What Can Be Done about the Higher Power Bills?

There has been much consternation about higher power bills over the last several weeks.  I've spoken to members of our legislative delegation about it, and I have reached out to the folks I know at Florida Power and Light as well.   Althought this has nothing whatsoever to do with the County---and we have ZERO control over these rates---I have received a number of contacts from constituents asking for help.  The response from Mr. Rick Byars at FPL was comprehensive and included some attachements with resources and information that can assist customers, so I am attaching that here, below, in case it can be helpful for folks that see it on my blog.

from the email:

"Good morning Commissioner Bergosh,

 Thank you for speaking to me this week.  Again, we know you may be getting questions from your residents / constituents about higher than expected power bills, and I wanted to provide some information and resources that may be helpful.

 There are several things impacting our customers’ bills right now, all at once:

•             Higher costs for the fuel used to generate electricity, just as we’ve seen in gas prices and other products;

•             Colder winter temperatures, which causes customers to use more energy and therefore leads to higher bills;

•             The tiered pricing structure, which charges a lower rate for energy consumption up to 1,000-kWh and a higher rate for energy use over that amount; and

•             The state-approved rate increase, which also took effect in January.

 We understand that higher bills can be a difficult situation for our customers. We want our customers to know we’re here to help and are doing everything we can.

•             First and foremost, if you’ve received a higher than expected bill and are facing financial hardship or need additional time to pay, please reach out to us. We can see if you qualify for a payment extension, an installment plan and connect you with programs that provide assistance.

•             We are also encouraging our customers to use the FPL app to track your daily energy use so you can make energy use changes throughout the month to minimize the impact of the new rates.

•             There are also other tools and tips available on our website to provide additional energy savings information, including the option for a free online analysis of your energy use and even an audit with an energy expert.

•             All of these tips and tools to monitor and manage your energy usage is especially important when we are facing severe cold temperatures, as we’ve seen lately – your heater is often the largest user of energy by far in your home when it’s cold outside, so anything that you can do to lower your usage can help.

 FPL acquired Gulf Power because the company saw the potential to bring lower rates to the area, which has historically seen significantly higher rates than other FPL customers. We are focused on bringing our Northwest Florida customers into alignment with those lower bills, but it can’t happen overnight. This is a journey to lower rates that will take some time, but if fuel prices remain the same, bills for our customers in Northwest Florida will continue to decline each year moving forward until they are fully aligned with FPL customers across the state – which we expect to be Jan. 1, 2027.

 Please find attached some additional resources that you can use to answer questions or provide additional information to anyone reaching out to you. As always, please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

 Rick Byars

Senior External Affairs Manager"

See resource information provided in the email, below:

On WCOA's Real News with Rick Outzen later this Morning Discussing Tonight's Town Hall Meeting

I'll be host Rick Outzen's guest later this morning, at 7:20, on the area's top-rated and most listened to morning news program "Real News with Rick Outzen."  Tune in to AM 1370 to catch the show!

 

I'll be a guest later this morning on the area's #1 rated morning drive radio show, "Real News with Rick Outzen" on 1370 WCOA.

The topic will be tonight's first Town Hall in the Perdido Key/Innerarity Island area of the post-redistricted District 1.

There is lots to be discussed and I look forward to bringing the staff out to take in lots of input from the constituents.

I'll discuss with Rick the time and topics and the other elected officials that will join me at the event.

When Rick uploads the podcast, I will link it here.

Saturday in Perdido Key.....

 I had the opportunity to spend a good part of Saturday morning/afternoon in one of  the newest portions of District 1 post-redistricting, Perdido Key.

I was invited for a neighborhood Garden Clean up at the visitor's center in Perdido Key, which I was eager to do.  After that, I had the opportunity to drive around the area and spend some time looking around and exploring, including spending time walking and looking over what will be our area's newest free public acess, Gulf Front facility on the island.  Public Beach Access #4  is nearing completion and a ribbon-cutting is scheduled for mid-to late February.

Here are some pictures, below, from the day:

Agenda and Run of Show for Tomorrow's Innerarity/Perdido District 1 Town Hall Meeting

 

A Brief Back and Forth between ECEMS and Lifeguard gets Quashed Fast....

There were some rumblings back and forth between Lifeguard Ambulance Services of Santa Rosa County and Escambia County EMS over the last several weeks.

This comes on the heels of some reported attempts by Lifeguard to poach some paramedics away from Escambia County with the promise of higher pay--even after Escambia County fronted the money for these particular paramedics to further their professional education. 

So this recent dust-up started after an email was sent to Escambia County earlier this month by an attorney represening Lifeguard.  The email expressed concern about Lifeguard's continuing ability to provide for patient transfers in Escambia County.  I'm told this patient transfer work is a very lucrative aspect of their (Lifeguard's) business model, apparently, and Escambia EMS is taking on a greater and greater proportion of such transfers within the county in order to generate the revenue necessary for Escambia EMS to continue to honor our higher wages and recruitment bonuses.  The additional revenue is also being used by ECEMS for the purchase of new equipment and for some future growth.

But our revenue generation has apparently hit Lifeguard in the pocket book.  

I've even recently heard a rumor that this revenue hit is being described to some Lifeguard employess by management at Lifeguard as "potentially compromising their ability to continue to meet payroll for new hires."  That is something I have heard, secondhand, so it is just hearsay.

Meanwhile, what is known for certain and what is NOT hearsay is that Lifeguard's operations in Escambia County are controlled by Escambia County. (i.e. they work under a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (COPCN) that is issued by Escambia County and which stipulates what activities, within Escambia County, Lifeguard can engage in--including patient transfers, regardless of any contractual arrangements Lifeguard may have currently with facilities based in Escambia County)

So we will see what happens next, but as Escambia EMS takes on more and more patient transfers within the county this will generate more revenue for Escambia public safety programs going forward (more staff, better pay, and better equipment)--and this is a good thing!

 

FDOT Completes the 9-Mile Road and US 29 Corridor Improvement Project

 .......And they have put out a nice video which summarizes the work that has been completed as a result of this $100 Million Dollar state project.

Case between Escambia County Commissioners and Clerk Pam Childers is transferred Once Again....

Recently the board of county commissioners of Escambia County filed a complaint in the circuit court for a writ of mandamus against the clerk of the court Pam Childers.  That complaint was moved to a judge in Okaloosa county on Tuesday.  That particular judge quickly recused.  Now, today, comes word that the case was reassigned to a different Circuit Court Judge in Okaloosa County.  We shall see what comes of this.  Some with whom I have spoken predict that all judges in the first circuit will recuse and this complaint will land in the 14th circuit, in Panama City.

But we will see what happens in the next several days......

 

What's the Deal with the Power Bills Going Through the Roof?

Folks are calling, folks are emailing.

Everyone is pissed off about their power bills going up.  Come to think of it---I am, too!

But some people think I am responsible for this, which I am not.  I got this email recently:

"If I'm not mistaken, you voted for the rate hikes. My bill just doubled. It was reported on Wear that it would mean about a seventeen dollar hike. Seems the board has some explaining and over charges to pay for. District 1 needs to change the butt seating in the seat.

Sent from my LG Mobile"

Here was another:

"Sir,

I hope you are aware of the suffering Many residents are experiencing related to FPL increases.  My own bill doubled ove $200  and according to  there app I am using $12+ electric daily times days in month unsustainable.  There are many right now sitting in cold homes heat switchrd off some even in dark fearing next FPL bill. Nothing has changed in my home I have lived In over 30 years yet my last bill doubled  Please sir help the citizen's and seriously look into FPL billing and practices.   I am reading of folks now recieving notice cut off electric." 

Folks are mad and they want relief.

I've called both area state representatives and our state senator on this issue specifically.  They are in session, they are busy.  I heard back from one of the three who told me:

"Jeff, there is nothing we can do.  Under statutes the power company must be permitted to make a profit.  The costs for natural gas have doubled over the last two years, and this is the reason the bills are going up.  Green energy initiatives at the federal level cost us locally---we're not set up for green energy--we are set up for fossil fuels.  This is why the bills are going up"

Escambia Circuit Judges Out of Ruling on BCC Complaint Against Pam Childers

This order, below, was issued by Chief Judge John Miller this afternoon.  The complaint filed against Clerk of the Court Pam Childers on behalf of the BCC has now officially been transferred to Okaloosa County.

The blanket recusal anticipated in the order necessitated this action.

I'm told the Judge in Okaloosa County to whom this was transferred has now recused as well.  Already.

Some observers believe this will eventually have to be sent over to the 14th Circuit in Panama City.  We will see what happens.

Commissioner in the Classroom! Part II

I was asked to be a guest and reader at Sherwood Elementary School's Career Day 2022 yesterday...What a great day!

Although I had attended a few events there during my 10 years on the School Board of Escambia County from 2006 to 2016--the last time I had spent any really measurable amount of time at Sherwood Elementary School in West Pensacola before yesterday morning ----was when I attended the school in 1977-1978 as a 5th grader in Mrs. McDonald's 5th Grade Class.

So, when I was asked to come to Sherwood for career day and to read to a 3rd grade class I was happy to do so.  Actually, I was really excited to do it.

Sherwood Elementary Library, 1-24-2022

I arrived in the office and was given a badge.  Then, I was escorted to the library where the staff greeted me, showed me a selection of books from which I could choose, offered me coffee and assorted pastries, and then sent me on my way--over to Mrs. Glaser's 3rd Grade Class with my selected reading, "Stick and Stone:  Best Friends Forever" by Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld.

Upon entering Mrs. Glaser's class--I was immediatly struck by how well-behaved her students were.  After Mrs. Glaser gave some brief instructions to her class, she asked that before I read the book that I give the students a brief description of my "job" of County Commissioner.  That was a fun question to try and fit into the attention span and comprehension abilities of 3rd graders.  😊.  So I remembered another recent classroom visit I had and what really got the attention of those even younger students.  Roads and building stuff.  LOL.

Mrs. Glaser's class gave me a warm welcome!

"Class, a county commissioner like me gets elected by the people to make a community better.  We work together to approve the construction of roads, bridges, and subdivisions--we make and maintain parks, and we regulate where businesses can go--we do a lot of things"  was my fumbling attempt at a basic description.

Then the hands went up.

"Do you make a lot of money?" asked a young lady on my left.  

"Well, compared to some people, like Doctors, I don't make much money at all.  Compared to others--like janitors--I make more."  

"Do you make more than our teacher?"  

was the next question I fielded from a young man in a desk alone at the front of the class.  "Well--I'm not sure what Mrs. Glaser's salary is--but I might make a little more than her."

"How come Bus Drivers get paid as much as teachers when they only have to do one job they they just drive off and the teachers are here all day"  was the next question I received, to which I responded to Mrs. Glaser in jest, and with a chuckle "Mrs. Glaser--are you sure this isn't a political science class I've walked into?" and I continued with a direct answer to the student  "Some drivers make more, but most make less than the teachers--it's all based on how long they have worked."

As I read through the book, which was a very quick read, I took time to try and make the reading interactive.

"Who knows what this is" as I pointed to a deer in the picture. And several hands went up.  "Is that a whitetail deer" said a smiling student.  "Well, it's definitely a deer" I responded with a smile.

"Who knows what this red bird is called?" To which one really motivated student raised her hand really high and excitedly bounced up and down in her seat.  I called on her and was somewhat surprised when she said "I'm not sure".  The next student I called on correctly identified the bird as a cardinal.

Several Sherwood 5th Graders served as my escort during my visit yestereday, and they happily posed for a picture with me next to their "Readers are Leaders!" bulletin board!

Upon finishing the book and thanking the class for their time, invitation, and attentiveness--and in an attempt to convey to the students just how long it had been since I went to Sherwood as a student--I asked this question:  "Class, you know, I went to this school in 5th grade way back in 1977-1978.  Who knows how many years ago that was?"

No hands went up.  Then one young lady put up her hand.  I called on her and she said, sheepishly, "39

County Taxpayers Have Now Spent More than $87,000.00 on Doug Underhill's Various Lawsuits

 

According to information I just received from the county attorney's office--county taxpayers have spent $87,040.00 in costs and fees defending Doug Underhill's various Federal and State Lawsuits currently working their way collectively through the courts.

These costs and fees were compiled in answer to a constituent's public records request.  I asked for the information as well, and here it is below.

$87,040.00 and a ton of meetings, shade sessions, and gnashing of teeth..................what a waste.

And the meter is still running on some of these.

County Files Complaint for Writ of Mandamus in the Circuit Court

Late Friday afternoon Escambia County, through our attorney Troy Rafferty of Pensacola's Levin Papantonio Rafferty Law Firm, filed a complaint in the circuit court on the county's behalf.  The purpose of the Complaint for Writ of Mandamus is/was to compel Clerk of the Court and Comptroller Pam Childers to once again resume payment of the 401(a) payments she has now unilaterally withheld as of the beginning of this year.

The complaint is very straightforward and makes the case very succinctly in a 30 page filing.

We will see what happens next.

Read the complaint here.

On Real News with Rick Outzen Tomorrow Morning at 7:20

I'll be a guest on the area's top-rated morning drive radio program--WCOA's "Real News with Rick Outzen"

I'll be on the radio tomorrow morning on Real News with Rick Outzen at 7:20.

Topics to be discussed include current county happenings, a recap of last week's meeting, and other topics of interest including a forthcoming ordinance to prohibit those on the county payroll from running for office while simultaneously holding their jobs.

And I'm sure there will be other topics of interest breaking Monday morning, to include the county's late Friday afternoon filing in the circuit court requesting the court to compel the Clerk of the Court to resume 401(a) retirement contributions for the three commissioners that take this plan.

Should be an interesting conversation.....

Beach Access #4 at Perdido Key: Ribbon Cutting ONE Month Away!

The current view from Escambia County's soon to be completed and openend Gulf-Front, free  Public Beach Access point in District 1 at Perdido Key

Escambia County, west Escambia County, and District 1's newest public Gulf-Front beach access point (300 FT on the Gulf) is nearing completion.  Beach Access #4 has been a long time coming--nearly 8 years--but it is almost completed.  Better late than never!.  Photos from the site from this week  (below) show the parking lot completed, with asphalt and striping,  split rail fencing installed, and the driveway complete.  Native grasses have been replanted in areas around the parking, and the only remaining items are the unrolling of the Mobi-mat (which will give access to the beach to those who are in wheelchairs) and some signage about the ecology of the area with educational placards about native/protected species.  According to the Natural Resources Management staff: 

"We expect the access mat to be installed in the next 2-3 weeks. I will have an updated timeline from engineering tomorrow. We can start to plan a grand opening for mid-late Feb...We will still be waiting on the wash-station, ada components to the educational signage and a couple other odds and ends."

EMS Division Establishes an Informational "Dashboard" to Inform the Public on EMS Activity in the County

The EMS Dashboard is live at Myescambia.com under the EMS page as of 1-18-2022

The EMS division of the County's Public Safety Department have established an informational dashboard that will be updated daily so citizens can see the types of calls we run and the numbers of transports we provide daily and weekly.  The screen shot, above, is the first iteration of the dashboard which the public can access at this link.

The initiative was announced to the commissioners via an email earlier today.  From EMS Chief David Torsell:

"Commissioners,

 When I first became the Chief of Escambia County EMS, one of the immediate items I wanted to do address was to provide more transparency and information about EMS services to our citizens. I wanted a way to convey what we do in EMS, why we are so busy, and to give a bit of an inside look our service. With that, I had the idea to have a dashboard created that would allow citizens that access our EMS home page to be able to see some of our daily, weekly, and annual call totals. Through a collaborative effort, our team of EMS, IT, Communications/PI and 911 Dispatch was able to create an EMS dashboard, approved by our Public Safety Director and County Administrator. I am proud to inform you that we now have a live EMS dashboard on our EMS home page."

 

A Liquor Store Right Across the street from the Middle School?

What's really worse--a bunch of retail stores that already sell suitcase after suitcase of cheap Keystone canned beer OR a fine dining restaurant that serves a nice Cabernet with the Filet Mignon--on premise?

The rumor that was being spread this past weekend was it was going to be a liquor store "right in front of the school!"

The truth was a lot less sensational.

There is a piece of land in Beulah that is across the street from Beulah Middle School, across 9-Mile Road,  where an individual is interested in building a full service restaurant and a retal store.  Not a liquor store.  Not a bar.

In the HDMU district, a full service restaurant (including service of alcoholic beverages, beer and wine) is allowed with a conditional use permit.

So on Wednesday this request for a conditional use permit will be considered by the Escambia County Board of Adjustment.  I believe a full service restaurant in Beulah is desperately needed.  We still do not have one, not ONE (1) full service restaurant in Beulah.  We have the gas station roller machine hot dogs, the Tom Thumb microwave burritos, a sushi shop, a Pizza Hut, and they are building a McDonalds----but we still don't have ONE (1) full service restaurant here yet where I can sit down, order a delicious steak and a glass of Merlot or Cabernet.  

We have to drive down to Pine Forest road for that.  And that's what we do.

So yes, I think a full service restaurant in Beulah is something the community wants and needs------but this is a whole lot different than a "liquor store" right in front of the middle school.  This is not that.

Read the backup on the item here---and/or feel free to attend the meeting and speak.

I mean, like I told one individual with whom I spoke on this topic:  There's a full service Publix Liquor store in the Publix center right across Beulah road from TWO middle schools already.  And the Dollar General right next to Beulah Middle School sells cases of beer out the front door by the Pallet load.  Suitcase after suitcase of Natural Lite beer out the front door--right next to the middle school.  So, with that as the backdrop----is it really something to go crazy about if a nice restaurant opens across the street that serves wine with a meal?  Really?

We'll see what happens Wednesday.

I Didn't Ask for This......... But.........Yeah, Let's Have a Talk about It!

 

Should employees of the county be precluded from running for office while simultaneously holding on to their county job?  This question will be taken up by the board tomorrow morning....

At tomorrow's regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, which I will drop the gavel on and call to order at 9:00 sharp tomorrow morning---one very interesting topic of note will be discussed near the end of the meeting's agenda.

Shall those persons on the payroll of the county be permitted to seek elected office while simultaneously working their job with the county?

It is an interesting subject---one which I didn't request to be brought forward.  I am not the person who requested this nor am I the one that asked for this to be added for discussion.  Maybe I should have, though.

Because two and a half years ago I was told that a person who worked at the county would be stepping up to run for county commissioner-----against me.  Furthermore--I was told this was perfectly legal and we were limited in what sway, as an employer, we held over an employee who decided to run for office.

Fast forward a couple of years and we know how that turned out for that individual who ran..... (3rd place, distant).

So why this comes now is somewhat a mystery--but obviously one or more of my counterparts want a discussion of it.  Good--it is a good discussion that we should have.

Of course we all know any campaigning or campaign type activity is strictly forbidded while "on the clock" at a county office or while on county property.  Everyone knows that.  But the mental distraction of an employee running might be something an employer like Escambia County would want to look at.  The optics as well---particularly if the circumstances appear vindictive as was the case in my race in 2020.

Perhaps this is coming now because another member of the D2 office---this time his assistant secretary/intern, Conor Mann---has pre-filed to run against Kevin Adams for School Board District 1?

Whatever the reason/impetus---I've asked and received confirmation from the legal department that making someone on the payroll resign if they choose to run for office is something that is within an employer's purview to mandate.  And Escambia County fits within this description as an employer.

I wonder where that discussion was two years ago, LOL.  😏

Currently--there is no prohibition on County employees running.  And they have NOTHING to lose...if they lose the election, they can comfortably scurry back to their "job" with the county.  If they win the "election" they assume office and quit their job.  That's the way it is right now.  It's easy and risk-free. 

But perhaps now is the time to change that.

Because for other employers and most current elected officials who choose to run for a higher state office---there is no such "comfort."  ----as they are subject to the Florida "Resign to Run" law and must tender a resignation for the office which such a candidate currently holds effective the date of the assumption such office after the election.  So, in effect, you either win or you lose the election--but either way that turns out---you lose your current position.

I had to resign my school board seat when I ran for the BCC.  Had I lost in 2016, (which I didn't) I was precluded from re-assuming my school board seat.  There was risk, there was something real and tangible at stake for me.

Maybe this needs to be applied to others as well, so this will be a good discussion.

Two Town Halls Upcoming in District 1

I look forward to hosting  two town halls in the first two months of 2022---one in Perdido/Innerarity and one in Beulah.

As I recently said I would do, I have now scheduled two town halls for the first two months of 2022.

With a lot of changes to the county's district lines as a result of our once-per-decade redistricting process having been completed--I thought it imperative to schedule these so that I can hear input directly from the constituents of the newly formed District 1 as soon as possible.

On Monday, January 31st we will have our first of these two town halls in the Perdido Area of District 1, at the Perdido Bay United Methodist Church, 13660 Innerarity Point Road.  It will be scheduled from 5:30-7:00 PM.  I will have staff with me, and I will also have my District 1 peer elected representatives from ECUA and the School Board as well--and they will have the opportunity to give remarks at the meeting.  Primarily, I want to have staff give updates and I want to hear from residents.  What are their concerns, priorities, and observations.  I will have a list of questions for which I will elicit simple responses from the audience utilizing "agree" and "disagee" placards--and comment cards will be distributed and collected so that the maximum number of questions/comments/concerns can be taken in by myself and staff.

On Tuesday, February 22nd, we will have our second of these two town halls--this one in Beulah at Beulah Middle School, 6001 West 9-Mile Road.  It will also be scheduled from 5:30-7:00 PM.  Again, I will have staff and my counterparts from ECUA and the School Board at this meeting as well.  We will utilize the same format and we will have an agenda for the meeting.

I look forward to hearing from the constituents and continuing our momentum in District 1 at completing big projects for the citizens.

When 28 - 6 = 28???......(and costs Escambia Taxpayers $37,179.00*)

Basic arithmetic should not be this difficult for the state's department of corrections.....

There was a costly, frustrating, and exasperating event that was brought to my attention the other evening:  It had my blood boiling.

The caller was angry, and frustrated.  "Jeff, this is going to piss you off, I know it is, but you need to find out if this is true.  It is absolutely killing morale among some of the corrections officers"

The caller went on to describe the horrible outcome of our jail attempting to transfer 28 prisoners, already convicted and sentenced to state prison,  to the state's custody the day before.  Apparently, according this individual's account (and since confirmed by multiple sources), our jail had COVID tested all 28 of these convicts, got their paperwork in order, staffed three transport vans (with officers on OT to drive) along with a chase car with a supervisor on OT---and sent these prisoners 4 hours away at "zero dark thirty."  This was the plan, to transfer them to the state.  But like the best laid plans, sometimes they fall apart.  Upon arrival at the state facility---all of the convicts were tested again for COVID.  And what do you know, six of them tested positive.....

Okay--but now what?  I mean, it's not like we, at the county jail can turn away a prisoner that has COVID--we have to take them in and quarantine them.  Surely the state corrections department has to do this as well, right?

Wrong.

So here's where the story becomes incredibly infuriating.  Because, as we know, we are already housing MANY state prisoners at our county jail for zero compensation (although the costs to us for this service adds up to $90.00 per day per prisoner)----so the thought of handing off a group of 28 state prisoners to the state department of corrections was one that many in the jail were very relieved to be doing.  Not to mention that these convicted prisoners are among the most difficult for officers to deal with day in and day out....

But the state blew up the plan.  Apparently they have a policy against accepting any prisoner who has COVID or has been exposed to anyone who has COVID.  So they rejected NOT just the 6 positives---they sent ALL 28 State Prisoners back to Escambia County to be quarantined for a two week period before we can "attempt" to send them back again.  Can you believe that??

"The rub is, they would have quarantined them there anyway had they not tested positive--for 14 days!" said one exasperated, knowledgable source within the jail with whom I spoke.

"How much did this evolution cost the taxpayers of Escambia County!"  was my question to this individual.

"A lot---and after this COVID pandemic is over there will be dissertations written on just how costly

Florida Auditor General's Office to Commence Operational Audit of Escambia's TDT Funds Beginning Today

Later this morning staffs from the County and the Clerk of the Court's office will "kick-off" the process for the conducting of an operational audit on the county's use of Tourist Development Tax dollars from October of 2020 through December of 2021.  This audit is coming via the Joint Legislative Audit Committee at the specific request of the Escambia Tourist Development Council.  

The county will facilitate the auditors with whatever information they require to do this work, to include office space, parking, network connections, information and files.  The Clerk's office, I assume, will do likewise.

For my part, as a brand new member (as of last Thursday) of the Escambia Tourist Develoment Council------ I welcome the audit and any findings which will be helpful in our local administration of these important funds for the purposes allowed and according to statutory limitatations and stipulations/conditions. 

The estimated time for completion of the field work will be 4-5 months--with an initial, preliminary report to come sometime in late spring or early summer.  See the engagement letter, below.

County to Engage Search Firm (for a $22,500.00 fee) for County Administrator Search

The county will begin a search for a permanent County Administrator in the next few weeks.  According to the proposal of the search firm selected by the county--the entire process could take as little as 14 weeks....

The county is moving forward with the initial steps necessary to begin the seach process for the selection of our next, permanent, County Administrator.

My personal belief is that our current (interim) Administrator, Wes Moreno, is doing a fantastic job.  And therefore I am not pushing for the selection to start post-haste.

But because we do currently have an interim admisistrator, and due to the fact that some members of the board have expressed interest in moving this eventually necessary process forward--the purchasing department had been working on advertising a solicitation for this purpose for the last several months.  A number of firms submitted packages and letters of interest in doing this work for the BCC.

Staff have now gone through the responses and they have subsequently winnowed the pool of potential firms down to one.

GovHR out of Illinois is the successful applicant and they have submitted a 40-page, detailed proposal that lists their process, their team's accomplishments and respective resumes, and their references.  Additionally--the package gives detailed information on over 100 other recent placement(s) this firm has facilitated for cities, counties, and other entities nationwide over the last several years.  Page 15 of their proposal has a rough timeline of their process, 14 weeks in total, from commencement to hiring (which seems aggressive and optimistic to me) and also the proposal discusses the firm's protocols for interviewing and meeting potential candidates in the era of COVID-19 with emphasis on the leveraging of technology to assist in this process.

The amount of the purchase, $22,500.00,  falls below the threshold necessary for requiring pre-approval by the board.  Therefore, the company selected will be paid via a county purchase order to begin the process iminently.

Going by what they believe they can do and the timeline in which they can do it---it seems as if we may just have a new administrator as soon as late April, early May.

We shall see

Read the complete GovHR proposal here

BCC's First February Meeting pushed to 2-10-22; No COW on 1-13-22 or on 2-10-22

 

Board Reaches Settlement with David Bear--We're OUT of the Underhill Lawsuit

Nearly two years ago the Board of County Commissioners were sued for something that was not our fault and something for which we were not responsible.

The actions of one commissioner were being used against the other four members of the board.

It was never right--but I understand the reasons why what happened came to pass.  Nobody from the State Attorney's office looked into the withholding of the records---although they were notified of this issue by multiple persons.   And the county's staff did not convince Commissioner Underhill to turn over documents that the county considers to be public records.  Nobody had administrative rights over social media platforms that only Commissioner Underhill controlled----so nothing was happening.

But now, as of last night, those of us who did no wrong and had no culpability in the withholding of public records are OUT of the lawsuit.  It's Done!  And it was WAY past time for this to happen.

One of my top priorities as chairman was to get the settlement talks on the fast track;  they had been occurring for about 8 months but it was a back and forth, excrutiating slow motion ping pong match that was unbearable to live through.

So we have now made the light-speed jump over the last 48 hours to finish this once and for all.   We got a draft of a stipulation of facts and settlement sent to the County Attorney, completed a shade session on this topic particularly, and we culminated this "at-pace" exercise by approving a settlement agreement with David Bear and his attorney yesterday evening at our meeting.  It was our last order of business and we got it done.

Now, the other 4 board members are out of a state case and a federal case leaving one commissioner, Doug Underhill, in both cases in his personal capacity (and in his official capacity in the Federal Case).

This is an appropriate outcome:  After all, it was never about us, it was always about him, and now he can stand alone and answer the charges and accusations alone as he should.

Read the settlement HERE.

Read the stipulation of facts document approved by a 4-0 vote of the board (Doug Underhill abstained) last night HERE.

The media locally, as per usual, have no idea this happend.  They were asleep at the switch talking about the "Insurrection" anniversary.......So what they'll do is poach my site later, copy the documents, and then run a story late this afternoon on this without any attribution or a link to this site where they got the story; sadly, that's what they do and how they operate around here.  Easy, lazy, and borderline unethical....😀  Nevertheless this is a big story though, and they should cover it.  And they will.

68th Coffee with the Commissioner this Wednesday

Join us for our virtual 68th Coffee with the Commissioner event on Wednesday, Jan. 12. The live stream will take place from 6:30 - 7:30 a.m. To join the meeting, visit  www.facebook.com/CommissionerBergosh/. 

Attendees will include Interim County Administrator Wes Moreno, Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore, County Engineer Joy Jones, and Flood Defender founder Jay Faison and member Chris Curb. Moreno will give an update on county matters, Gilmore will discuss current public safety initiatives and Jones will discuss stormwater issues in the county along with Faison and Curb. This conversation will also include strategies to address the flooding issues in Escambia County, proposed legislation for this session in the Florida House to aid in flood resiliency, and other topics of interest related to stormwater management and flood prevention, preparation and mitigation.

Residents are encouraged to send virtual questions and comments they would like to discuss with District 1 Commissioner Bergosh during the event through Facebook. 

For more information, contact District 1 at 850-595-4910