On Feb. 19, two days before the county commission voted to pay for the legal defense of its code enforcement officers, County Administrator Bob McLauglin sent a memo to Charlie Walker, head…
Bubbas on Patrol cases
Through a public record request, we received copies of the lawsuits against county code enforcement and the Sheriff Ron McNesby. There are common threads. Both cases involved Saufley Landfill, construction debris haulers,…
City insisted Fire Captains get 10 percent
At meeting today with Fire union members, we were told that the union sought an 8 percent across-the-board raise for all ranks during the negotiations on the recently approved bargaining agreement. However,…
Roads Inc paid $12.3 million
As per a public request, we have found that Roads, Inc has been paid $12,352,346.36 this decade for work for Escambia County. FY 2001 $586,588.99 FY 2002 $600,261.71 FY 2003 $692,557.91 FY…
Sheryl Crow coming to Pcola
WILDFLOWER TAKES A DETOUR THROUGH PENSACOLA! SHERYL CROW ON APRIL 26! Pensacola, Fla – 9-time Grammy winner Sheryl Crow will breeze into the Pensacola Civic Center on Saturday April 26th. The celebrated…
What’s wrong with Escambia County
Last night’s county commission meeting is the perfect example. A contractor – who has made hundreds of thousands from the county in the Hurricane Ivan clean-up and who employs the former county…
County code enforcement
The 2007-08 budget for code enforcement is $2,454,000. It’s funded by fines and fees ($1,654,000), General Fund ($300,000) and Solid Waste ($500,000). Two years ago the budget was $1,296,349. Hmmmmm – budget…
Roads Inc catfish pond
Last night the Escambia County Commission revoked the stormwater permit for a pit that Roads, Inc has claimed for two years was a catfish pond. According to the PNJ article, Roads Inc….
Showdown on court funding
Our court system is expensive. In this area, law enforcement has an “arrest everybody” attitude. State attorney has a “try everybody” attitude. And the courts get clogged. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports…
Code enforcement has problems
This week Sheriff Ron McNesby took away the badges and arrest powers of the Code Enforcement officers. Why? Because of the liability. The Bubbas have overstepped their authority and have two civil…
Education of the Superintendent
Whether the Superintendent of Schools has a PHD doesn’t matter. It is a false issue. The School Superintendent needs to be a leader. He can hire educators, financial experts, etc. Don Gaetz…
Arnold pre-files
Asst. Superintendent Ronnie Arnold has filed to run for the Escambia County Superintendent of Schools. We also received this email this morning from Arnold: I will be out of the office until…
Presidential Politics
On IN Your Head Radio, two of top political writers in the South: Jackson Baker (Memphis Flyer) and Max Brantley (Arkansas Times). Listen online from 1-2 p.m. newsradio1620.com
Notes on Council fire vote
The Pensacola City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a new collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Firefighters, Local 707. Councilman Mike Wiggins was absent from the meeting. Councilwoman Jewel Cannda-Wynn…
State still pursues Allstate
From Orlando Sentinel: Insurance regulators on Tuesday filed a complaint seeking to suspend Allstate’s authority to write new insurance policies in Florida in response to what they said was the company’s continued…
St. Joe Co. loses big in 2007
St. Joe Co. reported quarterly net income plunged to $1.0 million, compared with earnings of $22.3 million in the last quarter of 2006. For 2007, St. Joe reported net income of $39.2…
Okaloosa counts on military to weather recession
The Daily News reports a study released by Enterprise Florida concluded that military spending remains one of the state’s leading growth industries. It’s particularly valuable to Northwest Florida, where defense-related spending accounts…
Pace Award winners
Emerging Leader Of The Year was given to Mike Hicks – CEO of Hixardt Technologies Business Leader Of The Year was given to Keith Gregory – Cox Communications Professional Leader Of The…
Council passes fire agreement, 9-0
Everybody approved it. Mike Wiggins was absent. So much for cutting the city budget.
Radio: Fire, Bobby Knight and Sex Challenge
On IN Your Head Radio, I will discuss the proposed collective bargaining agreement between City of Pensacola and the Firefighters Union. Other guests: Author Josh P. McClary on calling his hero, Coach…
