Wymart Bridge Project will Improve Traffic and Stormwater Drainage

A huge, $6.5 Million Infrastructure project is underway currently in the Bellview neighborhood in District 1.  This project will improve the Longleaf roadway from Pine Forest Road to Wymart road and will include center medians/turn lanes, sidewalks on the north and south side, improved drainage systems, and a brand new bridge at Wymart which will improve traffic flow and stormwater drainage in the area.

Check out the video, below.

New Proposed Bulid out of OLF 8 Field Results in HALF as many Residential Dwellings as DPZ Hybrid Plan Would Have Allowed......

Less (new high density housing built on OLF-8) is More (better 😊) 

I know that headline is a mouthful.

But what would the total number of residential units be, if some buyer made an offer and built out the OLF-8 field precisely as DPZ stipulates in their Hybrid Plan -  the compromise plan the board adopted two years ago for OLF 8?  How does that number of residences compare to the latest offer/plan submitted by D.R. Horton and Stirling Properties in their revised offer of $24.1 Million for OLF-8?

I wanted to know so I asked staff to do an analysis--which they recently completed and sent back to me.

"We’ve broken down the numbers of the plans into overall residential densities. The Horton (new) plan doesn’t include the mixed residential/commercial category as in the hybrid plan, and it proposes much lower overall densities.

 The total residential density in the [DPZ] hybrid plan is 40 units per acre. This comes from the total densities for each zoning district and the total acreage of those districts. It’s probably higher than what could be built given the variables but it’s the same way we calculate density for all zoning districts.

 The total residential density in the new[Horton/Stirling] plan is 6.7 (rounded from 6.6) units per acre. This was calculated with the 170 acres of residential and the total residential units of 1,133."

Okay so just as pictured, the lasted proposed build out consists of a town center, green spaces, commercial, retail, residential AND 241 acres for Economic Development/Job Creation.  And the total number of residential units is 1,133.

Under the DPZ hybrid plan adopted by the board--the 61 acres  set aside for residential development allowed for up to 40 units per acre.  So, multiplying the 61 acres for high density residential dwellings in the DPZ hybrid plan (and not including any of the hundreds of residential over retail in the DPZ plan's 47 acre set-aside for mixed use)==you get more than 2,400 residential units on OLF 8!! 

So the latest Horton/Stirling plan cuts, by more than half, the total number of traffic exacerbating, infrastructure taxing high-density residential dwelling units on the field while still providing retail, a town center, green spaces, restaurants, and other amenities---as well as a significant amount of space for job creation.

Remember--most that live out here in Beulah, like I do, wanted NO RESIDENTIAL on this field, as we have plenty of high density residential development all around this area already.

Just more to consider as we look at what is proposed.

But for my vote---LESS residential and more amenities is bettter.

Here's the Deal......

Numerous folks have asked for it, I have asked the county attorney if it is a releasable public record and she told me it is---so here it is.

Read the latest offer from D.R. Horton to the BCC for the purchase of 297 acres of OLF 8.

$24.1 Million

Read it here

What Does D.R. Horton's Offer Request in terms of Zoning and FLU Modifications?

 The revised offer from D.R. Horton for the purchase of 297 acres of county-owned property at OLF-8 is full of conditions, restrictions, and demands for guarantees from the county.

It protects the buyer's position completely if it is approved as it was submitted.

Which is to be expected from a buyer making an all cash $24+ Million dollar offer for a property.

Why are some modest changes from the DPZ master plan requested via this D.R. Horton Contract?

According to those familiar with master plans, this DPZ plan specifically, and the realities in the home building/development world (with associated issues complexified by a dysfunctional supply chain and labor shortages)--the master plan as written, if strictly adheared to, is not financially viable.  In other words, nobody can make it pencil, economically, as written with no engineering and no flexibility.

According to one insider with whom I spoke, "Jeff, we can get to about 70% compliance with that master plan as written and make it profitable--but we would need concessions to get out from under the 30% that kills the viability."  

So I'm not sure if the guarantees demanded for ordinance variations from the master plan and/or the requirement for the FLU change and the Zoning designations changes accomodates the necessary revisions to make this an economically feasible project.  Perhaps it does.

Regardless, the below pictures from the D.R. Horton offer indicate, graphically, two of the requested adjustments D.R. Horton is seeking via their sales contract---in light of the board shrinking their site by 241 acres.

More to come on this later in the week, and I hope to be able to post the complete contract at some point later this afternoon--once I am green-lighted to do so by the Attorney and and advised it is a releasable public record.

I'll be on 1370 WCOA at 7:00 This Morning Discussing DR Horton Offer for OLF 8

I'll be on the area's most factual, trusted, and highest rated morning drive news program "Real News with Rick Outzen"  this morning at 7:00 AM to discuss the OLF 8 offer in detail...

Rick Outzen, host of the area's best, most connected, most accurate, most insightful, most listened-to and most trusted morning drive news show "Real News with Rick Outzen"--has asked me to come on the show this morning at 7:00 AM to give insight into the latest DR Horton offer for the county's OLF 8 property in Beulah.

My intention is to go through the offer piece by piece with Rick so his listeners will know exactly where we stand with this deal, how we got here, and where we are headed.

Listen live this morning at 7:00 -- or download the podcast which, once posted, I will link here.

D.R. Horton Makes Revised, $24.1 Million Offer for OLF-8 Property in Light of BCC Pulling Back 241 Acres

D.R. Horton sent the rendering, above, for their development of OLF 8, minus 241 acres that the BCC will hold back for job creation/commerce.

 

As I was told would happen, late this afternoon D.R. Horton sent the BCC a revised offer for OLF-8.

As I also expected--the price was significantly lower now that the BCC has held back nearly 250 acres for job creation and economic development.

Their previous offer of $42 Million was for much larger portion of the property; this offer is for a substantially smaller parcel and thus the smaller price offering.

We will have a meeting a week from Thursday, and I assume the consideration of this latest offer will be a topic of discussion.

The 27 page offer--which I am still going through-- has some significant stipulations that will have to be worked through.  But the due dilligence period has been reduced to six months from twelve--which is a positive development.

I will discuss this in more depth tomorrow morning on my coffee with the commissioner event.

Look for more to come on this later in the week.

Inside the Circle: What Did State Experts Say about a Roundabout at Perdido Key Drive and Johnson's Beach Road?

This study was conducted by FDOT in 2018, a year before the county swapped Perdido Key Drive for Beulah Road in 2019--and four years before the county funded and built a million dollar roundabout at this intersection.  So, what did the State's study say about a roundabout at this location?

Ever since we completed the project to construct a roundabout on Perdido Key in District 1 a few months ago--the voices of angst I hear about this project, specifically, generally fall into one of the following three camps:

1. "The roundabout was a terrible idea, it should have never been built and it won't work"---- 49%

2.  "I like roundabouts and support the roundabout in Perdido Key"--2% (if you can even find these folks now, post construction)

3.  "Yes, I supported the roundabout but this roundabout was built "too small" to work"---49%

Of course, these are rough numbers and anecdotal.   And by and large these are not expert opinions.

We have had a number of snafus with this traffic circle which is churning and exacerbating this discontent

So I have been digging and investigating how it came to be that we actually decided to build a roundabout here at this intersection instead of a traffic light or a "no build" option?  

When this portion of the county reverted to District 1 in January of 2022, about a year and a half ago, I was told the design was completed, the project was funded (out of D2 discretionary funds) and that the PEOPLE in Perdido Key voted and WANTED the Roundabout.

Being agnostic on traffic circles, I moved forward with the project--with the caveat being I would study the intersection if there were problems and implement new solutions if necessary.  That's what I said, and that's what I'll do.

After two weekends of traffic backing up all the way to Sorrento atthe Wal Mart on Blue Angel Pkwy--I directed staff to commission a professional engineering study of this roundabout--with no bias but only "Spock-esque" logical conclusions.  

Right now, in the heart of the season, this study is underway.  Cameras have been set up in key locations to film this roundabout in action at multiple times during the day.  And un-scientific as it is--I have gone through that roundabout from all angles multiple times with no issue.  Nevertheless--I want cold hard facts and answers from a professional firm commissioned to provide just such information.

  And that is underway and will come back to us in two week's time.

Meanwhile, I'm looking backwards as well--because sometimes one must look backwards to go forward.  You see, up until September of 2019 this roadway, Perdido Key Drive, was a state road.  Surely FDOT must've studied that intersection (Perdido Key Drive and Johnson's Beach Road) when it was under their jurisdiction----right??  I mean, the commissioner at that time as well as some large developers really, really, really badly wanted a roundabout.  Which begs the question:  What did state experts say about a roundabout there, at that intersection?  

I know what they said.  

They specifically recommended against a roundabout at Johnson's Beach Road and Perdido Key Drive  in their detailed traffic assessment of that intersection that they performed in September of 2018---a full year before this roadway was swapped for Beulah Road in District 1 in 2019.

See the recommendation in this screen shot from the report, below. (highlighted in yellow)

So I had not seen this report until late last week.  Neither did I know if its existence.

But now that I know about it--it does beg several quetions...and I am not putting staff on blast because when this all took place we had a different traffic engineer, a different county engineer, and a different County Administrator.  We also had a different commissioner in charge of that part of the county and we know he and others desperately wanted this roundabout there.  I wonder if he knew about this report?  I wonder if he knew and pressed forward anyway for the roundabout?  We may never know the answer to that--and at this point it does not matter.  We are in the solutions stage now.  And we will get this solved.

But as I look back on the road swap that happened a year later (which I supported for numerous reasons at that time as it represented a good deal for the county and the taxpayers, and I explained why in a blog post at that time)--I cannot help but wonder if the swap was pressed so that this roundabout could be built to mollify some special interests that really, really, really badly wanted a roundabout there--knowing full-well the state would never go along with it if the roadway remained theirs--- as their own report recommended against it?

Could that have been the impetus for the whole thing and for why D2 didn't pull his funding and support for this project even after it reverted back to D1 after the redistricting?  Too many questions.  I mean, if in 2018 state experts realized the roundabout here wouldn't work---and it has only gotten busier and more densely populated in Perdido since then---surely someone should have realized it wouldn't work with more cars and more people, right?

Remember:  This was chiefly funded by D2 discretionary LOST funds.  It is part of the reason I went along with it once I assumed responsibility for this part of the county.  His money from his district.

But if our new study suggests this is not a proper traffic feature for this location--I WILL PULL IT QUICK and we will constuct what is best for this location, not what a small voice of support or what small voices of support advocated for.   

A person very familiar with this whole issue gave a terse, cautionary assessment:  "Jeff, always remember it is dangerous to listen to 46 people out of a group of around 74 and assume that number is a majority or a consensus while also disregarding technical advice that goes against what 46 people say they want"

That just about sums it up in a nutshell.  Look for much more to come on this topic going forward.....

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

I'll be on the Area's best and most-trusted morning drive news program this morning..."Real News with Rick Outzen"

 

I've been invited to appear on the area's best, most accurate, factual, and entertaining morning drive news talk radio program--"Real News with Rick Outzen on 1370 WCOA.

Topics discussed were: 

--the BCC's recent announcement of over $100 Million in combined stormwater, street, sidewalk, and construction project grant and general funded projects coming to all five districts.

--OLF 8 and the latest on D.R. Horton/Stirling Properties' counter offer which we anticipate will come this week

--The recent hiring of Brian Hilson as the new CEO of Florida West and what his skillset will do for our area's economic development initiatives moving forward

--This week's "Coffee with the Commissioner" which will spotlight the idea of incorporation of Perdido.

Once Rick publishes it--I will post the podcast here.

Deal for OLF 8: Response from Stirling/Horton Coming Tuesday

Mark Twain once famously stated, toward the end of his life, that "Reports of my passing have been greatly exaggerated."  Ditto for the OLF-8 Sale agreement.....reports of its demise have been greatly exaggerated.

There have been rumors.  Speculation has run rampant.

Folks that don't want the OLF-8 deal to go through worry about what will be built.

Still others spread propaganda that the deal is DEAD.

So I worked the phones late last week and called some folks that are in the know.

As the old Mark Twain trope goes,  "Rumors of the deal's passing have been greatly exaggerated" 

Here's the real deal.  Stirling and Horton are both still in the deal, according to what I was told Friday.  Apparently, there was a different, unrelated deal that Horton was working and it consumed time/effort to bring in for a landing.  That deal apparently has been resolved.  And they have now been focusing on re-tooling their response to the latest BCC counter where we also stipulated we are holding back 250 acres for job creation.

According to some--that scared these offerors out of the deal.

Not so, according to those that know.  Nope.  The deal is on, and the BCC should have the latest offer for consideration this coming Tuesday by close of business.

Stay tuned--I will post it the minute I receive it.

85th Coffee with the Commissioner this Wednesday Morning: Topic is Perdido Incorporation

 85th District 1 Coffee with the Commissioner on July 26

Join us for our  85th Coffee with the Commissioner event Wednesday, July 26. The live stream will take place from 6:30-7:30 a.m. To join the meeting, visit our Facebook site  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. Steve Brendtro, We are Perdido, will join as this month's special guest for a discussion around the effort to incorporate Perdido Key in District 1.

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

For more information, contact District 1 at 850-595-4910 or district1@myescambia.com.

Do We Already Run an Ad-Hoc Tent City for the Homeless on County Property?

I've long advocated that the county locate homeless in secure safe tent city environments away from established neighborhoods.  My idea always meets resistance, unfortunately.  But are we implementing this idea already?

Homelessness is an issue that is pervasive around the country.

Solutions that last and are also effective are elusive.

What is the scope of the issue locally?  Well, your guess is as good as mine.  We have heard numbers from 750 total to up into the thousands.  Truth is--nobody knows for sure how many at any given time we have here.

Folks familiar with the issue tell me that the heuristic they use is "1/3."  1/3 of the homeless are there by choice, 1/3 are afflicted with undiagnosed/untreated mental illness and/or drug addiction and are content where they are, and 1/3 are truly down on their luck, out of work and suffering medical, substance abuse, or other ailements.

We all want to help those that want help.

In Escambia County, we have earmarked $4 Million for a number of initiatives to help assist with the problem, provide resources and assistance for homeless in our community, and to pay for counseling, substance abuse support and housing.

We have a number of citizens who want us to do more.  They come to meetings, they email, and they call.

They don't want to see these folks, they don't want them in their community.  In many respects, I agree with them, and I sympathize with their plight.  I mean, who wants to have their possessions stolen from their front yard/porch?  Who wants to witness grown men urinating publicly in view of children, who wants to find a shopping cart full of bags containing human feces and other disgusting rubbish dumped on their front yard? Who wants to risk having their whole neighborhood/subdivision burn down because of a carless campfire accident by a homeless campsite in the adjacent, wooded lot? And who wants to deal with aggressive panhandlers--many of whom are homeless? (all real, local examples, by the way)

Answer--nobody.

The Atlantic did a piece the other day that illuminated many aspects of this issue.  Interesting read.

Back to Escambia---I always advocated that the county establish a tent city AWAY from citizens out in the rural woods where homeless could camp and receive support (food, water, job training, medical assistance, mental health care, security, etc.) in a controlled, supportive, and safe environment without infringing on the rights of citizens and their neighborhoods in the more densely populated areas of the county.  I also advocated that we run a bus between this campsite and the county's transit hub a couple of times daily and provide the homeless residents a bus pass so they could travel about.  This sort of model is done already--- currently, privately on a small scale with the small homeless camp site called "Satoshi Forest."  And that concept works, so I wanted to scale it up.  Interestingly--we had a group of students also come to the conclusion that a camp site away from the city would work.  (Minute 13:00 of this video)

Unfortunately--this concept got no traction.  So we are spending the money we were awarded via a grant on different approaches.  We will see what happens with that.

Meanwhile---now comes word from a source that has intimate, firsthand knowledge about county property off of Beggs Lane and the number of campsites there currently.  When I spoke to this individual yesterday--I was floored by what he said.  "Jeff, there are currently between 100 and 200 campsites on that property already."

That is a massive number.  So that begs the question--are we already, tacitly yet deliberately, operating a tent city for the homeless on County Property?

If we are, and if we are going to perpetuate this location and model--then lets by all means add in the wrap around services that are also needed at a site with this many humans living within it:

Security, dumpsters, portable toilets, washing stations, and portable showers.  Let's also do some outreach, job training, food distribution, counseling, and health care assessments.

If we are going to do it, let's do it right and not apply half-measures and "hope" for the best.

New District 1 Office Staff is Here to Serve!

The District 1 County Commissioner Office staff has changed.

Long time aide Debbie Kenney has retired.

Office Intern Raeleigh Woodfin has gone back to school.

We appreciate all the hard work both of those former staff members put in for our district.  And we wish them both well--Raeleigh in her school work and Debbie in retirement.

So we now have a new D1 team.

I'm your commissioner, here to serve D1 constituents and all county residents. Call me any time on my cell phone at 850-293-1459.

We now have a field representative, Mr. Jesse Casey-- a citizen most in Escambia know, a tireless volunteer who has served this community for decades.  Reach Jesse at 

jecasey@myescambia.com or at 850-595-4910.

And we also have D1 Constituent Services Representative Kevin Harmon--a 2023 graduate of Florida State University and soon to be Law School Student.

Reach Kevin at 850-595-4910 or kmharmon@myescambia.com.

We are here to serve you!

Concern Mounting over a Relocation of Homeless: Where Will They Go Next?

I've been contacted by a number of folks concerned about some signage being put up around a couple of lots where we know there are significant populations of homeless in campsites.

"I was given a heads up that they will begin trespassing people off of this property on Wednesday" said one concerned citizen, speaking about a privately owned lot in the vicinity of North Palafox street and Beggs Lane in Pensacola.

When I asked where these folks would go once removed, I was told "probably to jail if they don't leave.  Also, I don't know where they will go other than [the county's property] at Beggs Lane--which is already overflowing."

But then I was sent this picture, below, which seems to indicate we will be clearing out the county's property in that area as well.  My natural question is this--where will these folks go if removed?

The individual told me next-"This is going to make the situation much worse--these were posted today all along Beggs Lane...."

Beware of this Roof Mailer--This is NOT a County Program

Late yesterday afternoon many in Escambia County received an "official-looking" mailer like the one I received, above.

Looks like something official from Escambia County.

The problem--the county has not authorized this nor does the county have anything to do with this.

It looks like a sales job--misleading at best--a scam at worst.

So I am telling folks DO NOT call this number and DO NOT give them any information.  This is not a county program and there is no county program where we fund roofs up to $75K.  Nada.

Both the county attorney and the county administrator have been notified.  I am told the State Attorney has also been given a copy of this and told what is going on.

The county has sent out a press release, and Channel 3 is covering this story as well.  

Thought's on the Gun Violence Reduction Task Force Meeting

Are guns the problem?  Or--is it crime, drugs, societal breakdown, breakdown of the family, un-diagnosed mental health issues, rank social dysfunction, and a culture of violence in some pockets of the community that leads to  and manifests itself as the "gun-violence" we've seen in Escambia County?

Yesterday evening from 5:30-7:00 PM Sheriff Chip Simmons hosted the final Brownsville Gun Violence Reduction Task Force Meeting at the Brownsville Community Center.

About 100 citizens attended, as well as locally elected and appointed officials to include three county commissioners (myself included), the county administrator, a city councilman, our state senator, one of our two state representatives, multiple representatives from the school board- to include the Superintendent and one school board member- as well as others associated with the court system and the media.

The objective:  To hear public input and for each stakeholder to report in on the specifics of what his/her organization has done and is doing to improve safety in the Brownsville community.

My counterpart, Commissioner Lumon May, kicked the discussion off by listing a huge amount of projects and initiatives the county had undertaken in Brownsville.  Stormwater infrastructure, sidewalks, community centers, sports leagues (tennis and basketball) a new library in Brownsville, the youth employment program, the construction of affordable homes, and a host of other programs.

Similarly-the newly appointed interim superintendent of schools discussed some initiatives he will be bringing back, to include peer-to peer mentoring and conflict resolution strategies.  He also reported that he will be a partner to the Sheriff in creating a safe atmosphere in schools.

Interestingly--a majority of public speakers chastised the sheriff and law enforcement in particular--saying they felt "Brownsville was being over policed" and multiple speakers pushed back on the Sheriff for saying the violence and murders thus far this year has been chiefly "black on black."   After a number of speakers expressed dismay that the sheriff would use this term--he (Sheriff Simmons) gave the stark facts.  "There have been thirteen murders in the county this year.  All thirteen perpetrators were black, as were 11 of the 13 victims.  These are the facts and I am not going to hide this" he stated to the room which was silent upon hearing this enlightening, factual statistic.

I spoke and thanked the stat for funding mental health facilities in the community and I focused on mental health (undiagnosed, untreated) as a big factor in the violence we see.  I also discussed some of the economic development initiatives the county has undertaken to create more jobs here.  Finally, I ended my comments explaining how the county is approving new residential development so that the extra supply will help to ease the housing affordability issue we are seeing area wide.

The meeting ended on a note of optimism with several speakers giving praise for the group's efforts and work.  One young man in particular keyed into what I said about mental health shortcomings in the community leading to the violence.  He gave his own story-- a violent recovering addict who is changing and celebrating 8 years of sobriety while also giving back and mentoring folks in the community where he now lives (Jacksonville).  His story was compelling.

We will have more of these sorts of roundtables going forward.  Potential next topics were enunciated by the Sheriff:

Fentanyl crisis

The Clergy's role in community issues

Gentrification

School issues

So look for community action and meetings to come on these topics.

On WCOA's "Real News with Rick Outzen" Tomorrow Morning talking County Budget

I'll be on "Real News with Rick Outzen" tomorrow morning at 7:00 AM talking the 2023-2024 Escambia County Budget. 

I've been invited to appear tomorrow on the area's most reliable, accurate, and in-the-know morning AM drive news radio show--"Real News with Rick Outzen" on 1370 WCOA.

There is a lot to discuss as the BCC is headed into the budget process with a record-setting $700 Million Dollar proposed budget that will be discussed in tomorrow morning's BCC meeting starting at 9:00 downtown.  So we will preview that meeting on Rick's show first at 7:00 and discuss the important aspects of it.

For those that want a deeper dive:  Check out the county's very in-depth and informative 2023-2024 proposed budget document online here.   It is a very detailed and thorough look at our revenue sources and where we are spending your (taxpayer) dollars in the county.  It is worth the time to read.

--Check out page 8 for historical comparison

--Check out page 31 for our funding allocations for the Constitutional offices 

--Check out page 43 for the start of the BCC departmental budgets

--Check out page 228 for the judicial budget

Lots of information, all transparent, and most importantly:  Once again NO TAX RATE INCREASE in this budget to support the operations of the county--we are living within our means.

Catch the podcast here

Is the Perdido Key Roundabout Helping or HAMPERING the Flow of Traffic there?

Traffic was backed up from the Wal Mart at Sorrento and Blue Angel all the way to the "Roundabout" at Johnson's Beach Road and Perdido Key Drive on Perdido Key Saturday....

Extra signage.  Extra rumble strips.  Additional lighting.  And still even more signage.

Yet the complaints about the Perdido Key roundabout (which was supposed to improve safety and movement in, out, and through Perdido Key) appears to be a problem.  Now I am wondering---Is this roundabout helping or HAMPERING the flow of traffic into and out of Perdido Key?

I've spoken to our traffic engineer this weekend and we are going to get to the bottom of the issue and answer that question---scientifically---over the next several weeks.  Then, we will decide a potentially new course to take.

Because once this portion of the district reverted back to D1 in January of 2022 after redistricting in 2021--the roundabout was already engineered, designed and funded by the previous commissioner from this area.  On top of that--I was assured that the roundabout was the preferred option that was voted upon by the citizens by a large margin after multiple open house meetings out there prior to 2022.

So upon assumption of this area I moved forward with construction which is now completed.  And I have been out there multiple times and driven through the roundabout from every direction with no problem. But others are having problems..... 

And now that it is constructed---I am having a hard time finding anyone, literally anybody who will publicly claim they "like" the roundabout or "support" the county's construction of it.  And I can't even find anyone from this supposed "majority" who supported it initially.  They've pulled a D.B. Cooper on me.

I am finding complaints though.  Lots.  "It's not big enough" is one common one I am hearing.

"It's backing things up" is another.  "There are a lot more wrecks now!" is yet another.

Yes---there have been a number of wrecks, and also multiple persons have blown through the roundabout, straight through it, damaging signage and plantings which had to be replaced at county expense.  According to one angry citizen: "I  hope they [the county] figure it out.  I got a feeling until the turnabout is gone and some alternative turn lanes is put in the problem will continue.  The 35' ACE Hardware delivery truck that's route takes it through there twice a week had to stop and back up and eventually just crossed striaight over the mediun in order to get through.  Impossible for any emergency vehicle or delivery truck of any size getting through without resorting to doing the same.  The ACE driver has reported it to the owner of ACE hardware who also told me the same thing."

An official very familiar with the issue summed it up succinctly: "There isn't much we can do when both roads are backed up and headed in the same direction..we can't do anything to make people move quicker across the bridge and not back up through the intersection.  Too many people on too narrow of a road."

So we are going to do an analysis and apply an appropriate  fix.  That's what we are going to do.

stay tuned.

Big Lagoon State Park Repaired and Reopened

Representatives from the Florida State Park System invited me to join them for a ribbon cutting in D1 at Big Lagoon State Park Friday

Like a lot of our area did--Big Lagoon State Park in Perdido in District 1 took a huge hit during Hurricane Sally in September of 2020. 

The state has subsequently invested millions of dollars into the rehabilitation of the facility.

A rebuilt pavillion and observatory deck, a repaired observatory, repaired boardwalks, a repaved roadway through the park, and much, much more.

So this past Friday dignitaries from the state of Florida's Parks department descended on Pensacola to come out and "cut the ribbon" at the newly revitalized facility.

The local park superintendent, the regional supervisor of the parks, and also the state's park system director, Chuck Hatcher, were all present.

Because this park is in District 1--I was also invited to speak and celebrate the ribbon cutting, which I did.

There were about 100 citizens and others present for the event to see the new facility and hear from the dignitaries present.  "We have more than 1000 employees and we take pride in parks like this one in Perdido." said Hatcher.  "We brought in $85 Million in revenue and we appreciate the state of Florida's support for our parks system" he continued.  "For many years we were the only gold medal winning state park system that had repeated this honor multiple times--until recently when Delaware earned a second Gold Medal for their state park system.  But Florida stands out:  We not only have won the Gold Medal for quality--but we are the only state that has won this honor four times."

Hatcher and the other parks personnel thanked the citizens who volunteer to help operate the park, and then refreshments and a trolley tour of the facility was offered for all in attendance.  

It was a beautiful day, and this is a beautiful facility--I encourage all Escambia Citizens to visit!

Read more about Big Lagoon State Park

Read more about the Florida Parks Service