I'll Be On 1370 WCOA's "Real News with Rick Outzen" This Morning at 7:00

I'll be on the area's #1 source for accurate, insightful, and reliable morning-drive news talk--"Real News with Rick Outzen" on 1370 WCOA

I've been asked to appear as the lead off guest later this morning on the area's best, most listened-to, most trusted morning-drive talk radio source for news and information about what's happening in our area--"Real News with Rick Outzen" on 1370 WCOA.

We didn't have a BCC meeting last week, nor will we have one this week--but there is still lots to talk about:

--Medical Examiner's office Move Request

--The Pensacola Beach Tornado Aftermath

--Upcoming Budget Hearings

--American Magic Deal at the Port (in this Morning's Paper)

--Last Week's Coffee with Dr. Rick Harper

--Upcoming changes in the D1 Office Staffing

--The effort at Incorporation of Perdido

--Upcoming Perdido Town Hall

--Latest on OLF 8 Sale and Development

--Sheriff's Department hosting Nationwide K-9 Challenge next March--utilizing 10 Acres of OLF 8 for a part of the competition

...plus whatever Rick wants to discuss.

Listen in live, or catch the podcast here once it is published.

Tremendous Visibility for our Community via American Magic's Time in Barcelona (And PENSACOLA Featured Prominently on the Sail!)

Pensacola, Florida is prominently featured on the American Magic's team sails which will be utilized over the next 16 months in Barcelona as the world awaits the next America's Cup race which will be held in Barcelona in 2024

 

The county, city, the Tourist Develoment Council, and state have worked diligently to help support  Pensacola Bay as the training center for America's Cup contender "American Magic."  Based out of the New York Yacht Club--the American Magic team has been practicing in the Pensacola Area for the last three years for the next America's Cup sailing race.

A group of elected officials were given a tour of the American Magic sailing facilities late last year, and I have met the skipper of the boat and many of the crew members on a number of occasions over the last year and a half.

Recently, the county, city, the tourist development council,and state have joined forces to put together a funding plan to make Pensacola Bay the permanent training center for the American Magic.  An $8.5 Million dollar project was  announced last month to fund a state of the art training and sailing center for American Magic's team at the port of Pensacola.  This project will bring more than 100 good jobs to our area paying an average of more than $100K per job. That project is moving forward.

Meanwhile, the American Magic team has now made their way over to the site of the next world cup, Barcelona Spain.  the race will not occur until late 2024-- so the team will be there for the next 16 months training and preparing for that race.

After that, they will be back in Pensacola.  The future of sailing in Pensacola is really looking strong and a lot of folks are going to know about Pensacola because as the American Magic team races, practices, and prepares for the America's Cup race over the next 16 months--they will be utilizing sails that prominently feature "Pensacola" on these same sails--like the one above (found at minute 2:00 of this video from yesterday chronicling the team's time in Barcelona)

What great visibility for our community--what a great advertisement for the Pensacola area!

An Incredible Letter to Receive--HUGE Congratulations to ECFR

We receive a lot of correspondence from various persons in our offices as county commissioners.  Lots of it is negative, much of it is invitations to events, and very few of it is what one would consider "good news."

But not this letter that came in earlier this month.  It was from a firsthand, eyewitness to ECFR's response to a heart attack victim in District 1 out on Perdido Key.

And the truly outstanding part of it was this witness and letter-writer also happens to be in the business, as a Medical Doctor and EMS worker from Mississippi with more than 25 years experience in the field, currently serving as the Mississippi State Highway Patrol's Medical Director.  His lauditory, positive, and uplifting account was really inspiring to read.

So thanks for sending the letter, for your encouraging and positive remarks. 

And congratulations once again to our outstanding Escambia County First Responders!

Changes Coming to the D1 Office: Debbie Kenney Retiring, Jesse Casey Arriving

Over the next several weeks there will be a significant level of turnover in the District 1 Commissioner's Office that constituents need to know about.

First, my long-term assistant who has been a great friend to many and is like family to me, Ms. Debbie King Kenney, is retiring at the end of this month.  She has been a great asset to my office over the last seven years and she will be missed.  But I understand the reasons for her retirement and I wish her and Mike all the best in retirement.

As we staff the office going forward, though, we are restructuring a bit.  

I will be bringing aboard a person who, like Debbie,  is a tremendous "people person."  This individual knows the district's people, knows the county, knows practically every square inch of district 1, and is well-familiar with the issues of greatest importance to our constituents.  This person is Jesse Casey.  He will be my field representative for district 1 and will be working all over district 1 speaking with constituents, responding to constituent issues in the field, and being my eyes and ears out in the district.  He started this week, and will be working over the next week and a half with Debbie as the office transitions.

THE 70% SOLUTION:  Jeff Bergosh and Jesse Casey

So several of my friends in the district have raised their eyebrows at this move.  And according to Jesse, many of his friends in the district have also raised their eyebrows over this move.  The common question is--how the heck did this come about--as Jesse Casey and Jeff Bergosh have been opponents in the last several elections??

It came about after the last election, the night of the primary in August of 2020 when Jesse and I spoke, at length, at the conclusion of that election.  He and I both expressed an intention, if possible, to work together at some point down the line if an opportunity arose, for the betterment of the district as a whole.  As he put it on that call at that time "Jeff, you and I, between us, got 70% of the votes--wouldn't it be good if we could take that 70% and do something great for district 1?"  To which  I agreed and I expressed to him at that time and during that call  that  the concept of working together would be a great idea I would support.   Jesse's thoughts were even captured in the PNJ at that time.   From the article:  "Maybe we can figure out how District 1 can can reap those benefits by taking that 39% and that 31%, pull them together and make things happen," Casey said. "It doesn't matter who does it or who takes credit, as long as the people in the district reap the benefits."

Well, it looks like the day has come, where we can put that idea into action and work together for the citizens of this district--because I'd much rather work with someone collaboratively than work against that person.  Especially if it is a person like Jesse who, like me, shares a passion for serving.  We've spoken about what a collaboration could look like, we've kicked around the idea over lunch, and we have now put the plan in motion.

So look for Jesse out in the field working for the citizens of our district.  And look for the office to bring in some part time interns for administrative tasks and additional support of the work we are doing for our constituents.  

We will be working together, Jesse and I, for you--the citizens of Escambia County.  There may be some minor hiccups as we adjust to the new structure--but I have every confidence this new look D1 office staff arrangement will produce unparalleled service for citizens in the years ahead.

Contact the office:

district1@myescambia.com 

jecasey@myescambia.com

850-595-4910

84th Coffee with the Commissioner this Wednesday Morning: Economics and the Local Market with Rick Harper

84th Coffee with the Commissioner - Jeff Bergosh, District 1

• Date: Wednesday, June 21, 2023
• Time: 6:30 AM

Join us this Wednesday morning for our 84th Coffee with the Commissioner event. The live stream will take place from 6:30-7:30 a.m. To join the meeting, visit our D1 Commissioner's Facebook page  here: www.facebook.com/CommissionerBergosh/. 

This month's Coffee with the Commissioner will feature County Administrator Wes Moreno and Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore. Moreno will provide an update on county business and Gilmore will discuss public safety matters and the recent severe weather we have experienced. Dr. Rick Harper, economist for Triumph Gulf Coast and former director of the Haas Center at the University of West Florida, will join as this month's special guest for a discussion centered around the state of the economy in America, Northwest Florida, Escambia County, and Pensacola.

Residents are encouraged to send  questions and comments they would like to discuss with the panel during the event through Facebook.

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

Why Not Just Support a New Facility in Santa Rosa County?

"If you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need!"

I've now had a number of folks ask me about why it is I don't "support" building a brand new medical examiner's office in Santa Rosa County.

And I have answered them with logic, not emotion (contrasted with one local morning radio DJ/entertainment host who apparently can't do this as he attempts, fecklessly and unsuccessfully, to weaponize this issue against the BCC with emotion-laden faux arguments in support of Escambia County Taxpayers spending upwards of $15 Million outside of Escambia County on a new facility when we can spend a fraction of that amount and meet the facility requirement here in the existing location).  

So this is my response, to a constituent on this issue, below:

"XXX,

 Thanks for the email and for the compliments on efforts to increase public access at beaches in Perdido Key.  With respect to the DOMES issue--it is fairly cut and dried-for my vote.  We can spend $3 Million at the current facility to expand the coolers, improve the spaces, add additional space and viewing areas as well as autopsy stations.  I know this because I went there and toured the site and the county is already proactively fixing some of the issues at this current location.  The alternative is to spend ten times as much, easily $30 Million in today's construction cost altered universe---which is untenable for my vote.  It is all about meeting the requirement.  What is the requirement?  Also--the vast majority of death in this district requiring an autopsy (not all deaths require one, only about 20%, XXX) occur here in Escambia County.  So for many good reasons including the two I have listed above, the function needs to remain here in Escambia county.  I am not opposed to re-opening the annex in Okaloosa County as that might be prudent to do perhaps one day per week there.

 But no, I am not going to ask Escambia taxpayers to spend $15 Million (our proportionate share of the costs for a new facility) building a "NEW" facility in Santa Rosa County when we can spend a fraction of that amount and meet the ME's requirement.

 It's like the Rolling Stones:  You can't always get what you want, but you'll get what you need."

 

Yes--It WAS a Tornado at Pensacola Beach Thursday Night

The tornado strengthened over water and hit Pensacola Beach Thursday from North to South--according to the experts..

I happened to be at my property on Pensacola Beach in Tristan Towers the night of the Hurricane last week on Thursday evenng.  And I knew this was something out of the ordinary when I watched my windows and sliding doors (as thick as marine acquariums) bow inward and everything on my patio/balcony start to fly around in the air like they were dancing.  My gas BBQ grill was smashed and the propane tank was rolling around like a like the metal ball in a Pinball machine.  It came on suddenly at about 8:50 PM.  In an ill-advised and feeble attempt at salvaging what I could as quickly as possible--I attempted to open the sliding door to pull some of the items into the condo---and when I did I realized it would be dangerous to attempt any sort of a salvage as the palm trees below were bent sideways and the rain was sheeting horizontally and my ears popped in the pressure of the outside air.  It was surreal. So I lost a chair and a BBQ.  Other than that--no damage in my unit.  But I was struck how a lightning and rain storm quickly turned into such a violent wind event that ended up smashing our gates to the parking lot, blowing out a ground floor wall, and  making a solidly-built, 15 story building rock back and forth.  Answer--it wasn't a windstorm--it was a Tornado.

Late Sunday morning Eric Gilmore sent the board confirmation of this--which we all suspected as we saw the damage last Friday morning to Galvez Court directly adjacent to Tristan Towers.  They got the brunt of it.

So the below description is from Iowa State University specific to this event on Pensacola Beach.  It is interesting and telling.

The tornado then likely continued as a waterspout traversing Pensacola Bay
dodging the western tip of Gulf Breeze before wrapping back
southeast towards Pensacola Beach. The tornado quickly
strengthened as it crossed Fort Pickens Rd near Galvez CT.
Significant damage to homes built to withstand significant
hurricanes was noted and thus damage estimates from this location leaned on
the higher side for given damage indicators. Several of the homes
across a quarter mile swath had damage to siding including
several sides beings completely removed. A few homes lost 20 to
60 percent of metal roofing material even with proper hurricane
code anchors. Several bottom floor garages were completely gutted
as garage doors were blown in and destroyed. Bottom exterior walls
blew out leading to complete exposure of the bottom floors.
Several palm trees across the area were snapped a few feet off the
ground. The most notable damage was right along Fort Pickens Rd
where a house under construction had the entire top floor and
roof removed. This damage was put on the lower end of estimates
as the house was under construction and an opening on the north
side may have helped the failure of the upper walls and floors.
However, a large dumpster likely weighing several hundred pounds
was thrown roughly 50-70 yards due east and was deposited between
two palm trees about 2 feet off the ground. The damage to the
home, dumpster combined with a garage door that failed being
wrapped around a concrete piling resulted in the peak wind
estimate of 120 mph. 

The tornado likely crossed over Fort Pickens Rd and into the 
Gulf of Mexico where it likely dissipated. One other interesting 
damage note was that at least two boats were tossed on the Pensacola 
Bay side. One boat was found about 20-30 yards from the boat lift 
upside down in the water. The other boat was thrown off the lift 
and was reportedly found near Deer Point about a mile north across 
the bay. This boat likely floated over there but still impressive. 
There is no damage indicator for boats; however, the sheer 
impressiveness helped support the higher rating given the surrounding 
damage indicators. 

CANCELLED--Perdido Bay Boat Ramp Groundbreaking Today

Due to the loss of life in the county and the serious injury sustained by another citizen, as well as the significant damage around the area and reports of a tornado in Pensacola Beach necessitating  staff to be at the Emergency Operations Center this morning--we are CANCELLING this morning's planned groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the future Perdido Bay Boat Ramp.

My apologies for the late cancellation--we will attempt to re-schedule this in the near future if it is practical to do so.

In speaking with staff early this morning--this was determined to be the best course of action due to the serious weather we all experienced last night, flooding, roadway issues, as well as the potential for additional storms over the next several days.

The EOC is activated and staff will meet there this morning at 0730.

The Value of Economic Development as a Core Governmental Function

At the most recent District 1 Town Hall Meetings held--a large majority of citizens signaled agreement with economic development incentives given by the county to companies for the creation of good jobs locally.

Over the last month or so, there has been a group of citizens, elected officials, community leaders and others involved in the process to replace outgoing Florida West CEO Scott Luth.

Along the way this ad hoc committee has looked at the resumes and LinkdIn profiles of dozens of leaders in economic development around the country--folks that have submitted resumes for the opening at Florida West.

This past week the finalists have been interviewed by this panel.

The meetings were open to the public and attended by one member of the media and one member of the public outside of the committee.

But reading what these men and women have accomplished in their respective communities in terms of capital investment won and jobs created is an amazing testament to the value and need for economic development as a core function of local municipalities and counties.

Some small factions may disagree--but those who understand the issue and have seen the fruits of this labor understand that yes, this is an important governmental function.

And the general public, by and large, gets it, too.

At my last several town hall meetings, I have asked the question

"Do you support the county offering tax credits to lure big businesses to our area for job creation"

to which I was met with a sea of green "agree" cards being held high in the air.

So the folks in the business get it, the informed community gets it, the county and the city get it, and others who are shown the information understand it.

Interestingly--the very few who don't get it or who do understand it but for whatever reason don't support economic development--they are the ones who purposely outed a confidential deal a few years back that would have brought dozens of jobs and more than a million dollars in capital investment to our area.

Some of these folks also don't apparently "get" the concept of keeping confidential information confidential.

FBI

Some Submarines that disappear under the waves should never re-surface where they're easily spotted.....

The FBI stands for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the United States Justice Department.

They are the nation's premiere law enforcement agency.

So, imagine my surprise when I saw an individual on the beach in Perdido Key in District 1-- not too long ago-- with a "tank-top" style shirt and a hat that displayed the "FBI" letters.

"What's this all about?" I wondered to myself.  so as I strolled by on my way to a favorite fishing spot near public access #3--I got a closer look at this individual.  Not FBI. Not even close.

Imagine it, a guy in his sixties with stringy, bleach blonde hair (think of an unattractive, out-of shape Jeff Bridges' character in the Big Lebowski) and with so much back hair it could be parted with a brush, big old beer belly and wearing a tank top and hat that had big FBI letters but that actually, in smaller print below, had an inapprpriate, fake moniker 

Creepy, weird, and most of all, INAPPROPRIATE.  That was the sense I was struck with.  How inappropriate.  

It's kind of like how some people do inappropriate things with confidential, privileged information.  

Inappropriate.  

The difference is--the fake FBI t-shirt guy isn't doing anything wrong with his inappropriate garb.  People in positions of trust who do inappropriate things with confidential information which they possess, however, enjoy no protection under the 1st Amendment.

That's the difference. 

At my recent town hall in Beulah last week, an audience question came to me that reminded me of the creepy guy on the beach and things that are inappropriate.  The question was--paraphrased--"why don't you tell the citizens which companies you are looking to attract when you are doing economic development deals?"(you can see the question and answer at 1:23 of this video)

It's inappropriate--that's why.

We lost a significant economic development deal because people who knew better did wrong and released confidential information.  That was an ethical breach by a former employee's office.  It should never have happened because we are in positions of trust and we are guided by laws and rules and ordinances when we work with confidential information dealing with economic development--that's why we don't release it and we handle it carefully.

People that should have known better and should have learned a lesson from project Fisher didn't.

But the lessons learned remain.  

Don't do inappropriate things with unlawfully obtained, unlawfully maintained, and/or unlawfully disseminated information.  Bad ju-ju--INAPPROPRIATE.

maybe criminal?

Public Invited to Perdido Boat Ramp Groundbreaking June 16

Come on out and join us this Friday morning at 11:30 for a groundbreaking of Escambia County's newest public boat launch facility.

The boat ramp will be Escambia County's first large public access to Perdido Bay. The new 40-acre facility is located on Heron Bayou and will include a two-lane boat ramp, 62 parking spaces for vehicles with trailers, 22 parking spaces for vehicles without trailers, and a stormwater treatment facility. In addition, a new channel measuring at 2,260 feet long by 40 feet wide and a depth of 5 feet will be dredged from the launching facility to Perdido Bay. Additional passive recreational opportunities include a landing area along the Perdido paddling trail with two primitive campsites and 11 acres of wetlands placed into conservation.

In 2013, the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners funded the acquisition of the Perdido Boat Ramp property for $1.24 million through Local Option Sales Tax III. Project design was paid through a grant from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Vessel Registration Fees. The $4.2 million needed for construction is funded through U.S. Treasury RESTORE Direct Component funds, American Rescue Plan Act funds and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Natural Resource Damage Assessment Coastal Protection Fund. Hewes and Company, LLC is constructing the new facility.

For more information about the boat ramp, please contact Escambia County Natural Resources Management at 850-595-4988.

I'll be on Real News with Rick Outzen on 1370 WCOA Tomorrow Morning at 7:00 AM

I'll be on the area's best, most listened to, most reliable, and most accurate morning drive news talk radio show--"Real News with Rick Outzen" tomorrow morning at 7:00 AM

I've been invited to appear as the lead off guest tomorrow morning on 1370 WCOA's Real News with Rick Outzen.

We will be discussing last Thursday's BCC meeting, Perdido Key, Moday's town hall in Beulah, the latest on OLF 8, and other issues of interest from last week.

Listen live at 7:00 or catch the podcast here.

Great Turnout for our Beulah Town Hall Meeting Monday Evening

We had a lot of great questions from the audience and staff responses.  I appreciate all the citizens who made time in their schedules to come and participate in the town hall meeting.  I also appreciated all the staff and fellow elected officials that participated.  If you were not able to make the town hall, you can watch the recording of it below.

On 1370 WCOA's "Real News with Rick Outzen" Tomorrow Morning at 7:00 AM

I'll be on the area's best, most listened to, highest rated, most reliable, most trusted, most accurate and most entertaining morning drive news show tomorrow morning at 7:00AM  Real News with Rick Outzen on 1370 WCOA

I've been invited to appear on the best, most reliable, most relevant, most knowledgable, and most trusted morning drive news radio show in Pensacola tomorrow morning--"Real News with Rick Outzen" on 1370 WCOA.

Rick and I will discuss tomorrow evening's District 1 Town Hall meeting in Beulah

Additional items that may be discussed include the massive public records request made of the BCC by lawyers for our D1 Medical Examiner, the status of the Public Beaches in Perdido Key, and this week's meeting of the Board of County Commissioners Thursday.

Listen in live at 7:00 AM or you can catch the podcast later in the day; once Rick publishes it I will post it here.

None of the Beach Restorations Post Ivan, Dennis, or Katrina Created any New Publicly Accessible Beaches on Perdido Key.....

According to our staff from environmental and also from our County Attorney's Office.

See the latest opinions from just this morning, below.

From the county attorney's office:

Commissioner:

 I agree with Tim’s opinion that public beach access was not created by the use of public funding to construct the emergency berm on Perdido Key following Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis.

 As you know, the boundary between private land and sovereign state land is the mean high-water line (MHWL).  It may help expand on Tim’s email to provide a brief explanation of how the MHWL is established and how it moves over time.

 The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration maintains series of water level monitoring stations off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico that measure the changes in the tides.  The tides are influenced by the moon, and the mean high-water level is calculated as the rolling average of the high tides over a 19-year period (which is one lunar cycle).  The intersection of the horizontal projection of the mean high-water level and the coastline forms the MHWL.

 As I mentioned in my earlier email, the MHWL moves as gradual imperceptible changes occur with the tidal average and the natural movement of the coastline through processes of erosion and accretion.  However, the MHWL does not change due to avulsion.  Avulsion is the sudden or perceptible loss or addition of land along the coastline; hurricanes and beach renourishment projects are considered avulsive events.  So, although the hurricanes may have perceptibly caused the beach to recede north, the MHWL remained in the same place after the hurricanes as it was the day before.  Accordingly, the renourishment projects that restored the emergency berm north of the MHWL on Perdido Key placed sand on private property, and it remained private property after the completion of the project.