Accountability
Is Escambia County Slow-Rolling Hurricane Debris Pickup to Favor a Contractor?
The City of Pensacola had more trucks in the field than the county it sits inside, and one official says the delay looks like “a money grab.”
Hurricane debris collection is a lucrative business. The contracts to handle county and city work are valuable. Most counties and cities have selected their contractors long before a hurricane forms in the Gulf.
- Inweekly has heard rumors that Escambia County has delayed its debris collections to favor a former local contractor that has been acquired by an Alabama-based company.
City Outworking the County
At noon yesterday, the City of Pensacola had more trucks and crews picking up debris than Escambia County, even though the city covers about 40 square miles, roughly 1.5% of the county’s 875 square miles.
At his 10 a.m. press conference on Wednesday, Mayor D.C. Reeves said:
“On debris, I know our storm debris contractor had 40 trucks in the field today collecting debris. And then starting Monday, they will add bucket trucks to their fleet to get hanging or leaning trees that are deemed a hazard.”
At 10:45 a.m., Escambia County Public Information Director Kaycee Lagarde texted me that the county was up to 38 debris collection trucks.
- WEAR TV reported Tuesday that county officials said the debris cleanup will take three to four months.
Why will it take so long?
The plan. Escambia County has had a debris collection plan in place since Hurricane Sally. Two local contractors, Roads Inc. and Panhandle Paving & Grading, and Florida-based national firm AshBritt have contracts to handle the debris.
In 2020, after Hurricane Sally hit, the debris work was split into three areas:
- Roads Inc.: areas north of Interstate 10
- Panhandle Paving & Grading: the county’s mid-section south of I-10, including Pensacola Beach
- AshBritt: the western parts of the county, including Perdido Key
The problem. As Hurricane Isaias approached Northwest Florida, the county’s sanitation director sent a Notice to Proceed to the three contractors on Friday, Oct. 9. There was one hitch: Roads Inc. no longer existed. The company had been sold to C.W. Roberts Contracting, Inc. (CWR).
AshBritt sidelined. AshBritt began staging its trucks but was told Saturday afternoon that County Administrator Wes Moreno was deactivating them. Commissioners and others have told me Moreno said there wasn’t that much debris and the county wanted to give the business to the local contractors.
- Panhandle, CWR and AshBritt submitted their debris cleanup plans to Escambia County by 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 12. AshBritt’s plan was ignored. I
A slow roll until the vote?
Instead, the county “slow-rolled” its debris collection until commissioners could assign Roads Inc.’s contracts to CWR. That item is on today’s Board of County Commissioners agenda. See CWR -Roads.
“I’m baffled, and it looks like a money grab for CWR is being prioritized over getting debris picked up as fast as possible.”
One state official, aware of the issue, offered that assessment to me.
- The county’s response. Early Wednesday morning, I asked Lagarde about any debris collection delays. She replied: “Debris collection has not been delayed. We were originally targeting a Wednesday start date, but actually started earlier than anticipated. Crews have been picking up debris since Monday and will continue to collect.”
The bottom line. Once again, County Administrator Moreno has created a problem for his board. The county’s handling of Hurricane Isaias have been stellar until Moreno injected politics into the process. The public is suffering from his cronyism. Three contractors can complete the debris work sooner than “three to four months.” Shouldn’t a quick cleanup be a more worthy goal than lining the pockets of Panhandle and CWR?
- AshBritt representatives will speak at tonight’s meeting. I don’t expect them to stand for Moreno’s shenanigans.
From my perspective in Scenic Heights it seemed like a “mega-tree” event. Some people near me still do not have power. Generally, little debris has been removed and in nearby Eastgate Park a sidewalk remains impassible because of a fallen tree. Two other downed trees in the park are an attractive danger because kids are climbing in them. Kudos to Councilwoman Brahier who has been all over the place. Of note, the intersection of Forest Glen & Wellington remains a mess because of a fallen tree though it’s at least walkable because citizens armed with chainsaws stepped in to clear a path. I drove Olive Road today. There are still trees directly in front of Ferry Pass Middle School extending out into the street. It’s Thursday. Why the delay? School starts up again on Monday. On Tuesday, Sheriff Simmons has described his impression of extensive tree damage to Andrew McKay. But, this morning, County Administrator Moreno told Andrew McKay there was about a third as much of debris as during Sally. McKay had been told by someone that it was about half. McKay directly raised the AshBritt issue mentioned above. Moreno is often very “slippery” when he talks – and dismissive with his trademark “It Is What It Is!” – but I think I heard Moreno say he assessed that the county only needed two contractors so AshBritt was not needed. I think I heard Moreno also mention that there were seven other potential contractors. If I got my math right, that means there were ten potential contractors the county could have used. McKay tactfully pushed back suggesting that a maximum effort right away would have been better especially with the high winds projected for this weekend. Agree. McKay told Moreno that he’d heard AshBritt had 75 trucks in the county when they were told to “wave off.” Assuming that number is accurate, Moreno said no one told him about the 75 trucks. Did Moreno really not know or did someone not tell him? McKay also discussed that he’d been told a commissioner was involved in the decision to “not” use AshBritt. Moreno denied that allegation but seemed to suggest that multiple people had lobbied him. Bigger picture, “who” is running this emergency? State law prescribes in great detail how we handle emergencies. Section 252.38 Emergency Management Powers of Political Subdivisions, Florida Statutes, vests authority in the county’s Emergency Management “Agency” and its Director. The Director seems like someone that should be appointed by and a direct report to the BOCC, as is expressly authorized by state law. Does Escambia County actually have an actual “Escambia County Emergency Management Agency” and if so who is its Director? What has been his/her role? Two commissioners have military service. They understand the concept of an After-Action Report. The BOCC should appoint a group of citizens to objectively document and review every aspect of this storm response and make specific recommendations.