40th Coffee With the Commissioner this Wednesday

Virtual Event, Next District 1 Coffee with the Commissioner May 13

Join District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh at his virtual 40th Coffee with the Commissioner event Wednesday, May 13. The live stream will take place from 6:30 - 7:30 a.m. Guests will include Escambia County Administrator Janice Gilley, Pensacola Sports President Ray Palmer and Michael Rhodes, Director of Escambia County Parks and Recreation. The meeting will focus on the future of sports in Escambia County, from local youth leagues to professional leagues.

To join, simply go to the following Facebook page at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13 and watch the live stream: www.facebook.com/CommissionerBergosh/. 

Residents are encouraged to send virtual questions and comments they would like to discuss with their District 1 Commissioner during the event through Facebook. 

Please Watch out for Horses!

After a recent, tragic accident involving a horse and a car on Frank Reeder Road in Beulah--the county has now installed additional signs like this one above, on Frank Reeder Road, Tower Ridge Road, and Bridlewood.  The roads crew has also been tasked with removing debris and overgrowth from the county's right of way (ROW) on these roads to give more room to maneuver for horses and horse riders....

One of the really neat things I enjoy about living in Beulah is the sight of the occasional horse back rider on the roads of our community.  It is unusual to see in most areas of Pensacola, so it is really a neat attribute of Beulah.  Whether they are riding off of Frank Reeder Road, Bridlewood--or over by the Beulah Park off of Mobile Hwy.  It's just a quaint attribute of our area.

Unfortunately, two and a half weeks ago there was a tragic accident in Beulah.

A car ran into a horse off-of Frank Reeder road, and the horse was killed.  The driver left the lane and veered into the bicycle lane striking the animal, according to the traffic report, and collided with the horse's right rear leg, shattering it badly.

Neither the car's driver, nor the horse rider were injured--thankfully--but the horse had to be euthanized due to the tremendous damage to its leg.

The horse's owner runs Horse Rides of Pensacola--and she related to me that close calls are frequent and that some drivers are deliberately mean spirited in the way they interact with horses and riders.

"I've had them flip me the finger if they have to slow down to go around us" she related.

She requested the county's assistance with additional signage, and this week the county installed multiple signs alerting drivers to the horse's presence in the area.


According to the experts and under Florida Statutes, horses and horse riders can utilize most of the state's roadways, and there are laws that dictate what automobile drivers must and must not do when driving where horses and horse riders share the roadways.


Please be considerate and share the road with courtesy; please watch out for horses and riders!

39th Coffee With the Commissioner Event Covers Multiple Topics of Interest

We had an excellent discussion about how COVID-19 is disrupting many aspects of our lives and businesses locally--and how we are recovering/coping-- at this morning's  virtual Coffee With the Commissioner event.

We had a really great conversation covering multiple topics of interest at this morning's Coffee with the Commissioner event.

Our guests this week were County Administrator Janice Gilley, Escambia Emergency Management Director Eric Gilmore, Escambia County Destination Marketing Organization Director Rusty Branch, and local Businessman Michael Silver.  Mr. Silver is the head of the group that brought the "Pop-Up" Drive-In movie theater to District 1 starting last week.  He gave updates on his operation, some challenges he has had, and also some improvements he has made for his customers.  He gave a rundown on how this concept came to be and what movies will be coming to the Drive in over this next weekend.

Eric Gilmore gave us an update on our EOC, the status of the work we are doing in conjunction with the National Guard to help our local Long Term Care facilities recover from the COVID-19 outbreak.

Janice Gilley gave an overview of the weekend's beach opening, including some issues out at Avenida 18 with some crowds that gathered there.  She also discussed the Governor's phased re-opening plan and reiterated the fact that Escambia County DID NOT close anyone's business--we are simply following the Governor's Executive orders that have limited certain businesses from opening.

Rusty Branch from the DMO discussed the first weekend of the season out at Pensacola Beach now that it has been re-opened beginning last weekend.  He also discussed the impacts the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the hotels and businesses out at Pensacola Beach.

You can watch the entire video on Facebook here,

it is also available on the County's YouTube site Here.

We will see you all next Wednesday morning for our 40th Coffee With the Commissioner Event!

The Re-Opening of Escambia County Begins Today

In alignment with the Governor's phased approach to opening the state--- Escambia County Facilities will begin a partial re-opening later this morning, Monday, May 4, 2020.

From County Administrator Janice Gilley:

"Dear Team Escambia:

Thank you again for your commitment to our citizens and your continued work during this very difficult time. I hope you and your families are safe and healthy.  As we look forward to getting back to a new normal in Phase I, please take time to read the information below related to your safety and reopening buildings at 25% (included at the bottom of the message).  Escambia County wants to protect our citizens and our employees that come to our facilities.  In anticipation of welcoming the public back to government facilities in a safe yet comfortable manner, the County will implement safety measures and guidelines. 

First and foremost, to protect themselves and those they come in contact with throughout the day, employees should remember to:

Be calm.  Be clean.  Be healthy.

·         Stay home if you’re sick

·         Move away from people before coughing or sneezing

o   cough or sneeze into your elbow or if available, a tissue and then discard the tissue in trash

·         Avoid close contact such as hugging or shaking hands

·         Avoid large gatherings (more than 10 people) and stay at least six (6) feet away from others

·         Avoid being around anyone who is sick or who may have a weak immune system

·         Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth

·         Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose

·         Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available

·         Continuously clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects

·         Following the CDC’s recommendation that masks or face coverings be worn in areas where social distancing is difficult, we will provide masks/face coverings for staff use. The provided face coverings are not personal protective equipment. They do not protect the wearer, but rather protect others from the wearer.

·         Staff should make every effort to maintain social distancing throughout the office. Wearing a face covering is optional but strongly suggested for staff that need to go to stores or other public places while working.

Please feel free to contact either me or your Department Director should you have any questions or concerns regarding the information provided. We will get through this pandemic situation and will be stronger as a community."

39th Coffee With the Commissioner This Wednesday Morning

The 39th Coffee with the Commissioner will take place from 6:30 - 7:30 a.m. this Wednesday online via a "Facebook livestream" which will be conducted on the Zoom platform.  

Guests will include Escambia County Administrator Janice Gilley, Escambia County Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore, Escambia Destination Marketing Organization Executive Director Rusty Branch (discussing the coronavirus' impact on hotels and tourism locally) and Escambia County District 1 "Pop-up" Drive-In owner and creator Michael Silver (who will be giving an update on the Pop-Up Drive-In he has established last week at District 1's Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds' location) 

To join, simply go to the following Facebook page at 6:30 a.m. on May 6th and watch the live stream: https://www.facebook.com/CommissionerBergosh/. Residents are encouraged to send virtual questions and comments they would like to discuss with their District 1 Commissioner and his guests during the event through Facebook. 

What is the Governor's Plan to Reopen the Economy?

A lot of folks are confused about who it is/was exactly that closed the state's economy.  Particularly-- the anger is focused on the closure of local Escambia County small businesses.  Some citizens are mad at county commissioners for "closing the economy!"   They want us to REOPEN NOW!

In some cities and counties, mayors and commissioners did close businesses ahead of statewide action by the Governor.

But in Escambia County--the Board of County Commissioners did NOT do this.  We closed the public beaches, and only at the URGING of our Health Department and the 3 hospitals in Escambia County.  We have subsequently re-opened the beaches.

The Governor has impaneled a large committee, led by the Lt. Governor, to provide specific guidance and recommendations aimed at reopening Florida's economy.  It has been provided to commissioners last week, and I strongly encourage everyone to read it.  I have read it.  It lays out a thoughtful, considerate, and measured road map to getting our economy in Florida back in motion.

You can read the document here.  I strongly encourage all residents to read it.  Take the 15 minutes to read it and understand the thought put into the recommendations.

Our economy will re-open, local businesses will reopen, and we will move forward from this crisis.  Make no mistake about it though--it will take years to recover from this economically---locally and nationally.

The recovery/reopening is starting now, though.  Locally, statewide, nationwide, and woldwide.

That's where we're at.

The Verdict is In---Food Trucks in Beulah Concept is a HIT!

Bringing Food Trucks to Beulah has proven to be a HUGE hit with the community!

The first week of the initiative to bring a rotating assortment of food trucks to Beulah's equestrian center has turned out to be a HUGE hit with the community.  I knew it would be--as a Beulah resident for the last nearly 16 years---I know folks are tired of not having more hot food options locally.

So this week I have come out to the equestrian center a number of times and seen for myself the success of this idea.

Some detractors that are detached from reality panned the idea early in the week.  One anonymous poster (who actually railed against anonymous posters--while posting anonymously himself) went so far as to weaponize this idea, and attack me in the comments portion of my blog saying it was "embarrassing" how bad the idea--and that I should be "ashamed"(not really sure what that guy was thinking, seeing, observing......or smoking  LOL---but he obviously isn't rational).  Want a good laugh?  see his delusional comments, the ones he hasn't removed yet, here on the bottom of this post.  Really a whacked-out--lunatic -job!).  Spock would likely call this guy's idiotic, unhinged, and exercised ramblings fascinating....

But nut-jobs and nut products aside---- and back to reality here on Planet Earth----most everyone else (like 99.9%) seems to be pretty upbeat and positive on the outcome.  I've been thanked profusely online for helping to bring the concept out to the Equestrian Center, and for adding more trucks to the site and for getting the fees waived.

And now----------- even the PNJ--no friend to any idea I have ever put forward---is recognizing this idea has been a gigantic, smashing success.

From the article that will appear in print tomorrow in the local section:

"The Escambia County initiative to bring a rotating selection of food trucks to Beulah has proven a success — a hit with locals grateful to pay for meals brought to their area on wheels — as evidenced by the number of munching, crunching and smiling faces spread across the Equestrian Center parking lot Thursday at lunchtime.  Vendors were pleased too — happy for business."