Some are discussed openly and frequently--others are being worked by staff and will be presented once finalized.
But make no mistake--big things are moving.
Here are some examples.
OLF-8's RFQ is on the web site. It is up, and we are getting interest in it from the development community. Although it seems like it's been an agonizingly, excrutiatingly protracted process--it is coming together. We had our Master Planning Process, we had COVID-19, and a number of staff changeovers which put this out longer than we had hoped. But again--it's moving now.
The first 84 1/2 acres will be the start. Stay tuned.
Jail Medical RFP is in the works. A draft has been completed by staff after the board signaled it's willingness to look at outsourcing ---IF -AND ONLY IF-- it makes economic sense to do so. The only way to know for sure is to put it out and see what comes back. I know our Jail Medical costs have risen geometrically and so we shall soon see if the private sector can handle this vital and expensive function more efficiently and economically than the current system which is expensive and where a sizable portion of the workers are already staffed through outside agencies. So we will see.
Beulah Master Plan. I have asked that staff get this process going once again and re-solicit for this work. We have Restore Act funding for the effort--however the last time we put it out for bid we did not have enough qualified respondents necessary to make the award. So it will be put out again.
Public Safety Prioritization and Budgeting--We will sort-out ECFR's budget this week, EMS is moving forward with an aggressive growth strategy, and there is an effort underway to streamline the next three years' worth of funding for the sheriff's office--similarly to what we did in 2018 when I was last Chairman of the Board. This 3-year deal is being worked and will benefit the county if it can be finalized. I believe we are close, very close to getting an agreement that the full board and the ECSO can consider.
Affordable Housing- the board is working a unique strategy to source the materials and labor and build affordable housing on county owned property. I think it is a great strategy and look forward to watching it happen. I think we can do it less-expensively and more rapidly than working with an intermediary to get these houses built. I look forward to watching this initiative take off.
Intelligent Outsourcing for pond maintenance and grass cutting-Administrator Wes Moreno found a creative solution to a daunting problem--no enough staff to adequately cut the county's growing number of storm ponds. So he brought forward an initiative to outsource some of the work and to everyone's surprise the bids came back very well priced. Now we are going to carve out smaller lots of work so that small businesses can also take on some of this work. From the county staffing side--Wes has recommended strategic pay increases to attract more workers combined with the cutting of funded positions to add higher pay. This is working, and I believe will be expanded county wide.
Beach Traffic Management/Improvement--My hat is off to staff and commissioner Bender for the work they have done to streamline traffic at the beach, provide more parking, and create a situation where a drive to the beach is no longer a 2-hour affair! We are doing record numbers of vehicles through the toll booths which are now cashless---and traffic is flowing better than it ever has. I am out at the beach a lot at all different times, and with the smart light synchronization, the "hot-right" down Fort Pickens Road, additional parking, and new traffic patterns at the Casino Beach lot--I think we have hit the practical, 95% solution for beach traffic.
Fiscal Austerity--The administrator has a duty to bring us a balanced budget. To that end and at the board's recent direction--the county will accelerate the task of permanently eliminating positions that have historically been "on the books" but that are never filled. We have asked for up to 50% of the open positions be eliminated---which once done will free up more than $10 Million for this year's budget.
So, in summary, I simply say there are lots of big things happening. And way more than what I've listed above--but that is the flavor of where we are headed. With a re-constituted purchasing/procurment department, a reinvigorated administrative staff on the 4th floor, and with commissioners (the majority of whom) are willing to push through and forward with bold initiatives--keep watching as we continue to put millions of dollars to work in the community on drainage, bridges, roads, and sidewalks. Watch as we bring creative solutions to some lingering problems. There is a lot to watch--and I am bullish on the next few years in Escambia County. Great things are coming--new libraries, fire stations, boat launches, public beach accesses, and new roads and sidewalks. It's coming.
And Finally: to those, that miniscule minority number of folks, who only attack and spew garbage lies
and ad-hominems on the hate chat site under the guise of being some sort of watch dogs, yeah, the same 15 or so who are glib, disaffected, scornful, hateful, and often times straight-up dishonest--banging away at keyboards all day in darkened rooms adorned with foil hats---I can only say this: Enjoy your self-imposed, self-created drama compartment that 99.99999% of citizens do not see and will never read---------those few that still look see you for what you are: bullies online. Meanwhile--those of us who lead will continue to get it done for the citizens we serve 😛while you bang away like woodpeckers on your keyboard(s) and accomplish nothing of any consequence ever.
9 comments:
These are all “managerial” type decisions. No actual leadership on what is necessary to combat the generational poverty that plagues our community
Do those of us on ECW just live in your head or are you upset we don't worship you? Nevermind. We know where the rent is free.
Anonymous 2:37--Incorrect. Most are initiatives driven by individual commissioners and subsequently brought forward to staff. And I don't know what you are measuring with your cynical, dystopian opinion. Our unemployment locally is at a historic low, and home prices are at an all-time high. The economy locally is good----with the exception of high prices driven by reckless spending and money-printing in DC. And anonymous 8:49----Nah...I just recognize lying hate-spewing bullies when I see them, It's a sad lot, those keyboard woodpeckers who cannot give up their fascination with blaming their horrible, empty lives on people they do not know based upon lies and attacks on those who serve. It really is a sad spectacle and if you don't see that, I can't help you. Meanwhile, why are you here? This site is where the truth is told, facts are given, and nobody gets an unprovoked attack. Now, scurry back to where you belong, your echo chamber of hate with your 15 buddies LOL
Can I read ur nasty comments at the next meeting
Bergosh is the bully. He should be censured by the other commissioners for calling another commissioner an idiot from the dais. That entire thing was a setup.
Sure Nancy, that is what public forum is for.
@210
It would die for lack of a 2nd.
Thanks for the report Commissioner.
We have 30% or more of our citizens in “food deserts” according to your lap dog Outzen’s reporting. Only 60% of our kids show up ready for school. Our “employment “ is mainly service jobs. Our wages are less than neighboring counties and the state. We lag neighboring counties and the state in almost every economic measure. You can’t spin facts Jeff. Look at every dashboard that measures us. Show us where your leadership is moving us ahead of the competition. You and your colleagues continue to squander the great natural assets we have in this county along with the leadership from the business and philanthropic communities. The only lagging sector is government. I don’t believe government should solve the problems but should be complimentary to the private sector efforts instead of inhibiting.
Escambia is more poor than Santa Rosa and other people some of the people make these choices for themselves. Demographics is a factor. Like it or not.
Parents are the one who get their children prepared for school. Welfare perpetuates the cycle of single parent recipients who plop out more babies to get more money. In the ghetto.
The Bocc has to work with in their means of budget.
Harsh complaints from woodpeckers are noted, one can almost tell the person.
Rapid fire bully here probably.
Too much coffee and no job?
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