The city of Pensacola is turning to the First Amendment Foundation in an effort to address issues with its public records process. “We deal with nothing but open government,†said Barbara Petersen,…
Raises still possible for county employees
By Brandy Volovecky The Escambia County Commission completed the first day in its two-day Committee of the Whole Budget Workshop on Tuesday July 9. Interim County Administrator George Touart presented a budget…
Commission Gets Jail Update
During this morning’s budget workshop, the Escambia County Commission was updated on the operational transfer of the Escambia County Jail. Staff is currently working to relieve Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan of…
Sheriff’s medical services for jail approved for continued accreditation
The National Commission on Correctional Health Care has voted to continue accreditation the Sheriff’s medical services at the county jail. There are 35 essential standards, 32 are applicable to the county jail…
Perdido Key Master Plan Meetings
The first of two public meetings on the Perdido Key Master Plan will take place Wednesday night. Escambia County Development Services is hosting the meetings. Proposed zoning designations and maps in support…
Sheriff challenges Touart’s claim that ECSO has not cooperated
This morning at a budget workshop, Interim County Administrator George Touart told the county commission that he can’t give them any numbers on the cost of assuming control of the county jail…
Former Chief Deputy Aiken hired by tech firm dealing with first responders and corrections
Press Release: Larry K. Aiken, former Chief Deputy of Escambia County, Florida Sheriff’s Office has joined the ranks of Edge Access, a leading developer and integrator of VoIP Technologies for First Responders…
Email to county commission from voter regarding Perdido Key name change
Douglas Underhill copied me on this email to the county commissioners. He has doggedly tried to found out how DOT came to change the name of Perdido Key to Perdido Key Beach….
Viewpoint from the so-called “powerful†who push for a replacement of the Langley Bell 4-H Camp
Got this email from a the concern citizen that wants a replacement for the 4-H Langley Bell Center. It is a response to Carlton Proctor’s PNJ article date on or about 5/19/13,”…
Bashing a success story at the county jail
We keep hearing that Interim County Administrator George Touart will be proposing handing over health care at the county jail to a private company. In the June 20 county commission meetings, he…
Touart Survives Round One
Members of the Escambia County Administrator Search Committee went down the list of applicants for the county’s top job this afternoon and whittled down the number of potential contenders. Interim County Administrator…
Mayor Hayward terminates Reynolds
Press Release: Statement from Mayor Ashton Hayward Today, I made the decision to terminate Bill Reynolds from his position as City Administrator. Last week, I received the disappointing news from the State…
Play Money
The city of Pensacola Parks and Recreation board will hold a special meeting Tuesday. The meeting will focus on Neighborhood Services fees and scholarships. According to Press Secretary Derek Cosson, the parks…
350‘s Climate Action Teach-In
Local environmentalists will meet Tuesday evening to discuss elements of the climate action plan recently outlined by President Barack Obama. Last month, Obama announced a plan that places limits on greenhouse gas…
County budget workshops this week, no reports on jail transfer received
The Escambia Board of County Commission will hold budget workshops this week. On July 15, Interim County Administrator George Touart repeatedly has told the commissioners that he will deliver them a balanced…
Narrowing It Down
The selection committee for the next administrator for Escambia County will meet for the second time following the holiday weekend. During the group’s initial meeting, members agreed to cruise through the stack…
City of Pensacola failed to timely respond to public record requests
In our article “The Upside of Corruption,” I failed to mentioned the State Attorney’s findings and recommendations regarding the Hayward administration handling of public records. We had limited space available in the…
DBPR Announces New Communications Director
Press Release: he Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) today announced it named Tajiana Ancora-Brown, an experienced marketing communications professional, its director of communications. Ms. Ancora-Brown will be responsible for…
Valentino Earns FAC’s ACC
Escambia County Commission Chairman Gene Valentino has been presented with the Advanced County Commissioner (ACC) designation by the Florida Association of Counties. The designation follows the commissioner’s completion of a comprehensive study…
Here are the State Attorney’s reports on the City of Pensacola
These were released yesterday: Charges City Council Investigation City of Pensacola – Report