Ideas Likely to Be DOA Part II

The idea of downtown "interests" moving thier under the bridge tent city problem out of the city and dumping a homeless encampment in an area of already significant blight within D1, in an area and neighborhood we have actively worked to clean up, with no notice and no communication?  Yeah, this brilliant idea is DOA..... 

Some ideas that get thrown out should die as soon as they escape someone's mouth.

Especially the dumb ones.  

Particularly the really ridiculously dumb ones.

I got blindsided on Tuesday of this past week with a frantic phone call that went a little something like this.  "Jeff, they're going to dump a homeless campground in your district!"

"What?!?  Who is---and where?"  was my response.

On Wednesday, the very next day, I asked administrator Wes Moreno about it.  He told me he hadn't heard anything about this and wasn't keen on the idea.  "I'll look into it to see what I can find out, but I am not aware of this--it's the first I'm hearing of it" he said.

Then between Wednesday and yesterday--my office received multiple angry phone calls from concerned residents on Houston Avenue in District 1.

I can assure you--there has been no coordination with the county on this "plan."  NO coordination/no communication.

We all care about folks that are down on their luck and find themselves in this predicament----but some effort must be given to thinking through the location of where to house potentially hundreds of homeless in tents.  Dumping this sort of an encampment in a neighborhood?

No, that's not going to fly.

An email I received on the topic, below, sums up the residents' fears and concerns.  The email's author also put's his finger on the jugular vein of the issue in short order:

"The proposal to move more homeless into the NEIGHBORHOOD does not seem to be a practical approach to clean up any  already blighted area.My heart goes out to any person or family that finds them self homeless.But by putting Downtown' problem onto other Neighborhoods isn't the way..There has got to be a better solution to this problem. I do not have an answer to Pensacola's homeless problem, but by moving Downtown's  problem to any neighborhood becomes someone else's problem. This can't be Pensacola's long term answer to the homeless problem. Let it remain Downtown's problem until there is a better more permanent solution. As for now bringing an unknown number of people into this area which is already stressed will be the wrong answer."

It is the wrong answer, it will be DOA....

Ideas Likely to Be DOA Part I

I'm of the opinion that the nascent, fledgling concept by some in the community--banging the drum on the necessity of a "Strong" Elected County Administrator/Mayor---will be DOA if and when it comes to a vote of the current BCC---which would be required to move such a concept forward....

Like the feather floating around the sky, eventually landing at the bus stop at the beginning of Forrest Gump (Or even the plastic trash-sack floating around in that scene from American Beauty)There are some radical initiatives swirling in the air around the county among select circles. These ideas do not appear to have support if they come before the board of county commissioners for action--so far as I can tell.  More than likely--- they won't be able to muster three votes in support, and therefore they'll be Dead on Arrival (DOA).

The first "idea" is the imposition of a "king,"  "Boss-Hog" style elected "County Mayor" to be in charge of the BCC and to implement his/her "vision" for the "community."  (and, convenieuntly, the vision of those who install such an all-powerful figurehead).

"But wait--what about the initiatives of the board and the individual board members' districts?"  one might naturally ask.

Right.  

Yes, about that....  Those initiatives, those of the 5 (or7 or 9) board members, under a strong administrator and a new fancy, whiz-bang newfangled governance "structure"---- go straight to the penalty box, the cold storage locker, or the back burner--- if not straight to the round file.  

That's the way that'd work.  Been there, done that, have the T-shirt and seen the movie....

So, yeah, uh,  no.  No thanks on that.

I don't know who had this genious idea--but it's a non-starter. Disastrous, actually.

Maybe someone drew it up on the whiteboard with X's and O's like a PeeWee football coach.

But it's a play that won't be run.   And if it was to be run---it would be a loss of yardage or worse yet, a pick-6 going the opposite way on the field.

Two podcasts last week on the #1 rated Pensacola morning radio show, Real News with Rick Outzen on AM 1370 WCOA-- illustrated the deficiencies of such a plan.  The first podcast--a candid discussion with current Mayor Grover Robinson--was very enlightening.  He has essentially lived in both sides of this question-first as an Elected County Commissioner--and then subsequently as an Elected "Strong Mayor".  He sums it up well, speaking from a unique position of firsthand knowledge, when he says unequivocally that such a system in the county "Won't work."

Then yesterday, I spoke on Rick's podcast and had similar reasons why I believe such a proposal would be, metaphorically speaking, the equivalent of a plane crashing into a mountain.

No, whoever wants it has to go through the current BCC to get it, and I don't foresee that happening.

That idea is DOA.

(If I sent this post in to our wonderful Pensacola News Journal as an Op-Ed---I wonder if they'd print it?)

Fight the Power! Part I: How Do You Fight a Goliath?

When attacked unfairly over and over---It becomes time to fight back!  How about starting out by depriving the attacker of about $100K yearly in revenue?  It's like Matt Damon's seminal question in Good Will Hunting..."Do you like Apples?.....How about them apples?!"

No, this post isn't about the Public Enemy song.  (It's more about this Kid Rock Song!, but not really)

It's actually about something far more important; it's about fighting against something that many locally perceive as a "Public Enemy."  Our only local daily print newspaper, the Pensacola News Journal.

Hypocritical, biased, and unprofessional.  Many have cancelled subscriptions, which is good, but that doesn't solve the problem.

The PNJ are hypocrites.  They allow an employee to remain---no they PROMOTE the employee----- who uses disgusting racial and misogynistic tropes---including the "N-Word"  in his cartoons.  Disgusting and unacceptable in 2021 that this goes on unabashed.  Others get cancelled, this guy gets a Gannett promotion and a syndicated cartoon!?!  See--it's all about the money for these folks.  More on that later in this post...

Is this sort of garbage acceptable in 2021?

The PNJ endorses the cartoonist's behavior and they simultaneously, incessantly bash others and report half-truths and incomplete information.  

Is this sort of garbage acceptable in 2021?

They selectively disallow certain folks and elected officials(like me lately) from submitting letters or viewpoints to clarify positions and correct the misreporting.  It's all about message control.

They do the bidding of powerful, local business intersts and allies and carry the water of these selected individuals by tailoring "news" pieces to the whims and desires of these folks--and then--insidiously--- they write editorials that are scathing and based on the very source articles that are inaccurate and present half-truths to demonize those opposed---particularly elected officials.  Kind of a nifty little trick they employ, right?  Nifty if you are not the victim of it.

But what's the PNJ's objective?  It appears that the objective is to marginalize the voices with whom they disagreee, and to "amplify" the topics of their selected patrons to a level that does not represent the community's level of interest.

A vote goes the way they don't want it?---they demonize those who made the vote until it is rescinded.

Want a change in the makeup of a board?--they jump on the bandwagon to oppose those they dislike--with unfair, inaccurate characterizations and hatchet job cartoons.

Can't control the vision and initiatives of a duly elected body?--amplify small numbers of voices that want governance models altered.  

Because now It's no longer about reporting the what, when, and where,-----the facts.  

No.  Now its more about shaping the message and social engineering.  

And more to the point---it's really, at the end of the day, all about three things:  Power, Control, and MONEY.

Gannett and PNJ purposely promote their cartoonist--the guy who uses the N-Word in his cartoons-- because he generates MONEY for their paper.  It's all about the money.  As if this isn't bad enough--they then do dozens and dozens of cartoons insinuating elected officials (with whom they disagree) are racists!  Talk about PROJECTION!  

We have African American employees in our organization---including an African American member of the Board.  We have a significant population of African Americans in our community.  It's disgusting, disappointing, and unacceptable that this form of racism is tolerated.  That's about to end.  I'm not going to tolerate it, I'm going on offense.

Andy Marlette of Gannett's PNJ says you can trust him:    ---he'd NEVER use the N-Word in a cartoon!  Who are you going to believe?  Him, or your own lyin' eyes?

So how do you deprive a GOLIATH in the community of what they love and covet above all else, MONEY--when they hold a MONOPOLY on the daily print media in a community? 

Easy:  Go after what they covet, money.

Escambia County spends as much as $100,000.00 yearly purchasing "Legal Ads" and notices, required by law, in the Pensacola News Journal.

As of the end of last month---we are cutting off this gravy-train income source the PNJ has enjoyed

On Real News with Rick Outzen Radio Show This Morning

I've been invited and will be a guest on the Pensacola area's #1 rated morning drive news station with the number one morning talk program "Real News with Rick Outzen" This morning at 7:30

I've been invited to speak as a guest on the area's #1 rated morning show on the area's #1 talk radio station, News Talk 1370 WCOA and Real News with Rick Outzen later this morning.

I'll be discussing multiple topics to include the latest on our EMS employee raises/employee poaching attempts situation, the walkover pedestrian walkway project in Beulah, the quickly fading, failed idea of a "strong" elected county administrator, upcoming redistricting maps and I'll also be debunking some mythology prevalent on certain local social-media chat/hate sites.

Should be a fun-filled, informative and entertaining interview!

(I'm certain there will be other topics discussed as well)..... 

Once the podcast goes live I will be posting it here.

Tallman McKay Once Again Shills for Doug----Disgustingly

 

Local radio entertainment host Anderw "Tallman" Mckay just goes out of his way to support and provide cover to the one County Commissioner who is responsible for ALL the turmoil on the board.  It's incredibly surreal....

Local radio host Andrew "Tallman" Mckay ran a segment very early this morning on 1620 vilifying me and taking a shot at Commissioner Barry for "daring" to question a $12Million Dollar-single bid contract that the board rightly reeled in and put back out to bid earlier this year.

The bid rejection happened a while back--- and at the time it was a 4-1 vote to do so.  Something didn't smell right, and I stand by the decision the board made that day.  Only ONE bidder on a nearly $12 Million Dollar drainage improvement job??  Like they say on ESPN  "Come on, Man?" (And had that even been awarded at that time--it is almost guaranteed that the costs would have escalated exponentially anyway with change orders ad nauseum.)  

Heck, it might have ended up costing more than what current bids are coming back...

But setting that reality aside--I found it nauseating the way the clips were selectively edited to lionize Tallman's idol and hero, Doug, while attempting to portray me as the guy who is saying "no" to a worthwhile project.  Boo hoo, that "meanie" Bergosh.  Boo hoo.....

Total BS.

What Tallman doesn't discuss is the fact that I seconded the motion, expressed support for the project, and said I realized the cost increases were not commissioner Underhill's fault.  I also indicated I would consider supporting the project for the people if Commissioner Underhill commits some additional discretionary D2 LOST funds to the project.  Slicing and dicing snippets does not a fair portrayal make.

Yes, I did mention the Bellview Library project.  Multiple times.  It was a good discussion to have, and timely to boot.  That project's costs also increased----and I ended up allocating 10% of that total project costs from my D1 Discretionary LOST funds.  So the question Tallman should ask is simple:  Why can't Doug pony up 10% to cover his cost overruns as I did?  (Currently Doug says he has allocated a little more than 3% of the costs)

But the major sevice McKay does for Doug is what he left out of the snippets he played to glorify his buddy Doug.

First-the discussion had an objective--which was to tone down the rhetoric and attacks online coming from Doug's office--his secretary and intern--directed at the rest of the board--not just me.  I said--"let's take the next year and bilaterally stop the online garbage."  And of course Doug wouldn't hear of it.  It's unprofessional and makes Doug look incredibly small when his employees engage in this conduct--as smart as Tallman wants us to believe he is--why can't he see that?  (e.g. most professional leaders would not tolerate such conduct from their employees--they would curtail it for obvious reasons or such at-will employees would be removed)  Perhaps that was too much to seek?  Who knows, but that was objective 1.

Objective 2 was to ensure that everyone who watched now knows the truth behind what is going on, dynamically, between and among the board.  So when Andrew Tallman McKay deliberatley leaves that portion out, he is being unprofessional, biased, and frankly------dishonest.

I ended my remarks by stating the facts, with a rhetorical question to Doug that was conveniently left out of Tallman's collection of audio snippets.  But it was the coup de gras.

"Doug--you and your office run us down online constantly, call us unethical, thieves, dishonest, corrupted---how do you think that helps you win votes?" 

That was the seminal question of the exchange--which put everything into proper perspective.  And that was the portion Tallman purposely left out.

Because Doug sat there and did not dispute what I said to him, didn't disavow it, didn't deny it, didn't do anything.  He just sat there and took it.  Then, he gave a facile, flaccid, mealy-mouthed response that was gibberish.

The reason D2 is a pariah is because D2 has made himself one.  He and his secretary and his intern.

Mayor Robinson on Rick Outzen's Podcast: Strong County Administrator Idea Won't Work

Mayor Grover Robinson gave an interesting take on the concept of a "Strong" Elected County Administrator on Rick's Podcast yesterday.  It was a very interesting interview and opinion.....revealing a somewhat unexpected position on the topic...

I listened to Real News With Rick Outzen's Podcast late yesterday afternoon and there were some very interesting comments from Mayor Grover Robinson.

After he was done speaking with Rick about several city issues--the topic of the pros and cons of the City Charter's Strong Mayor was discussed in depth.  And then the conversation naturally segued into the current discussions wafting around a few downtown offices about a "Strong County Administrator" type of governance structure.

As a guy who used to be a commissioner and who now wields incredible power as a strong mayor of Pensacola-- his vantage point on this topic is unique.  And I must admit I was somewhat surprised by his comments on this subject.  He said "he didn't think it would work."  Then he elaborated on his rationale for thinking this--discussing some of his current interactions with the city council  and also discussing and describing his time on the BCC and different administrators he worked with.  He also discussed our community's switch in 2020 from an elected to an appointed superintendent.

He then asked a seminal question that we should all ponder.  

"Tell me how that structure [elected county administrator] is better?"

It is a worthwhile interview to hear--for folks on both side of the issue.

I've made my personal opinion known with emphasis.

Now, apparently, the current mayor of Pensacola has as well.

I wonder if John Peacock and the others heard the interview yet?

Listen to the Podcast here.

Pensacola and Escambia County Have MANY Reasons to be Optimistic-So Why the Gloom and Doom, Cynical and Jaded Mentality on Facebook Hate Sites?

Some Folks online have a defeatist, pessimistic outlook on our community---completely and purposely looking past all the good things that are happening currently.  I choose to focus on the positives!

When I was a young man, someone who had a very profound influence in my life once told me "Life is hard and it is for everyone.  But if you focus on the negative it is harder.  Instead--focus on the positives, think of five things every day for which you feel very fortunate--and it will help you get through the rough days...."

And I took that to heart.  And it isn't always easy to do.

But it is something that helps to give a proper prospective--being optimistic instead of pessimistic.

Escambia County and Pensacola have a lot to be optimistic about these days---but you'd never know that reading some online Facebook "chat" sites....  No, no.  Nope---to read some garbage and lies on some sites--you'd think our state and our community was no better than Haiti or Afghanistan.  It's disgusting what some of these people on line say and the lies they tell.  It's revolting.  Most importatnly, it's just not accurate---we have a LOT to be happy about if we choose to be (Minute 8:00 of this video).

---We have a brand new bridge over the bay which will be completed next year.

--We had a RECORD tourist season in 2021-----Despite the COVID-19 variant spiking in the late summer/fall.

---Trip Advisor for 2021 named Pensacola Beach as one of the Nation's top Beaches (#15 on the top 25 list!)

---We have record low unemployment, record high home ownership locally.

---Property values have SKYROCKETED for citizens locally over the last 5 years that own property.

---Our area is growing, houses are selling before they are built and existing homes listed are selling in many cases within 7 days for above list prices

---our area has a HISTORIC level of demand for housing (only about a 20 day supply on the market--contrasted with 6-Month's worth in 2008-2009)

---We have recently been advised that ST Engineering is teaming with UPS on job training.  We have been awarded Triumph Grants for Massive Job creation at our Airport.  OLF-8 is coming online within the next 12 months.

---Wages are going up for nearly every category of job that is available--for those who choose to work

---Escambia County was named the best employer for handicapped employees in the State!

---U.S. News and World Reports for 2021 named our area a TOP TEN city, nationwide, for retirees.

---9-Mile Road 4-Lane Project has been substantially completed

---New Baptist Hospital is half-way completed, it's coming

---Crime rates are down in nearly all categories-with fresh new leadership in the Sheriff's Office and Pensacola Police Department

---COVID-19 is finally starting to diminish and vaccination percentages are inching upwards slowly

---The county has MASSIVELY raised pay for first responders and all of our union employees and non-represented employees

---We are getting the repairs from last year's Hurricane Sally completed, and we dodged the storms this year

--and on and on.  We are completing sidewalk and drainage projects monthly throughout the area, a new library is coming on the west side, and lots of great things, to include a new I-10 interchange and lots more jobs at NFCU and OLF-8, are on the way over the next decade.

Yes we know on the national level there are things we need to watch and be concerned with (Inflation, massive spending and borrowing)--but locally and in this State we run balanced budgets and there is plenty to be happy about.

So if you know someone who is anti-social, depressed, obsessed, or just plain cantankerous and onery---knock them out of their stupor, pry them off their keyboards and out of their darkened living rooms, and shake them while telling them  "Hey--the sky's not falling!!   Things aren't perfect--But things are looking good, though--get out of the house and off the internet--get some fresh air and sunlight and see all the good that is happening!!!!"

Help them out!

Interesting Redistricting Proposal for D1 and D2 Boundaries Comes from District 2.....

This map was presented at a recent workshop by District 2 School Board member Paul Fetsko.  It is an interesting proposal.  While I think it needs a few revisions and I'll bring these ideas on November 2nd---if he is set on it I could live with it.  It appears D1 School Board member Kevin Adams could support this as well. 

Eight days ago, a workshop was held at the School District offices on Texar Drive.

There were multiple presentations and issues to be discussed.

Toward the end of the meeting, the board discussed the redistricting process and specifically what the District 2 Board Member thought would be some good boundaries for the new District 2 School Board District.

Upon seeing what he proposed---I am in general agreement.  I could certainly live with what Paul has put forward for the reasons he quite eloquently enunciated in the meeting (2:14 minute of this video) and listening to his rationale--his plan is #3 of the ones Chariman Slayton mentions leading into the item with Bender's idea being #1, Bergosh/Adams plan being #2----------- It would be hard for anyone to believe politics played any role whatsoever in the way he has imagined the lines going forward for the next ten years.

I will work with Paul toward making a few modifications/tweaks if he will countenance it--as I believe Sorrento/Bauer/Gulf Beach highway east of what he's proposed needs to stay in D2--and seveal census blocks he has in his northern part of his proposal should revert back to D1.  But I think somewhere between what he's proposed and what I proposed on Oct. 5th will be the eventual final.  That's my sense of it.  My proposed compromise between what we proposed at the  Oct. 5th meeting and what Paul Fetsko proposed on October 14th at the school board workshop, is below.

 

Now--the school board absolutely has the ability to create their own lines independently of the County Commissioners.  And vice versa.

But to do this puts an inordinate amount of work on the Supervisor of Elections staff and creates significant voter confusion.  It is for this reason that one of my firm stands will be that the D1 County Commission lines, at least and wherever they end up, will mirror the D1 School Board lines.  I believe my counterpart on the School Board, Kevin Adams, believes this to be true as well.  What other districts do will obviously be up to these individual office holders.

We'll see what happens November 2nd.

(And for everyone's full disclosure--I've stated from the start that I did not favor rushing this process, which is now precisely what we're doing. From day 1 I stated we should wait until 2023 and do it right because of COVID-19 and all the resultant data delays, etc.  But everyone wants to rush it, so here we are..........)

Major Tug-of-War Over EMS Workers Leads to Attempts at Poaching.......

 

Prospective employees for whom Escambia County had paid for training and certification recently received written offers to "pay the county back the tuition" and several dollars per hour in higher pay to leave our training pipline and join a private ambulance firm instead of going to work for Escambia County....The kicker:  This firm actually does business with Escambia County, works in Escambia County, and has historically made huge profits here....

It was brought to my attention yesterday afternoon that a local, for-profit ambulance service with offices nearby attempted to “poach” a soon-to-graduate class of entry level EMT’s who are currently finishing their coursework to be certified to work for Escambia County.

Yes---due to the ongoing, nationwide phenomenon of folks not wanting to work in this field and labor being extremely scarce--Escambia County has cultivated a group of 9 entry level personnel and agreed to pay for their coursework and certification in exchange for them to commit to working for the county upon graduation.  A good deal, and the BCC recently approved the payment of $2000 sign on bonuses to boot.

But now that this group of 9 is just about to graduate and be eligible for hire on as EMT’s in our EMS department---I’m told this other company has made written offers to each of these students---offering to pay the County back on their behalf if they come to work for this private company instead of the county.  Additionally, I’m told this company offered $2 Dollars per hour over what Escambia County would be paying them.

Apparently 8 of the 9 future EMT’s were poised to take this offer as of yesterday.

And then the staff sprung into action with a plan that came before the board earlier today.

We’re going to match the per-hour pay of this competitor to keep these EMT’s here in Escambia County.  This will be paid for within EMS’s current budget, as explained to the board this morning by

Some County Reorganization "Group" Members Don't Necessarily Agree with a Strong Elected County Administrator

I'll never support establishing a powerful "KING" elected County Administrator.  Never. To do so would be an absolute disaster.

I wrote last week about the initiative to radically transform Escambia County's current governance structure--being spearheaded by downtown businessman John Peacock.

Rick Outzen published a list of individuals purportedly "supporting" this radical change.

And I know many on the list so I have now had the opportunity to speak with a number of them personally on this topic specifically.

One I spoke with said simply "I was asked to attend a meeting and provide input, and that's what I did.  I didn't know my name was going to be used and associated with supporting this effort, though."  This individual continued  "I received a couple of emails and I stopped responding and stopped attending--I agree with some of what they are trying to do--but certainly not all of it."

Another individual, with whom I am very well acquainted and with whom I speak very frequently, summed it up succinctly  "Jeff, I am supportive of making the 5 elected commissioners be voted on county-wide like most commissioners are around the state--but knowing the civil rights rulings out there I knew this would not be possible--so I was supportive of the idea of going with 7 commissioners, two of

Gerrymandering?

Local radio host Andrew Mckay is apparently kicking and screaming mad about our proposed new D1 district map.....

Apparently, at least one radio host locally is really unhappy with the D1 elected officials'  (Me, Kevin Adams, and Vicki Campbell) proposed re-districted map.  I've discussed this proposed map with each of them--my peer D1 elected officials--- on multiple occasions, and they are supportive of the draft map we completed on 10-5-2021.

In fact, in the week since the meeting I haven't received any negative constituent communications on the proposed new D1 map.  I've received positive feedback from several.  Most seem generally agreeable to the draft map.

But at least one lone radio host is not, though.

Andrew "Tallman" McKay, who has increasingly displayed a weird sort of soft-spot for Commissioner Doug Underhill, is apparently now attempting to gin up opposition (that does not currently exist) to the draft district map generated at the first joint meeting between the BCC and School Board early last week.  He, McKay, apparently doesn't like the maps.

Jim Little of the PNJ covered the meeting from 10-5 in balanced fashion as a journalist should.

So did Rick Outzen, in the Oct. 13th "The Buzz" section.

Mckay, on the other hand, is going it alone with his anger and frustration over the map in a weird kind of game by himself.  He even shilled for Underhill last week on his program by "excusing" Doug's absence at the once in a decade redistricting meeting saying it was "The World National Jet Ski Divisional Grand Championships" or some gobbledygook like that.  What?

Look Andrew--we, all of us that serve, have had to miss important family events during the course of our service in governance locally.  I've missed games, races, school functions---we all have to prioritize what is important in the schedule.  Doug blew the meeting off, period.  It was his choice to make, and he could have called in on Zoom as Kevin Adams did if he wanted to.

But he didn't.  

He just blew it off.  

And left his constituents high and dry with no representation at the meeting.

So yes, I put forth the map that the three current officeholders in D1 discussed.

It passes legal muster, meets the objectives of the statutes that dictate and mandate the process occur once per decade, and balances the county's 5 districts.

It's the map we will bring forward on November 2nd.   And if I can get two additional votes--it will be the new D1 map.

And to the insinuation made on the radio about me "Gerrymandering"--it's patently ridiculous.  

McKay is no dummie--so for him to insinuate this just shows the depth of his devotion to Doug.  But

Is Structural Reform of Escambia County a Solution Looking for a Problem? Yes

Sometimes what some put forth as "solutions" to pressing issues are nothing more that veiled attempts at greater degrees of control......

As I return from a trip abroad to Denmark, Sweden, and England--I see there has been several media pieces on a "star chamber" of sorts consisting of locals that want to discuss, detail, and implement radical and substantial structural changes to Escambia County.  A list of individuals that are meeting to discuss these changes has been published, along with some internal emails from the group.  

Ho hum.

I met with John Peacock earlier this year on this topic.  I told him then, in my office to his face, I was open to look at what he is considering--even willing to discuss it at a workshop with my peers---as we cannot discuss anything outside of these meetings.  My understanding is we will have such a discussion at an upcoming committee of the whole.  

Good.

But my willingness to discuss these ideas does not signal my support of these concepts--and I told Peacock this as well to his face; he left the meeting knowing I do not support an elected executive administrator for the county.

And reading the tea leaves from earlier discussions I have held with my counterparts over my idea to make 4 of 5 districts at large--I see no appetite thus far leading me to believe there is support for an even more radical transformation of the board's makeup the likes of which Peacock's group is proposing.

Wanting to  create efficiencies for taxpayers and save by consolidating some functions in common with other entities?  Yes--that makes sense and I could support such a plan if it was well thought out and was efficient and effective.

Wanting a strong, independently-elected "County Mayor" for our organization?  No, that is a horrible idea.  Absolutely terrible and I do not, will not and cannot support that.  And, again,  I told Peacock this.

It was bad enough ceding all power to ONE king superintendent in the county's school district where I served 10 years...and where on many occassions the duly elected 5-member board's staffing ideas were

Follow-Up on County Medical Director Status.....

A few months back the board approved a new contract with  University of Florida affiliated doctors to provide for county medical direction for EMS and Fire.

Our previous Medical Director's status was unknown to many though.  

Some had asked "Where is your previous Medical Director?" or "What is Edler's status?"

On one of my recent blog posts, one commenter even had a specific list of questions he/she wanted me to answer about the former Medical Director's current employment status  (anonymous 3:39 in the comments of this post).  Of course, I didn't answer because to do so would have been inappropriate.  Plus, I wasn't sure what her status is/was.   All I know is we have approved new Medical Directors and the feedback I have received has been all positive!

Meanwhile, in order to close the loop on what happened to the individual that used to hold that title--I asked for an update on her status.

I recently received a letter that is a public record that pretty much sums up what happened to our former Medical Director, Rayme Edler.  Read it below.

She is no longer employed with the county.

Very Preliminary Cost Estimate for Beulah Pedestrian Bridge Comes in at $3 Million

A Pedestrian Overpass project has been imagined for the Beulah area---if state funding could be acquired to construct it.  Initial estimate is high at $3 Million

As has been discussed previously on this blog and in the press, there is an effort underway to acquire the funding necessary to construct a pedestrian overpass over 9-Mile Road in Beulah.

State Representative Michelle Salzman has indicated she will seek state funding in the upcoming legislative session for construction of this bridge in District 1.

This effort is supported by Salzman, myself, and District 1 School Board Member Kevin Adams.

If the funding is acquired and this can be built--it will be a tremendous safety enhancement for the students who attend Beulah Middle School (South side of 9-Mile Road) and live north of 9-Mile road.

It will also compliment an aggressive sidewalk construction program I will be initiating over the next 36 months to enhance the walkability and safety of the growing Beulah community.

I requested a "placeholder" estimate from our traffic and engineering departments and have now received a very preliminary estimate of $3 Million Dollars--broken down as follows in the email received:

"Commissioner Bergosh-

Received the attached estimate for the most recent pedestrian bridge completed by FDOT in Panhandle (Panama City).  This bridge was bid last year from my understanding, therefore, we should estimate the following factors:

 

Estimated cost of Bridge:                                                 $3.1 M

Year 2022 Cost Increases (30%):                                    $0.93M

Programmed project in 5^th year inflation (30%):                $0.93M

                                                                                                $5.0M

 

This cost includes the design, construction, and construction inspection services.  This is just an estimated cost not to include any right-of-way acquisition if needed." 

Commissioner in the Classroom!

I recently was invited to speak to a classroom full of 5 and 6 year olds about all the fun things I do in my job as a County Commissioner!

Sometimes being a County Commissioner has its rewarding opportunities...one of which came my way recently.  And no--I'm not talking about the redistricting meeting last Tuesday....😏

I'm talking about a trip to an elementary school classroom to discuss what I do as a career and all the fun I have doing it.  

And I recently had the pleasure of being invited to career week at Oakcrest Elementary School to do this.  But because of COVID-19, I had to appear virtually, via Google Meetings.

I was asked to consider a series of questions put to me by the students in Mrs. Summers Kindergarten class---and I was also asked some questions by the students during the meeting.

It's interesting to see the way the questions come from the minds of young students, and what it is they think is truly important.

The students wanted to know one thing in particular:  Roads, where do they go and who decides?  They thought the roads issues we discussed were really cool.  I thought this was really interesting.  And putting the answers into  responses that make sense to kindergarteners was a fun diversion from normal interview responses I give.

Some takeaways from what the students wanted to know (who were remarkably well behaved, I must add)

1.  How can students help make our community better?  My answer:  Stay in school, follow your parents' and teachers' directions and rules, and be good to your fellow students.

2.  What do you do as a commissioner?  My answer:  We fund the sheriff, the fire department, we approve houses to be built, we manage parks and playgrounds, and we build and repair roads and ditches.

3.  Do you have children?  Yes--I have three--and they are all three graduated from Escambia County.

4.  What is the most important thing students should do to be successful?  My answer:  Understand your assignments and work, study and be prepared, and be decisive.  You will make mistakes, but it is better to make minor mistakes and be decisive than it is to never make decisions and not make progress going forward.

Thanks to Oakcrest Elementary, Mrs. Summers, and the students in her class for the opportunity to participate in Career Week---I think I enjoyed it more than the students!

On Real News with Rick Outzen This Morning Recapping Last Night's Redistricting Meeting

Empty Chair

I was invited onto the WCOA morning show "Real News with Rick Outzen" earlier this morning to discuss last night's redistricting meeting.

I was happy to talk about it--as it was a positive meeting and a lot was accomplished in just a short hour and a half or so.

Jim Little of the PNJ also covered the story, as did I last night.

Doug Underhill didn't show up to the meeting.  Although I was told subsequently he was out of state for a jet ski competition--he didn't call in either.  He could have called in if it was important to him....(as school board member Kevin Adams--- who was also out of town--- did do) .

Underhill didn't show up to the Shade meeting immediately preceeding the redistricting meeting either.

No show.

Check out Rick's Podcast here

1st Joint BCC/School Board Redistricting Meeting Completed

The northern half of the proposed new District 1 Commission/School Board District

The southern half of the proposed new District 1 Commission/School Board District

The Escambia Board of County Commissioners and the Escambia County School District held the first of two joint meetings for redistricting this evening.  The meeting was cordial and productive.

All members of the School Board attended and participated.

All members of the County Commission attended and participated except District 2 Commissioner Doug Underhill.  He did not attend this evening's meeting.

After some initial pleasantries--the business at hand commenced after a slow start.  First up, District 5 and District 4 agreed on a one precinct swap which all but balanced these two districts respectively--with District 4 being slightly oversized and having the capacity after this switch to give some population to District 3.

Next up, Commissioner May's district was discussed and numerous proposals were made to increase the population of his district and the minority-majority makeup of his district as well.  Notably, all of Mayfair was tentatively moved from District 2 to District 3.  This gave District 3 a better overall minority-majority percentage which was further improved with the removal of several blocks of District 3 north of Garden street and East over to Baylen Street--but this give from D2 to D3 left D2 in need of several "pick ups" to make the math work.

The final piece of the pie and the most complex was the re-arrangement of Districts 1 and 2.  In order to balance the districts population wise, keep an elected ECUA board member in her seat, make Myrtle Grove whole again and return a sense of cohesion to multiple neighborhoods in the southwest corner of Escambia County--the D1 plan that was worked this evening, pictured above, makes the following changes between these two districts:

--All of precinct 99 goes from D1 to D2

--the portion of precinct 75 that is east of Patricia Drive and south of Cerny Road goes from D1 to D2

--all of precinct 61 goes from D1 to D2

----all the portions of precinct 105 currently in D2 that lie west of Sorrento south to Perdido Key, then encompassing all of Perdido key, go into the new D1 district  (all the rest of precinct 105 north of Perdido key and east of Sorrento would remain in D2).

What I am proposing:

 

-Balances D1 and D2

-Keeps D1 and D2 Schools balanced (keeps Jim Bailey Middle, Helen Caro elementary, and Blue Angels elementary in D1)

-Keeps D1 ECUA board member Vicki Campbell in her elected district, D1

-Does not knock any incumbent (Commission, School Board, ECUA) in either D1 or D2 that is running in 2022----- out of his/her district

-Brings a portion of precinct 105 back to D1 (Which D1 had before 2001 when W.D. Childers made the politically motivated action of taking Marcus Pointe and giving away Perdido Key to avoid losing votes to environmentalists on Perdido Key with whom he clashed at the time----political gerrymandering)

-Maintains even lines and smoother boundaries

-follows the legislation’s requirements

-connects communities of interest Perdido Key, Perdido Bay, and Innerarity

-makes D1 the Book-end SW Boundary district, complementing D4’s SE Boundary District

-balances the district—leaving D2 with a nominal number of additional citizens due to the falling population in that district over the last three decennial censuses.

Next up--the second joint meeting and hopefully a finalization of boundary maps for advertising so the process can be completed in mid-December.

Retirement Compensation

I received a somewhat cynical, sardonic, and accusatory email late yesterday evening on everybody's favorite topic: the County's 401(a) program.  Here, below, is the email I received from this person with whom I am acquainted.  My response to his email follows below.....

"Jeff,

            The actions of you and the rest of the BOCC over the previous 12 months take me back to the W.D. Childers days. It’s unfortunate that our elected officials tend to lose sight of what their duties and responsibilities are as it relates to supporting their constituents and overall needs of the County. Of course the latest debacle is over Commissioners retirement compensation as it relates to the County’s contribution and subsequent payout. It’s apparent that the Board feels their duties and responsibilities are more important and hazardous than our Public Safety employees. It’s evident the retirement language as it relates to the Board and upper management is not crystal clear and without ambiguity. Knowing this, why doesn’t the Board simply accept a rate that is more reasonable and commensurate with the part-time job they currently hold?  Doing the right thing these days has become the exception rather than the norm – morals and ethics have become words of the past.

            I would hope the BOCC will regain their senses and remember who they actually serve and support. If the Board feels they are entitled to this rate of retirement, then the military retirees have been severely under compensated.

            The typical County employee receives a retirement contribution rate of less than 13%, while the Board feels their rate should be greater than 50%. Although I am not confident, I am hopeful the voters remember this compensation grab especially if additional County funds are expended via a law suit to assist the Board in obtaining this ridiculous compensation package.

XXXX"

My response---below:

XXXX,

Thanks for the frank and candid opinion you’ve provided below.  Thanks also for your military service, which I respect and appreciate strongly—as I grew up in a military family with a dad that did 33 years in the Navy, a brother who is a retired Marine, and two of my children who have now served or are serving in the US Military.  Knowing what I know about military retirements—I do believe they are deserved and very generous.  However—the public sector and the state and some local Florida governments offer some programs such as a deferred retirement (DROP) plan as well as pensions for many employees and classes of employees that are legal, appropriate, and MUCH more generous than a military pension.

This all said--  I must strongly disagree with some of the assumptions you have mentioned in your below email which no doubt have been generated via media coverage of this debacle that has been one-sided, incomplete, and downright dishonest. 

So before you flippantly relegate me and my professional reputation to the rubbish heap—I certainly hope you will hear me out, below, on what the realities are surrounding the 401(a) plan. 

First off—a couple of points of note worth consideration.  

Number 1—WD Childers was a dishonest, criminal politician who was eventually indicted, tried, and convicted for his criminal behavior.  He spent time in jail. Years.  Deservedly.

Conversely-I have spent 15 years in local elected office, living under a microscope, and have not ever once even been accused of doing anything unethical, immoral, or-----illegal.  It’s because I follow rules, do my job, and am a “Boy Scout” that plays it straight.

Number 2 is I have never taken one dime from the taxpayers, not one red cent, that was not afforded to me as a salary, benefit, or emolument of my position enumerated in the constitution of Florida and/or local ordinance.

Number 3 is this: I do not take the 401(a) plan.  I am in the standard Florida Retirement System (FRS) pension plan, just like teachers, deputy sheriffs, firemen, and other county employees---which is a formulaic program that calculates an employee’s salary average and length of service to determine a monthly stipend for the elected official-- when such an official reaches retirement age.  For me, that will be when I turn 62.

(It is worth mentioning here that if the board decided to voluntarily reduce the return rate on this 401(a) plan by even as little as 1% for the three members who take it Bender, Barry, and May-----it would save taxpayers’ dollars when juxtaposed with the costs of other elected officials like me who are stuck in FRS with their overhead which is obscene!)

Number 4 is this:  The 401(a) plan at issue----complete with these concomitant payments with higher levels of interest rate returns for some senior managers and those elected officials that have chosen this plan----has been established in the County since 1997 and paid in full by our current clerk and the former clerk, Ernie Lee Magaha. These plans are ubiquitous around the state—in counties, cities and other municipalities.  This is not something Escambia just cooked-up one day out of the clear blue sky for self-enrichment—regardless of what the liberal PNJ and their cartoonist espouse.

Sadly—the current clerk’s recent and unilateral decision to withhold funding and constructively void this BCC contract appears to be a political one, and one that does not stand up to the scrutiny of legal