Thursday on the Wake Up Call: Cheryl Golden, Business Owner in Beulah, on Impacts Growth is Having on Her Business

Today on the wake-up call live on WPNN 103.7 --We welcomed to the show Cheryl Golden, owner of Horse Rides of Pensacola.  She and I discussed the WEAR Channel 3 story she was featured on about the impact a new subdivision is going to have on her property and her business.  We also went through a list of local, national and international stories of interest- discussing multiple issues from around the country that traditional media outlets just won’t cover.  We will always cover interesting, important stories that are not politically correct and won’t otherwise be reported.  That’s what we do on the Wake Up Call! 

We are live each weekday morning from 6:00AM-8:00AM on WPNN-Pensacola's Information Station, where local, conservative morning-drive talk radio is ALIVE and Well and where we give you the most powerful 2 hour(s) in local morning drive talk radio.

Pensacola's only conservative, local morning drive talk show giving you information, weather, traffic, humor, and educated, intelligent discourse with no PC filters....The Wakeup Call with Jeff Bergosh on WPNN FM 103.7: Radio UNRESTRAINED!

- you can listen to this morning’s show here

 

On 1370 WCOA at 7:00 AM Tomorrow Discussing the $240 Million Dollar Appropriation for the Beulah Interchange in D1....

I'll be on 1370 WCOA tomorrow morning at 7:00 AM to discuss the full-funding D1's Beulah Interchange!

I've once again been asked to appear as the lead off guest on the area's best, most accurate, most trusted, and most listened-to morning drive news program--"Real News with Rick Outzen" on the area station with the best top to bottom news talk line up---AM 1370 WCOA.

Rick and I will discuss the tremendous news from today, already covered on WEAR and in the PNJ, about District 1 getting a MASSIVE win in the form of a $240 Million Dollar appropriation from FDOT this year for the complete construction of the Beulah Interchange.

This project has been nearly a decade in the making;  Beulah is the fastest growing area of the county and this project allows us to catch up with the growth and prepare this portion of Escambia County for the build-out of OLF 8.

This project, which will commence in 2025, will be transformational for D1, Escambia County, and for our region.  I look forward to the conversation.  

Catch the interview live at 7:00 AM--or catch the podcast here.

Massive $240 Million Appropriation Coming to Beulah: Interchange is Fully Funded

Channel 3 is reporting today that it is official.  

Rumors had swirled, folks had made mention of it as a possibility....

But today the word is out.   And it is official

The Beulah Interchange is fully funded in this current year's budget and with some shuffling of existing projects from elsewhere in the state and the use of some other funding sources.  

Read the Channel 3 story here

Much more to come on this MASSIVELY Transformational win for the Beulah Community, District 1, and Escambia County in the next several days.  

A ceremonial groundbreaking for this project is tentatively scheduled for late next week and will feature dignitaries from the state as well as members of our local legislative delegation and county officials.

I was asked by PNJ, WEAR, and NorthEscambia for my statement on this epic win, which I will print below:

"The $240 Million Appropriation from the state to fully fund the construction of the Beulah Interchange beginning next year will be an amazing  and transformational project for Beulah, District 1, and Escambia County!  We certainly could not have done it without the steady leadership of Senator Doug Broxson, combined with sustained persistence by the Florida Alabama transportation planning organization as we on that committee kept this project as our number one priority.  Thank you to our legislature, the Governor, and the folks at FDOT for  getting this necessary project funded for Escambia County!"

 

The Bradshaw McNair Fire Station Ribbon Cutting Held Yesterday in Beulah

 Here is a video of the ceremony and the ribbon cutting.

Two Huge Events Next Week on Fire Service Infrastructure for District 1

On Tuesday--the BCC will be voting on an agreement with the US Navy to acquire 5 acres of property to construct the new Fire Station 20 in Paradise Beach.  The previous station 20 was shut down in 2018 by Administrator Jack Brown.  I have been working ever since to get a replacement, and we are taking another step forward on Tuesday at the meeting.  We have already surveyed this property and purchased some equipment for this station.  It is coming.

And also, on Thursday of next week, we will be cutting the ribbon on Beulah's brand new, state of the art 14,500 SF fire station, the "Bradshaw McNair" fire station.  See the county's press release on this event, below:

"The Bradshaw-McNair Fire Station, serving the residents of the Beulah community, is named after the late District Chief Dwain Bradshaw and retired ECFR District Chief Steve McNair. Chief Bradshaw died in the line of duty while responding to a call on Nov. 6, 2019. Chief McNair served the Beulah community as a volunteer firefighter for over 50 years before retiring. 

The 14,503-square-foot facility will feature four vehicle bays for fire trucks. Along with the standard features within a fire station, such as a kitchen, living room area, gym, bedrooms, and shower facilities, the new Beulah fire station will include a community meeting and training room for public use.

Construction of the Bradshaw-McNair Fire Station was completed by Emerald Coast Constructors, Inc., and was fully funded by Local Option Sales Tax, or L.O.S.T.

"With the opening of the brand new Bradshaw-McNair Fire Station in Beulah, this community will have a state-of-the-art facility, a full-time staff, and multiple pieces of new firefighting and lifesaving equipment that will help protect the citizens and property," said District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh. "This is a fitting tribute to the two men for whom this station is named, Dwain Bradshaw and Steve McNair, as this facility and those who man this station going forward will continue the legacy of service that Mr. Bradshaw and Mr. McNair epitomized. I am thankful for all the staff who worked for the last seven years to keep this project going, and I want to thank my predecessor, Commissioner Wilson Robertson, for his efforts to get momentum behind this project nearly a decade ago. A project like this requires patience, persistence and teamwork, and in this case, the team had it. This station is the fruit of this teamwork."

The Bradshaw-McNair Fire Station is located directly behind the former Beulah Fire Station, which has served Beulah residents since 1977. Numerically, the fire station will remain as ECFR-Station #2.

"This is an exciting time for the community of Beulah and for Escambia County Fire Rescue," said Fire Chief Adam Harrison. "We have seen tremendous growth and opportunity in this community, and we're honored to continue the elevation of Beulah with the addition of this fire station, which will serve the Beulah citizens 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

What are the Initial Concerns from Staff Regarding the Latest OLF 8 Offer?

 Attorney Alison Rogers sent Board Members the below review of the contract from Tri-W Development, LLC., and CAH Developments, LLC., late Friday afternoon for the purchase of 540 acres at OLF 8.  These points will be discussed Thursday during the board's meeting.

I'll be on Real News with Rick Outzen This Morning Discussing the Multiple Offers for OLF 8

I'll be on at 7:00 with Rick Outzen and Sena Madison on the station with the BEST up and down News Talk line up---AM 1370 WCOA

I've been asked once again to appear as the lead off guest on the area's best, most trusted, accurate, and widely listened-to morning drive news talk program---"Real News with Rick Outzen" on AM1370 WCOA.

I'll be on this morning at 7:00AM discussing the latest offer sent to the BCC---a $36 Million Dollar offer for the whole field.

Should be an interesting discussion.  Tune in live at 7:00 or catch the podcast here once Rick publishes it.

New Offer Received Today for OLF 8: $36 Million for the Whole 540 Acres

 Staff just received the below offer today for the entire OLF-8 field.  We will have to go through it and there are some issues that would have to be worked if we were to accept it (e.g. the Triumph Grant for Frank Reeder Road and some infrastructure improvements on the field might not happen as these grants are only allowable on government owned-properties).  We will also have to see how the Master Plan that is already in our ordinances will be followed by this new offeror.  So some issues to work through but if we were to sell for this amount, we would realize more than a $20 Million dollar "profit" for the taxpayers--and this firm has a great reputation.  So we will see.

Interestingly--they are offering a donation of between 15-25 acres to the school board for a school to be built on the site.

This offer will be on our next agenda, this coming Thursday.

Escambia County's Equestrian Center Could be the Location of Next ECSO Substation (and a Community Resource Center)

I had the opportunity to meet and speak with Sheriff Chip Simmons and Chief Deputy Andy Hobbs out at the Equestrian Center in Beulah yesterday.

The topic was the rapid growth out in Beulah in District 1, and also the need for a Sheriff's substation in the Beulah Community.

As District 1 Field Representative Jesse Casey and I discussed the location with Sheriff Simmons and Chief Deputy Hobbs, the reasons for this location became very clear.

"If we can have a location out here, it is very central to Beulah and it allows us to quickly get to all the local schools including the ones on Longleaf if that became necessary" said Sheriff Simmons.

Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons, Escambia County
Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Andy Hobbs, and D1
Commissioner Jeff Bergosh Discuss an ECSO
Beulah Substation, 5-30-2024, at the Escambia
Conunty Equestrian Center

"With Beulah's population estimated to grow by tens of thousands over the next several decades, this location in the center of Beulah makes the most sense for a substation."  Said Hobbs.

I asked the Sheriff and Chief Deputy if we could co-locate an upgraded resource center for the community and they seemed open to the idea-- once security concerns could be addressed.

In speaking with County Administrator Wes Moreno on the topic, he was positive as well.

"Sheriff Simmons and I have discussed this location and I think it is a great idea, I am all about it." said Moreno.

The ideal area where such a substation could be located on the Equestrian Center land, complete with parking, appears to be the northwest corner, right on Mobile Highway, where a second driveway already exists.

Look for this to be discussed at an upcoming meeting of the full board and also look for some continued discussions with the Sheriff's office on this topic.

It could be a win-win for both the ECSO and the Beulah community!

Opening Soon: The Bradshaw-McNair Fire Station in Beulah

Construction crews are rapidly putting the finishing touches on our newest, state of the art fire station in Escambia County in District 1.

Look for the ribbon-cutting ceremony to be announced very soon.

It has taken nearly 8 years to get to where we are right now; on the cusp of opening this modern station which will be a tremendous asset to Northwest Escambia County in general, and the Beulah community particularly.

The station will be named the Bradshaw-McNair Fire station in honor of two men who dedicated their lives to service.

Volunteer Assistant District Fire Chief #2 Dwain Bradshaw was tragically killed in the line of duty in 2019.

Volunteer District Fire  Chief  #2 Steve McNair has dedicated nearly 6 decades to volunteering as a firefighter in Beulah, and he helped to build the first Beulah Fire station.

The rendering above is an abstract of what will be a bronze memorial to these men, which will be prominently displayed at the station that will bear their names.

Beulah Master Plan/Frank Reeder Road Widening Joint Public Meeting Tomorrow Night at Beulah Middle School

County Staff and the team from Sigma Consulting will be in Beulah at Beulah Middle School tomorrow night at 6:00 PM to host a meeting on two big District 1 projects:  

1.  The Beulah Master Plan

2.  Frank Reeder Road Upgrade from Triumph Gulf Coast

Citizens are encouraged to attend this informative session where the first draft of the long awaited Beulah Master Plan will be presented.

We will take questions from citizens on both projects and will take feedback into account as staff works to complete the Master plan over the next several months.

Can the Beulah Town Center Offer's Deficiencies be Overcome?

We did receive a revised offer from Beulah Town Center for the 290 acres of OLF 8 that the county will be selling for development guided by the DPZ Master Plan.  The revised offer included a price jump from $20 Million to $25 Million--which is a great thing.  But staff has now completed an analysis of the offer, and there appears to be a number of issues remaining.  Frustratingly--some of these issues were identified earlier, deleted by the county because they were "non-starters" --but now added back into the latest Beulah Town Center offer.

We have gone back and forth enough, and at this stage of the negotiations---the board should not be having to deal with issues we have already flagged.  If the offeror cannot overcome these--just tell us.  Similarly, if the county's language in some sections is unreasonable--the offeror needs to enunciate this at Monday's meeting.

But for the offeror to put back into this revised offer items which the BCC specifically cannot accept due to statutory reasons---why in the world are they back in this offer?

Folks on BOTH sides of this proposed transaction need to iron every one of these bullet points out prior to Monday so we are not, once again, trying to push a wet noodle up a hill on this.  It is time to fish or cut bait--no more Kabuki Theater.....Produce a contract we (the BCC) can make an up or down vote on!      Here are the county's objections--(from staff):

·       BTC adds back/deletes much of what was deleted/added in the County’s previous draft.

·       BTC increases the purchase price from $20,000,000 to $25,000,000.  (Section 2)

·       BTC increases the deposit from $20,000 to $25,000, with an additional $250,000 deposit upon approval of BTC’s preliminary site plan.  (Section 3)

·       There is really no situation where BTC will be unable to recover the deposit if the transaction does not close. (Sections 3.2, 5.4, 6.4, 8.1)

·       BTC does not commit to build anything or adhere to the master plan prepared by DPZ CoDesign.  Instead, it defers that issue to be resolved by a Master Development Agreement and Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions that will be negotiated after the Purchase and Sale agreement. (Sections 3.2, 7.2, 8.1)

·       BTC requires all development approvals ahead of closing and incorporated in the Master Development Agreement.  (Sections 7.2, 8.1)

·       BTC deletes references to the provisions, covenants, and other duties and obligations in the quit claim deed from the USA to the County; the quit claim deed from the USA requires the County to incorporate those references in subsequent transactions.  (Section 5.2)

·       The Agreement makes several references to warranties of title; the County cannot provide warranties of title by statute. (Sections 7.2, 9.1, 13.1)

·       The Agreement requires the County to pay the documentary stamp tax; the County is precluded from paying these by statute. (Section 10.2)

·       The Agreement contains several provisions that require the County to indemnify and hold BTC harmless and pay its attorney’s fees in the event of default, breach, or other dispute. (Sections 13.1, 19, 30)

·       BTC requires the remedy of specific performance for breach, default, or otherwise refusing to pursue its obligations in the Agreement. (Section 14)

·       The County would be required to pay all BTC’s actual damages (i.e., all out-of-pocket costs) if the County does not close.  (Section 14.3)

·       BTC requires the County to record a restriction on the County’s northern remainder of the property to light-industrial uses; the County would not be able to allow the use of the remainder for residential or retail purposes without the written consent of BTC.  (Sections 7.2 and 13.1)

·       BTC requires a right-of-first refusal for the County’s northern remainder of the property.  (Section 12)

OLF 8 Updates: Beulah Town Center Offer Increases to $25 Million

The Beulah TownCenter LLC group have sent over a revised contract for the board's consideration for the purchase of 290 Acres of OLF 8 in Beulah.

I am told this revised contract will be on Monday's BCC agenda for our consideration.

In addition to a higher offer price, I am also told some language has been revised to meet what the board has requested in several meetings where we have considered previous offers.

Additionally--I was contacted by representatives of a new interested party.  This large development firm based in Alabama will be visiting the Pensacola area next week and I am told they are very interested in the OLF 8 property.

In addition to these two, we still have an offer on the table from two local individuals which the board is considering.

So the OLF 8 sale/development issue is once again heating up.  My hope is that we will soon be able to settle in on one of these offers and move this initiative forward.  If we are able to sell the 290 acres at $25 Million--this will be an immediate $10 Million Dollar windfall for our LOST fund that will provide monies for badly-needed infrastructure projects district wide.  In addition to this, such an agreement still leaves over 200 acres for the county to utilize for job creation on the northern portion of OLF 8--and everything that is developed on the southern portion of the parcel will immediately begin to generate ad valorem tax revenue for the county and the school board.

So good things are coming, stay tuned.

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..........

Could a HistoricChurch be a Prominent Component of the Beulah Town Center on OLF 8

 Late last week I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with the Pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Pensacola, Mr. Geoffrey Lentz.  

We had a pleasant conversation about multiple topics, one of which was the pastor's desire to bring an historic church, brick by brick, out to Beulah.  

I love the idea, and he even expressed an interest in rebuilding the historic property on OLF 8 in the town center section of the development which will occur one day.  

Although that would have to be worked out with the eventual buyer of OLF 8--I nevertheless love the idea.  "Some developments go to great lengths to re-create historic looking structures--I actually want to bring an actual historic building, more than 100 years old, to Beulah" said the pastor.  

While he is looking at multiple properties in Beulah, he would certainly consider OLF 8 if the opportunity presented itself.

We talk a lot about the sorts of amenities residents want out here in Beulah; restaurants, retail, parks, green space, a post office, etc.  But every community needs an assortment of places to worship.  Thankfully we already have a number of excellent churches in Beulah.  But there is always room for more.  

So we will see what happens.  In the midst of so much drama, strife, and uncertainty this week, In Escambia County and the nation and world, too------- having a conversation with Pastor Lentz added just the right amount of balance and perspective to level-out this week.

We will see what happens with his proposal.

Read more about it, below.

Beulah Master Plan Charette is TONIGHT!

The design team from Sigma Consulting that is creating a master plan for the Beulah area will hold their third public meeting tonight at Beulah Middle School at 6:00 PM.

This has been a long time in the making, and this event is open to the public and the public's participation is welcomed.

Beulah Clean Up One Week From Today!

 

Join us in keeping our neighborhoods clean and safe! A neighborhood cleanup for residents in North Beulah will take place Wednesday, Jan. 24. This is a chance for residents to dispose of items such as old furniture, appliances and household waste free of charge. Yard debris is eligible for removal during this cleanup.

Only residents in the designated cleanup area can participate in the neighborhood cleanup. Please have all items for pickup at the curb by 7 a.m. on the day of the cleanup. Items left at the curb outside of the cleanup area will not be collected. If you live in the targeted area, you will have received a postcard in the mail with more information.

County and Sigma Complete 1st Two Master Plan Charettes in Beulah

The County is moving forward with the effort to master plan the Beulah community in District 1.

It is an effort that was years in the making but finally coming to fruition.

The county hired Sigma Consulting, who in turn compiled a team of design, traffic, and economic specialists to complete the master plan team for the greater Beulah area.

After a kickoff meeting in October, the first two design charettes were scheduled for The 5th and 6th of this month and last night we completed the first two of these meetings.

The team solicited input from the community members present, gave instructions on various exercises that would happen during the charettes, and then compiled all of the input from the citizens into a first rough outline of the plan.

The next steps will include another 2 day charette in Beulah in late January or Early February.

Citizens are encouraged to attend and provide input going forward.

Check out the meeting pictures , below.

New LOI for County's OLF 8 Property: $20 Million for $375 Acres + Option(s) of $12 Million Additionally for the Balance of Land

This rendering, indicating a proposed rough draft of the site plan envisioned for OLF 8 by the buyer Beulah Town Center, LLC., was included with the buyer's  Letter of Intent

Friday afternoon the BCC received another Letter of Intent (LOI) from a development group for the purchase of the county's OLF 8 property in Beulah.  I am linking the four page LOI (below), as well as the initially proposed rendering of a site plan (above).  

Although this property is in my district--OLF 8 is a county asset acquired to provide a benefit to the entire county.  Additionally, I am only one vote on this board--- and I am certain my counterparts are looking over this offer as I am doing and I'm equally certain they will each have their own thoughts, comments, questions, and concerns. I have looked over the offer and I believe there are some pros and cons to it, in my opinion.  I would assume that the board will take up this offer at our next regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, December 7th.  Meanwhile, these are my initial thoughts, below:

The pros:  

-follows spirit of Master Plan

-enhanced stormwater mitigation/more stormwater ponds

-NO single-family housing

-Town Center concept embraced

-Allows for the county to pursue a Triumph Gulf Coast Grant for job creation on the norhtern part of the property

-brings a true, mixed use development to the Beulah area complete with restaurants, retail and other amenities for nearby residents

The cons:

-Price per acre for the most valuable, southern portions and the road frontage of the field should be higher

-request to rezone the parcel to agricultural until development cammences may be unfeasible

-earnest deposit amount specified is insufficient, and a portion of it must go hard after an initial inspection period

-12 month due dilligence period is too long.

Here are the LOI documents received by the Board:

Beulah Master Plan Charettes are Coming Up!

 And every resident in the Beulah area is encouraged to participate!