Readers have pointed out other emergency purchase orders associated with the April 29 explosion at the county’s Central Booking and Detention Center. The purchases orders total $13,394,556.
This time last year Commissioners Gene Valentino, Grover Robinson and Wilson Robertson said that they couldn’t afford the $6-7 million budget increase that Sheriff David Morgan requested to hire the additional staff to meet the requirements established by the Department of Justice and backed by the JCI study (BTW: for which the county refused to make the final payment).
Valentino went on television attacking the sheriff and his staff. He refused to allow the sheriff and his chief deputy to speak at commission meetings to rebut assertions made by then-Interim County Administrator George Touart and others. Robinson made a speech to Rotary Club praising the decision and how it was saving the county money. Robertson broke from his traditional support of the sheriff and sided with Valentino and Robinson. Commissioner Steven Barry saw the vote to take the jail was going to pass and voted with the majority. Only Commissioner Lumon May stood firm.
The ATF report should be released soon. The State Attorney’s Office is following it closely. June may be a game changer for Escambia County.
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BCC Regular Meeting Budget & Finance Consent
Meeting Date: 06/03/2014
Issue: Emergency Purchase Orders in Excess of $50,000 Related to Flood Event of 2014 and Explosion
From: Amy Lovoy, Department Head
Department: OMB
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation Concerning Emergency Purchase Orders in Excess of $50,000 Related to the Flood Event of 2014 and Explosion at the Escambia County Central Booking and Detention Center – Amy Lovoy, Management and Budget Services Department Director
That the Board accept for information and ratify the issuance of the following Purchase Orders in excess of $50,000, issued under the Declaration of Local State of Emergency, effective April 29, 2014, through May 27, 2014, for procurement of goods and services for protective measures and repairs to County Buildings and Equipment damaged or destroyed by the Flood Event of 2014 and the natural gas explosion at the Escambia County Central Booking and Detention Center (CBDC):