More Safety Flotation Rescue Tubes Installed at Perdido Key in District 1--Thank You Perdido Key Rotary Club!

Yesterday, volunteers and members of the Rotary Club of Perdido Key installed two more emergency rescue tubes at beach accesses number 2 and 3 in District 1's Perdido Key.

Multiple citizens participated, and the swimming areas will be much safer now that these emergency flotation devices have been deployed.

According to members of the Rotary Club with whom I have spoken yesterday---there are plans for many more of these devices to be deployed in the coming months to improve water safety for all citizens in Escambia County going forward.

My hat's off to the Perdido Key Rotary Club for their diligent efforts and work to improve public safety at our area's beaches! 

It's Like Doing a Rain Dance, Then Complaining About a Lack of Umbrellas When it Starts Pouring.....

When you pray for rain it is good to have a solid umbrella....

County and IAFF bargaining continues tomorrow.

Meanwhile, there are significant issues that still need to be addressed in the fire union contract.  I am hopeful our bargaining team can carry the board's proposals tomorrow and an agreement can be reached.

At least that is the hope.

But in listening to the last 10 minutes of the most recent session with the IAFF--it appears their  positions are very intransigent.  I hope this changes.

Continuing shots at commissioners have not stopped or changed, though.  Through selective releases of certain information on social media, via proxies sympathetic to the union,  and the union itself---- information and data that are misleading, inaccurate, or flat out fiction pour out.

For Example:  the false social media posts related to a tragic fire resulting in the death of a citizen were weaponized and launched onto the internet by the union.  This rightfully led to disciplinary action against those union leaders that did this but would not admit their culpability.  Good.  That tragic death was absolutely NOT about a lack of resources as the union falsely claimed.  That was a straight-up, bald-faced lie.  Sickeningly, it had the appearance of an attempt at utilization of a tragedy to further union negotiations for higher wages.  Disgustingly unprofessional.

I was contacted by that victim's family in that instance and they were not happy about that post.  Believe that.

At a breakfast I enjoyed this past Saturday with a current county employee and former volunteer firefighter in West Pensacola, he recounted that his own experience as a multi-year volunteer was bittersweet.  "I enjoyed doing it for many years, but we were never treated fairly, we were not allowed to ride along to fire calls, and we were given only menial tasks to do in the firehouse.  Most of us left because we were treated horribly, like second-class citizens."  

A current volunteer (one of the few remaining) summed it up succinctly "This can be fixed with minimal cost. Just need to put people with vision in these positions and let them build it up and get us all to working together. Volunteers and career can Co exist but we need to begin with solid volunteer leadership to start with. And it can grow if given the chance. Cuts down their overtime and increases services to the citizens at minimal cost. But you gotta start with solid volunteer leaders.

Right now they [IAFF Union] control ECFR every aspect of it and that is not working. District Chiefs with a little backbone for the volunteers is what we need right now. If you noticed recently that station one now has no volunteers and they are trying to achieve that at all stations. I myself have almost thrown in the

PNJ Shenanigans with the Truth Paint me in a False Light Deliberately

PNJ is always engaging in their machinations against those with whom they disagree, or with whom they dislike.  Or with whom their advertisers and patrons dislike.

As they have done in the past to me, they are once again painting me in a false light with actual malice.

How so?

After a recent meeting, there was hearsay that the PNJ ran with intimating some commissioners had said things that were offensive about our clerk of the court Pam Childers.  It was not true, and I categorically denied it at the time.  It blew over when the clerk herself brushed it aside and deflected when asked who said what and who heard what.  It was over.

But in their rush to publish that salacious, inaccurate article built on hearsay--they (PNJ) put my picture on the caption in the headline online---even though I was not one of the commissioners even accused of saying anything in the first place.  When called about the accusations---I was the only commissioner who even took the time to take the PNJ's call and give an on the record comment.

And then they did this to me.....  See screenshots of my conversation with Lisa Nellesen Savage below.

She tried to explain and to fix the issue--but this is at least the second time they've done this to me.

Coincidence?  

I don't think so, I don't believe in them.  Not with the PNJ.

A Great Day for Celebration in District 1's Bellview Community This Monday!

MEDIA ADVISORY: Ground-Breaking Ceremony for the Bellview Library

Published Apr 05, 2021

The media and the public are invited to a ground-breaking ceremony for the new Bellview Library located at 6425 Mobile Hwy. in Pensacola on Monday, April 12 at 1 p.m. The 12,500 square foot building is expected to be completed Spring 2022. COVID-19 precautions are being taken so please RSVP at https://bit.ly/31ydSrD by Wednesday, April 7.

Speakers will include:
Chairman and District 4 County Commissioner Robert Bender 
Vice Chairman and District 1 County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh
West Florida Public Libraries Director Todd Humble
Escambia County School Board Member Kevin Adams
County Administrator Janice Gilley
(One or more Escambia County Board of County Commissioners may be in attendance)

Escambia County is adding on to a prior bank facility, which was 2,500 square feet and 10,000 square feet will be an addition. The architect for this project is STOA Architects. Hewes and Company is the contractor.

Features:

• The main portion of the library will consist of a large open space that is divided into areas such as a lobby, a story time area, a youth area and an adult reading area. This large open space will provide entrances to other support spaces such as multiple study rooms, staff rooms, a PC area and a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) room.
• Most of the existing bank footprint will be utilized primarily as a meeting room but will also function as a multipurpose room to use for programs geared toward the community. This room will have the existing bank structure exposed with some acoustical clouds to control the reverberation time.
• The development of the building’s façade was inspired by origami, the art of folding paper, which is why there are angles throughout the building.
• The new library will include an exterior lawn area with the ability to project movies onto the building for events.
• Most of the old oak trees on the south side of the property will be preserved. This south side will also serve as the location for a future park and playground so the large oak trees will be able to provide natural shade.
• A sidewalk will be built that provides a direct connection between the new library and Bellview Elementary providing accessibility for children to enjoy after school programs.

Was the Meeting Noticed Properly?

 

There was a hastily-arranged "town hall" announced this week.  There will be multiple commissioners on the call and an issue that WILL come before the board will be discussed.  Was the meeting noticed properly, though?

Although I believe it is premature and didn't necessarily feel it was warranted yet, before the BCC workshopped the latest DPZ hybrid plan for OLF-8, a "Town Hall" online has been scheduled for next Tuesday afternoon by DPZ Co-Design.

This potential town hall was mentioned at our recent meeting---but again--- I did not know it was a firm, absolute "go" until late Wednesday afternoon.  Thursday, I had my aide Debbie Kenney sign me up online to participate---which I intend on doing.  Participating, interacting, and speaking.

Because although I recognize the current iteration for the OLF-8 field is much better than previous renditions----I still think it needs a lot of work and a lot of massaging to get it just right.  It's not like this is the last and final plan--regardless of who was in a special last minute meeting to cobble it together.  It did not come off the mountain on tablets inscribed by fire and lightning bolts from heaven....

So although I don't think it is ready for primetime and the "town-hall" is premature--I will participate.

But wait--what if my counterparts want to as well?  From the meeting comments and other things I have heard from other sources--it's my understanding at least one or two of my counterparts will be on the livestream townhall as well.

And that is where I think this knee-jerk, hastily called town hall may put us in hot water if we are not careful.  Although this is not a meeting of the board---if one or more board members speak on this land-use  issue at this special "OLF-8 Town hall" meeting (and this is OBVIOUSLY something that will come before the board for a vote)--if NOT properly advertised--- this could potentially be considered a meeting out of the sunshine.  I don't want that to happen.  I am going to speak, and I don't necessarily want my peers precluded from doing likewise.

So in a few hours when everyone wakes up, I'll send an email and find out.  I hope this event was properly noticed, with a 7-day ad.

Otherwise, if it wasn't, it would probably be wise to advertise it properly to a different date.

We'll see though, maybe DPZ and the county team did, in fact, already advertise it.  IF so, no big deal.  See ya Tuesday at the townhall!

The Cleanest, Nicest, Most Modern Facility That You'll NEVER Want to Visit......

The very close to completed, brand new $140 Million Dollar Escambia County Jail is a massive, clean, and modern facility.  In fact, it is probably-undoubtedly- the cleanest, nicest, most modern, facility that you'd NEVER want to visit...

Circuit Court Judge Gary Bergosh, right,
tours our newly constructed Jail facility
Wednesday, January 27th 2021

No, you certainly don't want to visit this new, sleek, nicely-designed, technology-infused Escambia County facility once it is open for business in the next 30-45 days unless you are an employee here OR you happen to be touring the facility (which is why I was there yesterday evening).  

Staff had invited me to tour the facility along with Circuit Court Judges Tom Dannheisser and Gary Bergosh.

Along for the walkthrough Wednesday evening were County Facilities Director Cassie Boatwright, County Public Information Officer Laura Coale, as well as Commander Scott Nash, Captain Shawn Hankins, and Lt. Jason Walker from the Escambia County Corrections Department.  The project manager and supervisors from our construction contractor Whitesell Green-Caddell were also present to answer questions and guide us safetly through the still "technically" under-construction facility (thus the hard-hats, safety glasses and vests for all visitors). 

Inmate POD area in Escambia County's new
Correctional Facility 1-27-2021

(NOTE:For multiple valid reasons--most notably the COVID-19 Pandemic and the devastating impact that has had on worker availability and the acquisition of the necessary, specialty supplies--the actual final completion of this jail will wind up being nearly 12 months behind schedule....)

But after the last year we have all endured and lived--a one-year delay in many respects feels like good fortune!

As we walked the various spaces of this four-story, 303,000SF facility--including holding cells, pods, intake areas, galley/kitchen, infirmary, staff spaces, and exterior areas--the correction's employees were quick to answer questions and to point out all the attributes of the facility.

Intake area in Escambia County's new
Correctional Facility 1-27-2021

Director Boatwright spoke to the size of this facility compared to other district buildings. "This will be the second largest county facility at 303,000 SF once it is completed, just behind the Judicial Complex that is 330,000SF."

Lt. Walker, who led the tour and did most of the talking, seemed enthusiastic about the facility coming online next month and housing inmates starting in April.  "This project has been 'my baby' for the last 5 years and it is great to have been able to watch it grow up out of the ground into what it is today" he remarked.

We spent nearly an hour and a half going through the new jail--from the front entrance to the fourth floor to the first appearance area to the video visitation area--- and just about every space in between.

I was impressed with the infusion of technology incorporated into the design. (some pictures I took on the visit cannot even be shared on this post for fear some of the technological features could be compromised).  This facility actually has nearly 700 Closed-circuit cameras installed that will cover nearly every space in the jail--with the exception of toilet and shower areas.  It will be totally covered with cameras, monitors, and technological capabilities that will make it safe and secure.

But it will be more than just a secure facility;  it will also have more to offer for inmates.

"Look, jail is not supposed to be comfortable--and it isn't and it won't be comfortable being in jail.  But this facility has more things to keep the inmates occupied--which is good for them and for the officers" said Commander Scott Nash.

He was referring to the outdoor recreation areas in each pod, the common areas, the iPads which will be available for inmates to rent for watching movies, the TV's, family video visitation areas, telephones, books, and games that will be available for the jail occupants.

Kitchen/Galley area in Escambia County's new
Correctional Facility 1-27-2021

Lt. Walker chimed in "95 percent of the inmates get with the program and just want to do their time and get out--and if we can keep their time occupied it is good for all of us."

Being who I am and how I think though--I asked about the 5% that cause trouble.  I asked to see the "hole" or wherever/whatever solitary confinement cell they had looked like.

"We don't have a solitary confinement hole here" Commander Nash quickly pointed out.

"We deal with the 5% of troublemakers by taking privileges away as their misbehavior increases/escalates." state Walker.  "That can be effective in curbing the behavior sometimes." he continued.

My big question was about the open, unsecured guard station(s) inside of the PODs in the common, day use areas.

"Won't this put the officers in danger--being exposed and alone in an area with as many as 60 inmates?" I asked?

Guard station in a POD in Escambia County's new
Correctional Facility 1-27-2021

Lt. Walker came back with a resounding, reassuring response. "No it won't.  We have protocols in place for officer safety, and the officers work with the inmates to keep the behavior in check.   It is all about communication and getting them to trust you and work with you---and these open stations are safe and effective--they work very well" he concluded.

Inmate POD area in Escambia County's new
Correctional Facility 1-27-2021

There is no doubt that this facility is first rate and modern.  It is really quite amazing.  And although it is hard to get excited about a jail--as a commissioner who was a part of making this happen I take satisfaction and pride in what this will be once it is operational.  It will be a safe and secure place for our employees and our citizens who end up confined within its walls.  But most importantly--it will allow us to once again be self-sufficient and not reliant on Walton County (or anyone else) to house a large number of our inmates.  

And bringing the inmates back to Escambia County starting this April will save Escambia County taxpayers $Millions of dollars yearly!  That is, in and of itself, reason to be excited about getting this jail open for business!