January 2016
Baskerville-Donovan, Inc. has come out on top of the bid tabulations for the engineering work for the Florida Gulf Coast Marine Fisheries Hatchery and Enhancement Center at Bruce Beach on the edge of downtown Pensacola.
Community Survey
City of Pensacola residents gave the Pensacola Fire and Police departments, City Sanitation and City Parks high grades, according to a telephone conducted by the University of West Florida HAAS Center in the last quarter of 2015. Stormwater infrastructure, city streets and sidewalks, city communications, and value for services for city taxes received the lowest grades.
Studer Retires
A year after Chicago-based Huron Consulting Group acquired Studer Group, in a $325-million deal, Quint Studer announced he will step away from the company he founded.
Living the Dream
The Fourth Annual Living The Dream & Tribute to Motown event is this Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016 at New World Landing. The 2016 Honorees: Robin Reshard and Lloyd Reshard, Belle Bear and her son David, Fred Levin, Dick Appleyard, Fred Robbins, Linda “Sonshine” Moorer, and David Hawkins.
Food Trucks
The city of Pensacola announced that food trucks will be parked at the corner of the City Hall parking lot at the intersection of Spring and Main streets on Thursday, Jan. 7.
Trump Visits
Freedom Kids make their debut.
February 2016
Fire Chiefs Put On Administrative Leave
Chief Human Resources Officer lodges complaints against Fire Chief Matt Schmitt and Deputy Fire Chief Joe Glover.
HR Manual Changed After Dismissal
The paper discovered the City’s Human Resources Department had not uploaded the new HR policy manual that changed the steps of disciplinary action, modified the appeal process, and eliminated the independent personnel board until four hours after Pensacola Fire Chief Matt Schmitt and Deputy Fire Chief Joe Glover were placed on paid administrative leave on Feb. 2. City Administrator Eric Olson has said the the changes were made in December, but “due to an administrative delay that was unavoidable” were not uploaded until Feb. 2.
Baptist Hospital announced a new $6-million investment in the commerce park at the entrance to the Pensacola International Airport.
The Baptist Medical Park-Airport will feature Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, Baptist Heart & Vascular Institute, Baptist Medical Group primary and specialty physicians, imaging and lab services. The groundbreaking came a day after Baptist revealed its plans to revitalize the neighborhood surrounding its main campus on West Moreno Street.
Tornado
Residents on Lansing Drive are saying that both Pensacola Fire and Pensacola Energy were in their neighborhood within an hour after the tornado passed on Tuesday night. “Trees were down, the residents has lost power,” Councilwoman Sherri Myers told Inweekly this morning. “People positioned their cars for fire truck to see the road. Pensacola Energy had someone out asking people if they had gas service.” However, the Pensacola Police Department didn’t appear to be aware when they released information that the city had no significant damage. Mayor Ashton Hayward didn’t know the facts when he went on radio, and City Administrator Eric Olson had no idea of any damage in the northeast corner of the city when Myers called him.
ECUA Storage Tanks
Melanie Nichols, president of the North Hill Preservation Association passed along this public record request that she sent to ECUA Executive Director Steve Sorrells this morning.
She said yesterday’s ECUA board meeting was packed. Both Mayor Ashton Hayward and Councilman Brian Spencer were in attendance. “We still haven’t gotten any of the public records that we have requested on the project,” said Nichols. “I have extended my public records request to find out what happened to that lift station during the April 2014 flood because staff keeps referring to something almost catastrophic occurring to our lift station due to the flood, but won’t give us any details.”
Hayward Ignores Resolution
Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward told WEAR TV that he would not act on the council resolution passed at its Feb. 11 meeting that gave its members access to all floors of City Hall. Instead, the mayor’s office has established a new procedure that requires council members to make an appointment through City Administrator Eric Olson in order to visit city staff. On WEAR TV, Mayor Hayward cited his reason for limiting access security issues and his wanting to keep council members separate from city staff so all can focus on their day-to-day work.
Families Protest Jail Deaths
Over the past 15 months, seven men have died in the Escambia County Jail while awaiting trial. Three of those deaths were suicides. On Saturday, 60 family members and friends, joined by County Commissioner Lumon May and Assistant County Administrators Amy Lovey and Chip Simmons, held a prayer service and silent march to bring attention to the issue.
March 2016
Miller Forgoes Another Term
“Fifteen years ago when Vicki and I were praying about running for Congress, we could have never imagined what may lie ahead. As we made our decision, we knew there would come a day when it would be time to pass the torch. That day has come, and I am announcing I will not seek reelection to Congress.”
Hawkshaw Development still a touchy subject. A public meeting is held. Then issue falls off city’s radar buts stays on Transparent Pensacola page.
Last week, the Waterfront Rescue Mission Board of Directors announced the closure of its Women’s Center, end of its Career Development Program, and the restructuring of its Men’s Recovery Program.
County Population Stagnant
Escambia County, Florida added only 344 people last year, according to the estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. The population increased from 310,659 people as July 1, 2014 to 311,003 as of July 1, 2015. Meanwhile, Santa Rosa County added 3,618 people going from 163,422 to 167,040 over the same period. Okaloosa County added 2,152 – 196,512 to 198,664. To the west of Escambia County, Baldwin County, Ala. also had an increase – an estimated 3,598 going from 200,111 on 7/1/2014 to 203,709 on 7/1/2015.
Beach Tax Ruling
The First District Court of Appeals (1st DCA) today reversed Escambia County Property Appraiser Chris Jones’ imposition of ad valorem taxes to leasehold land at Pensacola Beach. The three-judge appeals panel unanimously found that the leasehold interest in the land is taxable solely as intangible personal property, and that the land is not “equitably owned” by the tenants. Under the ruling, the Escambia County Tax Collector will be required to refund taxes paid by Island Resorts since 2011, and pay court costs incurred by Island Resorts.
CollectorSolutions, Inc., the debit and credit card processing company started in 1999 by former Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino, has signed a merger agreement with the JetPay Corporation, Berwyn, PA-based provider of ecommerce debit and credit card processing, payroll and human capital management, and prepaid card services. According to the press release, CSI is expected to bring approximately $700 million of annual credit and debit card processing volume and approximately $4.50 billion of annual e-check processing volume to JetPay.
April 2016
A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 872,528 visitors to Gulf Islands National Seashore in 2015 spent $32,027,699 in communities near the park. That spending supported 541 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $44,955,312.
City Dumps Into Bay
The City of Pensacola’s run of bad timing continued last week. In the same week the community celebrated Earth Day, city officials revealed that the sewage from the downtown public library has been pumping unfiltered into the stormwater system and Pensacola Bay. When the city built the downtown library in 1957, city officials saved money on a septic tank and sewer fees by letting the sewage flow into the bay. In 2013, the city renovated and expanded the downtown library but failed to connect the toilets in the old wing to sewer.
On Tuesday, MANNA Food Pantries purchased its new future home, the Pensacola Mill Supply Building on North “E” Street. The 23,000 square foot building is located less than two miles from MANNA’s current home near two bus routes and the bus terminal. The building is large enough to house both client services and warehouse operations.
Council Attendance Erratic
Over the course of the 50 Pensacola City Council meetings from January 2014 through February 2016, half of the council members have either missed, arrived late or left early for at least one of five meetings, regardless of who was the council president. One member has had attendance issues for nearly half of the meetings, according to the minutes published on the city’s website
DIB Dumps Events
The Downtown Improvement Board decided this morning to not sponsor Pelican Drop, the city’s annual New Year Eve’s event, this year. According to DIB chairman John Peacock, the event was not self-sufficient, and many downtown restaurant and bar owners said that their businesses would do well without it. The DIB also decided to sunset the monthly Gallery Nights in September.
BP Settlement Approved
Federal Judge Carl Barbier has granted final approval of the estimated $20 billion settlement over the 2010 BP Deep Horizon oil spill. The settlement covers Clean Water Act penalties ($5.5 billion) and the claims by Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and local governments, including the City of Pensacola and Escambia County. The money is to be paid out over a 16-year period.
Hayward Loses Lawsuit
Attorney Ed Fleming called to say that Seville Harbor and The Fish House won their lawsuit against the City of Pensacola over the lease of Pitts Slip.
May 2016
Hayward Doesn’t Evaluate
The city of Pensacola has not done a written job performance evaluation of its administrative staff in four years, according to records obtained by Inweekly. The most recent evaluation of a department head was October 2009. According to the personnel records of 14 city departments, Mayor Ashton Hayward has hired five department heads since he was sworn into office in January 2011-City Administrator Eric Olson, City Attorney Lysia Bowling, Housing Administrator Marcie Whitaker, Parks & Recreation Director Brian Cooper, and Chief Human Resources Ed Sisson. None have had annual evaluations.
Pensacola Fire Chiefs Terminated
Mayor Ashton Hayward terminated Pensacola Fire Chief Matt Schmitt and Deputy Fire Chief Joe Glover. He did not meet with the men or hold a press conference. The official statement on the city’s Transparent Pensacola page: “Mayor Hayward announced on May 10, that he has dismissed Matt Schmitt and Joe Glover from their employment with the City due to a loss of confidence in their ability to lead the Pensacola Fire Department.The decision followed an investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding fire department management practices. After a review of the investigation, Mayor Hayward determined that the findings of fact that emerged were sufficient to warrant the dismissal of both individuals.”
Hoskins to join Gulf Power
Gulf Power announced that Capt. Keith Hoskins, former commanding officer at Naval Air Station Pensacola, will join the Gulf Power team June 1. Hoskins will serve as the Major Accounts and Military Affairs manager.
Newpoint Indicted
An Escambia County Grand Jury has indicted Newpoint Education Partners, LLC; School Warehouse, Inc.; Red Ignition, LLC; and Epiphany Management, LLC for grand theft, money laundering and aggravated white collar crime. Last spring, Inweekly broke the story of alleged grade tampering and misuse of public funds at two charter schools run by Newpoint – Newpoint Academy and Newpoint High. Both later had their charters revoked by the Escambia County School Board.
Lawsuit Over Bayview Park Cross
The American Humanist Association’s Appignani Humanist Legal Center and the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) are suing the City of Pensacola to challenge a 25-foot tall Christian cross in public Bayview Park
Studer Family Children’s Hospital
Sacred Heart broke ground on its regional children’s hospital and announced the facility will be named for the Studer family. David Sansing, chair of the board of directors for Sacred Heart Hospital Pensacola, emceed the event and gave a history of the children’s hospital that began in women’s dormitory of Sacred Heart’s hospital. “Once again the phenomenal leadership here at Sacred Heart has responded to a growing community need for increased access at specialized care for women and children,” he said. ” The pediatric services provided at this hospital are vitally important to the health of the entire community.”
June 2016
Hayward’s Legal Moves
The PNJ reports the bills for three-month investigation of the fire chief totaled $65,412.50. Mayor Ashton Hayward also had his attorneys file an appeal of Judge Duncan’s ruling on the Pitt Slip lease.
Blue Angel Crashes
Nashville TV station WKRN reported a U.S. Navy Blue Angels jet crashed this afternoon in Smyrna, Tenn. during a practice run. The La Vergne fire chief confirmed the accident happened around 3 p.m. Opposing Solo Capt. Jeff Kuss died in the crash.
Allen Approved
The Pensacola City Councilconfirmed Mayor Ashton Hayward’s appointment of David Allen as the city’s fire chief by a 5-3 vote. Council members Larry Johnson, Brian Spencer, Andy Terhaar, P.C. Wu and Jewel Cannada-Wynn voted for approval. Mayor Ashton Hayward refused to let Allen answer questions during the meeting.
Stormwater Grants
Escambia County has been awarded two FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program projects, or HMGP, to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters, one in Lake Charlene and the other in the Bristol Park-Bristol Creek-Ashbury Hills Flood Plain. The grants total more than $6.5 million and will implement long-term hazard mitigation measures to reduce flooding in both areas.
PMA Joins UWF
The University of West Florida has entered into a gift agreement with the Pensacola Museum of Art to transfer the museum to the University of West Florida – effective July 1, 2016
Incumbents Uncontested
Of Escambia County’s seven constitutional offices, only the sheriff’s, tax collector’s and two county commission races are contested. Supervisor of Elections David Stafford, Property Appraiser Chris Jones, Clerk of Courts Pam Childers drew no opponents. Other unopposed officials – School Board District 4: Patty Hightower, District 5: William Slayton; and Pensacola City Council District 3: Andy Terhaar, District 5: Gerald Wingate.
Evers’ AR-15 rifle giveaway
On Father’s Day, U.S. Congressional Candidate Greg Evers announced a Facebook contest to award a custom-built AR-15 rifle to one randomly chosen resident of the 1st Congressional District who has liked and shared his Facebook page.
Flynn Approved
Pensacola Council President Charles Bare has called a special meeting for 3:30 p.m. Monday, June 27 for the City Council to approve Mayor Hayward’s appointment of Dan Flynn as the airport director. Flynn had served as interim since August 2014. A national search had failed to find a candidate.
Most Popular City of Pensacola Videos:
The Blue Angels returned home to Pensacola and kicked off their 70th season. This was celebrated with a flyover of Downtown Pensacola followed by a proclamation ceremony at the National Naval Aviation Museum. Published on Mar 22, 2016
The potential for passenger rail service to return to Pensacola became a tangible reality Friday morning as the first passenger train to come through the city since Hurricane Ivan was welcomed by a crowd of well-wishers. Published on Feb 19, 2016
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