Deer Run Owners, County Staff, and DR Horton Representative Meet

Residents address their County Commissioner, me (left) and Mr. Crain Rogers (right) of D.R. Horton, at a meeting of the homeowners of the Preserve at Deer Run on Thursday, September 29, 2019 in Beulah

The Preserve at Deer Run homeowners, a representative from DR Horton, myself, and county staff met last night in Beulah.  

The residents, several of whom were frustrated for various reasons, requested this meeting.

 The issue of most concern among those with whom I spoke before the meeting was the uncertainty of whether or not a second accessible road would be provided for the residents of the subdivision to use.  

Several residents told me they were assured there would be a second accessible entrance/exit for residents.  But Crain Rogers from D.R. Horton quickly dispelled that rumor.  "The plan from the beginning was to build the boulevard exit in the front, and have an emergency access only in the rear, for use by ambulances and emergency vehicles--as is stipulated in the county's code" Mr. Rogers stated clearly.

Then one couple spoke up and supported the concept of the single in and out access point.  "We lived in a D.R. Horton Subdivision in Santa Rosa county for many years that had one entrance--and that development had 590 homes in it.  The one entrance and exit worked out very well, we liked it" stated the husband.  "If you want a truly gated community, then one exit works the best, otherwise others will use our roads as a cut-through and have access to our subdivision" he continued.

Several residents were visibly unhappy about the realization that the neighborhood would, in fact, have only one entrance. 

"If we're not getting the second entrance, and it sounds like we're not--then we have to get control of these roads and prevent the speeding and the residents' parking on the street!" one man stated.

One woman stated that the solution there was a strong HOA:  "At the last neighborhood we were owners in, the HOA was aggressive about controlling speed by using speed bumps, stop signs, and other methods."  

I mentioned several large subdivisions that have only one entrance and that function well--including

 Marcus Pointe in D1 that has 569 houses and one entrance.  And then I mentioned Nature Trail-a huge subdivision that has 650 homes and two entrances.  "Even with two entrances, there are many Nature Trail residents that DO NOT like the second, back entrance for security reasons" I stated.

It is hard to get a policy on the books that pleases everyone.

I told the residents that we could look at amending the Land Development Code going forward so that large subdivisions would be required to have more than one entrance.  I told the residents I would float that idea at a meeting of my peers and have it looked at by the planning board.  Several residents requested that I do just that--even knowing it would have no bearing on construction in Deer Run.  So I will be doing this.

Residents address their County Commissioner, me (right), Asst. County Engineer Colby Brown (center) and Mr. Crain Rogers (left) of D.R. Horton, at a meeting of the homeowners of the Preserve at Deer Run on Thursday, September 29, 2019 in Beulah

The next issues were about deficiencies with the construction.  Several couples complained about not getting responsive action on serious issues within their individual homes.

"My house has no insulation in it---zero!" complained one man loudly.  "We have called and nobody comes out--why is that" the gentleman asked Crain Rogers.

Another man complained about loose wiring in his front yard that nobody can identify, and nobody is addressing "There is wiring in my front yard sticking out--I've called and nobody says it is theirs.  Cox blames Gulf Power, Gulf Power Blames AT&T--but nobody fixes it and my yard is torn up" Complained this gentleman.

Another woman complained about construction activities associated with the remediation/repair of a storm pond near her house  "It is banging, loud crashing sounds out there starting at the break of dawn every day---and the smell is overwhelming!" she stated.

The D.R. Horton representative, Crain Rogers, explained that the noise is and was associated with the retention pond repairs--which he stated were being wrapped up soon.

Residents address their County Commissioner, me (left) and Mr. Crain Rogers (right) of D.R. Horton, at a meeting of the homeowners of the Preserve at Deer Run on Thursday, September 29, 2019 in Beulah

"I have the contact information for the folks in my organization that can handle these issues" stated Rogers.  Leave me your information here in this binder and I will get you with the folks that can address these issues." he stated.

The meeting lasted for about an hour and a half, and I believe it was a constructive meeting and that most of the residents were glad we held.  I look forward to that neighborhood forming their HOA and getting a handle on some of the issues within its control--and I believe this meeting will be the catalyst to form a strong HOA with strong covenants going forward.

My thanks to all who attended:  residents, staff, and DR Horton representative Crain Rogers..

Lighting Up the Streets Part I: Klondike at Mobile Hwy

New street lights like the one pictured above will be going up along Mobile Hwy between now and October.  This one, above, was installed Tuesday of this week.

Ahead of a big state project to repave the road and improve safety along Mobile Hwy from Pine Forest Road to Hwy 90 which will happen in 2022, the county is adding some lights to make this area of District 1 safer.

The intersections of Klondike, 8-Mile Creek, and Millview Roads will all be getting these lights installed over the next few months.

Klondike got their lights yesterday.

On December 6th of 2014, I was attending a function with Governor Scott  and on the way home I was riding right behind a silver sedan on the very dark Mobile Hwy.  Out of NOWHERE--- a white Jeep Cherokee barreled through the stop sign at the intersection of Klondike and Mobile Hwy and T-boned the silver sedan directly in front of me.

I pulled over, some residents came out, we called 911 and within minutes the Beulah volunteer fire department responded. Then the Highway Patrol, then EMS.

The driver of the silver sedan stumbled out of his vehicle and collapsed in pain.  The Jeep was upside down in the ditch and that driver's face was injured very badly.  It was horrific.  It was dark, and it was unsafe.

In May of 2018, just a hundred feet east on Mobile Hwy----another tragedy occurred on this darkened stretch of road.  Two people who stopped to check on an accident victim were killed by a third driver who did not see them and ran them over.

There have been other auto accidents as well.  And then there was the assassination/murder of Mr. Reddy at the Quick Fill.  It's too dark and too unsafe;  dark areas invite problems of all sorts--- so we're doing what we can now to light this area up!  we are moving this forward now--- and hopefully this will enhance the safety of these roads ahead of the FDOT project that will be coming in 2022.

Beulah 9-Mile Road Lane Shift Delayed by One Day Due to Inclement Weather

This email was sent out today from project management regarding the planned lane shift on 9-Mile Road that had been planned for today....

Due to wet conditions on the pavement, saturated raw materials for asphalt, and the high potential for thunderstorms tonight the planned shift has been moved to tomorrow night PENDING WEATHER. We don’t want/need  to get partially through the shift and get into a situation where we cannot place the striping at the transitions or complete the pavement necessary at Security Place to tie to the new roadway (can’t be done until traffic is off the existing roadway).

Michael Lenga

Project Administrator

Radiation Safety Officer

Stantec

8130 Pittman Ave.

Pensacola, FL 32534

26th Coffee With a Commissioner This Week!

Our informal coffee with the commissioner events (like this one, above, from 2018)  are a great way to interact with Escambia County staff and leadership to address lingering neighborhood issues and hear about county happenings and current events.  We hold these monthly and all are welcome to attend!

On Wednesday we will be hosting our 26th coffee with a commissioner event for District 1.

All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

We will be meeting at the Denny's Restaurant at 4625 Mobile Highway from 6:30-7:30 AM.

These meetings are a great opportunity for citizens to come and meet me and staff in a very comfortable, non-intimidating setting.  Come on out, and let me hear from you about how the county can serve you better and what we can do to help you with your particular neighborhood issues.

We have been able to address a lot of minor issues on the spot or very quickly after these coffee meetings--maybe we can help you with your lingering issues?

Here is the format:  I give a quick update on county-wide issues of significance--and then we go around the room and I take questions from each attendee at the coffee and we discuss the issues as a group with staff members participating.  Then, if time permits, we go around the room again.

For those who cannot attend in person--we will be live-streaming this event on my Commissioner's Facebook page.  (We have listened to those who watch the videos online and who have complained about the sound quality--we will be addressing that issue starting this week!  We will have GREAT sound quality now with some enhancements/equipment we have acquired)

Everyone who wants to speak will be heard.

Topics this week will include the following:

--Road swap-Beulah Road for Perdido Key Drive

--OLF 8 Master Planning Process

--New D1 Restore Act Projects commencing

--Status on opening new Gulf Access #4 in Perdido Key

--NW District 1 Advisory Committee Update--Community Survey Results from UWF Haas Center

--Preliminary work on a HUGE re-paving and safety enhancement infrastructure project will commence within 18 Months on Mobile Hwy from Pine Forest to Hwy 90

--Jail Construction Update

--County Budget update

--Hwy 90 construction update

--Update on progress on D1 Library

--Status Update on Modernized Fire Facility in Beulah Neighborhood of D1

--County Splash Pad for Kids in D1?

--Traffic issues of concern-including school car-rider line issues

--Launch of the Escambia County Youth Commission Next Month

--HOA/Developer issues that are quickly becoming major issues of consternation

Come on out--learn all about what is happening in the county and in District 1---we will see you this Wednesday morning!

Why the Beulah Road -Perdido Key Drive Road Swap Makes Sense

The Beulah area, District 1 and a portion north of Beulah in District 5, and constituents throughout the West-Northwest portion of Escambia County will greatly benefit from the road swap between FDOT and the County where we take Perdido Key Drive and give Beulah Road to FDOT .  That is why I believe it will be a unanimous vote to complete this deal on September 5th...

On September 5th, a week from this Thursday, the BCC will likely vote to accept a state road from FDOT (Perdido Key Drive) and to give a county road to FDOT (Beulah Road from Mobile Hwy up through Isaacs lane to the Interstate.

There are passionate feelings on this issue--but at the outset I will point out that my counterparts on the board voted unanimously, via a straw poll at our last workshop, to do this deal.  That's number 1.

Number 2 is elections have consequences. 

District 2 Commissioner Doug Underhill wants the swap, and he wants the Perdido Key Master Plan implemented and he strongly believes this road swap will help make this happen--in addition to making additional pedestrian safety enhancements out on Perdido Key which he believes this swap will facilitate.  He also was assured that the funding for the multi-use path out there would not be yanked.  So to him, in his opinion, this is a good deal.  And he represents the Key and he won his election.

Number 3 is perspective.  From my perspective, having lived in Beulah for the last 15 years, it is time to make Beulah road a state road.  With all the growth out here, Beulah road is quickly becoming a major artery.  And this road swap, most importantly, KEEPS THE MOMENTUM moving forward for the Beulah Interchange to happen.  This is the county's #1 infrastructure issue, hands down, in the near term.  And it is essential that this project keep progressing forward.

But here is the really key, critical reason why this swap is such a good deal for the taxpayers of Escambia County:  The section of Beulah Road from 9-Mile Road northward through Isaacs lane to where the interchange will be constructed will need to be upgraded and converted into a 4-lane road.  The plans have been drawn up and the estimate from Atkins (6 years ago) was that this would have cost the County $14 Million---just for this portion.  Now that it is a state road, (after the swap)---the state, NOT the county--will pay for this.

District 5 commissioner Steve Barry also expressed support for this project at our workshop--as he believes this keeps the momentum moving to improve roadway infrastructure up through D5 and the Sector Plan areas if we do the swap.

So there are really financially compelling reasons why this deal works. 

Regardless, I know some residents are not happy for one reason or another.

But decisions must be made in the interests of the maximum number of constituents, and in this instance that means the entire county and all districts.

Perdido Key Drive has been freshly resurfaced by the state, it is a road that is in good shape as we take it, and if it is damaged in a hurricane----if that happens----it will be fixed.  We will do it if that happens.

And now the State----NOT the COUNTY--will be on the hook for the potentially tens of millions of dollars necessary to 4-lane Beulah road as we move the interchange project forward. 

So when all things are considered, this deal simply makes great sense for all of Escambia County.

Who are the Schmucks? Part II

Back in 2011 I did the first part of this story.  It was actually a series of stories about how some South Florida School Districts blatantly violated state law.  They did it, they got away with it, and there were never any consequences for what they did.  Feckless, weak state leadership did nothing to curb their behavior then.  Nada.

At that time, the 2010-2011 school year, the issue was school class-size compliance.

Fast forward to 2019, and the issue of the day is following state law on school security and the mandate to have armed security at each public school, from the beginning of the day until the end of the day for every school in the state.  This is all in response to the tragic massacre at Parkland last year.

But now we hear that several large South Florida School Districts have not complied with the law.

One district apparently wasted taxpayer dollars in a fumbling, left-handed attempt to comply--and yet they did not comply.

And it is in many cases the same culprits that got away with blowing off class size nearly 10 years ago.

I certainly hope the Governor and the Legislature do not give these districts that are not in compliance a pass like they were issued over class size non-compliance.

This issue is much more profound and important than that issue was--but rules and laws MUST be followed and it is disheartening and really a dereliction of duty to allow the big districts to get away with this garbage when small to medium sized school districts like Escambia County have consistently complied.

End the double standards.  Everyone Complies!

9-Mile Road Lane Shift in Beulah is Coming Monday

This coming Monday morning, the traffic on 9-Mile Road in Beulah will shift as depicted above....

Beginning this Monday, the switch to the south side of the recently painted and striped 9-Mile Road section from Leisure Lakes to just before the 11-Mile Creek Bridge will occur.

This change will allow crews to begin repaving and re striping work on the currently-utilized north half of what will eventually be the 2 westbound lanes of 9-Mile Road.

In speaking with NFCU leadership, this change may represent a significant challenge as the deceleration lane leading into the campus will no longer be accessible under this temporary configuration--which may have the effect of backing traffic up further to the east on 9-Mile road than what is currently happening.  So although this shift is temporary--it will exacerbate the existing traffic bottleneck in this area, particularly during morning and evening rush hour.

I want constituents to be aware of this change so that they can make alternative route decisions if they so choose.  This shift is scheduled for THIS COMING MONDAY NIGHT--August 26th.

The latest information I have heard is that the 4-lanes will be complete between exit 5 and the NFCU campus main entrance by this November, and 4 complete lanes all the way to Beulah Road by March of next year.

Beulah Volunteers from Station 2 Save the Day!

Last Thursday was stormy in the Pensacola area...Heavy storms, thunder, and lightning.

One unlucky homeowner in the Nature Trail Subdivision in Beulah absorbed a direct lightning strike on their dwelling at about 4:00 PM that day.

And it caused a fire in the attic.

The residents of the home were actually away at the time, travelling about 150 miles from home at the time of the fire.  I'm told an alert resident saw the smoke rising from the neighbor's house and called 911.

Members of the Escambia County Fire Rescue Department, Station 2 (Beulah Volunteers) were in the field on a call at the time this house fire call came in. 

They immediately diverted to Nature trail. 

By 4:07 PM, according to official records of the incident, the Tanker and the Engine from station 2 arrived on scene and began an "aggressive" fight to save the house and as much of the residence's contents as possible.

At 4:12, Squad 3 from Brent arrived on scene as well to assist Station 2.

At 4:17 Engine 1 from Bellview arrived to assist.

In addition to these resources--three battalion Chiefs and the acting Fire Chief himself arrived on the fire scene.  It was a total team effort, led by the Beulah Volunteers who arrived first on the scene.

According to one high ranking official with whom I spoke--the effort ECFR put into saving this home was fantastic.  "It was an A+" this person told me.

Thanks to all of ECFR for their work on this and all the other emergencies they respond to--and a huge "Job Well Done!" goes out to the volunteers at Station 2 for getting it done once again for the residents of Beulah!  Way to Go!

Hey--That is Quite A Hornet's Nest!

Sometimes a "Hornet's Nest is a figure of
speech referring to an explosive issue or problem. 
Sometimes, like this week and
in relation to this 6-foot tall hornet's nest in D1,
It literally is about an actual "Hornet's Nest"

 Thursday morning was very hectic, as the Escambia BCC had two back-to-back meetings scheduled on some very important and pressing topics.  Early that morning, before the meetings, I received a Facebook instant message from a constituent that was concerned about a large bee's nest on Perkins street.  So I replied to this gentleman that I would forward the issue to staff, which I did.

Then we had the meetings on multiple subjects that are swirling around the county.  Road Swap, master plan, environmental issues, transportation issues, etc. etc.

So with so much swirling on my radar, to include several brewing issues with homeowners angry with their developer in multiple locations--when I received a call from Channel 3's Hannah Mackenzie early Thursday afternoon--I fully expected the question to be about the road swap, the jail, storm water, the budget, Perdido Key, Perdido Bay, traffic, 9-Mile Road, Crime issues, or any one of a dozen or more topics.

"Hey Commissioner, that is quite a hornet's nest" the conversation began when she called me after the hectic meeting(s).  My literal response to her was "Which ONE?!?" [INSERT RIMSHOT] as I laughed.

I honestly thought she was speaking of some known problem in the county, one of the many issues we had discussed at the morning meeting(s)--because God knows we have multiple issues that could be considered "kicked over hornet's nests."

Only after a subsequent exchange with Hannah did I realize that no, she wanted to know if I knew what was going to happen with the Actual Hornet's nest on Perkins street? (Unbeknownst to me, the resident who contacted me early Thursday on Facebook had also contacted Channel 3 about the nest, and WEAR Channel 3 had gone out and filmed it for a story)

So I did engage staff, and multiple personnel, about the issue of the actual, real Hornet's nest issue.
Here is the bottom line, latest information, from staff that visited the site and assessed the situation:

What Do NW District 1 Residents Want? Part III--- What is Negatively Affecting This Area's Quality of Life

As I discussed in Part I,  and in Part II--the recently completed survey of NW District 1 citizens was very interesting.

One of the more interesting questions asked was about what is negatively impacting the quality of life out here.  The answers to the question, below, give a great insight into how the Beulah population looks at this growth and what needs to improve in order to make the quality of life out here better....

Two Huge Decisions Today at BCC Special Meeting and Transportation Workshop

At this morning's special meeting of the Escambia BCC we selected the firm that will complete the Master Planning of our OLF 8 Property in Beulah.

The Escambia Board of County Commissioners held two very important and profound meetings this morning at which 2 key decisions were made that will set the tone for some very important progress going forward.

1.  We voted to select a firm to do the Master Planning for OLF 8 in Beulah, the 636 acre land that the board acquired from the Navy last January.  DPZ CoDesign LLC was selected by the board.  This was a huge decision with major implications for this county land in the months and years to come.  I look forward to watching this process move forward.  In addition to choosing this firm and voting them officially as the finalist- staff has already advertised the associated project manager position for this project and that the effort to bring this person aboard should be completed within the next 3-4 weeks.  

2.  We took a straw vote and unanimously supported the State/County "Road Swap" of Beulah Road for Perdido Key Drive.  The purpose for this swap was for the county to maintain forward progress on the Beulah Interchange project--a project that is moving forward with lots of momentum and that is understood by all the commissioners to be one of the most important, large scale transportation projects in our area for the foreseeable future.  By a memorandum of understanding that will be ratified on September 5th, responsibility for maintenance and ownership of these two roads will be swapped and I predict the vote will be unanimous for this.

What Do NW District 1 Residents Want? Part II Suggestions for Quality of Life Improvements

As I discussed in Part I, the recently completed survey of NW District 1 citizens was very interesting.

As illustrated in the four pictures below, survey respondents for our Northwest District 1 Advisory Committee Survey had a lot to say about what could be done to improve the quality of life out in this part of Escambia County's District 1.....

What Do NW District 1 Residents Want? Part I

Residents of the NW District 1 area-represented by precincts 5, 68, and 43 (indicated on the map above) have spoken via a survey that was just completed.  The responses give an interesting look into what folks from this section of Escambia County want to see as it pertains to growth and development..

The Northwest District 1 Advisory Committee developed a list of questions to help guide the intelligent management of growth out in the NW portion of District 1, the greater Beulah area.

Last June, the BCC voted to support my request to engage UWF's Haas Center to send out the questions and conduct the study.

This week, we received the study results and we heard clearly and unambiguously what the residents want. From the report:

"Our methodology was multi-modal, including direct emails to registered voters, an anonymous link shared online, and a link shared on a postcard to direct households.  In total, 530 people completed the core content questions.  That corresponds to roughly a margin of error of 4.2% at a confidence level of 95%.  The results have been weighted to reflect the age and gender distributions of the residents of the Northwest District 1 region"

Here are some highlights from the report:

1.   Do you favor impact fees?   

Yes  76%    No   24%  (521 total votes received)

2.  Do you prefer minimum lot sizes for new residential construction?

Yes  79%    No   21%  (528 total votes received)

3.  Would you be interested in having an organized town center in the Beulah area?

Yes   71%   No   29%    (478 total votes received)

4.  Do you favor an overlay zone in this area?

Yes   85%   No   15%


Additional interesting details about the survey participants:

---96% Answered "Yes" when asked if they own a home in the Beulah area

Deer Run Homeowner's Meeting Tomorrow Night---Residents NOT Happy...

Residents are upset about numerous issues at Deer Run and have requested a meeting to air these issues with me, county staff, and D.R. Horton Representatives....

I've been asked by residents of the Preserve at Deer Run, a D.R. Horton Development in Beulah, to attend a meeting tomorrow night at 7:00 at their subdivision.  I have asked staff to accompany me to this meeting, and I have also invited representatives from D.R. Horton to come as well.

The issues with this subdivision are many, primarily having to do with environmental compliance issues and issues with the retention ponds thus far--- but there is an overall feeling among the residents with whom I have spoken that they are not getting what was promised them when they bought in this subdivision with respect to access.

The biggest issue is the egress and ingress.

"We were promised there would be two entrances and exits for the resident's use" one homeowner told me when I spoke to her.

I have heard this same sentiment from other homeowners as well.

(Full disclosure, the current plan with one entrance/exit plus an emergency access point, the plan that has been submitted and approved by D.R. Horton-- meets the current county code.  We have several large subdivisions in Escambia County with one entrance and exit; Marcus Point has more than 500 homes with one entrance and one exit.  Nature Trail has 659 homes with two entrances on 9-Mile

Latest on Perdido Key Public Beach Access: 43 Spaces + Public Safety Enhancements!

The Latest Conceptual Draft of the planned Public Beach
Access in Perdido Key (above)
points to the possibility of achieving as many
as 43 parking spaces PLUS an
enhanced access point for Public Safety
to use for water rescues!

Tim Day from the County's Environmental Department has provided the following update and
timeline for Beach Access #4 at Perdido Key (draft pictured or right ).

"Commissioners:

I have attached the latest iteration of the draft layout for the Sundown beach access. This version will be provided to USFWS and may be modified based on review and comments from the Service. Current notable features include:

• Area of Existing Development –     22,655 square feet
• Area of Proposed Development  – 21,535 square fee 1,120 square feet total reduction of existing development footprint

• 43 parking spaces
• 40’ X 32’ Space dedicated for full bathroom and rinse area  
• Proposed access corridor for Public Safety to transport rescue equipment to the beach

A dune walkover and ADA observation platform will be included in the final design.

Next Steps:

·         Review by USFWS (2-4 weeks)

·         Address any USFWS comments and revise as needed (2 weeks)

·         Obtain EOR (Engineer of Record) probable cost to construct

·         Submit for Escambia County DRC (Development Review Committee) review and approval (4 weeks)

·         Submit to FDEP to obtain state CCCL (Coastal Construction Control Line) permit (Submittal concurrent with DRC submittal, up to 90 days)

·         Staff to evaluate potential funding sources

·         BCC approval of funding source

Known Issues:

• The challenge to the conditional use approval by the Board of Adjustments is working its way through Circuit Court
• SEAFARER OWNERS ASSICIATION INC v ESCAMBIA COUNTY

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Best Regards,

Tim"

Leadership Vacuum Part II: Volunteer vs. Paid Staff Issues Linger and Persist...

We need a leader.  We desperately need a leader to step forward and take charge of the ECFR and fix multiple issues.  We all watched what happened with the respirators fiasco--and hopefully EVERYONE saw the rapid and unified response from the BCC as we voted to spend $2.9 Million to fix that lingering issue about which we were just made aware.

We support firefighters, I support all first responders.  This is why this current situation is so damn frustrating.

Now I know that department has been in turmoil over the last several years, as issues of harassment have been dealt with and as leaders have resigned.

 But now more than ever we need a leader to step up in ECFR, a new chief, to get things under control and bring a unified message to the board so that we can be a part of the solution. 

And that does not mean I will genuflect to a proposal thrown at me demanding a 70% year over year budget increase complete with the demand that we raise taxes to fund it.  Nope.  We need to be better and we need to be smarter. 

And for my vote--We MUST treat volunteers as equals and not as fourth class citizens.  We must embrace them and support them and appreciate them.  For my vote, any 5-year plan I support will include robust line-items for cultivating, recruiting, equipping, and training volunteers as well as paid fire staff.  It has to be both.

Meanwhile, the devastating negative impacts of the leadership vacuum at ECFR continue to manifest themselves.  Just today, just this morning as I am about to prepare to go to church, I am told of new ways in which volunteers are being squeezed.....From one volunteer, just this morning.

"Well apparently there was a staff meeting yesterday with the career crews and it was said that volunteer trucks cannot roll without a crew of at least 3 certified. And battalion chiefs and career officers are being told to cancel volunteers even if we are way closer. this is all being done by the career crews at some meeting somewhere we knew nothing about and had no one there to represent the volunteers."

A different individual contacted me today and said this---and this is going to quickly become a special area of interest for me--equipment.  Volunteers should not be schlepping for beat-up, old, or used equipment.  They should have everything they need to do their job safely but as this individual reports below, this is not the case:  

"at this point what are they (county/career) going to do is  target me at this point however they have targeted every volunteer to try everything they can to remove hold back or push us out. 

On 8/3/19 the volunteers were at station XXX from 1300 til around 2100hrs thru the day which was busy we ran a forced entry call we was cancelled by ems wasn’t needed then got called to a gas odor call turned out gas line outside was leaking. (We have no gas detector on XXXX). So we called XXXX for gas detector, then we were dispatched to a allergy call on 57th and Jackson. 

Responded to these calls as a crew of 2 certified and 1 trainee. Which we have since I been in the county now for 3 yrs. 

However last  night we was responding to a medical alarm crew of 2 certified and 2 non-certified (trainees) and was almost there when XXXXXXXXXXXX cancelled us and told us to return that XXXX would go to that call. We called XXXXX when we got back to station and he informed us that the new directive is now for volunteers to run/replace the career company that we have to have a crew of 3 certified on the truck. Unless the career company is on a call then we can go to the call without a crew of 3 certified. So with that being said without a crew of 3 at all times at the station with career personnel we as volunteers will not run calls unless the career company is stuck at a call.  What i don’t understand is our trainees (non-certified) have their emergency first responder and they're told 

Leadership Vacuum Part I: Getting the Respirators Replaced

We voted, and now we will spend $2.9 Million so that all the firefighters in Escambia County---paid and volunteer--will have brand-new, certified and fully OSHA compliant respirator equipment for use in fighting fires.

We've recently funded millions in change orders for repairs to the fire trucks and also for the purchase of several new engines.  We are working a plan for a fire training facility and I am working diligently to modernize the fire station in Beulah--there is $3.5 Million already earmarked for that project.  Add to this that over the last 6 years the BCC has increased the fire service budget geometrically--and the reality becomes very clear.  This board cares about fire service, and we are putting resources into fire.  But we can't fix issues if they are not brought to our attention.

So how did this situation, with the respirators, come to a boiling point so quickly--how was it allowed to come to a point that board members at the 11th hour and 59th minute were told that non-compliant, out of date, and potentially dangerous life-packs were being used by our firefighters in Escambia County?

Like many other issues that we have had to tackle in crisis-mode for the last several years, it appears this situation developed because of a leadership vacuum in which folks in their stove-pipe areas were precluded from coming forward with this issue.  Whether it was because of budgets, or perceptions, or fear for job, or [fill in the blank] we the BCC members were not told about this issue.  Had we have been told, I am confident we would have acted.

People must have the backbone to bring important issues to their supervisors and then to the board--

Anger Over the Free Lunches at Area Elementary Schools?

One area resident sent the below letter out to the county commissioners yesterday afternoon.  I must assume the constituent that sent the letter read this article and the associated comments.

I understand the issue, having served for many years on the school board.  The compassionate side of me knows that for many students in the district--these school meals (provided by the Federal Government through the State and by local districts) and the backpacks with food sent home with many students for the weekends (provided by local non-profits and faith-based groups) represent their primary food sources.

Is this how it ought to be?  Of course not, but there is a LOT of social dysfunction in the area and the kids pay the price if not for programs like these.  And the root causes for the dysfunction cannot be discussed for political correctness' sake and the situation is not changing.  Nevertheless-- I don't want to see any students go hungry because their guardian (s) are not getting the job done. Do you?

Also, the pragmatic side of me knows that for schools that are primarily below the poverty line--- keeping up with the changing federal paper chase for eligibility burns a lot of staff time and this blanket, school-wide program enables staff to save this time chasing paperwork in order to focus on more important school issues.  It helps the staff, it streamlines the process for students, and for many students this is literally a Godsend.

I replied to this constituent's email with the appropriate school board member contact information and the explanation that these decisions rest with the school board, not the county commission.

here was her letter:

"To all county commissioners:

When I first heard that Escambia county residents were paying for meals at 43/45 schools I was very angry…..who approved and signed off on this program?  With all the “give back” programs available to children in Escambia County (United Way, WIC, Food Stamps, Cram the Van, etc., etc., etc.) this program is unnecessary.  Parents are responsible for their children, not the residents of Escambia County...

Are seniors (those over 66) eligible for this program?  Can we eat at the schools?  Many of us are over 70 trying to live on social security, which minus Medicare, is about $800 per month – and yet we pay property taxes that include taxes for schools!!!!!  We do NOT have children nor grandchildren in the Escambia County school system, and yet we are feeding someone else’s children!  Make the parents responsible for the upbringing of their offspring – including feeding them! The parents made a choice to have children which included the choice to be responsible for them until they are 18.

My sister lives in Marietta, Georgia, and residents there over 60 do not pay school taxes – we should implement that here in Pensacola."

Fed Up!

Better Cartoons Lately in the PNJ?

I noticed this past week that several of the cartoons in the PNJ WERE NOT blatantly anti-Republican, anti-conservative.

I could hardly believe my eyes when the one from Friday had Democrat Jerry Nadler at the wheel of a sinking ship called the USS Impeachment!  It was really great, really refreshing to see some humor applied to the other side of the aisle as compared to the constant, never-ending barrage of anti-Republican, anti-Conservative cartoons we typically have to endure over and over in the PNJ.....

I certainly hope these new more balanced and moderate cartoonists get on a regular rotation in the PNJ.  Maybe this is because of the merger between Gannett and GateHouse Media?  Who knows?

But I did want the PNJ editorial board to know I appreciated the new flavor of cartoon--so I sent them an email of encouragement!

ECAT Driver Helps Lost Children

The Driver called Dispatch when three young children boarded the bus and said they did not know where their parents were...The Sheriff's office eventually found the parent and the children are now safe and with DCF

Yesterday afternoon an ECAT driver assisted the Sheriff's office with locating the parents of three missing children who didn't know where they lived or where their parents were.  Kudos to this driver for insuring the safety of these children!  From the email we all received:

"At approximately 1:55 PM today,  three unattended minor children, ages 8, 7, and 6, were waiting at the ECAT bus stop near Happy China Restaurant on Mobile Highway.  When the Route 1 Bus pulled up to the stop, the children boarded the bus. The bus operator inquired on where were their parents. The children shrugged their shoulders that they didn’t know or knew where they were going.  As a designated “Safe Place”,  the operator immediately contacted ECAT dispatch office. Following protocols, the operator allowed the children to ride, while notifying dispatch. I had dispatch to call 911 and requested the sheriff officer to meet bus at the ECAT station. We escorted the children to my office to wait for the sheriff officer. 

After over an hour, sheriff officer questioned them and was able to get some fragmented information from the children, who didn’t know their address, phone number, or their mother’s whereabouts. The eight year old, stated the thirteen year old cousin left them at the bus stop. DCF was notified and we made contact with the mother around 4:15 PM. She and DCF arrived around 5:30 PM and the sheriff officer released the children to DCF at 5:50 PM

While in our custody, we gave them all Happy Meals, coloring books, and kept them entertained. We are glad that the children are safe and their parent was located."