87th Coffee with the Commissioner: All About Infrastructure

 This month, the discussion during our coffee was all about infrastructure and the massive number of projects we are working in District 1 currently.   Special guests were the County Engineer, Joy Blackmon, and the County Traffic Engineer, Chris Phillips.  You can watch the video here, below:

What Infrastructure Projects are Being Worked Currently in District 1?

Here is a list of projects currently being worked in District 1 by the County's Engineering Department.

We will be discussing this in depth at my 87th Coffee with the Commissioner event.

Check out the list, below:

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.

NO--Beulah Interchange Project was NOT Skipped over for the #2 Project

The Governor's newly announced $7 Billion Legislative Initiative, "Moving Florida Forward," put forth to streamline and fund construction of badly needed, much anticipated infrastructure projects statewide----- includes a massive $162 Million in NEW funding for the regional Transportation Planning Organization's (TPO) #2 Priority and #1 unfunded priority.  NO--the Beulah Interchange Project was NOT skipped over for the area TPO's #2 project 

At first glance the recently announced slate of projects recommended for fast-track funding by the Governor in the upcoming legislative session may have appeared to skip the Beulah Interchange (#1 area project) in favor of the #2 ranked project.  However, upon speaking with transportation planning organization staff--some clarification was provided which puts this huge initiative's impact locally into better context.  This new funding will actually enhance things that are already funded in D1/D5 and portions of D3 in NW Escambia County.  It will be a HUGE win if the legislature moves forward with this initiative from Governor Ron DeSantis.  From the email:

"Beulah interchange is fully funded within the FDOT 10 year Transportation Improvement Program and appears to be on schedule for delivery (meaning right of way and construction commencing, if all goes right, within the next 6 years).  The right-of-way will take a couple years for completion, thus there is very little room to advance this project beyond the current schedule.  SIS priority #2 (I-10 widening and the interchange) is a logical choice because with Beulah being fully funded in the FDOT 10-year Transportation Improvement Program, this project was not.  In fact, our documents projected constructed outwards of 2041 timeframe.  So this Florida Forward proposal does, in fact, advance this project significantly. .. “We are very excited to learn of the “Moving Florida Forward” proposal by Governor DeSantis.  If this proposal is adopted by the legislature, it will bring $162 million new dollars to Northwest Florida that would not have been available, to advance the TPO’s #1 unfunded project nearly 2 decades!  Thanks to Governor DeSantis and Secretary Perdue for introducing this proposal.”

 

Yes, the wins are stacking up for the Escambia BCC, Escambia County, and NW Escambia County in particular.  #Winning.

The Brass Balls Infrastructure Acceleration Plan, Part I

There is a plan coming on Thursday morning's BCC agenda which will greatly accelerate multiple desperately needed infrastructure projects that will help multiple districts, are ready for movement, require additional funding and are vital safety projects.

The project to improve and modernize Longleaf Drive will be awarded withing two weeks, and this roadway improvement will include a new bridge at Wymart road, pedestrian sidewalks on the north and south of the roadway, stormwater improvements, and a signal improvement at Pine Forest Road and Longleaf.  This important corridor is also the site of four public schools, so the addition of the sidewalks will be a tremendous safety improvement for students.

Now here's the really good news:

With the economy's recent retreat due to disastrous monetary and energy policy in Washington DC, combined with supply chain issues that have slowed many projects down, combined with a commonsense downsizing of this local Longleaf Drive project based upon 2007 traffic projections compared to 2020 actual traffic counts --the cost of this project came in significantly lower than what was originally programmed, leaving an excess of funds of around $5.6 Million.  (see breakdown, below)

So now comes the bold, brass balls approach to accelerating and supercharging some lingering, desperately needed infrastructure projects utilizing this excess LOST money.  Any time it is difficult and strenuous and requires a lot of thought, planning, and teamwork---it requires something else.  Alec Baldwin said it best in Glengarry Glen Ross--it takes brass balls....    this plan coming Thursday is aggressive, intelligent, and ballsy.

Here's the setup:

Because it has been the standing practice of the board on numerous occassions--when a bid comes in low on a district project--the commissioner of such a district has typically been shown deference in re-

Another Layer of Scrutiny Is Needed

Is there another layer of additional scrutiny that we can apply to folks who construct infrastructure to insure the county and residents don't have big bills to pay and problems years after such infrastructure is constructed?  The answer is YES. 

One of the things I mentioned in last Thursday's Committee of the Whole Meeting was that we need more scrutiny applied to the projects that are built and that we allow to be permitted.

I was pleased that one of my counterparts agreed that this is necessary.  It is necessary.

We need to enforce our codes and be fair to builders---and we are---but we have to make sure all ordinances are followed and things permitted are built as designed.

Otherwise, we will continue to have unintended consequences that homeowners and the county will have to address.

From stormwater ponds not built according to the way they were designed and permitted, (look at the issues in Beulah last week) to lift stations that fail costing residents hundreds of thousands of dollars, to platted subdivisions that are not graded according to plan and cause flooding on surrounding properties--we are racing from crisis to crisis fixing these issues that are symptomatic of a larger problem:  insufficient oversight and scrutiny of the projects that are permitted once they are built.

I recently had lunch with a contractor locally who has a well-regarded, established company doing construction and maintenance throughout the southeast.  He has about 60 employees and his company is wildly successful.  "Jeff, we build a retaining wall and we follow the rules.  We get the permit, we build it as it is designed--but nobody comes to verify that we built it according to the specifications of the engineer of record.  It just gets signed off, and nobody comes to look at it.  They would not even know what to look for if they did come out" he stated flatly.  "The county should make the engineer of record on these projects sign an affidavit stating they inspected the project after construction and that it has been built according to the plans." 

I like that idea, and we are going to look at doing just that.

1. County staff scrutinizes plans to insure they meet code.
2. Approval is sought and obtained to construct
3. County inspects items built
4. Engineer of record signs off that what was built matches what was submitted to county
5. If post construction-issues arise based upon faulty/flawed construction--builder and engineer of record will be called to task

The problems that we are facing today are self-inflicted.  We have allowed things to be built, land to be cleared, and subdivisions to be platted where the grading plans have not been followed--and now we are scrambling to pick up the pieces. When we have to come up with solutions for homeowners who have faced tremendous issues with improperly constructed infrastructure in subdivisions that affect nearby homeowners-this is problematic and it should NOT be a regular, recurring situation.

Sadly-----it has been.

So we have to do better.  And we will.

I'll be bringing a plan to address this issue.

Is Now the Right Time to Discuss an Overpass Connecting Devine Farm Road with Frank Reeder Road?

With tremendous growth occurring along and all around both Frank Reeder Road and Devine Farm Road--and with two interchange projects being planned in the area--is now the right time to discuss an overpass between these two county roads to provide another east-west artery for NFCU, OLF 8, and this growing area of the county?

At last night's FDOT meeting regarding I-10 widening and interchange reconfigurations, an interesting side-bar conversation happened between several folks in attendance regarding Devine Farm Road and Frank Reeder Road.  Currently, as shown in the map above--both of these roads dead-end right into the Interstate just southeast of the I-10 Weigh Station complex. 

With explosive growth all around both of these roads, with a tremendous need for more east-west connectivity in this area of the county, with NFCU expanding, with OLF 8 set for development, and with two separate FDOT studies underway currently for three area interchanges--is now the right time to discuss an overpass connectiong Devine Farm Road in District 5 with Frank Reeder Road in District 1?

This is just a rhetorical question at the moment--and a lot of upgrades would have to be made to both roads before such an idea could be seriously considered.  Also, Commissioner Barry in D5 would certainly have a big say in this--as would I as the D1 commissioner.  Residents, I am sure, would also have a lot to say about this and I am certain there would be significant push back from some.

But I do think it is worth having a discussion--given all the growth that is not only out there now, but coming in the years ahead.  It's certainly something to consider if all concerns can be addressed and it could be done cost-effectively.

Sidewalk Project Moving Forward on Dog-track Road in District 1

From the county's engineering department:

Construction Notice of Commencement

Dog Track Road Sidewalks Project

Escambia County’s Construction Management Division will soon begin the Dog Track Road Sidewalks Project in District 1. Dog Track Road has sidewalks in various locations along the rights-of-way between Lillian Highway and Blue Angel Highway. The project includes clearing and grubbing, roadside grading, storm water line and structure installation, ditch excavation, and installation of approximately 1,750 linear feet of sidewalk, access ramps, inlet top replacement, striping, and sod. Construction will begin in January/February 2020 and will be completed within 150 days pending weather.

The following is information regarding the project:        

--This project is funded by the Local Option Sales Tax with construction costs estimated at $141,175.

--Chavers Construction, Inc. will install sidewalks within the right-of-way of Dog Track Road at three different locations, connecting the walkways to Blue Angel Elementary School.

--Construction will take place during the hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Monday through Friday.

·        --Areas that are impacted during construction will be returned to their previous state.

·         --Access to adjacent properties will be maintained, although there may be short periods when a driveway or entrance is temporarily blocked during construction.  

·         --An Escambia County inspector will monitor the construction areas daily.

·         --Your cooperation and patience are appreciated during this construction process.

For more information contact:

Thomas “TJ” Williams, Project Manager

Escambia County Engineering

(850)554-1967  tjwilliams@myescambia.com

Escambia County's Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) Has Been Invaluable for Citizens Over the Years

Nobody Likes Taxes---But with a Local Option Sales Tax in place---EVERYONE pays some--including tourists and folks that don't work.  Without LOST--a county's burden for facilities and infrastructure falls nearly exclusively on the collective backs of property tax payers.....

Lots of folks have been asking my opinion about the upcoming referendum in Santa Rosa County to go to a penny Local Option Sales Tax as Escambia County has done for the last 27 years.

I was asked to give my opinion, which I did when I spoke in a commercial for the folks that are backing the penny.  In the commercial I discussed some of the ways this tax has been beneficial to Escambia County over the years.

Obviously, though, this is a vote and a decision that belongs exclusively to the citizens of Santa Rosa County.  And they will decide this question next Tuesday in a special election.

But as it relates to my experience--I can tell you unequivocally--Escambia County's Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) has been invaluable for Citizens here over the years.

Escambia County's LOST has been maintained by the electorate since 1992 as follows:

LOST I                    June 1, 1992 (for 7 years per ordinance)

LOST II                  May 13, 1997 - May 31, 2007 (per ordinance)

LOST III                 June 1, 2007 - December 31, 2017 (per ordinance)

LOST IV                January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2028

According to staff with whom I have spoken--the total revenue generated over these years amounts to a massive figure:  $1,057,564,174.00 total including LOST IV's revenue in 2019 YTD.  So this equates to an average of $39 Million Dollars yearly over this period that Escambia County has utilized to modernize our facilities, parks, and infrastructure.  We have also utilized this revenue to purchase facilities and equipment, vehicles, and other items for the Sheriff's Department.  Escambia County Fire Rescue has also had fire facilities and equipment purchased with this revenue.  Because we had this revenue, we have also had the financial resources to lure huge companies to our County with economic development incentives--notably Navy Federal Credit Union and ST Engineering Aerospace.

The School Board in Escambia County (of which I was a member for 10 years) also had their own 1/2 penny LOST--which was used to build entire schools and finance the purchases of modern School Bus Fleets and tremendous numbers of renovations and upgrades at 57 school campuses county-wide.  When I was a school board member--I often wondered where our schools would have been, from a facilities perspective, without this revenue source.....Answer:  We would have been in DIRE STRAITS.

So no one knows for certain how Santa Rosa County will vote on this--again it is up to the voters and we will all see on Tuesday which way it goes over there.  For my part, I ALWAYS loved the fact that the sales tax method reduced the burden on property tax payers, it put everyone into the mix by taxing purchases by everyone (including tourists and folks that do not own property or work but who are nevertheless hyper-consumers of alcohol, tobacco, bling, iPhones, and other products upon which this tax is levied.)  In short, it forces everyone to put "skin in the game".

It has been excellent for Escambia.

We shall see if Santa Rosa property owners see this and vote appropriately on Tuesday--it will be in their interest to do so, in my opinion

Disagreement DOES NOT Equal an "ATTACK"

Residents I have heard from locally (I live right across the street from OLF 8 in Beulah) do NOT want more high-impact, high-density residential built in Beulah on the helicopter field until the infrastructure catches up.  I agree with these constituents, but the PNJ thinks this constitutes an "attack" on those who feel differently....

Sadly, the PNJ will be running a hatchet piece editorial tomorrow that inaccurately portrays the facts surrounding the OLF 8 project.  Disappointing.  

The theme of it is that I am attacking folks that I disagree with.  This is simply not true.

I attacked nobody in my disagreement and concerns over what is being planned for OLF 8. I have expressed the concerns I have heard from residents and constituents that do not want any more high-density residential development out here until our infrastructure catches up. I can and will correct folks who inaccurately distort my position on this issue--that is not attacking someone. 

Here are the facts: We have a $30 Million dollar triumph request for which we will qualify if we create a minimum of 1000 good wage-paying jobs with this property. I made the motion to sell 100 acres to NFCU for a market price plus the commitment of 300 jobs--so we only need to create a minimum of 700 more to stay in the running for that money! I made the motion to sell this 100 acres to get us closer to our jobs goal.

 Triumph, to date, has not funded any residential projects--so I have stated that I do not feel residential development is appropriate at the site--for this reason and because 1200 apartments, condos, and homes are currently under construction within walking distance from NFCU's campus already. Again--we can't take any more of this high-density residential development until our infrastructure catches up...

Beulah has too much residential construction ongoing, and residents with whom I have spoken have begged me to not approve any more residential construction until our infrastructure catches up.   Because I agree with my neighbors---- this is now considered an attack on those that want more high-density residential?  What?!?

so why do we, the public sector, need to compete with the private sector by facilitating the building of more high density residential on our soon to be acquired, taxpayer paid property? 

Another big concern that I have heard in listening to my constituents is this: while there are really nifty mixed used developments and town center concepts that are put out as examples of what could be built out on OLF 8--many believe these sorts of developments belong in urban areas, not rural, bucolic areas like Beulah. Many, like me, find the CIVICON speakers to be very informative, enlightening, and educational. But not all of those concepts are applicable to a rural, suburban community that is desperately trying to retain the rural charm and character despite the growth that is occurring. 

To agree with my constituents that feel this way and to disagree with others that want to build a "mini-city" in Beulah's OLF 8 field to make this area a slick "city" like in Tampa, Atlanta, or Pittsburgh--that is an attack? I disagree. 

Here is the key: The county expended $17.3 million dollars for OLF 8 for the purpose of creating jobs--not for creating a "town of Beulah" or for acquiring land for residential developers. The jobs-generating project for OLF 8 was conceived, voted upon, and financial commitments were made long before I came on this board--I inherited this. Like I supported ST Aerospace at the airport (for jobs) I do continue to support growing of clean jobs out here as well. 

But I also made the motion to engage a professional planner to give us a plan that takes all of these factors into account, keeps us in the running for the $30 Million dollar grant, brings some amenities to the residents out here that we desperately need, and brings us a plan that citizens county wide can benefit from to include nearby residents like me (I live across the street). 

Far from attacking anyone, this is me doing my job and siding with constituents over special interests that want to build a "mini city" out here, with condos, townhomes, and low rent subsidized housing to boot.  

I am not hearing many of my constituents telling me this is their vision for this property--I'm hearing "No More Residential until the infrastructure catches up!"

TPO to Approve $1,886,592 in FDOT Traffic Infrastructure Funding for Beulah Today

At today's Florida Alabama Transportation Planning Organization meeting--several very important initiatives will be addressed.

Of great concern to a fast-growing area of District 1 will be the state stepping up to fund two traffic easing projects in Beulah.

The TPO will vote today to approve $836K for Design for the Beulah I-10 Interchange (Beulah Road at I-10)

Additionally, the TPO will vote today to approve $1,050,000 for design of the traffic easing initiative on 9-Mile Road at I-10 (NFCU initiative).

Additionally, of note, county staff will be meeting face to face with state traffic staff to discuss a road-swap with the county, Perdido Key Drive for Beulah Road.  This meeting will take place September 27, 2018.