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| The Beulah area, District 1 and a portion north of Beulah in District 5, and constituents throughout the West-Northwest portion of Escambia County will greatly benefit from the road swap between FDOT and the County where we take Perdido Key Drive and give Beulah Road to FDOT . That is why I believe it will be a unanimous vote to complete this deal on September 5th... |
On September 5th, a week from this Thursday, the BCC will likely vote to accept a state road from FDOT (Perdido Key Drive) and to give a county road to FDOT (Beulah Road from Mobile Hwy up through Isaacs lane to the Interstate.
There are passionate feelings on this issue--but at the outset I will point out that my counterparts on the board voted unanimously, via a straw poll at our last workshop, to do this deal. That's number 1.
Number 2 is elections have consequences.
District 2 Commissioner Doug Underhill wants the swap, and he wants the Perdido Key Master Plan implemented and he strongly believes this road swap will help make this happen--in addition to making additional pedestrian safety enhancements out on Perdido Key which he believes this swap will facilitate. He also was assured that the funding for the multi-use path out there would not be yanked. So to him, in his opinion, this is a good deal. And he represents the Key and he won his election.
Number 3 is perspective. From my perspective, having lived in Beulah for the last 15 years, it is time to make Beulah road a state road. With all the growth out here, Beulah road is quickly becoming a major artery. And this road swap, most importantly, KEEPS THE MOMENTUM moving forward for the Beulah Interchange to happen. This is the county's #1 infrastructure issue, hands down, in the near term. And it is essential that this project keep progressing forward.
But here is the really key, critical reason why this swap is such a good deal for the taxpayers of Escambia County: The section of Beulah Road from 9-Mile Road northward through Isaacs lane to where the interchange will be constructed will need to be upgraded and converted into a 4-lane road. The plans have been drawn up and the estimate from Atkins (6 years ago) was that this would have cost the County $14 Million---just for this portion. Now that it is a state road, (after the swap)---the state, NOT the county--will pay for this.
District 5 commissioner Steve Barry also expressed support for this project at our workshop--as he believes this keeps the momentum moving to improve roadway infrastructure up through D5 and the Sector Plan areas if we do the swap.
So there are really financially compelling reasons why this deal works.
Regardless, I know some residents are not happy for one reason or another.
But decisions must be made in the interests of the maximum number of constituents, and in this instance that means the entire county and all districts.
Perdido Key Drive has been freshly resurfaced by the state, it is a road that is in good shape as we take it, and if it is damaged in a hurricane----if that happens----it will be fixed. We will do it if that happens.
And now the State----NOT the COUNTY--will be on the hook for the potentially tens of millions of dollars necessary to 4-lane Beulah road as we move the interchange project forward.
So when all things are considered, this deal simply makes great sense for all of Escambia County.
The answer here might be to create a "special improvement district" on Perdido Key itself and I mean the entire length from the Alabama state line to the bridge roughly.
ReplyDeleteNow the vote would consist of registered voters but of course the majority of property in that territory is not owned by full time residents so how to create an authority based on residents and then full time property owners (and by that I mean not time shares).
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ReplyDeleteThe City of New Orleans establishes a number of private security districts, all approved by voters, and they pay for private patrols and serve as an overlay over everything else and levies are taken and I'm sure you've seen this as most of Uptown and the yuppie areas of Mid City area in a patrol area and I think they have one out in Lakeview too.
Back in 2012 before tragedy struck when I was trying to make a bid for Mobile City Council for 2013 this was going to be part of my platform, namely overlay districts, private patrol districts because one voters are affluent beyond a certain point they do pay a little more in taxes IF they view it as a worthy project and The Village of Spring Hill in Mobile is another example and one upon a time it had been my intent to extend such improvement districts in neighborhoods across the city dependent on local needs.
In the case of Perdido Key everyone parties there, few permanent residents, a lot of high income tourists so if there is a way to capture some revenue out of short term rentals, if you put a levy there you aren't going to chase the tourists away because well, most public beaches in Alabama ban alcohol and generally the police are much more "strict" on the Alabama side, though lower property taxes have led to skyscrapers being larger on the Alabama side.
But I think a special overlay with money for local improvements with some always dedicated in reserve to help with rebuilding Perdido Key Drive when the inevitable comes can help and also we have our congressional delegation make clear to members from other parts of the state and our delegation that is in Tallahassee too that when it comes time to horse trade for "pork" one thing that is non-negotiable in Escambia County is that Perdido Key Drive and other critical beach front roads are repaired after storms.
No question in the heyday of Bo Johnson, W.D. Childers (who never should have been convicted of a thing. Prosecutors should worry about actual criminals who terrorize our streets and stop making the lives of politicians miserable over business activities that, if they are private citizens no one would care. If they embezzle public money, OK, prosecute that but almost none of these prosecutions, and there have been many in NWFL, have ever involved that, most involve a business rival ginning up a prosecution to remove a rival or a prosecutor who wants to make a name for themselves by "taking down" a politician. You know, the Mayor shoots his wife at point blank range and it's not self-defense then you seek to execute him. But if people who are upstanding citizens and helping the community, don't target their business activities just to put notches on your prosecutorial belt when real criminals have made much of the country a nightmare to live in because many times the politicians who truly care about people and help those in a bad spot out, have helped people over the years, that's who gets targeted and it is sad), Bob Sikes, etc the appropriations would have been found no question.
But I want to offer this other suggestion.
In 2018, Florida voters voted to make gambling the exclusive province of the voters except as it relates to tribal compacts.
The Poarch Creeks have wanted to open a "real casino" for a while rather than Atmore bingo halls and I believe if a tribe were to say, purchase land somewhere in a touristy area of Escambia County, if they own it they can "annex" it as a part of the "reservation" and then in such a situation even if this parcel is in say "Downtown Pensacola" if they own it and is officially recognized as "tribal land" they can open a casino there even if it is on Santa Rosa Island.
Part 3 of 3 (due to character limit of around 4,000 per post which isn't much text at all)
ReplyDeleteI think a good trial run would be to allow the Poarch Creeks to purchase land in Escambia County at the beach or in the city of Pensacola, incorporate said land into the reservation conditioned on them paying the taxes they'd pay if it wasn't tribal land and a percentage of the gambling proceeds equivalent to what they contribute to Escambia County, Alabama or what the casinos due to local government in the Biloxi area.
I think a single casino in a touristy area would be a major draw and in fact we could even courage them to work with Jimmy Buffett and Margaritaville to somehow give him a cut as he has long wanted casino gambling but the problem is right now only Indians can run casinos in this state unless it's a boat and the thing is if Miami ever got full casino gambling between that and recreational marijuana this state would never have a budget problem again and I realize some folks dislike both but just consider this, if you get the revenue from marijuana and gamblers that means revenue that doesn't come from taxing us in the citizenry involuntarily.
My guess is a single casino done correctly by the Poarch Creeks with proper revenue sharing would be a boon for the county and a certain amount would be earmarked for critical county projects like Perdido Key Drive repair whenever a bad storm blows in.
Now under my plan some of the gambling revenue would be required to go into gambling addiction prevention and treatment programs and faith based programs would be eligible and this is to mitigate some of those effects and a certain amount would be earmarked for extra law enforcement and firefighters with some also going towards the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority because enough revenue comes in, we can lower water bills (and I should note earlier this week I did apply for the District 3 vacancy on ECUA. I am a Republican and I realize it is designed to be a Democrat district but I think I might be the one person of my party people can tolerate there for a year though I have said if where I live remains in what is designed to be a district like that I would not seek re-election in 2020 but if I ended up seeing my residence move into a district designed to elect a Republican, and it was up in 2020, and the incumbent opted not to run, and people wanted me to then I'd seek to hold the seat in what would likely be a differently number district) and so many other things we can do.
But I do back handing Beulah Road over to the state because I have as my reference point what that area was like 10 years ago, when nothing was out there and then compare it to today when it is congestion city and simply put the designation is needed so that Tallahassee will upkeep it though with Perdido Key Drive, it is a "special" road and can't be treated like "any county road" but you know in all I've said, I think there is definitely room for compromise.
The other thing is that in 2018 Florida voters banned "dog racing" and so now we have a "Dog Track" that we have to do something with and there too perhaps it might be time to bring in the Poarch Creeks because unless you bring horse racing there what else do you do with it?
And so they might have a desire to redevelop it to at least put slot machines there though a number of table games are now legal in Florida and when I envision a "compact with Poarch Creeks for a beach casino" I envision that though I would want approval by the voters if just in the neighborhood, for this.
But at least it's an idea and it deserves to be considered because what I have presented here provides alternative solutions to keep Perdido Key Drive well maintained after the trade
I am sure those living in your area in Subdivisions on Sorrento and Baur will not agree with you when traffic entering the Baars bridge become more of a issue during peak times of the summer. The people who want this that live on the key are a small minority compared to the impact of others who use the connector to Alabama for employment and pleasure. You speak of growth on the Masterplan, how many new businesses have been created on Perdido Key over the past 5 years? 3?, Crosswalks will be created for who, the Locals? Has to be, there is No parking space for visitors and no plans to expand parking on the key, one complains that the back up is because of the Florabama, so the county is going to put a officer there to control that, are you going to put one at every crosswalk? A stop light a Johnson beach road, now you will create a traffic jam. Keep in mind all those who travel to and from Escambia County spends money when they are checking in, going to the Navy Base or going downtown Pensacola. So your move is to discourage that with the road proposed by Underhill. This is a terrible move on all five of you commissioners. And last but not least, this year, next year, a Ivan or bigger comes ashore, your going to have allocate money for the repair, and tell those you want to vote for you, we decided that was a good thing to do, not wise judgement at all.
ReplyDeleteWatch out for Dorian.
ReplyDeleteI sincerely hope that this swap does not end in the Board having to raise taxes to all of us because in case a natural disaster There is not enough money to fix that road and we all know that FEMA will only fix a % of a country Road.
ReplyDeleteIn my personal view. this is a very myopic solution to the swap in general. you will be alleviating a section of your district and throwing District one to the wolves. Yes, you are correct on one thing. Elections have consequences and we are now suffering those consequences.
Hoping that the Board is making plans in the budget to fix and maintain Perdido Key Dr. in the future. and don't come to us taxpayers in later years for money to fix this road.
Agree, a very small minority in favor of this debacle! No benefit to the citizens of Escambia County. Only higher costs and loss of access to Perdido Key.
ReplyDeleteIn response to elections have consequences. Most are unaware that Underhill only won Perdido Key by a very small, narrow number. His home precinct.
ReplyDeleteIf I remember correctly, 12?
There is no logical reason for the County to absorb the costs and maintenance of a road that is currently funded by the State and the Feds.
The only reason is due to the fact the State will not, WILL NOT approve the so called Perdido Master Plan as it is written due to non-compliance to state and federal regulatory specifications. Therefore, for Underhill to push through “his plan” he must gain control of this road as a county road and try to push “his” agenda through.
His desire to emulate Seaside, which was a county owned road, failed when his Perdido Key Master Plan was closely reviewed.
The lack of due diligence and proper projections for the development of Beulah by the seats and the suits should not fall at the expense of the Citizens at large of the county by sacrificing our access to Perdido Key through planned congestion and chaos as well as huge financial consequences for the benefit of 12 locals, some developers, and many tourists. This is a huge injustice to the Citizens of the County at large. There is really no justification for this at all when all the facts are revealed and reviewed.
I appreciate your setting the record straight and being clear where you all stand on this. The March PNJ article also made it clear and yes we have a representative government and the message about having state funds for the interior roads makes sense. However if it could have been accomplished to have the state simply take over the core roads and not be in a swap would have been better.
ReplyDeleteTo make Perdido Key Drive a county road is ASSININE. It makes about as much sense as rebuilding in a flood zone and taking over the jail and letting it EXPLODE and send our county in deep debt. Yes hardly nobody really knows how much the county is in debt, the "debt service" on the Citizen Guide to the Government is misleading. I fully expect this decision to be disastrous.
I even wonder if some millionaire has his sites on rebuilding Perdido Key Drive and having the county vacate it.
You'll be yucking it up with Underhill though..won't you?
and Steven..don't think nobady sees your OPT out business and slickness waiting until the end of meeting when everyone is exhausted..
Developers dreams for 30 pieces of silver.
Why don't you all get Florida Forever to put lands in the North County in conservation at least? Protest Lake Stone Water Shed?
I'm glad I'm old and don't like the beach any more..
All it takes is one click to read the news in Bay and Gulf County to realize you are being delusional..Try it WJHG.
Also why disn't you go to fee simple and get money in the tax base since your predcessors ruined Pensacola Beach already?
One hurricane season goes by and you forget..
(JAWS tune playing in the back ground)
So did God hit you all in the head with a frying pan yet and you realize you need to rethink this stupid shortsighted decision?
ReplyDeleteNotice he went straight to round about, cross walk red light and empty chair to smile for the TV camera? Watch out for the snake in the grass.. So now you gonna pay for that bilk path
ReplyDelete