Monday Meeting on Big District 1 Infrastructure Projects

Big infrastructure meeting Monday afternoon--lots of big District 1 projects moving forward.

Late Monday afternoon I will be meeting with County Administrator Janice Gilley, County Engineer Joy Jones and a host of other staff members and the discussion will center around a number of big, beneficial District 1 Infrastructure projects that we will be moving forward.

As discussed in previous entries on this blog--each commissioner receives an allocation of $1 Million Annually in discretionary (Local Option Sales Tax) LOST funds for capital projects.  The unexpended amounts roll forward.  I  have identified $3 Million in desperately-needed D1 projects for which I will be expending my discretionary LOST funds over the next several years.

On Thursday of last week, The BCC unanimously approved one of these very important projects.  This  Bellview-area drainage project is one part of the list of projects I am bringing forward for discussion Monday.  This project has huge implications for storm water issues in this portion of District 1--where in one subdivision houses' backyards are literally being washed away.  What was approved on Thursday is part one of getting that situation solved as well as establishing a regional storm pond in the Godwin Lane area of Bellview.  As we all saw with last Wednesday's deluge in Beulah-- storm water issues are a tremendous problem--one we must continue to work to address.

For the 2020-2021 budget cycle I am allocating $500,000.00 for-- and will be pressing staff to-- develop a regional project to address flooding concerns in the following areas of Beulah that are suffering negative stormwater consequences as a result of massive unfettered growth and development:  Beulah Road, Frank Reeder Road, Rebel Road, and Tower Ridge Road.

In addition to this regional pond and Sarasota ditch rehabilitation project, here are the other projects that will be discussed with planning and engineering staff on Monday.

1.  Beulah Fire Station Modernization         $1,000,000.00
2.  Bellview Public Library                          $250,000.00
3.  Regional Drainage Improvements,
     Godwin, Blue Angel, Sarasota Street      $400,000.00
4.  Drainage Design, Dunaway Lane, 

 Fridinger Road, Pursell Ln.                         $200,000.00

                                                                   
5.  Cerny Road/Muldoon sidewalks,
street lights, and drainage improvements     $700,000.00
6.  Splash Pad at Beulah Park                       $200,000.00
7.  Misc. street lights, sidewalks
     and roadway improvement at various
     other locations  throughout District 1      $225,000.00

I'll be discussing these projects in depth in the weeks and months to come as I bring them forward for affirmative votes of the full board.

100-Year Rain Event Last Wednesday in Beulah???

We had an unusually large amount of rainfall in a very short period of time on Wednesday in Beulah.

 I received several Facebook messages, phone calls and emails about flooding throughout the area.  One neighborhood's storm retention pond was inundated and residents were in fear that it would
overflow from the top and flood the houses in the neighborhood.

I also received calls and photographs indicating that the red clay and dirt being utilized by several developments throughout the area was washing through silt fences and over roadways and into private ponds.

Beulah road at one point was covered in as much as 2 inches of water at some locations north of Mobile Hwy. according to one resident.

Staff, to their credit, immediately went out to Beulah to check conditions at the Navy Oaks ponds.  I drove the area after work at around 5:30PM----and thankfully the water had receded from the roadways I traveled (Helms,Beulah, Mobile Hwy, Klondike, 9-Mile Road).

So how did this happen--what was the cause?

According to a local engineer, Tom Hammond from Hammond Engineering, this event was actually greater than a 100-year flood event for a short duration of time.  He sent staff and the commissioners the chart and weather station data, above, showing that in just 2 1/2 hours--we were hit with a 5.29 inches of rain--which exceeds the intensity of a 100-year flood event according to Hammond.

"The rainfall event yesterday in Beulah was 5.29 inches in 2.5 hours which far exceeded a 100 year rainfall event. The weather station is at the Beulah Nursery. It is likely rainfall exceeded the 100 year event in other parts of the county as well.  Please see attached. Figured this documentation may help with responses to citizen concerns." stated Hammond in an email to the county.

Staff is working with the developers on the red soil issues and this information about just how intense this rainfall was in Beulah for this short period of time at least provides an explanation of why and how this happened.  It was an intense weather event.

Will Gary Bergosh Run For State Attorney?

A recent poll conducted over the 2nd and 3rd of February shows that in a hypothetical matchup between Gary Bergosh and Greg Marcile for the State Attorney position, Gary Bergosh has 65-35 support among all party respondents, and a commanding 75-25 advantage with Republicans Only.  Will he run for this office though?

More and more people are asking me this question.  Will he run?

Why wouldn't he run?  is another question I frequently get.

I discussed a lot of this in a previous post early last month.

First of all--the answer to the question of if he will run is entirely up to him.  I know he has considered it in the past, and I know he would do a hell of a great job if he sought the position and won it.

But the answer really is up to him.  I don't know what he will do, I do not presume to speak for him nor do I know his plans.  It is up to God,  him, and his family, --as I know he would pray on this if he even thought there was a chance he would run.

To the question of why wouldn't he run?  Well, again, that's up to him.  But the first consideration is that he has a job already, an important job, an all-consuming job, and a meaningful, worthwhile job as a Circuit Court Judge.

It is a job of prestige and honor that pays a good wage--one Gary worked very hard to win in an expensive, hard-fought race 14 years ago.

And he would have to voluntarily resign that job on the spot---- before he could even sign up to run in a partisan State Attorney's  race.  That's number one.  And that would mean he would not get a paycheck for up to a year during the campaign.

Number two is the risk factor.  It would be tremendously risky (and borderline financially irresponsible and reckless) to leave a set, secure job that pays well to run in a contested race (which will be hotly contested).

But here comes the wild card that throws all these considerations into the wind.  Numbers.

The numbers look good for Gary Bergosh in this race.

According to a recent poll of which I am aware, in the hypothetical race between Gary Bergosh and Greg Marcile for State Attorney--- among those who expressed a choice Gary came out ahead by a margin of 65-35 among registered voters of all parties.  Among Republicans only--the number is even wider  75-25 Bergosh among voters who were not "undecided."

So we get back to the original question of will Gary Bergosh run for State Attorney?

As his brother and someone that loves him--my advice to him is to stay where he is and wait a few years.  This would prudent, this would be intelligent.  This would be the path of least resistance.

But Gary is his own man, he's a Marine, and I know he has often times rejected the path of least resistance and instead taken the path of Maximum Resistance. 

And this has worked out well for him thus far.

So we shall see what he chooses to do on this issue...........meanwhile, to all those who have asked me if he will run---the answer is I don't know.

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.

I-10 Pine Forest Road Interchange Re-Work Could Solve Wilde Lake Blvd Issues

An attractive component of FDOT's plan to reconfigure the I-10/Pine Forest Road interchange in Escambia County will be that it also fixes the very dysfunctional and dangerous intersection at Wilde Lake Blvd and Pine Forest Road in District 1

Yesterday evening there was a well-attended, very informative FDOT meeting held in District 1.  It was hosted by Pine Forest United Methodist Church on Wilde Lake Blvd.---and there were about 100 citizens in attendance.

The primary reason for the meeting was to present the public with some preliminary plans for adding two more traffic lanes to I-10 from the Alabama state line to Hwy 29 in Escambia County.  Plans for the re-configuration of the interchanges at Pine Forest Road and I-10 as well as the interchange at exit 5 and I-10 were also presented to the folks in attendance.

Staff from FDOT were available to answer specific questions, static displays were presented, a mock-up of a diverging diamond interchange was set up, and a series of videos were shown explaining what a Diverging Diamond Interchange is and how it functions  (these are the types of interchanges contemplated for the Pine Forest and Exit 5 reconfigurations as a part of the project).  You can see the video explaining how these interchanges function from the Federal Highway Administration here .

Those who wish to view the materials presented but who were unable to attend can access the handouts here and find more information about the safety features of these innovative designs here.

Currently, this project is not scheduled for construction and no funding has been identified for construction.  This project is currently in the Project Development and Environment study phase--which is a necessary step that must be concluded before a project can move forward.

I am excited about this project, even though it is one that will not be completed for several years.

An attractive component of FDOT's plan to reconfigure the I-10/Pine Forest Road interchange in Escambia County will be that it also fixes the very dysfunctional and dangerous intersection at Wilde Lake Blvd and Pine Forest Road in District 1

And one of the things that is especially attractive about this project (as displayed in the picture above) is that once the new interchange is designed at Pine Forest and I-10----the intersection of Wilde Lake and Pine Forest road will also be re-configured to much more effectively flush traffic--and this will also greatly improve safety at this intersection.

I look forward to watching this project progress, and the next public meeting on this project will happen early in 2021.

Politics and Sports...Too Bad the Former is not More Like the Latter Part II: Making the Calls

In sports by and large--a bad call happens and folks criticize the call and not the person making the call.  In politics a decision that some constituents do not like becomes their "bad call"--and unlike in sports-- it becomes all about the person and not the "call."

In sports there are competitors, spectators, and referees.

Referees manage the games and make the calls during the games to insure that the rules are followed and that the game is played fairly.  Referees and Umpires know the rules, they apply the rules, and for the most part they tune out the noise from the spectators and apply the rules to the game.

Sometimes the referees make a bad call--and the call is challenged.  Sometimes the calls are upheld, sometimes they are overturned.

People get mad at the calls, sometimes loudly criticizing the calls (particularly in baseball)  Umpires take it for the most part--the screaming and yelling from the stands--because typically the criticism is of the "call"--not the "person."  Sometimes players are ejected though if they don't let the situation go--and depending upon the level of personal attacks aimed at officials--sometimes spectators are removed as well.  We've all seen this.

But typically at the end of a game after one side wins and one side does not win--good calls and bad calls and all aside----- the issue of the referees fades into obscurity.  As it should.

I mean, who actually remembers the name(s) of the official(s) that blew the Saints/Rams Missed Pass Interference Call in 2019?  --the referees were not even named in the scahing press reports of the missed call. It was a bad call--a terrible call.  It was a missed call--and everyone knows that.  But the call was bad, not the person! 

The person is a human and humans make mistakes. 

In that instance--the participants on both side of that play worked together to insure such a bad call would never happen again and followed the process to change the rules of the game to allow instant replay reviews of Pass interference calls.

So what the heck do referees and umpires and penalty calls have to do with politics, you ask?

A lot.

In politics, particularly on the County Commission, we have to make tough "calls" on many of our votes (zoning changes, ordinances, taxing decisions, land value determinations, union negotiations, etc.)  We utilize our common sense, we apply the "rules" (ordinances, laws, regulations) and we make "calls" (votes)--often times with an evenly-split, vocal and motivated constituency on both sides of an issue.

But here is where the huge differences come in.

In politics and particularly on the county commission--folks zero in on the person if a "call" does not go their way.   And it can get very personal in a mean-spirited, ugly way in a real hurry---just over one vote on one position/proposition.  It is not about the call, it becomes about the person.

And then the attacks come.

I've seen it first hand and it is quite appalling.  A good person makes a vote on something because he believes this is the right thing to do and that person is demonized and trashed online, at meetings, and in the press (sometimes even  by the press)

A retired commissioner with whom I spoke about this phenomenon confirmed it to be true when he said to me  "Jeff, you can do something for someone on twenty different occasions--fixing pot holes, getting a road repaved, doing something with zoning, or whatever.  But on that 21st issue--if you have to say NO or you can't fix the problem for whatever the reason--they will turn on you, they'll forget the good you have done.  That's just the way it is"

Yes indeed, and it is a shame.  It does not turn into just one call with the call being criticized--it becomes personal with the action ("call") being weaponized.  I've lived it personally now over the last three years on a number of decisions I've made.

So yes, in this instance, it sure is too bad that making "calls" in politics couldn't be more like making "calls" in sports.  Because, just like the referee or the umpire--politicians are humans too--and none of us are infallible.

Politics and Sports....Too Bad the Former is not More Like the Latter Part I: Sportsmanship

Roger Federer and Randy Couture are/were tremendous competitors in their respective sports--but both were/are uncommonly humble and gracious in their pre- and post- match comments.  Both men displayed tremendously good sportsmanship in both victory and defeat....

Even though not a word of it was mentioned in our Church Service this morning--most everyone in Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida, The United States, and the entire world-- knows what today is:   Today is Super Bowl Sunday.  Even people who love college football but disavow the NFL know what game is on today.  Most of them will be watching it, too, even if they don't admit it.  The two best teams in the NFL will be playing a game and only one team will be victorious, earning the distinction as the best football team in the world.  It will be fun to watch-lots of friends, parties, good food, funny commercials, cheers, boos, yelling and screaming, halftime shows, and hopefully a good game to boot.

What the heck does this have to do with politics, though?

Nothing, really. 

But Politics is often described as a "blood sport."  "Brutal--not for the faint of heart"  is how I have heard it described.  It is brutal and it is most definitely a competition.

There are similarities.

But there are big differences, too.   Huge ones. 

It really is too bad that politics is not more like sports in some respects, though.

In sports, two opponents concentrate on beating their opponents on the field or on the court--it is not personal for the most part, it's just that the two opposing teams/participants want to win.  Before the match, there is a handshake typically.  Fighters touch gloves.  Then the competition happens and the outcome becomes the end of the intensity.  Then there typically is a handshake or a hug.  Baseball and Football teams from both sidelines/dugouts  often huddle up after the most intense of games and kneel down in mutual prayer.  It's called good sportsmanship.  It's common in sports, uncommon in politics.

You see, politics becomes personal.  It gets ugly.  It is irrational and the hatred just oozes from many that find themselves involved in tough "competitions." This is unfortunate.

Roger Federer, Peyton Manning, and Randy Couture are three of my favorite personalities from the world of sports.  They all are/were in tough competitions during their careers. Big Matches/Games/Fights--often with world championships on the line. They each won some and lost some--that's just the way it went.  But these men were humble in victory and gracious in defeat and that's what I see is missing a lot from politics.  No trash-talking before, just good sportsmanship before, intense, fierce competition during, and gracious, humble speeches after--and that really is how a lot of great sports figures operate.  It's how I want to be.  But it is hard.

I fall short so frequently in so many respects--just as many do---it's hard to even try to aspire to have the level of sportsmanship these three men (and many others) have displayed but I will say this:  With respect to sportsmanship and demeanor---I want to try to be the type of political competitor that Federer is as a tennis player, Couture was as a fighter, and Manning was as a Quarterback.  Respectful of the opponent, respectful of the game/sport, appreciative of the spectators/supporters, and gracious for the opportunity to play--humble when victorious and gracious if things don't go my way.  It ain't always easy to do this in politics, though.  😏

In some respects, it's too bad politics is not more like sports.