million, including $66.4 million for county governments, according to legislation (SB 7014) approved by the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee last week.
School districts, whose employees represent about half of the 627,000 active pension participants, will have to contribute an additional $54.4 million.
State agencies will have to contribute another $31 million. Universities will have to contribute $11.8 million and state colleges an additional $4.8 million.
A handful of cities and special districts that participate in the state retirement system will face a $10 million contribution increase.
County governments, which face the largest contribution increase, will have to accommodate the added expense as they shape their 2018-2019 budgets.
“Counties are closely monitoring the FRS (Florida Retirement System) contribution but remain committed to a program that provides retirement security to our dedicated public servants,” said Cragin Mosteller, a spokeswoman for the Florida Association of Counties.
The bulk of the other contribution increases are part of overall budget challenges facing House and Senate members as they craft the 2018-2019 state budget, which takes effect July 1.
The $54 million increase for school districts, for example, will be in the mix as lawmakers address overall public-school funding. Lawmakers are already having to accommodate an increase of more than 27,000 new students next academic year, and the House and Senate remain at odds over using increased local property tax collections to boost school spending
Senate Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, said the state pension fund in the Senate budget bill will be “fully funded with the new assumptions.”
“It’s an obligation of the state,” Bradley said. “And we are comfortable with the current level of (pension) benefits in the Senate, with the understanding that when you change the assumptions, that requires more money to go to that area.”
The Florida Retirement System Actuarial Assumption Conference lowered the projected rate of return on the pension fund’s collection of stocks, bonds, real estate and other assets from 7.6 percent to 7.5 percent last fall.
It was the fourth year in a row that analysts have lowered the assumed rate of return on the fund.
The decision came after new evaluations from independent financial consultants projected a 30-year rate of return for the pension assets in the range of 6.6 percent to 6.81 percent.
With a 7.5 percent assumed rate of return, the Florida pension fund is expected to be able to pay 84.4 percent of its future obligations, with a $27.9 billion long-term unfunded actuarial liability, according to the consultants.
Public employees who participate in the pension plan have been required to contribute 3 percent of their annual salaries to the fund since 2011.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
Molino Thrift Store Ministers To Community, Helps Those In Need
January 21, 2018
At the Molino Outreach Thrift Store, the desire to help others is more important than the bottom line.
“That will be $26. You got 52 items for just $26,” proprietor – and pastor – Jason Lee told a customer Saturday afternoon as he bagged their purchases, including four or five plastic grocery bags full of clothes.
It’s a business model that from business mind standpoint that may not really make sense. But it was the decision of the boss.
Pastor Jason, as he is affectionately known throughout the community, said when the store first opened seven years ago, none of the donated clothes were over $2.99. But the Lord spoke, he said, and three years ago the price of clothes dropped to $1.99, and the store started holding 99 cent clothing sales. And now, all donated clothes are 99 cents — except when he holds 50 cent sales as he did most of the month of December.
That’s the business plan for Pastor Jason….just keep listening to the Lord.
“It’s our ministry, he said. “If we can sell the clothes for 99 cents and let people keep money in their pocket, we are helping them.”
And he’s super serious about following the Lord’s instruction for his pricing. Drop off brand new, high end clothing with the tags still attached, and he’ll still price it 99 cents.
“Recently, we had a woman stop by on the chance that we might have a wedding dress in size 16. At the moment, we didn’t. But guess what got dropped off…a wedding dress that had cost hundreds of dollars new…in a size 16.”
And how much did she pay? Just 99 cents.
Pastor Jason had worked retail as a teen before serving as a Navy corpsman assigned to the Marines. He returned to retail and then medical equipment sales. Just over seven years ago, he would travel Highway 95A on his way to work each day…except one day he happened to head up Highway 29. He noticed a “for rent” sign on the former Grocery Advantage building at Highway 29 and Molino Road.
“The whole way to work and during the day I kept thinking about what would be a good use for the building,” he said. “Things just began to fall in place, and after some serious prayer we opened.”
The Molino Outreach Thrift Store is not an ordinary thrift store that supports a ministry; the store is the ministry.
“We’ve been here through the good times and the bad times for a lot of people,” he said. “As a small church pastor you might see 30 or 40 or 50 people in your congregation on a regular basis. But we see a lot of people in here, and it’s a full time ministry where we are able to reach out to them.”
“This is what the Lord told me as a pastor I could do, using my skills in retail and as a pastor, to really help people. This is like a church. You hear Christian music playing in here like a church, and we will always stop what we are doing to pray with somebody or stop what we are doing to help people. It’s truly an outreach ministry.”
Back to that business model…those 99 cent clothes are not the only thing the store sells. From furniture to household items, to books, toys and electronics, it’s a full selection of thrift store wares along with new items like hair bows, hats, towels and linens….all well below retail. The store has added new furniture and mattresses to their offerings, at substantial savings off regular prices, once again as a blessing to those in the community. It allows many people the chance to purchase items that they might not otherwise be able to afford, while providing a minimal income to keep the ministry moving forward.
“The Lord said the way you are going to help people is helping them keep their money.”
The store has been a blessing to the Molino area in other ways, like their Angel Tree that provided Christmas gifts for 170 children.
“We had about 30 of the kids adopted, but our shoppers allowed us to spend about $3,000 to provide for the other kids,” Pastor Jason said. “It allows the community to help themselves while helping others.”
When asked about that one moment that he found most amazing, Pastor Jason paused behind the register…in front of a picture of Jesus and an American flag….and then began to tell the story.
“It was a Christmas Eve, and we had stayed open a little bit late. A mother and her young son came into the store, and she said she was looking for a Christmas tree.
“That was the one thing the little boy said he wanted most for Christmas was that Christmas tree. We had quite a few trees leading up to Christmas, but they were all gone. We looked all over this place to make sure there was not a tree left somewhere. I had walked back up front, and I was just about to give the girl that worked here money to sneak out the back and over to the Dollar General to see if they had a tree for this little boy. That’s when the mom came up to the front with a tree in her cart that she said she found behind a table leaning against the wall. It was a brand new white tree still in a box.
He paused again, taking a deep breath, rubbing his hands down the chill bumps on his arms.
“Maybe you would not think the Lord could work through a thrift store in Molino, but He can work in amazing ways any where.”
Picture above: Pastor Jason Lee checks out a customer Saturday afternoon at the Molino Outreach Thrift Store, Highway 29 and Molino Road. Pictured below: Daphne Young stocks rack of clothes priced at 99 cents each. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Arbor Day Program, Tree Giveaway Held
January 21, 2018
An Arbor Day tree giveaway was held Saturday at the Barrineau Park Community Center.
Escambia County Forester Cathy Hardin said turnout was greater than anticipated, with 250 trees given away in less than 20 minutes. The native trees included tulip poplar, Chickasaw plum, Shumard oak and fringe tree.
An Eastern Redbud was planted at the community center for visitors to enjoy with the help of the Northview High School FFA.
Pieces were on display from a mail art contest “Strong Trees, Strong Communities”. Winners were:
Youth
- Tyson Smarr
- Samantha Grizzard Miller
- Karina Torres
- Beau Hazelwood
- Tucker Padgett
Teen
- Marina Deubler
Adult
- Sarah Ann Cook
- Ashley M. Davis
- Lynn Hazelwood
For more event photos and photos of artwork, click here.
Photos by Jared Sigler and others for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia School Board Declares ‘National FFA Week’
January 21, 2018
The Escambia County School Board has approved a resolution declaring National FFA Week for February 17-24, 2018.
“(FFA) is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of young people by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education at the local, state, and national level,” the resolution stated .
FFA members, advisers and administrators from Tate and Northview High Schools were on hand as the school board unanimously approved the resolution.
To read the school board resolution, click here.
Pictured: Tate and Northview high school FFA members at this week’s meeting of the Escambia County School Board. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Former Jay Mayor Qualls Appointed To West Florida Regional Planning Council
January 21, 2018
Governor Rick Scott has announced the appointment of Kurvin Qualls to the West Florida Regional Planning Council.
Qualls, 55, of Jay, is the former mayor of the town of Jay. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning January 12, 2018 and ending at the pleasure of the Governor. Qualls had previously served as chairman of the Council while his was the mayor of Jay, but was forced to resign from the council in October of last year when he resigned as mayor.
This appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
The mission of the West Florida Regional Planning Council is to provide professional planning, coordinating and advisory services to local governments, state and federal agencies and the public to preserve and enhance the quality of life in northwest Florida, according to their website.