About Commissioners' Discretionary Funds: Part II--Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) Discretionary Funds

The utilization of district discretionary LOST funds allows individual commissioners in their respective districts to identify, fund,  and implement good and necessary projects--like the ones I am intending to bring forward for funding from this source, listed below. 

Some folks have recently asked me about Commissioners' discretionary funds.  People want to know where these funds come from, what they can be used for, and if the use of such funds is actually legitimate and legal?

So here goes....

Before I was elected to the board in 2016, the board had a pot of discretionary funds from the Tourist Development Tax  (TDT) that was split out among the commissioners yearly in increments of $50,000.00 per commissioner, with unutilized amounts rolling forward if not expended.  These funds, at that time,  had the caveat that they could only be used for event sponsorships or activities that would bring in tourist dollars from out of the area and generate hotel room nights in the county.

By the time I took my seat in November of 2016, this practice of TDT discretionary allocations had been ended by the commissioners and replaced with a yearly allocation of $50,000.00 in general fund monies that could be utilized by commissioners to fund local non-profit entities that support the community and serve a public purpose.  The uses for these new allocations were much more broad than were the previous monies that were mandated to be "tourism-centric."

From the time I have been on the board, the process of vetting organizations and funding them from discretionary allocations has run very smoothly--until recently when there was a bit of ill-placed consternation displayed about the practice.... But that incident was simply and succinctly squelched via a 4-1 affirmational vote....

The larger and much more profound pot of discretionary funds yearly for commissioners is our Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) discretionary pot of money.  Each year each commissioner gets an allocation of $1 Million Dollars in LOST funds for use as each commissioner sees fit within his district--subject to the statutory provisions guiding the use of these funds and subject to an affirmative vote of the full board of county commissioners (which is the check and balance of this process).  The unexpended balances of these funds carry over yearly.

The Local Option Sales Tax is a one penny tax on most consumer purchases made in Escambia County.  It's implementation was graciously allowed for by our county's voters who have been generous in permitting us to levy this tax since the early 1990s.  (Other local counties have struggled to implement their LOST tax--with voters rejecting this concept in other nearby communities over and over....)

Locally, our LOST produces about $42 Million yearly--a portion of which is shared with the county's two municipalities,  Pensacola and Century.  The balance of the funding yearly is used locally to purchase property, renovations, maintenance services,  buildings, ambulances, fire trucks, sheriff's equipment and vehicles, computer hardware, and a host of other things--but primarily capital expenditures or durable equipment that lasts 5-years or longer.  A portion of the LOST funds assists

About Commissioners' Discretionary Funds: Part I--Support for Outside Non-Profit Entities

The new definition of insanity:  Opposing a practice and a policy for others that one participates in himself 

There was a rather ugly, particularly unnecessary discussion at the end of a recent board of county commissioners meeting that desperately deserves further discussion, analysis, and contemplation.

The topic of conversation that generated the dust up was one commissioner's apparent "disapproval"  of another commissioner's allocations from his office's district discretionary fund.  The reason the angst and gnashing of teeth was so hypocritical was because the commissioner who complained the loudest (and who ultimately voted against the expenditure) has he, himself, allocated tens of thousands to other non-profit community groups locally over the last 5 years.  Imagine that?  Here is the mentally-defective, whacked-out logic from the one dissenting commissioner that made that brief conversation so fascinatingly strange:

"If I want to fund a 501 c 3 of which I approve--- even if it is for $10,000.00 or more at a time----this is perfectly acceptable because this is an entity of which I approve--and therefore it is legitimate!!!!!" 

"But if another commissioner--whom I dislike and with whom I disagree on a host of issues-- chooses to fund $500.00 to a local 501 c 3 supporting girl's softball at a school in his district--this is an OUTRAGE and it is CORRUPTION!!!!!!"

So yeah--it's ridiculous, outrageous, and it was kind of weird in a surreal way--but not entirely unexpected.  The funny thing is, prior to this meeting, I do not believe there has ever been a vote on a request from one commissioner's discretionary fund that was not approved unanimously by his peers.  We all show a level of deference to one another on these requests.  Well, that is how it has typically been done---but I guess that is not going to be the way it is going forward.  Oh well.  He will rack up a lot more 4-1 losses.......lots.

But eventually last Thursday's vote passed 4-1--with the dissenting commissioner opposing all the allocations.  Interestingly-- another counterpart of mine on the dais even chose to add money from his discretionary funds to the same entities to be funded.  That was really great!  And the 4-1 commissioner voted against it all still.  Very strange indeed.

(here is the list of all commissioner's allocations from the general fund and TDT supported pots of discretionary funds from 2015-present--for those that want to see for themselves that I am telling the truth  👈😊)

Here's the thing:  Commissioners each get an allocation of $50,000.00 yearly to support 501 c 3 community nonprofits for which individual commissioners feel benefit the community and serve a public purpose.  Unexpended funds roll forward.  The vote of the commissioners for each other's allocations is the public action that signifies  such expenditures meet a public purpose.

But even with the vote, the expenditure is scrutinized, paperwork must be provided to staff and all

Sidewalk Project Moving Forward on Dog-track Road in District 1

From the county's engineering department:

Construction Notice of Commencement

Dog Track Road Sidewalks Project

Escambia County’s Construction Management Division will soon begin the Dog Track Road Sidewalks Project in District 1. Dog Track Road has sidewalks in various locations along the rights-of-way between Lillian Highway and Blue Angel Highway. The project includes clearing and grubbing, roadside grading, storm water line and structure installation, ditch excavation, and installation of approximately 1,750 linear feet of sidewalk, access ramps, inlet top replacement, striping, and sod. Construction will begin in January/February 2020 and will be completed within 150 days pending weather.

The following is information regarding the project:        

--This project is funded by the Local Option Sales Tax with construction costs estimated at $141,175.

--Chavers Construction, Inc. will install sidewalks within the right-of-way of Dog Track Road at three different locations, connecting the walkways to Blue Angel Elementary School.

--Construction will take place during the hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Monday through Friday.

·        --Areas that are impacted during construction will be returned to their previous state.

·         --Access to adjacent properties will be maintained, although there may be short periods when a driveway or entrance is temporarily blocked during construction.  

·         --An Escambia County inspector will monitor the construction areas daily.

·         --Your cooperation and patience are appreciated during this construction process.

For more information contact:

Thomas “TJ” Williams, Project Manager

Escambia County Engineering

(850)554-1967  tjwilliams@myescambia.com

Two Services In Escambia County that will Help Veterans Entangled in the Criminal Justice System

Two programs locally have been and/or are being developed and expanded in Escambia County to assist veterans who are involved in the criminal justice system.

The First Judicial Circuit of Florida and Judge Ed Nickinson developed a program in 2015 locally to assist veterans that find themselves entangled in the criminal justice system.  Two years ago,  Judge Bergosh took the helm of this program.

Often times veterans that have suffered injuries associated with their service and deployments become entangled in the courts for minor drug offenses that can multiply and escalate quickly. The genesis for the drug abuse can often be traced to dependence on opioids by these same veterans who utilize such medicines to manage pain.

Once the prescriptions for these painkillers are yanked--often these veterans turn to illicit drugs for relief.  And often this results in these veterans being arrested and incarcerated.

Judge Bergosh spoke on WCOA on Wednesday and discussed the program in detail--it was a very good and informative interview.  You can hear the full interview here.

In addition to the Veteran's Treatment Court--Judge Bergosh is teamed up with Escambia County (who helped with sponsorship of food and beverages and the use of the Artel Gallery), POE in Action (a 501 c 3 nonprofit dedicated to assisting veterans in need) and other community volunteers in the establishment of a mentoring program for veterans.

This mentoring program was discussed during Wednesday morning's interview on WCOA, and a kickoff event was held Wednesday evening at Artel gallery for the purpose of recruiting area veterans to serve as mentors to fellow veterans who have found themselves involved in the criminal justice system locally.

About 50 community members came out to the kickoff meeting Wednesday evening, and it appears as if dozens of community members have stepped forward to help and to serve as mentors in this program.

I look forward to watching this program grow, and I look forward to assisting these efforts in any way I can from my position on the County Commission.

District 1 Bellview Library Update

An initial rendering of what the layout of 
the Bellview Public Library in District 1 
may look like upon construction 
later this year. (Courtesy of Todd Humble)

I have recently had several conversations with Escambia County's Library Services Director Todd Humble on the topic of our soon-to-be built library in District 1.  Specifically, I wanted to know where we are in the planning/design stage, and what the timeline is going forward for construction.

Artist's initial draft rendering of what the
entrance to  District 1's soon to be
constructed Bellview Public Library may look like
(Courtesy of Todd Humble)

Mr. Humble came to our 30th Coffee with the Commissioner event last Wednesday, and gave the citizens in attendance an update in person.

(those who are on Facebook and would like to watch the video and hear Todd Humble's comments  directly can find the video of the coffee here)

Artist's initial draft rendering of what the
entrance to  District 1's soon to be
constructed Bellview Public Library may look like
(Courtesy of Todd Humble)

According to Director Humble, we should complete the design in early March, at which point it will be put out for bid and that process will take approximately one month.  Upon the award of the bid, we will do a groundbreaking event at the site for the public to attend if they wish in the May/June time frame.



Folks have asked about the size of the facility--and according to Director Humble "We believe we will be between the size of our current Southwest Branch (7,500 SF) and our Tryon Branch (12,000 SF) but it is too soon to say for sure which one we will be closer to in size.  Obviously the costs of construction are a concern and we have a finite budget."

The branch will have meeting spaces for adults and children and the branch will have ebooks and magazines available to library card holders--meaning thousands of book titles will be available for download to a user's individual tablet, cellphone, or laptop device.  "There will also be roughly 250 different e-magazines available to download for free as well--many titles with which most will be familiar" said Humble.

Artist's initial draft rendering of what the
main reading room at District 1's soon to be
constructed Bellview Public Library may look like
(Courtesy of Todd Humble)

We all look forward to the opening of this facility with eager anticipation.

Read more about West Florida Public Libraries here.

Sent: My Response to the PNJ's Denial of My Guest View Submission

Campaign season or not, I won't stop sending "Letters to the Editor" and/or "Viewpoints" to the PNJ just as I have for the last 13 years...They can print them or not.  If they don't print them, for irrational, specious reasons-- that's their call.  I'll simply read them into the record at our public meetings instead.  😃

Here's what I sent to the PNJ when they finally responded to my initial request for a chance to refute their January 12th hatchet piece editorial.   They did finally respond with a NO to my request, after I had to send a second email (they blew-off the first one).   But the accompanying reasons for the NO were outrageously specious.

Bottom Line: They want no dissent, they have their own narrative, they will attack us (and whomever they want)  at will and however often they choose-------- and they do not want to hear from local elected officials that disagree with them and they'll manufacture reasons to deny a rebuttal op-ed.

Here's my response to their NO.

Received: PNJ's Specious, Feckless "NO" Response to My Guest View Submission

Campaign season or not, I won't stop sending "Letters to the Editor" and/or "Viewpoints" to the PNJ just as I have for the last 13 years...They can print them or not.  If they don't print them, for irrational, specious reasons-- that's their call.  I'll simply read them into the record at our public meetings instead.  😃

At first they just ignored my request and submission of a Guest View editorial.  Eight days went by and still--not even an acknowledgment from the Pensacola News Journal of what I had sent to them. 
So I sent it to them again and asked them to consider publishing it as a retort to a very one-sided, scathingly accusatory hit-job editorial printed in the PNJ on January 12th. 

The editorial they wrote on the 12th was unfair, inaccurate, pejorative, slanted, biased, incomplete, dismissive, and flippant. Not coincidentally--it was also directed squarely at the three sitting Escambia County Commissioners who are running for re-election.

Upon getting my second request, the PNJ editorial squad sent this response, below.

Who Leaked the Document?

A leaked memo was purposely given to the Pensacola News Journal a little over one week ago.  When I was called and asked about it, I told reporter Jim Little in no uncertain terms, that this was spillage--and he had a confidential memo that was not supposed to be released.   I told Jim I would not comment on the specifics of that memo because to do so would be inappropriate.

Unfortunately, the PNJ built a story around some of the classified information contained in that confidential memo only, disregarded and DID NOT publish information from a filed complaint in the circuit court that disputes much of the information in the leaked document, and then published that story in Friday's edition of the PNJ.  Again, this information is only part of the story and paints several circumstances in a false light and appears to be extremely reckless and recklessly disregards the truth and facts of the issue in my opinion.

I spoke to Jim Little personally Thursday afternoon about the story, which by then was advance posted on PNJ's electronic edition.  I asked him point blank--where did you get this document Jim?  "I can't tell you."  He continued: "The person who I got this from has asked to remain anonymous---and for what it's worth--it wasn't the Medical Director"

Not surprisingly, Matt Selover--an Escambia County employee who was unflatteringly portrayed in PNJ's Friday story--is now filing a union grievance and requesting a formal investigation by the county about who it was that leaked that document.  I don't blame him at all, I would do the very same thing if I were him.  Now everyone, myself included, wants to know one thing:  Who Leaked the Document?

EMS Employee Complaint Sent to Commissioners..........

Litigation has been initiated against the Board of County Commissioners and Medical Director Dr. Rayme Edler in both her official and individual capacity-- and the complaint was sent to board members yesterday  by County Attorney Alison Rogers.

County Attorney Alison Rogers sent all commissioners a copy of the complaint that is to be filed in the circuit court by Pensacola attorney JJ Talbot.  It is in relation to an employee of Escambia County's EMS department; it is the subject of many discussions with staff and on the dais.

Part I is the complaint and the first part of the exhibits (first 17 pages contain the complaint and the alleged factual background.  These pages are about a five minute read total--- but very informative and insightful.  Definitely worth the read)

Part II is the continuation of the exhibits.

I will be asking, later this morning in the Board's regular meeting, when we can expect to have a shade session to discuss legal strategies for promptly addressing this complaint.

Citizens should take the time necessary to read this complaint and compare it with any reporting on this matter and on this individual employee in the local press--in the interest of fairness and balance.

I wish the matter had been handled differently by staff and that it did not come to litigation.......but here we are.

Escambia Youth Commission Learns About Escambia County's Emergency Management Department

The Members of the 2019-2020 Escambia County Youth Commission tour our county's Public Safety Facility January 21, 2019

The members of the Escambia County Youth Commission toured our county's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) yesterday evening.

Thanks go out to Laura Coale, Debbie Kenney, and newly appointed Emergency Management Director Eric Gilmore for facilitating the visit and giving these local students some valuable insight into the operation of our emergency management department.

Staff gave the tour and explained all the things our EOC coordinates during emergencies such as hurricanes, fires, and other natural and man-made disasters (to include assisting the US Navy during the recent terrorist attack aboard NAS Pensacola).  Staff also showed them around the Public Safety Facility and described the inner-workings of these departments in detail.  The emphasis was to show the effort and work that county staff put in to insure the safety and well-being of citizens.

Thanks to staff and all who assisted with this visit!

----Learn more about the formation of and establishment of the Escambia County Youth Commission here and about this year's members here

----Learn more about Escambia County's Emergency Operations Department here

The Members of the 2019-2020 Escambia County Youth Commission tour our county's Public Safety Facility January 21, 2019

The Members of the 2019-2020 Escambia County Youth Commission tour our county's Public Safety Facility January 21, 2019

The Members of the 2019-2020 Escambia County Youth Commission tour our county's Public Safety Facility January 21, 2019

Whacked-out, Ridiculous "Outrage" over Elected Official Participation in a Parade?!?

I have participated in the MLK Jr. Parade for the last 13 years in Pensacola as an elected official like in this picture above from 2012 when I was on the school board--always in vehicles with signs signifying my position--this year, however, it is "controversial" to some political opponents.....

Of all things to get blindsided for and attacked--who would ever think it would be for choosing to join other community leaders, elected officials, school bands, and others by marching in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. parade?!?

I have participated in this parade for the last 13 years--as a school board member and also since I became a commissioner.  It is something I take great pride in and I appreciate the opportunity to march every year.

What a great day, honoring a great man and joining the community and others in paying tribute to Dr. King!

So what should have been an innocuous post on my personal facebook page where I marked the occasion and posted some pictures of my family and I participating in the parade suddenly became weaponized by haters and those that support my election opponents.

Here are a couple of things for those who harbor  these irrational, illogical, whacked-out opinions to ponder:

1.  This was NOT a campaign event....All elected officials that participated had banners or signs on their individual cars to identify them to the parade's attendees--those in this year's election and those that aren't up for re-election.

2.  Commissioners often participate in parades and sponsor parades.  Public vehicles are frequently used to join the parade  --  including fire trucks, sheriff''s department vehicles, police vehicles, and also county vehicles.  According to our attorney, with whom I have spoken about this, the use of public resources and vehicles is appropriate if a public purpose can be demonstrated.

Folks want to politicize parades and attack elected county commissioners like me with ridiculous arguments that have no merit.  To these folks I'd simply ask them to think about the following (rhetorical) questions:

---Can no public vehicles be used in parades?
---If yes, which public officials can attend and which public assets can be deployed?
---If the answer is no, what is the basis for saying No--and why have no previous "complaints" been voiced?
---Can "some"elected officials go to the parades yearly (even in election years) and use public resources for the parade but county commissioners cannot?
---Who decides this?
---Must an official who participates in parades frequently and historically over time suddenly NOT participate when invited to participate in a parade if it is his election year?
---If yes--why and who says?  If not, why not--and who decides?

You see, there are no legitimate answers that can be made to the questions posed above.  Because to say that all elected officials must "hide" and not participate in events where they are recognized during their election years is simply ridiculous.

I won't hide from anything just because it is an election year--those hoping I will do this will be sorely disappointed.  I will conduct myself this year just as I do in non-election years, that's just the way it is going to be.

30th Coffee With a Commissioner This Wednesday

Our Coffee with the Commissioner events (like the one above from 2019) typically attract 6-12 residents.  The conversations are good, and often certain neighborhood  issues get spotlighted, identified, and conveyed to staff for their action immediately.  All are welcome and encouraged to participate! 

This Wednesday, January 22nd, we will be holding our 30th Monthly Coffee with a Commissioner event in District 1.  Everyone is welcomed and encouraged to attend/participate.

We will be at the Hardee's Restaurant on Pine Forest Road at Wilde Lake Blvd. from 6:30-7:30 AM.

As is typically the case, we will have staff members present to answer specific questions/concerns, each person in attendance will be encouraged to ask questions and provide comment to me and the county staff members that are present.

I look forward to a robust conversation on multiple topics of interest, including:

---Progress on the D1 Library that will be built in the Bellview Community
---Progress on the renovation/modernization of the Beulah Volunteer Firefighter's Station in D1
---Civic Center--next steps
---OLF 8 Master Plan update
---Levy of the 5th cent on the Bed Tax--uses of this revenue
---9-Mile Road Project completion timeline update and associated impacts on D1
---Update on Restore Act Project to Master Plan NW Section of District 1 (precincts 43,5, and 68)
---Results of the Pensacola Young Professionals Quality of Life Survey for 2019--affordability of housing, creation of Children's Services Council, availability of good jobs, direction of county
---Automation of Pensacola Beach Toll Booth--plusses and minuses
---Jail Completion Timeline
---Sidewalk/Drainage projects in Bellview and Beulah
---2022 Mobile Highway upgrade, repaving, and safety upgrades by FDOT
---Status of Beulah Road/Isaacs Lane Interchange FDOT project

We will also live stream the meeting on Facebook for those who are unable to make it to the coffee in person

Issues That Never Go Away Part II: The Gulf Beach Highway Dollar General Fight

In a horror show you never really, fully dispatch the monster.  They just keep coming back (Like Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th series of films, above).  Some issues we deal with (Issues, not people) are eerily reminiscent of this trope...

As discussed in Part I----Some issues with which we must contend are not unlike the horror show (s).  You never really kill the monster, it just keeps coming back.  In the case of Jason Voorhees from the 12-movie franchise Friday the 13th----he dies but always comes back.....sometimes in the same movie, frequently also in a follow-on movie.  You can NEVER really kill the horror show monster, there is always doubt and it can always come back.  This is similar to some ISSUES we face as a county commission.

I'm talking issues, NOT (necessarily) People

Over and over.  The same issues. That never get dispatched.

One issue of extreme consternation and gnashing of teeth that keeps coming back is the proposed "Dollar General" discount store that is/was planned for Gulf Beach highway in District 2.  The developers and staff have gone back and forth, round and round.  Residents don't want it, and the plan was denied.

But then the denial was appealed.  Then it went to court.  Staff and the petitioners have dueling beliefs about whether or not this proposed development conforms with county planning and zoning ordinances....I wonder what the citizen activists lauded in the paper today think about this particular case?  We know how the commissioner from that district feels about this from his public statements on the dais on this issue.  But I wonder who is right here, according to these citizen activist planners that the PNJ think are worthy of a Nobel Prize? Dollar General and the petitioners-- or the County's BOA?

Who cares what they think--it's a rhetorical question.

And it doesn't matter as of Friday and the judge's new order in this case.

Because just this past Friday  the Circuit Court Judge in the case, Judge Jeffrey Burns, issued a scathing order demanding the Board of Adjustment re-hear the case with no new evidence injected.  If not done precisely in this manner, according to the order,  the county could be in direct contempt.  Yikes!  Trouble........

Read the ten page order below, for yourself..

Whacked-Out, Ridiculous Campaign Finance "Consternation".....

Whacked-out "logic"from the online hate squad (s):  "If our preferred candidate and the candidate we despise each take campaign money from the same donor(s)--only the candidate we HATE is corrupt for taking the contributions----------our guy is great and honorable!

The issue of local candidate finance always seems to come up about this time of year during election periods as candidates head into the home stretch of campaign season.

Last Sunday in the PNJ, a big part of their hit on the three commissioners running for re-election was the fact that we all accept campaign checks from the same benevolent community and business leaders locally.

Online, certain facebook chat/opinion/entertainment groups like Escambia Citizens Watch (AKA the hate-club, echo chamber) love to take shots at "certain" candidates (I'm a frequent target) for the "who" it is that writes their campaign checks.

The all-too-frequent trope is that candidates who amass a big war chest (like the one I have cultivated in this election cycle) are corrupt, on the take, bought and paid for, good old boys,  etc. etc.  It is all just a big hate-festival of ad hominem attacks reverberating through the online padded-cell of insanity. It is comical---yet also hypocritical.

Here's why:

1.) The PNJ and these opinion/entertainment chat sites never chastise "their" guy or gal candidate for who it is that writes campaign checks to their particular campaigns.  No, no, no--their whacked out "logic" goes a little something like this:  "Our guys and the money they raise from our 'approved' donors are just fine---it is ONLY our enemies and the contributors to the candidates we don't like that are corrupt!"   Problem is, many (if not most) local candidates get money from the same pool of benevolent donors who actually are engaged in the political process and write checks.  Business owners, engineers, architects, builders, lawyers, developers and some others---these folks typically write checks for multiple candidates---and this allows those of us who are not independently wealthy the opportunity to run.  Would the PNJ and online hate sites want ONLY rich people running for office, rich and primarily white people?

Same thing with PACs:  "Business leaders we like create and fund PACs---Hooraay--great men!!!" 
                                       "Business leaders  we dislike create and fund PACs----Booooo..Corruption!!"

Often the "darling" candidates of the online  hate club society and the PNJ have actually taken PAC money or straight-up campaign checks from the same guys that give money to the candidates these social sites and the PNJ HATE!!........but somehow this is alright because it is "their" guy--so no matter who gives to THEIR guy--it is OK! 

2.)They next complain about a candidate taking money from interests "outside" of their home district they represent.    Listen, that argument is just stupid and ridiculous.  Here's why:  although

Lawsuit Against Escambia County Citizen Melissa Pino Dropped by Escambia County Medical Director Rayme Edler....

Via this filing from yesterday afternoon.

PNJ Won't Even Acknowledge My Email--Meaning They Won't Print this Rebuttal

I sent this email to the PNJ editorial team Monday Evening in response to their Sunday editorial that was a complete hatchet piece on three of the commissioners--as of today no response at all, no acknowledgment that I even sent it.  It doesn't surprise me, I did not think they would print it......

Attached to this email I sent them, above, was this 600 page rebuttal, below, to Sunday's Editorial.

Another PNJ Editorial Explodes on the Launchpad......Part II: MAD Magazine meets The ONION

Sunday's PNJ Editorial reads like a news feature from MAD Magazine or the Onion.  Fake news:  Biased, ignorant, and mean spirited.

This editorial that will appear in tomorrow's PNJ is nothing but a hatchet-piece, ill-informed hit on three of the elected Escambia County Commissioners that have recently (and rightly) spoken up to staff--- expressing significant concerns about multiple topics. 

These recent commissioner to staff questions and discussions are completely and totally legitimate and within our purview as the policy and oversight entity in this county.

Instead of doing ANY research or investigation on the reasons for these public expressions of concern by multiple commissioners though, the PNJ instead lazily accuses 3 of us of micro-managing.

PNJ--here is a newsflash:  Call me and ask me about the investigations of harassment that were blown off--I'll tell you about it.

Call me and ask me about the legal representation quagmire that is messy and that has all kinds of ramifications and implications ---ethical, legal and otherwise---and I'll tell you my opinion about why this is a hot topic that rightly generated discussion.  

No calls, no questions, no investigative journalism of old. 

Nope. 

PNJ just does a drive by pass and churns up the garbage conclusion that we should blindly go along with any and all recommendations by staff, regardless of whether or not there might be compelling reasons to pause and reassess.  Nope--they believe we simply need to make "nice" with staff.

Trust them, dummies! is the message.

Guess what PNJ-- I do trust, but I verify.  That's my job.

PNJ editors intimate we are essentially rubes.  They ignorantly call us unqualified. They don't know our professional qualifications and experience though--yet they call us unqualified?

Some of their whacked-out garbage reminds me of fake news articles I would read in MAD magazine as a kid.  This opinion looks like a "news story" one might read in The Onion.

The crack 2-person "editorial board" of the PNJ, consisting of Andy Marlette and Lisa Savage, questions our motivation, attacks our credibility, and admonishes us from contradicting staff yet they are purposely, willfully ignorant of the underlying topics generating the consternation.

Next--they beat us up for apparently having the audacity to accept campaign contributions from benevolent community leaders that want to participate in the elections process and help our campaigns by making contributions. 

But wait--other candidates that receive contributions from these same community leaders don't get thrashed by the PNJ for accepting this money.  No mention of the fact that many elected officials, current and past, also get checks from this family.  No mention that these contributions are completely legitimate, legal, and above board.  Nope.  Just the sickening insinuation that we--the county commissioners-- are somehow dirty and are to be ashamed of accepting these campaign checks.

Newsflash 2 for PNJ:  Most that run for office locally are not independently wealthy and therefore we are greatly appreciative of business leaders and benevolent community members that write campaign checks.....Absent this--many would not/could not run.  Why does PNJ want to ostracize, bully, and publicly attempt to humiliate those generous persons that write campaign contributions?

Untrue, lazy, feckless, biased, and slanted opinions like this from publications like this are the reason more and more Americans report they no longer trust the media and are dropping newspaper subscriptions like hot rocks. 

PNJ contributes to its own demise with garbage like this editorial. 

Another PNJ Editorial Explodes on the Launchpad......Part I: Logic that is Illogical

Sunday's PNJ "Editorial" is about as insightful as a rocket exploding on the launchpad, it is such an epic fail.....

Tomorrow in the PNJ there will be an exceptionally naive, ignorant, and uninformed "opinion-piece" from the 2-person editorial board.

It is a fire, ready, aim-devoid of the real facts-ad hominem cheap shot  aimed at three members of the BCC.

It is so bad and so ignorant that as I read it, I immediately thought about how this piece of garbage rubbish  reminds me of a rocket exploding on a launchpad, kind of like the Falcon 9 Explosion sequence above from September of 2016. Just a spectacular fail.

The difference, of course, is that the Falcon 9 pictured above and its associated payload was actually good and valuable-- worth $200 million....

Tomorrow's PNJ editorial, by contrast, is a worthless piece of tripe.  This article, it's associated analysis and recommendations, and $2.00 will get you a half-cup of gas station coffee......

Here is where and why this ridiculous hatchet piece fails:

1.)  I have learned that an employee of EMS was treated horribly--this was admitted on the dais the other night by Janice Gilley.  The PNJ should call Janice and ask her if the administration did, or did not, drop the ball in his case? Did the administration or did they not follow established board policy on harassment?  PNJ  won't do this because they're lazy, don't want to know,  do not want the truth, and facts don't matter to them as much as punching us in the groin unfairly with this garbage hit job.

Setting that all aside--the "professional" staff of the county did initially find that this employee was harassed and made recommendations that he be made whole in his employment status-------way back in June.  Then the issue got swept under a rug.  No mention of this in the "piece." 

I got involved only in November when this exasperated employee made a desperate plea to me for help.  I got the case moving again--but this time the conclusions fell way short of the mark according to everyone that knows the details.  Sadly--this employee will now use the court system to get his due compensation, and I believe he will prevail in the courts.  I certainly hope the crack team at PNJ will follow that and report back on the outcome of that.  And another thing to note:  I revealed the fact that there were multiple, additional unfinished harassment complaints uncovered during my brief query into Matt Selover's case--this was stated at the meeting. These additional complaints also failed to comport with board policy. The PNJ has not asked about this nor did they mention it in their garbage hit piece.  Why not??  (Oh, yeah, right.  It does not fit their narrative that I'm simply a "meddler.")

2.)  A stand alone appeal process, I believe, would have prevented this situation from dragging out as it did. More importantly--it would have been an inducement for staff to follow our policy with fidelity so such a glaring failure of duty to an employee's due process would never again go on for 7 months unresolved--so what is so awful about my wanting a discussion of this in light of  my finding as many as 6 harassment complaints (including a sexual harassment complaint) that have occurred over the last 18 months where our policy was not followed?  

Bottom Line:  In 2018 Escambia County paid a female employee in public safety hundreds of thousands of dollars to settle an ugly harassment suit that was not properly addressed by staff.  This was two years ago.  To help fix it at that time, the county commissioners immediately put in place a very prescriptive policy and ADMONISHED administration to follow it with fidelity.

And now we see in multiple subsequent cases (as many as six that I mentioned in a public meeting this week) --- our policy was ignored and employees suffered as a result.  So I spoke up to help employees.  So I spoke up and I recommended a discussion of better policy and additional appeals for employees--and for that--the PNJ writes a hatchet piece that demonizes me?!?  Ridiculous.

illogical PNJ "logic"

if Escambia Public Safety Department wants resources and help "DO IT NOW--or you are EVIL!!!!"

but.....

if Escambia Public Safety Employees desperately plead for help    "DO NOTHING--or you are EVIL!!!"

ISSUES That Never Go Away Part I: The Coroner Pay Dispute Files.....

In a horror picture, sometimes you never really fully dispatch the monster.  They just keep coming back.  Some issues we deal with (Issues, not people) are eerily reminiscent of this trope...

Sometimes the toughest, most complex issues with which we contend are the toughest ones to fix.

These issues never go away.

Like a fire that you think is out but that keeps flaring up.....

Like legal bills that keep arriving in the mail months and months after the case is settled.....

Like the Horror Show trope where the monster is never dead, no matter how many times it should be, no matter how many times it is "dispatched" -----it just keeps coming back to life.  (this is simply a metaphor---I'm talking issues not people)

So here is the new issue that won't go away.

The four counties of the first Judicial Circuit recently navigated a tricky replacement of this area's Coroner.  There were a number of alleged issues associated with our previous coroner's performance and fees and payments and exorbitant salaries, public money put into private companies, etc. etc. etc.   Then there were lawsuits.  It all blew up a few summers ago, but again--- it was resolved this past October 1 with the placement of a new Coroner. It was ugly.  But we fixed it and it went away.

So we thought.

But the new coroner, apparently, (according to our old coroner's lawyer) is making more than the previous on was---that is AFTER some pay adjustments were made. (Prior to the adjustments, this previous  coroner's compensation approached $700K yearly--not a bad government wage)

(Read all about that sordid history here.)

So now that our previous coroner has relocated and settled in at a different part of the state, a federal lawsuit has been filed against the three of the four counties of the first judicial circuit by the former coroner.

The crux of it appears to be that the new coroner, a man, is making MORE than the previous coroner, a woman, was making.

Some issues never go away.

Press "Read More," below on the left, to read the compete 7-page complaint.

Why an Independent Appeal Process to the BCC Makes Sense Part III: Do We Already Have One??

There are compelling reasons to consider enacting a stand-alone, independent process for employee appeal of a workplace harassment decision directly to the Board of County Commissioners---but do we already have one if we want it?

Although I'm told there has been some fictional propaganda put out on social media by Commissioner Underhill to the contrary--the fact of the matter is that we, the full BCC, will be discussing the idea of a stand alone appeal process to the full BCC for County Administrator final decisions on harassment complaints.

I believe this is a necessary discussion because our very prescriptive anti-harassment policy has not been followed in a half-dozen instances over the last year and employees have been treated very poorly as a result and costly lawsuits have ensued.

So YES---we will be having this deep dive discussion at our Committee of the Whole in March.  This scheduling of this discussion came out of our meeting on Tuesday, and the direction was crystal clear and unambiguous to Janice--so I have no idea where any notion to the contrary might have come from or where anyone with a brain could state "Jeff had no support for the discussion of an appeal process for harassment."  I guess some people simply live in their own fantasy world.....

Nevertheless, during the discussions on Tuesday I deliberately asked some very specific questions about what it is we could compel our administrator to do if the full board was to vote to ask for a particular harassment decision to be re-investigated.  Somewhat surprisingly, the answer from our attorney is/was that YES we could compel the re-opening of an employee harassment investigation that was/is decided/concluded.  Now, this is not exactly an appeal to the full board for us to make the final determination--but it is a mechanism that apparently exists that would force a new look.

Which is precisely what is needed in several "decided" harassment complaints that were not conducted properly over the last 12 months and where our policy was not followed.

Once an investigation is closed and decided--the information becomes a public record, as is the case of the Selover harassment complaint, thus the continuing discussion.

But knowing the full board could remand a particular case back to the administrator to conduct a new investigation is powerful.

my question on this topic:

"Alison-

This morning when I asked your opinion about IF the board could vote to compel the administrator to open a new investigation into Matt Selover’s harassment—you said “yes”.

Is that still your opinion, I mean if there were three votes to request this?

Her response:

"Yes, you can.  You shouldn’t dictate a disciplinary action, but that’s different than directing her to reopen an investigation. " 

Smooth Baton-Handoff Coming for First Judicial Circuit State Attorney--or Could it Be a Contested Election?

Will the upcoming contest for Florida's first judicial circuit State Attorney be a one-candidate, uncontested baton hand-off--------or will there be more than one viable candidate in this race to make it a real election? 

It appears as if there will be at least one new candidate for State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit this year come election time on the ballots--as a rumor is circulating that current State Attorney Bill Eddins is retiring and will not seek another term in the 2020 election.

Early word has it that Eddins' hand selected, chosen successor for the office (the individual whom Eddins will endorse) will be current Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcile.

Qualifying for this multi-county office occurs in the Spring, just a few months from now.

Odds appear to be 50-50 that instead of what appears to be a smooth, relay-race style handoff from Eddins to Marcile for this job---there may actually be a contested election.

This would be a first in decades, as I'm told the previous, long-serving (since the 1970's) State Attorney, Curtis Golden, essentially "handed the office off" to the current State Attorney Bill Eddins 16 years ago.

I am always of the belief that electors prefer choices------ and having two very well-qualified persons vying for this job would be a great thing for the voters!

Obviously I don't speak for him, but I know my brother Circuit Judge Gary Bergosh has often expressed a desire to seek the State Attorney Office, when and if the timing was ever right.

He and I have discussed this, privately, over the years and on multiple occasions since 2004 when I moved back to Pensacola from San Diego.  I've been contacted multiple times recently by folks in the profession and out of it that would LOVE it if Gary ran!

He has expressed to me often that if he were ever able to seek and subsequently win such an office--he would be especially focused on investigating and uncovering cases involving public corruption.  This has resonated with me with acutely----as I have seen some terrible issues go by the wayside that I feel deserved a much closer look as it pertained to the ugly spectacle of the Newpoint Schools fiasco.

But If Gary Bergosh chose to do this--to run against Greg Marcile--It would certainly be, financially speaking, the path of maximum resistance for him; as a judge he would have to resign from the

Why an Independent Appeal Process to the BCC Makes Sense Part II: What do Employees Do When there is no Satisfactory Resolution?

There are compelling reasons to consider enacting a stand-alone, independent process for employee appeal of a workplace harassment decision directly to the Board of County Commissioners

At our March Committee of the Whole, the Escambia Board of County Commissioners will discuss a potential stand-alone appeal process for handling employee workplace harassment complaints.

This sort of a process would allow for a direct appeal to the BCC of a "final" ruling by the county administrator.

Some recent issues in one of our departments and the seemingly choppy, sloppy and deficient manner in which workplace harassment complaints have been handled is the impetus for this discussion.

I'm not sure how the discussion in March will go--but I do know what happens if we don't give employees multiple avenues for the appeal for harassment complaints that are not resolved properly:

1.)  Morale suffers throughout the organization
2.)  We hemorrhage staff (resignations and early retirements) as folks become disillusioned
3.)  The workplace becomes more toxic if the issue is not handled fairly
4.)   Employees can/will sue their employer
5.)  Taxpayers spend more money on lawyers than should be necessary

In one case in particular, where a good, long-term employee tried and tried to get a fair resolution to what appears to be his horrific treatment by admin and HR staff for months and months-------#4 is the option that this particular employee has  now chosen --- per this email (below) all commissioners received last night during the meeting.



Sadly, I do not believe it had to come to this---if ONLY our policy had been followed with integrity and fidelity.  But to me it appears our policy was not followed, so here comes another lawsuit.............