At our last Board of County Commissioners meeting, the Committee of the Whole, I once again asked about the status of our payment(s) to DPZ for their design services for OLF-8. Specifically, I asked where we were at with obtaining reimbursement from Navy Federal Credit Union for these services. As of the 11th of March-- the date of this meeting last week--we hadn't received any additional reimbursement (s) from NFCU for the planning efforts at OLF-8 beyond their first payment several months back. Meanwhile, the county was up to nearly $700K in direct payments to DPZ....despite some significant ethical questions raised about DPZ's conduct. (This relates to DPZ not notifying it's client (Escambia County) of plans DPZ was notified of to "embarrass" commissioners and undermine Escambia County's economic development initiatives at OLF-8)
So at this committee of the whole last week, In jest (because we had yet to receive a second check from NFCU), a brief discussion ensued culminating in the trope "Is NFCU's payment on the way, Is the Check in the Mail?"
Well, lo and behold it was. Apparently it was cut on March 9, 2021--two days before our meeting on the 11th. The check WAS in the mail.
In all seriousness though, this is important on a couple of levels.
1. This latest reimbursement has occurred after/since the "summit" where top leaders from Florida West, PEDC, Escambia County, and Keith Hoskins (representing NFCU) hammered out the current "Hybrid Plan" compromise for OLF-8. It is my understanding NFCU was asked, in that "summit," meeting if they had any problems/issues with the hybrid plan---and no issues were given/identified by Hoskins on behalf of NFCU.
2. Because no issues were mentioned/given by NFCU when they weighed-in on the latest compromise, and because they have subsequently now sent another payment of $275K for the planning effort--the logical assumption can be made that if the final plan moves forward based upon this hybrid compromise, NFCU will follow-through with their previous pledge to fund reimbursement of the total costs of the planning effort for OLF-8 per the terms of their MOU with the Escambia Board of County Commissioners.
So this is all good news, so far as I can tell. I certainly hope NFCU makes the final payment once this plan is approved. Meanwhile, here is staff's narrative that accompanied the notification about NFCU's payment:
"A check from Navy Federal has been received for $275,714.38 (copy attached). Check will be delivered to the Clerk’s office. Here are the project funding details to date:
Contract Amount $1,263,507.00
Paid to
DPZ
$699,943.77
Balance on
contract $563,863.23
Paid by Navy Federal $631,753.50
As discussed last week, any future invoices will be the responsibility of Escambia County. Phase 3 (Phase 4 on the reimbursement schedule in the MOU) outlines that we can invoice NFCU once final OLF8 Master Plan and Development Report is officially adopted by BOCC up to 100% of the Master Plan Expenses invoiced."
I see the PNJ et al is still at it, wanting to thwart economic development.
ReplyDeleteNot everyone inputs to the town hall and facebook or the charettes, as you well know.
Thank you for doing what is best for the good of the whole and not budging back an inch away from economic development on the site.
Blackwell is running you down on ECW also. I don't think "A Back Room Deal" is done at a public meeting. and published on this blog.
ReplyDeleteHonestly she seems like a pushy democrat dougite type person, I'm sure they'll be giving you the evil eye in the morning public forum next week. Maybe she'll push herself up to the "pulpit" during a COW again claiming a disease.
I seriously do not understand the mentality of a few of these local battleaxes thinking they can run the show by being the loudest voices in the room.
ReplyDeleteControl freaks need a lesson in civics.
Maybe it will dawn on them but not holding my breath.
Anonymous 3:43--while about 8-10 people on that site get really exercised, lathered, and breathlessly run me down--the vast majority of District 1 supports the vision of a mixed use development, with lots of area to develop good jobs. That site is nothing more than an echo chambeer of hate, with a few loud voices that reverberate back and forth and really get nothing done at all. I don't bother even looking at it, they can spin around like little dradles and stew in their own sauce. Meanwhile, I move forward and get things done for my district and this county while they still pine over the fact that their guy got smashed to pieces in the election finishing a distant third place. LOL
ReplyDelete