New, Revised LOI Received for OLF 8 Property From Beulah TownCenter LLC

 We were notified yesterday that a revised letter of intent (LOI) was sent to the county yesterday for our OLF 8 property.  See the revised LOI below:

Jonathan Owens Declines Opportunity to Speak on his Own Behalf for Legal Fees He's Requested YOU Pay

When offered the opportunity to speak on his own behalf to personally request the county cover his legal bills for his own nefarious, unlawful conduct---- before discussion on this item at a public meeting ended-----Owens sat motionless like a wax statue of a ventriloquist's doll. Why?

Jonathan Owens,  the former county employee who worked for disgraced former county commissioner Doug Underhill and who is in possession of stolen county records----- recently had the gall to formally request a taxpayer funded legal defense for his transgressions and resultant troubles stemming from his unauthorized possession of said files.  

The County Attorney's Office added this request for a taxpayer-funded (i.e. YOU) defense from former employee Owens to our agenda on Tuesday.  And Owens even showed up to the meeting, sitting in the back row of the chambers.

Nevertheless----not one commissioner on the dais Tuesday showed any inclination of even countenancing this outrageous Owens request once it was up for consideration on the agenda.  (four of us were present, D2 commissioner Mike Kohler blew off the meeting and wasn't there) 

When offered the opportunity to speak on his own behalf to personally request the county cover his legal bills before discussion on this item ended-----Owens sat motionless like a wax statue of a ventriloquist's doll.

He had the opportunity to ask, speak, lobby, and request, --and he did nothing.

The thing that is incredible to me coming off of this awkward, cringe-worthy spectacle is the rank loyalty and feilty a handful of citizens and one radio talk show host are demonstrating toward Owens in this matter.

It really is both fascinating and sad.

But facts are facts and they cannot be surpressed no matter how much Kool Aid the Underhill/Owens/Tallman fanboy club chugs.  

FOCUS ON FACTS:

1.  The records at issue were stolen from the county, and the stolen records contain personal identification information (full photos of passports, Pictures of front and back of driver's licenses, bank account numbers and pins, social security numbers, tax forms, medical records, and a host of other data on more than a dozen citizens) that would never be released under any public records request, ever.

2. Jonathan Owens admitted he has all of these records, has read them all, knew much of the information was personal/private, kept all these files upon leaving employment from the county, did not report to relevant county staff he possessed them when he worked at the county, and has subsequently dissemenated these files to others unredacted.  He admitted this all freely and openly on Tallman Mckay's Podcast (which has been scrubbed from 1620's site) as well as in the News Journal.

3. Mere possession of this personal identification information as described above, unauthorized, on this many people is a third degree felony under Florida Law.  That's why the State Attorney and appropriate law enforcement agencies were notified and a criminal investigation was requested by the county on this matter back in June.  One week later--law enforcement investigators met me in my office and were given possession of the entire file--and both the county and I, personally, signed a waiver on that date allowing investigators to freely and without providing to us any immunity or amnesty-----free reign to search all the contents of all the files in question for ANY EVIDENCE of ANY CRIME. (Somebody wake up "letter-writers"  Mike Kohler and Steve Stroberger and let them know this)

4. Jonathan Owens is specifically NOT authorized to possess this type of data, nor was he ever authorized to possess it--- and his handling and/or possession of such data--which includes photos of my family members' passport documents, Photos of my Family's driver's licenses, my social security numbers, and my childrens' social security numbers, and my sons' tax returns----was never a part of his job duties and/or a normal course of his employment in the county.  What he should have done, if his story is true and this stick drive was shoved under his office door, was immediately turn the drive over to legal.  That would have been the appropriate course of action for him to take.  But Owens didn't do that.

5.  County staff that handles public records requests for the BCC have testified, under oath, that prior to the county becoming aware of this data breach and the theft of these records coming to light----no PRR's had been made for my text messages from my personal phone.  (for the geniuses reading this--it's because those who wanted these files were already given them by Owens, unlawfully, and outside of the PRR and/or discovery process--see the relevant testimony from the county's investigation, below)

Lying liars that lie, like Underhill/Owens/Tallman/Edler will say "Bergosh and the county were withholding these texts that were public records"  but the under oath testimony in this matter obliterates their lies:  No requests were made for these files prior to our notification that said files had already been stolen and disseminated unredacted.  

6. Nothing at all related to this matter implicates the whistlebolower statutes--Federal or State--as such status would have to have been determined and agreed to by the court PRIOR to the improper, unlawful

County Partners with Faith Based Community to Help Citizens During the Cold Snap

County Emergency Manager Travis Tomkins does a great job in his position, and keeps the board on top of issues of importance that relate to weather issues and natural disasters.  In the wake of this past week's bitter cold, the county worked together with community partners and the faith-based community to help citizens find shelter from the cold.  Tompkins sent a recap of this work to the board and staff, and it is great to be able to report this good news of teamwork.  From Tompkins' email:

"Leadership,

 I wanted to take a minute and let you know about some of the things that happened with our cold weather event this past week and weekend. As you all know we had an extended cold weather event with temperatures dropping into the teens. Waterfront Rescue Mission had already stepped up at the end of last year to coordinate with other shelters and open as a cold weather shelter to anyone including women and children. They worked with REAP to house women and children but sheltered anyone that needed it. They were also the warming center all day for the entire event. Essentially, they were open to anyone 24hrs a day.

 My Fathers Vinyard, a church located on HWY 29 just past the interstate for the first time opened for cold weather sheltering. They opened their doors to anyone and had 73 people at their facility on Saturday night. I found out on Sunday evening of last week that the church was opening for sheltering, and then called Rodrigues Kimbrough on Monday to ask for ECAT transportation between the church and Waterfront. Director Kimbrough coordinated everything within just a few hours. The next day we had transportation between overnight sheltering and the designated warming center at Waterfront for the entire week and weekend. I can’t thank Director Kimbrough enough for this and many other times that ECAT has stepped up to help Emergency Management.

 There were a few individuals that put out misleading information on social media, but that was quickly addressed. EM will be hosting and after action review regarding the cold weather event sometime later this week.

 This event showcases the collaboration and cooperation of our local government and community partners. My thanks to Waterfront Rescue Mission, REAP, My Fathers Vinyard, and ECAT. There were many other individuals and businesses that assisted as well. It truly takes a village, and the village stepped up.

 Respectfully,

 

Travis D. Tompkins

Escambia County, Emergency Manager"

Jonathan Owens Doesn't Rate a Taxpayer Funded Legal Defense

Because mere possession of personal identification information by those who are unauthorized is a crime, and Jonathan Owens freely admits he possesses such information, his request for a taxpayer funded legal defense should be met with a denial.

Tomorrow morning on our agenda of the regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, we will be discussing a request from former employee Jonathan Owens.  

Owens is requesting that county taxpayers fund his legal defense in a civil lawsuit he is facing and also in an ethics complaint he is defending.

Yes, the county does have a policy that provides, in some circumstances, a legal defense for an employee who faces litigation arising from such an employee's normal and routine employment activities.

Jonathan's case does not meet that standard.  

And many believe Jonathan is actually guilty of a crime, a third degree felony, by possessing, unauthorized, the personal identification information on five or more individuals, which is illegal under Florida Law. 

Owens claims he innocently, when he was a county employee, came into possession of a file containing this personal identification information.  Furthermore, he admitted reading this file, keeping it, and disseminating it unredacted to a law firm suing the county.  He admitted his possession of this file in the newspaper and on the radio on Andrew Tallman McKay's program on AM1620 back on August 7th. (transcript here)

This is why law enforcement is investigating this issue--they know it is illegal, too! They (law enforcement and the State Attorney's Office) know this file has pictures, text messages, and other information that should not be possessed by anyone who is not authorized to possess it.  Mere possession under the statute is unlawful.  --and Jonathan is specifically NOT authorized to possess this file, which contains:

a.     Social security numbers for at least 3 individuals.

b.     User names and passwords for e-mail and service accounts.

c.    American Banking Association routing and bank account numbers for multiple accounts.

d.     The address and access codes for the electronic gate and lock on a private residential condominium.

e.     Photographs of the Passports of two persons.

f.      IRS tax returns for two separate persons.

g.     Insurance cards.

h.     Credit and debit card pictures, numbers and PINs.

i.      Pictures of Driver’s Licenses of two separate persons.

j.      W-2 forms for one person.

 

6.         Additionally, the file includes personal and private discussions on the following health matters relating to at least 13 different individual citizens who are not public figures and that are also not in any way connected to Escambia County’s Government:

 

            a.         Colonoscopy.

            b.         Hospitalizations.

            c.         Psychological Diagnoses.

            d.         Miscarriage.

            e.         Cancer.

            f.          Heart attack.

            g.         Parkinson’s Disease.

            h.         Cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

            i.          Suicide.

            j.          COVID Vaccination Status.

            k.         COVID Diagnoses.

Information such as this, above, is not a public record and would not be released under any public records request ever.  If people want public records, they should request them, not steal and distribute them as has happened here.  And because Jonathan has a copy of the stolen files and has admitted this--he must also know this:  mere possession of such information by those who are unauthorized is a crime, and therefore Owens' request for a taxpayer funded legal defense should be met with a denial.

Increased Homestead Exemption will Result in $6.6 Million Revenue Loss for Escambia County

Everyone wants tax cuts and more property tax exemptions--but this latest one comes at a steep price to our county's budget.

Our budget and finance office sent the below information out to commissioners this week, delineating the costs.....

"The FL Legislature has proposed an additional homestead exemption of $25,000 that would need to be approved by the voters of the State of Florida at the November 2024 elections.

The current exemption of $25k would go up to $50k applicable to assessed property values greater than $50k for all levies excluding the school district levies. (proposed bill attached)

 If this makes it to the voters, i am confident it will pass.

 The financial impact to the county based on this information is a property tax revenue loss of $6,576,949 or $6.6 million based on current taxable valuation and revenue.

 If approved by the voters November 2024, the effective date is January 1^st 2025 and would affect the county budget for FY25/26, not FY24/25. (based on House or Representatives staff analysis of the bill)"

 

89th Coffee with the Commissioner- Featuring D1 State Representative Michelle Salzman

Underhill Wins!!!!: (a Pyrrhic Victory)

"If we are victorious in one more such battle, we shall be utterly ruined" -King Pyrrhus of Epirus, 318-272 BC

A ruling in Federal Court was handed down earlier this week.  

It was a pyrrhic victory of epic proportion for disgraced former commissioner Doug Underhill in that he "Won" one aspect of a long brewing, long simmering and percolating case.  

Yes, a judge ruled for him (Underhill) in just ONE (1) aspect of this lawsuit. 

The suit was filed alleging Underhill violated the constitutional rights of constituent(s) by hiding comments and blocking comments on social media accounts he, Underhill, controlled--and the judge did side with Underhill on this.

But --even though the Judge ruled for Underhill on just this one aspect of the suit----another portion of the same ruling was simultaneously devastating to Underhill.

......Because the Judge also ruled for the plaintiff, David Bear, in the other, equally important part of the same suit-----and awarded $130, 425.50 to him (Bear) from Underhill for Underhill's failure to produce requested public records.

From the order:

"The Court previously found Bear entitled to an award of attorney’s fees against Underhill pursuant to the Florida Public Records Act, Fla. Stat. § 119.12, resulting from his failure to respond to a public records request for records within his custody.  The Court also determined that Underhill may be held personally liable for those fees as the responsible “agency,” within the meaning of the statute. ...The Clerk is directed to enter final judgment in favor of Bear and against Underhill on the Public Records Act claims of Counts I and III, including an award of attorney’s fees in the amount of $130,425.50 to Bear, and final judgment in favor of Underhill and against Bear on the First Amendment claim of Count VII, and close the file."

Read the full Ruling Here.

"If we are victorious in one more such battle, we shall be utterly ruined" -King Pyrrhus of Epirus, 318-272 BC

Beulah Clean Up One Week From Today!

 

Join us in keeping our neighborhoods clean and safe! A neighborhood cleanup for residents in North Beulah will take place Wednesday, Jan. 24. This is a chance for residents to dispose of items such as old furniture, appliances and household waste free of charge. Yard debris is eligible for removal during this cleanup.

Only residents in the designated cleanup area can participate in the neighborhood cleanup. Please have all items for pickup at the curb by 7 a.m. on the day of the cleanup. Items left at the curb outside of the cleanup area will not be collected. If you live in the targeted area, you will have received a postcard in the mail with more information.

Wounded Beulah Veteran Receives a Free Home Tuesday!

 Beulah resident Corey Dingman and his wife Michelle received a cost free home in a homecoming ceremony held yesterday in District 1.  The home was funded through the generous giving of Bass Pro Shops, Lennar Homes, and a host of other small businesses that contributed materials, labor, and time to the effort.

Helping a Hero is the non-profit that is facilitating the construction of 100 homes for wounded US servicemen and women throughout the country, utilizing the generous donations from multiple large corporate sponsors including Lennar and Bass Pro Shops.

Locally, Corey Dingman was selected as the recipient of the home give away.  Dingman served in the US Army for 7 years and did tours of duty in both Iraq and Afghanistan, where he suffered numerous injuries.  An auto accident led to the amputation of a leg once Dingman returned home.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held just a short 90 days ago, and the home was actually completed in just 67 days.  Yesterday, the keys to this 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom handicapped accessible home were presented to Corporal Dingman and his wife.  "Thanks to you all for coming out to support this event, and thanks to God for this home" Dingman exclaimed to the assembled group lining his new driveway as he pulled up on a rare, windy, and 26 degree morning in Pensacola Florida.

Yesterday's ceremony was attended by executives from Lennar, Bass Pro Shops, various subcontractos, multiple other firms' representatives, and Escambia County employees.

WKRG covered the event, as did Escambia's CMR team.

A great day in District 1!  See photos from the event, below.

89th Coffee with the Commissioner this Wednesday at 6:30 AM

Join us for our 89th Coffee with the Commissioner event Wednesday, Jan. 17. The live stream will take place from 6:30-7:30 a.m. To join the meeting, visit our D1 Facebook site here: www.facebook.com/CommissionerBergosh/. 

Attendees include County Administrator Wes Moreno, Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore, and District 1 State Representative Michelle Salzman. Moreno will provide an update on county business, Gilmore will discuss public safety matters, and Salzman will provide an update on the current legislative session and pending legislation of importance to our area.

Residents are encouraged to send virtual questions and comments they would like to see discussed during the event through Facebook.  They can also be sent in advance via email to our office.

For more information, contact District 1 at 850-595-4910 or district1@myescambia.com. 

Health and Hope Clinic of Pensacola wins Statewide Champions of Service Award from Volunteer Florida

 

Staff and volunteers of the Health and Hope Clinic of Pensacola receive the Champions of Service Award from Volunteer Florida CEO Josie Tamayo, 1-10-2024

Volunteer Florida's CEO made a stop in Escambia County at the Health and Hope Clinic yesterday to present this volunteer-run clinic the statewide "Champion of Service" award--recognizing the valuable work this clinic does in the area by providing medical, dental, and mental health services free of charge to area citizens that do not have insurance.  For 2023, the clinic provided more than 11,000 doctor visits and between that and the free medications the clinic also distributes--the total value of these services exceeded $6 Million dollars in value.  The clinic is staffed by more than 330 volunteer dentists, doctors, nurses, counselors and other healthcare and administrative professionals.  One of the most important aspects of the care provided at the Health and Hope Clinic is that the care is actually free of charge.  The Health and Hope Clinic does not file for medicade reimbursements, nor does it accept any payments from the patients served.  Medicade reimbursements filed by other medical providers cost county taxpayers more than $5 Million Yearly.  So the Health and Hope Clinic, by seeing so many patients and not seeking the medicade reimbursements--actually helps the people served and the county's taxpayers!

Thanks to the folks at WEAR ABC Pensacola for coming out to the event and for their coverage of the awards ceremony.

"We are glad to be here in Pensacola today to recognize your hard working volunteers and all the efforts this clinic is making to prevent overdoses with Narcan distribution as well as your work to prevent heart disease in the community" said CEO Tamayo as she presented the award.

It is always great to see hard work rewarded in such a positive way.

Bellview Neighborhood Cleanup Next Wednesday beginning at 7:00 AM

A neighborhood cleanup for residents in Bellview will take place Wednesday, Jan. 17. This is a chance for residents to dispose of items such as old furniture, appliances and household waste free of charge. Yard debris is eligible for removal during this cleanup.

Only residents in the designated cleanup area can participate in the neighborhood cleanup. Please have all items for pickup at the curb by 7 a.m. on the day of the cleanup. Items left at the curb outside of the cleanup area will not be collected. If you live in the targeted area, you will have received a postcard in the mail with more information.

Residents can view the boundaries of targeted cleanup areas as well as scheduled cleanup dates for 2024 on the Interactive Neighborhood Cleanup Map.

Items eligible for removal include:

• Household appliances and electronics
• Household junk and debris
• Bicycles and toys
• Old furniture and mattresses
• Barbecue grills
• Household hazardous waste (old paint, motor oil, chemicals, batteries)
• Tires (limit 10 per household)

Items NOT eligible for removal include:

• Building materials (concrete, bricks, blocks, roofing, drywall or lumber)
• Explosives or ammunition
• Auto parts
• Dirt or sod
• Vehicles or vessels
• 55-gallon drums of fluids

Not sure if your item is eligible? Contact Max Rogers, Development Program Manager, at 850-595-3499 or mprogers@myescambia.com for questions about the cleanup.

Since 2016, more than 6,385 tons (12,770,000 pounds) of waste have been disposed of through the Community Redevelopment Agency's Safe Neighborhood Program. During neighborhood cleanups, crew members and volunteers visit different neighborhoods in the county to remove a variety of debris and waste free of charge.

On 1370 WCOA's Real News with Rick Outzen Today

I was invited to appear this morning on the area's best, most highly rated, most trusted morning drive news program "Real News with Rick Outzen on 1370 WCOA.

I was invited to appear as this morning's  leadoff guest on the area's best morning drive news program, "Real News with Rick Outzen" on 1370 WCOA.

We talked about all the big projects coming from the county to District 1 over the next year, as well as the state of the progress toward a Beulah Master Plan.

We talked about incorporation and some of the lessons learned by the recent effort to incorporate Perdido.

It's a good conversation, and once Rick publishes it, I will post the podcast here.