Guidelines
I am one member of a five person board. The opinions I express on this forum are mine only, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Escambia County Staff, Administrators, Employees, or anyone else associated with Escambia County Florida. I am interested in establishing this blog as a means of additional transparency to the public, outreach to the community, and information dissemination to all who choose to look. Feedback is welcome, but because public participation is equally encouraged, appropriate language and decorum is mandatory. Although this is not my campaign site for re-election--sometimes campaign related information will be discussed, therefore in an abundance of caution I add the following :
Political Advertisement Paid for and Approved by Jeff Bergosh, Republican, for Escambia County Commissioner District 1
BCC Receives Fresh Offer for OLF-8: $22.5 Million and 6-Months Due Diligence
Commissioners were notified today that the Chairman of the BCC and the county is in receipt of a new offer for OLF 8. This will be on the agenda for discussion at Monday morning's BCC meeting. Check out the letter of intent, below. This is the eighth group that has expressed interest in the property..........
Political Advertisement Paid For and Approved by Jeff Bergosh, Republican for Escambia Commission D1
15 comments:
Hemmer offer is better on almost all levels.
Except what it puts in the BOCC pockets
What a complete disaster. With Barry recusing himself this has to be akin to a banana republic— how in the world did we get here? A modified DPZ plan is a joke. I will make sure none of the county commissioners never get elected again if this buddy of Barry actually gets this deal. No pushback tonight from county commissioners, seems like all the commissioners knew about this and were trying to cover up this thief in the night of a deal. Bergosh I hope you fight like hell for Beulah because this clearly is not kosher and appears to be downright unethical and not fair play. Bergosh I hope you fight for the people of Beulah for the DPZ master plan. Bergosh don’t let the people of Beulah fire you over this nonsense. After all the work we put in , we will not accept a modified DPZ plan. We got navy fed to pay for it , we have been so close to the finish line with Hemmer. Way to pull the wool from our eyes, you guys were using Hemmer all along to appear that there was no conflict of interest but the people of Beulah and Pensacola and Escambia know better. Very disappointed tonight , again no push back or fight for the DPZ master plan.
Are you waiting for Barry to tell you how to vote?
It appears that we are going to have to show our voices in the voting booth and not vote for Barry or Bergosh. Bergosh didn’t stick up for the people of Beulah , Hemmer, or principles of the DPZ master plan.
I agree let’s not vote for Barry based on the conflict of interest and this being clearly illegal. Pushing land to a friend? A client? Recusal vote doesn’t mean much when you still give your opinion. The holding out and leaving Hemmer hanging is pretty obvious that this was not fair play or an arm’s length sale. We can expect public records request and more lawsuits for escambia county. Such a shame that this county was trending upwards based on desantis and historic Florida growth. Why do we have local crony politics mess things up? Word will continue to get out of how unethical this is … should we talk about chavers donations of land to the county without a lack of appraisal? That 3 million dollar number , a 10x return shows tax fraud in my opinion to IRS. No property in Pensacola has gone 10x. Common sense. Bergosh — it is now or never to fight and do the right things
I’m going to say on a limb that Barry is the most corrupt person in Escambia. I don’t know how the guy sleeps at night.
I wonder if navy federal will get their money back for not following the master plan?
11:28 Slamming someone for a decision they have not even made is ridiculous. We are considering two offers at the moment, and we are working to ensure the terms are as advantageous for the county as possible. Everything that has built on that field, thus far, has been first rate, first class. Go check out the park NFCU built for their employees and the public's use---it is amazing. We are moving, but we are moving deliberatively.
While I understand the county is considering this deal, I'm concerned that it might not be in our best interest to move forward.
First, there's a potential conflict of interest to consider. If Chavers is a client of Stephen Barry, even if he recuses himself, it could still raise questions about fairness and transparency. This touches on Florida Statutes Chapter 112, particularly Sections 112.311 and 112.313, which stress the importance of public trust and avoiding conflicts of interest. The standards outlined in these sections emphasize that public officers shouldn't use their position to gain a special privilege or benefit.
Additionally, Section 112.3143 requires public officials to recuse themselves from voting on matters where they have a conflict of interest. If Barry was involved in any discussions or decisions before recusing himself, it could lead to legal issues and public distrust.
Second, the Sunshine Law (Section 286.011) mandates that government proceedings be open to the public. Any deal-making that isn't fully transparent could violate this law, potentially resulting in legal repercussions or loss of public confidence.
If the county accepts the offer from Chavers and it turns out there's a conflict of interest, it could lead to legal challenges or penalties. Section 112.317 outlines the penalties for violations of the Code of Ethics, including fines, censure, and even removal from office.
Considering these legal and ethical concerns, it's best to re-evaluate the offer from Chavers. We should be prioritizing decisions that are clear-cut and free from any potential conflicts to maintain public trust.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
I believe Hemmer's offer is a much better option, considering the history of the site and the community's needs. I'd also like to explain why Commissioner Bergosh, as the voice of Beulah, should stand up to his fellow commissioners and support Hemmer's proposal.
Hemmer's offer aligns with the community's vision for OLF 8, addressing the need for development that benefits the broader public. This proposal takes into account the site's history as a Navy outlying landing field and its transition to county control. The community has been clear in wanting a development that offers recreational spaces, fosters a sense of community, and enhances quality of life. Hemmer's proposal seems to meet these goals, providing a balanced approach to development.
Furthermore, Hemmer's offer brings a broader economic impact to the area, potentially creating more jobs and encouraging local business growth. This aligns with the county's objectives to spur economic development while preserving the character of Beulah. By choosing Hemmer's proposal, we would be investing in a plan that stimulates the local economy without compromising the community's identity.
The issue of transparency and ethics is also critical. Hemmer's offer doesn't raise the same conflict of interest concerns as Chavers' proposal, which has been overshadowed by the potential conflict involving Commissioner Stephen Barry. The county should aim for a decision that's transparent and free of ethical ambiguities. Accepting Hemmer's offer could help avoid legal issues and public distrust, ensuring the county's integrity and accountability.
Commissioner Bergosh has been a strong advocate for Beulah, and his voice is crucial in shaping the area's future. As the representative of this community, his support for Hemmer's offer demonstrates accountability to his constituents. It's an opportunity to reinforce his commitment to serving the public interest and maintaining transparency. His leadership in backing a community-focused proposal like Hemmer's would also set a positive example for his fellow commissioners.
Choosing Hemmer's offer for OLF 8 seems like the best path forward, considering the community's needs, economic benefits, and the importance of avoiding ethical concerns. I urge you to consider these points and support Hemmer's proposal for the betterment of Beulah and the county at large.
I will say that park does need tennis courts and a playground. Nice job on that one Bergosh, tennis is something to look forward to at OLF 8. I wonder if we can get clay courts out there? I really think that Roger Scott and the Moors and maybe Portofino are the only clay courts in the area, clay courts at OLF 8 would be the only ones in Escambia County. That would be amazzinngg
I think the positive people who remain anonymous are bergoshs family....no one of stable mental status would Believe the garbage
what garbage specifically? tennis courts aren't really that big of a deal right? not saying to build a Roland Garros in Beulah, or the worlds largest pickleball center...
All we need is to Bergosh to not play politics and tell his fellow commissioner Barry that he is wrong. Recusal or not this is not fair dealings.
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