Escambia County Committee of the Whole Workshop
Board of County Commissioners
March 13, 2008
Called to order at 9:02 a.m.
All County Commissioners were present. Marie Young was tardy.
The board recognized the United States Army Presence in Escambia County. Brigadier GeneralJeffrey A. Jacobs, of the 350th Civil Affairs Command, Pensacola, gave a presentation on their reserve units, global presence and overseas deployments. A presentation was also given by a representative from the local Florida Army National Guard, Troop B, 1st Squadron, 153rd Cavalry Regiment and the Company B, 146th Expeditionary Signal Battalion.
A representative from the University of West Florida ROTC gave an overview of his program.
Several other regional Army organizations gave slideshows on their units.
These presentations took just under an hour.
The board discussed the Fire Services and Volunteer Fire Department Stipend and Contracts. This issue was deferred from a February 21 BCC meeting. Chief Ken Perkins, of Escambia County Fire Rescue, and Chief Robbie Whitfield, of the volunteer services, have been working on a program to consolidate the programs.
“I am really excited to see this move forward,” Whitehead said.
An outline will be presented to the board at a future meeting.
– Doyle Butler, division manager for Neighborhood Environmental Services, discussed the Scenic Highway Land Surplusing, located on the 9200 block of Scenic Highway.
“We are asking the board to lead us in a direction in reference to surplus this property,” Butler said. Thirty acres of the 5200 block of Scenic Highway was proposed for public access.
Engineering staff had concerns after reviewing the plans. They had concerns that surplusing the land would interfere with other county projects.
A trade was originally proposed, but the developer involved asked to now buy the property outright.
“The only question in my mind is if the sale of this would allow the Addison project to move forward,” Whitehead said. “It’s a tough sell for me.”
Robinson asked if the county actually had access to the bay as the property lines stand now.
The county attorney, A. Rogers was asked to check the information on Chris Jones’ Web site.
“Oh, I don’t have my computer on,” she said.
The board moved on.
“There is too much out there for us to be prepared to act on this issue today,” Commissioner Grover Robinson, district 4, said. “There are just too many questions.”
Whitehead said he is not interested in selling a piece of waterfront property.
“Once it is gone, it is gone,” he said.
– Marcie Whitaker, of the Community Redevelopment Agency, discussed the Brownsville Property Acquisitions. The property they agency is interested in is just over a half an acre at 3322 Mobile Highway.
“There is a need for retail services in (Brownsville),” Whitaker said. “We are asking to move forward with an appraisal.”
The agency was looking to put in a retail village center to catch some of the traffic that comes down Mobile Highway each day.
“This would be the first of several parcels,” she said.
The board asked the agency to look for a better way to do this and return to a future meeting.
-Escambia County Public Information Officer Sonya Daniel gave an update on the County Access Channel. A Cox Cable agreement has been reached.
“With the budget situation no one has finances to come to the table with for sponsorships,” Daniel said. “The best thing to do is share staff and equipment.” At this point unfunded items are at $39,800.
“If we are only talking $40,000 I am willing to go in to the reserves to make this move forward,” Whitehead said. “The issue now it to get Mediacom and Brighthouse on board too”
A motion was made to appropriate the $40,000. It was approved unanimously.
-The board discussed Article V, Indigent Defense Costs.
A motion was passed to put out a notice to local attorneys who have counseled the indigent will have only several weeks to turn in their billing for these cases, County Attorney Alison Rogers .
-The board members then discuss the annual cost of indigent burials.
The average cost of burying an infant is $335. The average cost to bury an adult is $1,160.
These costs are absorbed 100 percent by the county. In the 2006/2007 fiscal year Escambia County spent $113,400 on 130 burials and cremations. The County estimates they would have paid only $52,200 if they would have eliminated earth burials, a savings of more than $61,200.
“This is the hypothetical saving had the county only cremated,” said Marilyn Wesley, director of community services.
Wesley the last time changes were made to this program was 1996. But new problems are requiring new solutions. “The lifespan of our cemeteries is 20 to 30 years,” Wesley said. “And the process of disposing of the dead bodies is becoming more expensive.”
Companies that participate in this program have asked for a fee raise if the county chooses to go to a cremation only program. They ask that cremation for an adult be raised from $300 to $500. If the board decides to go to a cremation-only program the costs will lower to $210 for infants and $575 for adults.
“Either way you look at it, you can cremate someone for half of what we bury them for,” Whitehead said. “I don’t see a good reason not to do this.”
A few burials will still be required to be buried; those who have a legal hold or who are not identified.
“There is a minor chance you could have legal challenges under a cremation-only program,” Rogers said. “But the chances of someone suing under a freedom of religious practice law would small.”
The issue will be readdressed at the last board meeting in April when Community Services will present a revised plan. A vote will take place them.
– Sandy Jennings, director of solid waste, discussed the county recycling program.
Jennings proposed a second weekly pick up for recycling, no tipping fee for recycling, and a single stream program, which wouldn’t include glass.
“ECUA has not wanted to work collaboratively on this issue,” Whitehead said. “If they don’t want to participate can we do it without them?”
Robinson quibbled that he did not want it to appear that the issue at hand was the county’s relationship with ECUA.
“I am not so worried about offending someone at ECUA that I won’t discuss the issue,” Whitehead said. “If they continue to show that they do not want to work with us on this, we can explore other options.” Whitehead then agreed that having the services consolidated would save money.
“The problem now is we have three entities handling this now,” Robinson said of the city, county and ECUA. “It’s not as easy and simply saying this (company) does this, you do that.”
“Where is the resistance here?” Valentino asked.
County Administrator Robert McLaughlin said he didn’t anticipate any resistance to the recycling program. “But if ECUA does decide that the program is not cost effective for them, we can go elsewhere,” McLaughlin said.
This issue will be discussed in full at the joint meeting on March 18.
Sidebar at the end of the meeting: “If tax payers knew that 25 cents of every dollar they pay goes to the jail they would have a fit,” Whitehead said. “That’s why that community channel is so important, cause right now the public thinks we are spending money like drunk sailors.”
