THE ISSUE
The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners has long said the best way to pay for a new judicial center is with a sales tax.
They’ve tried multiple times in past years to implement one, and will try again this year. Ballot language is almost final for an August primary vote.
WHAT WE KNOW
Commissioners on Monday discussed whether a sales tax should be used just for a judicial center or if the funds should also cover other large capital needs such as drainage and emergency communications.
The board decided on two ballot votes, a half-cent for-or-against vote covering only the judicial, and another half-cent “to fund law enforcement/fire and public safety facilities and equipment, transportation and drainage improvements, infrastructure projects/public facilities, recreation/natural resources and capital equipment.” Both, by ordinance, would last five years.
The courthouse ballot notes the tax is estimated to generate $35 million. However, Commissioner Bob Cole said a location is not on the ballot.
While the commission has already voted to put the building in downtown Milton, the board agreed the location should be noted on the ballot.
Commission Chairman Lane Lynchard said most people would understand what the phrase “adjacent to the courthouse” would mean, and moved to include it in the ballot language.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The commission has until June 1 to send ballot language to the supervisor of elections office. Commissioners should vote on the final language Thursday; it would appear on the August primary ballot.
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THE ISSUE
Commissioner Bob Cole said he received a call at his automotive repair shop last week from someone — claiming to represent Gulf Power Company — demanding his credit card number to pay an overdue bill.
Cole said the caller told him “he had a truck on its way to shut the power off at my business.” Cole said he only pays bills by mail and had the paid bill in hand during the call, but he said the caller insisted Cole pay the bill.
WHAT WE KNOW
Gulf Power has reported customers’ stories of receiving such calls for at least 12 years. A media release from the company states its staff “does not make after-hours collection calls and would not request a credit card number over the phone.”
WHAT’S NEXT
“We need to let our citizens know, especially the elderly citizens, that there’s this scam going on,” Cole said. He suggested anyone who gets such a call to contact the power company and law enforcement about the situation.
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THE ISSUE
SRC Engineer Roger Blaylock said an issue was discovered during the Berryhill Road Mill and Resurface project: the tack layer, the layer binding the two layers of asphalt, failed.
WHAT WE KNOW
A report stated “that a portion of the new paving was separating from itself,” according to a letter to SRC Administrator Tony Gomillion from the Project Engineer, Chris Phillips. “Upon investigation, it was observed the top layer of asphalt had ‘slipped’ off the initial layer due to an assumed tack (tar) failure. A tack layer is placed between asphalt layers to promote adhesion between the two layers.”
WHAT’S NEXT
“We’ve identified four areas and they’ll begin work the second week in June to mill, resurface and repair those,” Blaylock said. “All of this is under warranty and will be no cost to the county.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Santa Rosa County Commission discusses sales tax ballot, scams, and Berryhill roadwork