Tomorrow: Dr. John Lanza will Join Me for a Facebook Live "Virtual" Coffee with the Commissioner Discussing COVID-19

Tomorrow morning from 6:30-7:30 AM we will have our 32nd Coffee with a Commissioner event.

 Unlike our typical events, however, we will be totally online and remote--we will not be out at a location interacting with people due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.  We will be socially distancing and taking questions from constituents and others LIVE on facebook.  You can join in and participate, just tune in at https://www.facebook.com/CommissionerBergosh/

County administrator Janice Gilley will give an update on the status of County Services in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic locally.  I will give a brief update on some significant D1 projects.

But the lion's share of the morning will be devoted to questions about the Chinese Coronavirus.

We will have special guest Dr. John Lanza, the director of the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County, on our virtual coffee session. He has received authorization from Tallahassee to participate, and he has graciously offered his time to be at the event.  He will be answering questions in real time from constituents who send the questions in on facebook.  You can send your questions via this blog post as well, and I will ask the doctor your questions for you.

I will replay the entire video on facebook for those who cannot make the session live on my facebook site at  https://www.facebook.com/CommissionerBergosh/

COVID-19 Statewide SITREP as of 2:00PM 3-23-2019

What About Fishing, Though?

As the beaches are now temporarily closed, many who don't own boats wonder if they can still fish?

It is a good question, so I asked it and was told the decision to keep the Pensacola Beach fishing pier open or not open was up to the operator of that facility.

It was open for business this weekend, and I am told business was good, with many anglers coming out and with Cobia and Pompano now running.

But as these pictures sent to me by a friend illustrate---the crowds in some instances were not following the social distancing guidelines.

A fortunate Angler caught this
60 pound Cobia earlier this month
from the  Pensacola Beach Fishing
Pier

I have been asked by a constituent a different question now....Can we surf fish from the shore?

As all the public beaches are closed, I don't see how that is possible unless one knows someone on Perdido Key that owns private beachfront property.

I would like to go fishing again at the beach.  I am hoping, now that spring break is nearing an end, that fishermen  (like me) can once again go to the beach and fish from the surf and sand.  We can do it responsibly and we can do it maintaining "social distancing."

At our meeting on April 2nd I am going to ask this question.  It is a reasonable one to ask.

And the Pompano are running.....and the Cobia.....

4 Positive COVID 19 Cases in Escambia County

Escambia County now has 4 positive cases of COVID 19 according to the Florida Department of Health

The Florida Department of Health is reporting a total of 4 cases of COVID 19 in Escambia County now, according to the Florida COVID 19 Dashboard.

Data is starting to trickle in, and earlier today we had been notified that we had one (1) new case, however late this afternoon we are told we now have four (4) cases of COVID 19 in Escambia County.

Lots more information will be forthcoming, but as of now we know that all four individuals are at home, none are hospitalized.

These cases, locally,  include 3 men, 1 woman, ages 25-53

Test Results Starting to Trickle in: At Least 1 (one) More Positive Case in Escambia County Will Be Announced Today

At least one new COVID 19 case has been confirmed via testing conducted last week in Escambia County for which results have been recently returned--- according to verbal information passed along to county staff earlier today.  Additional information will be posted on the Florida COVID 19 site later this afternoon 

According to information provided verbally to county staff, some of the test results that have been conducted in the County over the last week utilizing the drive up locations are trickling in to officials.

While information is very, very preliminary at this point and not a lot of additional information is available (e.g. how many test results of the 800 plus conducted last week are back, what day's tests have been received back, etc.)--we are being told to expect the Department of Health to report at least one additional positive COVID 19 case in Escambia County as having been confirmed by testing that has thus far been received back from the lab.

This information will be added to the Florida Covid 19 Dashboard this afternoon/early evening according to staff.

Currently, personnel from DOH are in the process of doing contact tracing of this new individual who has tested positive.

More information will be coming later today and in the days to come as more and more of these results start to come in.

County to Close Buildings and Provide Services Online or by Appointment to Begin Monday, March 23

Escambia County will close facilities and programs to public in-person access to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 effective Monday, March 23. Alternative ways to conduct business with county departments:

Animal Services, Animal Shelter, 200 W. Fairfield Drive – By Appointment Only

·         Animal Services will continue to handle emergencies and non-contact calls.

·         Available by phone at 850-595-3076 or email at animalshelter@myescambia.com.

·         Animal Services asks citizens not to pick-up stray animals or bring them to the shelter. Contact Animal Control at 850-595-0097 to report a stray animal.

·         Animal Control will not be accepting animals from the public until further notice.

·         Adoptions and lost animal reclaims can be made by appointment only. Please call 850-595-3076 to make arrangements for these services. Please only request an adoption appointment if you are truly interested in adopting an animal as the number of available adoption appointments are limited.

·         Citizens can go to www.petharbor.com to look to see if their lost pet is at the shelter or to look for adoptable animals.

·         Submit an online Animal Control complaint here. 

Board of County Commissioners, County Attorney and County Administration, 221 Palafox Place – Closed to Public

·         Citizen’s Information Center  (850) 471-6600

Capital Improvement Projects, Surveying, and Drainage Issues, Central Office Complex 3363 West Park Place – Closed to Public

·         Visit the capital improvement projects, surveying and drainage website here. 

Community Centers – Closed to Public

·         Community Centers are closed for all public programming.

Community Redevelopment Agency, 221 Palafox Place – Closed to Public

·         No new appointments or walk-ins are being accepted. 

·         For questions, please contact 850-595-3217 or email cra@myescambia.com

Development Services, Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place – Closed to Public

·         Available by phone at 850-554-8210. For all planning related questions, please call Planning and Zoning at 850-595-3475

·         For questions regarding zoning or planning, please email zoninginfo@myescambia.com.

·         Find land use forms and applications here. 

·         View the county's GIS online interactive zoning map. 

·         Use the property search tool online to look up your address to find information such as your county commission district, water franchise jurisdiction, school zone, voting precinct, emergency management, hurricane evacuation zone and more. 

·         View the county's land development code. 

·         Fill out an online address request form. 

·         Find information about Local Mitigation Strategy here. 

·         Contact information for the Planning Board, Development Review, and Board of Adjustment can be found here.

·         Site plan review process (DRC) or for the issuance of Development Order, please contact Christina Smith, DRC Coordinator at 554-3472; or Andrew Holmer, Division Manager at 554-2795.

·         Land use approval and submitted plans to BID, please contact  Terry Williams at 595-3632.

Engineering and Construction, Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place – Closed to Public

·         Services are available via email and phone at Engineering@myescambia.com or 850-595-3440.

Escambia County Area Transit, 1515 W. Fairfield Drive – Customer Service to remain Open

·         ECAT administrative offices and lobby will be closed to the public beginning Monday, March 23.

·         ECAT Rosa L. Parks Transit Complex and customer service will remain open and will adhere to the 6-feet social distancing policy. Bus tickets are also available for purchase online at www.GoECAT.com.

·         In-person paratransit eligibility interviews will be rescheduled or completed over the phone. Please call the ECAT Mobility Clerk for assistance or to reschedule an interview at 850-595-3230.

·         For additional information, please call 850-595-3228 or visit www.GoECAT.com.

Extension Escambia County, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment – By Appointment Only

·         UF/IFAS Extension is open by appointment only. The phone number for appointments 850-475-5230, ext. 3 for Extension Services, ext. 2 for the 4-H office or email shendrix@ufl.edu.

·         Walk-in traffic is closed to the main lobby at the Extension Services office and the Langley Bell 4-H Center beginning Monday, March 23.

·         Traditional services such as soil samples, plant samples or identification are still available, but clientele is encouraged to communicate by phone or computer as much as possible.

·         Field visits will be limited and must be considered essential at this time. Clientele are encouraged to call, set up appointments and follow guidelines for visits from the agents.

·         All volunteers associated with Extension Services are asked to limit office visits and contact agents by phone or email.

·         Unless directed by Parks & Rec, the walking track around Extension Services is still open to the public, we highly encourage social distancing.

·         ECUA yard debris bag pick up at Extension Services has been suspended until further notice. Recycling and FOG station remain available for use.

·         Pesticide license testing for limited and commercial pest control will not be available for administration through our office until after April 30.

·         4-H Livestock facility in Molino is closed to the general public. Only essential authorized personnel are allowed in the facility.

Neighborhood Enterprise Division, 221 Palafox Place – Closed to Public

·         No new appointments or walk-ins are being accepted. 

·         For questions, please contact 850-595-0022 or email ned@myescambia.com

Neighborhood & Human Services, 221 Palafox Place – Closed to Public

·         For Indigent Burial/Cremation Program questions, please call 850-595-3130 or email humanassistance@myescambia.com.

Parks and Recreation office, 1651 East Nine Mile Road - Closed to Public

·         Call 850-475-5220 for assistance.

Permitting and Inspections – Building Services, Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place – Closed to Public

·         All walk-in permitting has been suspended effective Monday, March 23, until further notice. Business will still be conducted as usual using online accounts through mygovernmentonline.org and submitting permits electronically. For all permit-related questions, please call Building Services at 850-595-3550. Below are a few helpful guidelines to follow while transitioning to online permitting: 

·         Permit applications must be submitted electronically using mygovernmentonline.org. Guidelines for creating an account and submitting online are available through the Escambia County Building Services website.  You may also call Building Services at 850-595-3550 for help in creating an account. For all active customer portal account questions, please call My Government Online at 866-957-3764.

·         If the permit requires plan review, two sets of stamped sealed paper copies are required to be submitted. Plans can be dropped off in the drop boxes located at both the Central Office Complex and Molino permitting locations. Please attach the application to the plans and ensure that contact information is clearly displayed.  If the plans are too large to fit within the drop box, then you may make an appointment for drop off. At the scheduled appointment, staff will meet you to receive the plans at either location. To schedule an appointment for plans drop off, please call 850-595-4560.

·         All documents such as notices of commencement must be uploaded into the permit application through the online portal or submitted with the plans.

·         Contractor registration, application for a new license (examination), and application for reciprocity must be a complete package upon submission. to contractorlicense@myescambia.com. To renew a license, please call 850-595-3550 and ask for licensing in order to renew over the phone.

·         All permits must be paid by credit card and printed from your online account and posted on the job site prior to commencement of work.

·         Customers picking up paper plans only must schedule an appointment by calling 850-595-1627 or 850-595-3587 and a staff member will meet with you to provide the approved copy.

·         Owner-builder permits will need to be submitted online. The required owner-builder affidavit will need to be done by appointment only, and a notary will meet you to notarize and witness the signature per Florida Statutes. Please call 850-595-4560 for assistance.

·         Permit extensions and requests for renewals of expired permits must be submitted via email to buildinginspections@myescambia.com.

·         Requests for certificates of occupancy for permits issued prior to Nov. 5, 2019 should be made by phone to 850-595-3559 or email at buildinginspections@myescambia.com. Copies of signed certificates of occupancy will be emailed out.

·         Inspection requests for mygovernmentonline.org permits will need to be scheduled either online through the customer portal, or via telephone using the IVR system by dialing 866-957-3764 and choosing option 5.

·         Inspections, where the inspector has to enter an inhabited residence, will need to be completed via Facetime, Skype, etc.  All other inspections will be completed in the normal fashion.

Purchasing, 213 Palafox Place - Closed to Public

·         Purchasing will use Skype if needed for solicitations.

Road Department call center office, 1651 East Nine Mile Road - Closed to Public

·         Road Department Services for Stormwater, Mowing, Tree Trimming, Streets and Sidewalks go to: Our Services - Public Works

·         Contact Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 850-494-5860. To report an issue of an immediate nature after business hours, please call 850-937-2100

Transportation and Traffic, Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place – Closed to Public

·         Transportation and Traffic services are available via email or phone at Traffic@myescambia.com or 850-595-3404.

Signals and Signs Maintenance and Traffic Calming, Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place – Closed to Public

·         Signals and Signs Maintenance and Traffic Calming services can be utilized online:

·         Click here to learn how to report a traffic signal problem. 

·         Click here to report a road sign issue.

·         Click here to request new traffic calming measures.

Veterans Services, Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place – Closed to Public

·         For telephone appointments, please call (850) 595-2409

·         Website:  myescambia.com/our-services/veterans-services

·         FAQ’s:  myescambia.com/our-services/veterans-services/frequently-asked-questions

Waste Services, Perdido Landfill 13009 Beulah Road and Oak Grove Convenience Center 745 County Road 99 – OPEN

·         Waste Services will be operating under normal conditions

West Florida Public Libraries – Closed to Public

·         All West Florida Public Libraries locations are closed to the public

·         Library patrons can take advantage of online resources and ebooks at: https://mywfpl.com/borrow/ebooks and https://mywfpl.com/visit/children

·         Meal Pickups for Youth beginning March 23

·         Escambia County School District students who do not have adequate internet access at home for distance learning will have access to the libraries beginning April 1, 2020.