Fritz Field Friction: Nature Trail Neighbors are Not Happy

At least one resident of the Nature Trail Subdivision in Beulah is demanding that Fritz Field, a Board of County Commissioner's park established for RC Airplane enthusiasts to utilize to fly their planes, be shut down due to noise that is annoying them now that they have built their houses near this existing field...  We are not shutting Fritz Field down though, we are not running out the Modeler's Club.  The residents will have to compromise with the RC flyers, there will have to be a way for both sides to coexist peacefully.  :) 

Fritz Field in Beulah has been an established location for RC controlled model airplane enthusiasts to fly their planes for nearly 17 years.  Located on the site of a former landfill in Beulah just north of Mobile Highway and South of 9-Mile Road--the field is home to the NW Florida Modelers club--a group of model airplane enthusiasts.

In 2018, the friction reached a boiling point as growth encroached on the field.  A portion of the Nature Trail subdivision that loops southward literally found itself in the flight path of some of the flyers.  They complained about the noise and also about some of the planes flying over their houses.  

So a compromise was worked and the county expended monies to repair the field's bridge (which had been washed out in the flood of 2014) as well as to "turn" the runways such that the flight pattern went south--away from Nature Trail.  In addition to this, hours were limited, strict guidelines were established that prohibited any planes from "flyovers" of the subdivision, and a decibel-level threshold was established as a compromise so that the Nature Trail residents and the model airplane flyers could peacefully coexist.  An agreement was approved by the BCC and the Modeler's Club in 2018.

So far as I knew--this arrangement was working out well.

Then out of the clear blue sky I was copied on an email from a Nature Trail resident late last week demanding the field be shut down.  From the email:

"My name is XXXXXX  XXXXXXXX and I am a board member of Nature Trail HOA. Over the last five years the board and several residents have filed multiple complaints regarding safety violations and noise violations against the RC club and its members.  This resulted in the club agreeing to a very specific dB level limit for its members and that flying over top of our homes and properties are off limits.  This took place a few years ago and was facilitated by Mr Rhodes.  Although the dB level agreement was still very much a disturbance to the tranquil setting of our neighborhood our residents were satisfied if the agreement was adhered to.  We are sitting here many years later and the problem is worse than ever.  It is even more exaggerated now due to Covid.  Many of our families have decided to either home school or take advantage of remote learning.  At the same time the field is being used more.  This is a significant distraction to the learning environment of our community's children.  The planes are close enough and loud enough to be heard clearly inside of our homes.  I ask you would you enjoy that, would you allow that, would you not use your influence to put a stop to it?  We do not, we will not, and we are certainly ready to use our resources and influence to stop if action is not taken.

The club has no regard for the agreement, our residents, and infringing upon our lives.  While at the time of the agreement we respected the club,they continue to disrespect us. With the number of houses being built in our area the problem is only going to get worse. We all have supported growth and progress in our area. We also know that means change and sacrifice to ensure its success.   It is time to take action.  You would not be reading this if the club would have abided with the rules.  They have proven that they either cannot control their members or they don't care.  Either way, there needs to be consequences.  

My proposal is to close the field.  Give them area in a more rural part of the county if available.  If not the club has 2 additional fields to fly in.  I am eagerly awaiting your responses.  Please feel free to reach out and if need be I am able to meet.  In the meantime our group of concerned citizens are researching options, legal and political."

 So here's the thing:  I will NEVER support shutting this field down--especially if there are threats associated with such demands.  I do not Kow Tow to threats. The citizens that use that field have been there long before the growth happened out here in Beulah, long before "Nature Trail"--and these citizens that utilize Fritz Field have every right to fly planes at the field, and I will steadfastly support this as the elected county commissioner representing Beulah.  With this said--staff has been engaged with the modelers and the residents now to hopefully diffuse the situation and put the previous agreement back on track.  I totally support the modelers' continued use of the field under the terms of the agreement we worked out with them in 2018.  And I also support the residents' request for peace and quiet.

I believe this is not a binary choice and that both interests can be respected.

This is what I am working toward.

Longleaf Drive--Two Year Countdown to MAJOR Improvement!

Before (above) and after (below)--renderings of the proposed traffic improvement project that commences this week for Longleaf Drive in District 1.

 Longleaf Drive in District 1 is frequently a very congested road.  With houses, businesses, and four schools located on this short stretch of roadway--several times daily this road can become a parking lot.

That's why in 2007-2008 the BCC under then board member Mike Whitehead's leadership drew up a project to turn Longleaf from a 2 lane into a 4-lane road.  The area was growing, four schools were on the road, UPS had its distribution hub there, many residents used it as part of a "cut-through" between Bellview and Wedgwood, over to Hwy 29 and Interstate 10.

So at that time, the thought was that Longleaf would evolve to become part of a regional East-West thoroughfare in the county, part of a regional evacuation route out  of the County for disasters--with the Wedgwood connector being completed separately.

$13 Million from the Local Option Sales Tax, third renewal (LOST III) was set aside for this portion (Longleaf Drive) of the project, specifically. 

So what happened in the 12 years since the project was developed?

What was predicted in 2008 to occur by 2017 on this roadway did not occur.  Specifically, a 100% plus increase in daily trips from 7,700 daily in 2008 to more than 17,000 by 2017 did not happen.  The actual daily volume on this road has actually decreased by about 1% per year.  This is due in part to multiple factors, including the closure of the West Florida High School campus on this street, the abandonment of the county-wide east-west connector project, the delay of the Pinestead connector portion of this project through Wedgewood, and a shift in growth patterns more north and west from the Bellview area.

With this all said---the need for a 4-lane road with dedicated sidewalk on Longleaf has not materialized--and a better, more streamlined project can be completed with no further right of way (ROW) acquisition needed; a three lane project with a dedicated central turn lane throughout, along with sidewalks on both sides of the road can be accomplished within the currently controlled ROW the county owns. 

And this streamlined project can be completed in just 24 short months at a savings of $6 Million plus dollars---which can be applied to other desperately needed D1 infrastructure projects.

In a recently presented staff PowerPoint on this project - this modified proposal was presented, along with several scenarios where the cost savings monies can be applied to other D1 projects.

This is the direction we are going, and staff is moving this forward.

I look forward to a much better roadway through this area by late 2022!

Metrics We Should Be Capturing.....

We should have been capturing the "recovered" number from the total positive COVID-19 cases all along--so we would all know better how many active cases are walking around Escambia County.  But we're not doing this locally even though I've asked repeatedly why not, as other places are.  We should also, now more than ever, be capturing the percentage of  "asymptomatic" citizens that get tested and pop positive.  But I'm being told this isn't a data point being captured.  But why not though?  These are two metrics we should be capturing....

We had a brief presentation on COVID-19 from our health department last Thursday at our BCC meeting.  We were given an update on local cases and numbers, and also some statewide data.

The usual questions were asked.  Yes, yes--wear masks and wash hands.  

The board pushed for Saturday testing--and yes we got that done.

I had two simple questions for Marie Mott, the new director of the health department locally.

#1--when we test asymptomatic individuals locally--is someone capturing the % of these that are actually positive?  She said she'd check and find out.

#2--where can citizens turn if they develop symptoms on the weekend and want to get a rapid test?

Yesterday I received a response via email.  from the email:

"The following is in response to the questions that you had asked.

Regarding numbers or percentages of asymptomatic persons being tested, it appears that there is not a way to determine what percentage of individuals seeking testing are asymptomatic. If I learn otherwise, I will share accordingly.

Regarding phone resources for COVID questions, there does continue to be a 24/7 call center for COVID-19 (866-779-6121) as well as an email address (covid-19@flhealth.gov) – both of which can be found ‘above the fold’ at FloridaHealthCOVID-19.gov."

To which I responded:

"Thanks for the response.  I’m wondering why we cannot collect this data (% of citizens presenting for testing asymptomatically who subsequently test positive for COVID) locally at our test site(s) though? 

 Does nobody else believe that to know the percentage of asymptomatic individuals that pop positive is NOT a good data point to have? 

 Question:  Can we capture this figure locally—can you assist in making this happen? 

 Because I believe to do so gives us a number which can in turn, as I said in the meeting, allow us to extrapolate (albeit perhaps not 100% accurately but a good heuristic) what percentage of the County’s population as a whole may be walking around carrying this virus asymptomatically?  This would be a very important aspect I’d like to know as a policy maker and as a guy that could be a swing vote to mandate masks, for instance.

 Please let me know who it is that can make this happen.  This is important to me.  More importantly—this is important to the citizens I serve."

So When Will the OLF-8 Master Plan be Finished?

Over the weekend commissioners were emailed the above timeline-- showing the estimated completion of the OLF-8 Master Plan by DPZ and significant benchmarks we will hit on this path.  Interestingly and significantly:  first draft of potential plans for BCC approval will come to us next month. 

From the staff email:

"A change order has been written to extend the DPZ contract from Jan. 21, 2021 to May 3, 2021 to allow time to complete the project.  Reasons for the schedule slip is due to cancellation of the August COW, Hurricane Sally, and unavailability of the Nov. COW.  The attached timeline identifies a path forward and allows the project to wrap up in the April timeframe."

 

55th Coffee With the Commissioner this Wednesday Morning!

We will hold our 55th Coffee With The Commissioner event this Wednesday online.  Citizens are welcome to participate virtually on Facebook at my commissioner's page.

We will have County Administrator Janice Gilley and Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore to give updates on county issues of significance to include a COVID-19 update as well as an update on Hurricane Sally debris removal.  In addition to this, we will be discussing growth management and land development with Horace Jones and Drew Holmer from Escambia County Development Services.  The issues surrounding land use and development create some of the most ferocious consternation among citizens, so this will be a good conversation.

The 55th Coffee event will take place this Wednesday morning from 6:30-7:30 AM.  The replay will air on Myescambia.com.   Join us live, and ask your questions in real-time on facebook!

To join the event live Wednesday morning, October 7th-- simply go to https://www.facebook.com/CommissionerBergosh/

"See You" online!

The Fire Marshall's Investigation, Not the Labor Union, Will Tell the True Story of What Happened at the Fire

It was a devastating fire, and a tremendous tragedy.  A citizen was lost in a large commercial fire in Escambia County last week--- and the prayers of an entire community are and continue to be with the family of this victim.

View of the roof of a warehouse engulfed in flames at a recent Escambia
County Fires scene where tragically one trapped individual did not get
out of the building alive.

And just when we as a county should be coming together to figure out exactly what happened and what (if anything) could have been done differently to prevent this tragedy------a very insensitive, negative post was put out on social media, blaming this death on the county and a "lack of resources."  The labor union that represents paid firemen in the county blamed the county for this death, and by implication the county commissioners!!  Are you kidding me?

Disgusting, unprofessional, and uncalled for.  

Nobody should leverage a tragedy, a death, to further labor union negotiations.  Nobody.  When told about this, I could not believe my eyes when I read it.  I literally was sick.  

And so I have subsequently requested and received the fire report, the dispatch report, and I am waiting to review additional information including recordings and potentially video from inside the large warehouse.  I have asked that the county ascertain if this situation was really due to a "lack of resources" as insinuated by the fire fighter's union.  We all want to know what happened and what could have been done.  We will know, because this is being investigated by the county and the State Fire Marshall.  So we WILL get to the bottom of what happened--and we as a board and as county leaders will take appropriate steps to fix any issues identified if needed.

meanwhile, I have subsequently spoken now to several firemen who were on the scene who have reported to me that there were no shortages of resources or personnel.  The report I reviewed lists 60 firemen and 9 officers on the scene.  The dispatch log shows the first truck dispatched to the fire arrived just four minutes after the call came in--and three other trucks were there a short 8 minutes later so far as I have been told.  Ultimately there were more than half a dozen trucks on site in very short order.

So was it really all about a lack of resources?  I have my doubts and so do many others with whom I have spoken.  We will know when we get the report.

I asked who it was that made the post.  I'm told that when asked who made the post by Escambia County Administrative employees---the union employees would not reveal which one of the three personnel that have admin rights to this site actually made the post.  "We're not going to divulge who made the post" is what the union told admin.

What a weak, feckless, and insubordinate response.  No leadership in County Fire right now--a rudderless ship if this garbage is tolerated.  Disgustingly unprofessional.

I've prayed for this victim, and I continue to pray for her family.  I cannot help but to think of how horrible this must have been.  I want us as a county to learn from this and hopefully there can be lessons learned that can help at the next scene.  

But the heartless, thoughtless, cruel and inaccurate characterization that this was somehow preventable is just reprehensible.

The fire union OWES this family an apology for their uncalled for, unprofessional comments online!

FDOT's Bridge Project Creates Woes on the Citizens and the Workers.....Who is Ultimately Responsible Though?

 I received this email, below, from a frustrated constituent today...........my response to his email is below..

"Hi my name is XXXXXXXXX. I live in Pensacola and work on Pensacola beach. I am XX years old, and I have managed XXXXXXXXXXXXXX since I was 18. I have a XXXXXX and XXXXXXXXX. I’m a normal young adult with an appropriate amount of debt and my family will not survive this without your help!

 Corona virus has obviously been tough on everyone but especially the tourist destination of which I work. It was tough but we were going to survive. Then hurricane sally came and for some reason XXXXXXXX decided not to move their equipment and destroyed the connection between the city of Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, and Pensacola beach. 

I’m fine with driving farther to get to work, I’m fine dealing with the traffic, I’m fine with the challenge they have made for me to spend time with my family as well, since they all live in Gulf Breeze. But the part that realllllly sucks for me is my job will not make it through this and it will be very difficult for me to find a job that can support my family like the one I had before XXXXXXXXX negligence. I have worked very hard my entire life to get where I am now and it seems to have been ripped away from me out of no where. 

 Please hold XXXXXXXXX Liable for their actions, not only for me but also my friends, family, and neighbors. They have destroyed this town and we need your help to get back on our feet! 

 

Thanks for your time. 

XXXXX  XXXXXXX

 

XXXXXXXXXXX"

My Response...

XXXXXXXXX,

Thanks for your email—and I completely sympathize with your situation.  Like you, I am extremely concerned about this FDOT project and their contractor that is conducting the work.

As a county commissioner, I have limited ability to do much to resolve your situation.  We are working with the city of Pensacola and FDOT through our legislative delegation and the TPO to stand up a Ferry Service between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze.  I know this will do little to help—but it may help with your daily commute.  And we are all trying to keep the pressure on FDOT to get this bridge fixed on time!

Because this is an interruption in your income directly related to the barge/bridge issue—I strongly suggest you consider speaking with an attorney about your situation.  There are some great firms in town that may be able to assist.  And believe me:  Every business in both Gulf Breeze proper AND Pensacola Beach (XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX) will be seeking claims for business interruption, which they will more than likely be successful at.  But this may not trickle down to the employees like you.  So I’d say look after your interests, and those of your family, by speaking with an attorney.

Additionally—I would strongly suggest that you speak with our elected Florida Legislative delegation—to include Senator Doug Broxson and Representative Alex Andrade—to describe your dissatisfaction with FDOT’s project and their contractor.  They MUST be held accountable (FDOT). 

Thanks for reaching out and I wish you and your family the best in pursuing this issue.  And we will recover from this—but it will take time. 

Sincerely,

 

Jeff Bergosh

Escambia Board of County Commissioners,

District 1

221 Palafox Place Suite 400

Pensacola, FL 32502

850-595-4910 office

850-377-2209 Voicemail

District1@myescambia.com

www.jeffbergoshblog.blogspot.com

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Twitter-- @jeffbergosh