Board of County Commissioners' Packed Agenda Recommends Much

(ESCAMBIA COUNTY) ---The Board of County Commissioners' May 21 meeting agenda was full.

While theatrics may have overshadowed the serious matters, OpGov.News is here to bring up agenda matters, the whole point of the bi-weekly meeting.

As for the often-forgotten agenda, many matters listed under specific sections were recommended, including acceptance of the Tourism Development Tax, totaling $1.958,000, up nearly $139K from the last acceptance. Among the conservation easement recommendations and the shared emergency services between the National Park Service and the county were three items regarding a fireworks display for America's upcoming 250th Anniversary.

(Photo: Escambia County Board of Commissioners May 21 meeting, which lasted more than four hours)

Budget agenda items included the Peridido Key Esturary Program and the In-Kind Match for the Criminal Justice Mental Health, Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grant Program for Lakeview Center. Lastly, other agenda items, including property acquisition, stormwater projects, and transportation and drainage, are detailed in the full agenda.

However, the BCC agenda is often secondary to the Gary Sansing Public Forum, where the fight for customary beach access in Perdido Key continues, as well as concerns over the Escambia Children's Trust, specifically whether it should be placed back on the ballot.

Residents Cynthia Brown and Bill Chavis countered Commissioner Mike Kohler's charge against the ECT's financial efficiency, high per-student costs, and unequal distribution of funds across districts.

(Photo: Cynthia Brown argues 61%-voter-approved Escambia County Trust stay off the ballot)

While Brown, a teacher, pointed to the 61%-voted-for measure, noting it's what the public wants, she also warned against diversifying funds that could hurt at-risk children. Bill Chavis agreed, noting ECT's voter approval and the need to serve low-income districts.

Not all agree, beginning with resident Melissa Pino, who took her charge to the next level, accusing the ECT of dishonest audits. ECT Director Lindsey Cannon spoke on behalf of the group.

Cannon's arguments against a referendum are solid, based on the 61% voter approval.

(Photo: Escambia Children's Trust Executive Director Lindsey Cannon letting commissioners know "all clean" audits are a fact at the May 21 meeting)

"That's over 98,000 people," Cannon said, citing ECT's service to 10,000 children and defending the trust against unclean audits.

"As I have come on board, we have remedied a whole lot of issues," Cannon said. "Most of them are being resolved if not addressed already."

Clean independent audits since the ECT foundation are a fact, according to Cannon.

"I want to put that to rest for all of you," Cannon said.

Cannon's argument seemed to make a difference, with commissioners holding off on a vote until they conducted a Committee of the Whole workshop.

The public forum also addressed a recent library director position that continues to cause dissension, beginning with Robert Townsend condemning BCC's ignoring the West Florida Public Library Board of Governance's unanimous recommendation for the post.

(Photo: Resident Robert Townsend condemns commissioners for "lesser-hire" in the recent West Florida Library Director post)

According to Townsend, Bradley Vincent, who holds a master's degree and two decades of experience, should be the leader rather than the less-credentialed hire of Christal Bell-Riveria.

"It's not a personal or criticism of the person selected, it is a governance concern," Townsend told the commissioners, adding it is unacceptable to make said decision "without a transparent explanation, grounded in objective qualifications, public confidence, then the process suffers."

The entire hiring process was not transparent, causing further public distrust, Townsend concluded.

Other Key Takeaway agenda matters picked up by the OpGov.News platform points to a full agenda and a four-hour meeting as a result. In addition to the aforementioned public comments, other residents raised concerns about beach safety, access to government documents, and the waiving of property abatement costs.

(OpGov.News Key Takeaways from BCC May 21 meeting)