Overpass Overhaul?
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NOW REOPEN! Thank you for your e. FREE concern after our recent fir Glass of Wine ver. with Purchase of Entrée We’re back better than e w/ad expires April 30, 2016 Join us for... LUNCH: Wed-Fri 11-2:30 reeze DINNER: Mon-Thurs 4:30-9:00 www.myaegeanbeeze.com Fri-Sat 4:30-9:30 913 Gulf Breeze Pkwy. | Suite 20 | Gulf Breeze | 850.916.0430 April 7, 2016 YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER 75¢ Overpass overhaul? Photo by Melanie Kormondy Overnight repairs to the State Road (S.R.) 399 southbound overpass over U.S. 98 in Santa Rosa County are scheduled to begin in mid-April. Crews will remove and replace the damaged beam over westbound U.S. 98 and repair the portions of the bridge deck connected to the damaged beam. The repairs will allow an additional nine inches of vertical clearance to the structure. City hopes to retool structure to remove friction point BY MELANIE KORMONDY “The people who did the PD&E Eddy. “There’s not room underneath done recently and looking forward to Organization) to evaluate and conduct Gulf Breeze News study for the Pensacola Bay Bridge the overpass for three lanes per direc- the obsolescence of that structure in a PD&E study of the replacement of the [email protected] pointed out that the bridge isn’t going tion and there’s not room for pedestrian limiting the expansion that can be done overpass.” to create more traffic, but it will be the walkways.” on the highway which is necessary in Eddy said that the way the funding The city voted to be a squeaky wheel city of Gulf Breeze’s friction points Eddy added that under that overpass the lifespan of the new Pensacola Bay works for these types of projects takes in hopes to get the oil from the FDOT in throughout the city from the base of the is the location of the only pedestrian- Bridge, I think it would behoove the a number of years to put projects in the coming years to potentially replace and bridge to the national seashore, and one related fatalities in the City of Gulf city to ask the DOT (Florida Depart- proper category for funding. expand the 399 overpass over Hwy. 98 of those big friction points is the over- Breeze. ment of Transportation) through the in order to alleviate congestion. pass,” said City Manager Edwin “Buz” “As exposed by the damage that was TPO (FL-AL Transportation Planning See PD&E Page 2A » Court decision City finds a leaves SRIA ‘Better Way ‘in limbo’ to Give’ Pensacola (LeaP) Class BY PAM BRANNON — R ELATED — BY MELANIE KORMONDY Gulf Breeze News Property Appraiser Gulf Breeze News of 2016 began the Better [email protected] requests rehearing of [email protected] Way to Give program, in Portofi no case which they plan to install Santa Rosa Island Authority The mayor endorsed public art parking meters, held a special board meeting page 4B » the “Better Way to Give” or “giving stations” around last week to discuss what the initiative that works to downtown Pensacola as Janice Gilley said that might be future of SRIA might look like. combat homelessness in an alternative to giving to impossible right now. However, the general agreement the community, and the panhandlers. The funds “With this lawsuit decision I of the board members was that city council approved the these meters generate think we are kind of in limbo. I SRIA’s future is somewhat “in concept to support the will go to established don’t think I can say what our limbo” right now due to the endeavor. non-profit organizations budget is going to look like The city is interested in coordinating with Leadership Pensacola’s last month’s Appeals Court In an effort to whose goal is to combat – or what it should look like Class of 2016 to help raise money for the area homeless by decision saying Escambia dramatically improve the systemic causes of – for the coming year. I live in collecting monetary donations that will be sent to the EscaRosa County did not have the right Coalition of the Homeless. Used parking meters like the one the lives of the homeless homeless and poverty. Josh a world of statutes. I deal with to impose ad valorem taxes on above will be painted by local artists and placed around the city. in Pensacola and Newby, who represented them every day. I do believe we beach properties with leases of surrounding areas, The LeaP Class 2016 said that 99 years or less that were not provide some services out here Pensacola Chamber that, according to state statutes, automatically renewable. Photo provided by LeaP Class 2016 Foundation’s Leadership See Meters Page 2A » Board member Thomas Escambia County is not Campanella said, “In light of authorized or want to provide. I the last lawsuit decision my would like to have our attorney recommendation is that there give us a matrix of exactly what Family says veteran’s trail ends nearby be no more reduction in lease our responsibilities are under The family of a missing 39yearold man Air Base did not start accounts were shut down. The Hendry fees. If we do prevail, we have the statute. “ say the last link they have to him is in Santa for a month and he County Sheriff’s Office contacted “Mike” already cut lease fees in half, Tammy Bohannon said Rosa County, where his car, a red 2014 was going to stay with who told them that Jason came by his office and then if land taxes go away, she believes this latest court Mercedes C250 was located in a Walmart a friend named Mike and borrowed $100 and said he was going to it would be diffi cult to pay what decision changes everything parking lot on Thursday, March 24. They who was going to give his mom’s in Clewiston. Mike wasn’t sure we need to pay to take care Escambia County had in motion they are asking that anyone with knowledge him a job until the job when the money was borrowed in February. of maintaining the beach. Of as far as the beach. of Daniel Jason Higgins contact authorities. at the Air Base started. Since his bank account was closed, his course, there will still be taxes “I truly believe this latest An Air Force veteran, Higgins was The last time Higgins pension check for March was returned to the appeal decision will stand. My on the improvements. I have last heard from on February 13. He left used his credit card or Higgins Defense Finance and Accounting Services spoken to many people out here understanding right now is that Clewiston on February 2 and went to sunpass (Florida’s Pre- (DFAS). who do not want to see SRIA go the two departments the county Jacksonville for an interview at an Air Base. paid Toll Program) was on February 16, and Higgins is a white male, 5 feet 11 inches away.” took back are being funded by He left Jacksonville February 12 to head he has not been seen or heard from since. tall and approximately 170 pounds with The board planned to talk escrowed land taxes. If that back to Clewiston, but called his mother on Around the same time, his cell phone, bank brown hair, brown facial hair and blue-gray budgets at this meeting. But February 13 to let her know the job at the account, and both his facebook and twitter eyes. See Recent Page 3A » Arrest Report . 2A FRI 4/7 SAT 4/8 SUN 4/10 Calendar . 2A & 7A Mailing Statement END SUNNY SUNNY MOSTLY Classifieds . 7B on Opinion Page WEEK SUNNY Crossword Puzzle. 6B THREE SECTIONS, Weather-plus hi 72/lo 48 hi 68/lo 47 hi 68/lo 55 Movies . 7A 20 PAGES rain: 0% rain: 0% rain: 0% Opinion . 6A VOL. 16, NO. 14 Sports . .1-7B APRIL 7, 2016 2A April 7, 2016 GULF BREEZE NEWS gulfbreezenews.com Painted meters will collect money April Calendar of Meetings for area’s homeless population Tourist Development Council Thursday 8:30 a.m., SRC Administrative Center, Board services at the right time, right a fan of the program, but is » Continued from Page 1A 7 Room frequency and right intensity. hesitant to employ additional they already have 38 meters, Mayor Matt Dannheisser work on city staff and using and hope that the presence of would like to see this program tax payer money to fund an Gulf Breeze Optimist Club Breakfast the meters will “reappropriate” within Gulf Breeze’s city limits. organization. Friday 6:45 a.m., Gulf Breeze Hospital Cafeteria the representation of a homeless “I hope that we as a city “It should not be the 8 person panhandling on the side council will take some action government’s job to fund Commissioner Committee of the road. to help this program along,” those organizations,” said Monday 9 a.m., SRC Administrative Center, Board “Homelessness is often said Dannheisser. He suggested Henderson. “If we can keep 11 Room opaque and camouflaged of that the city find used meters it all volunteer and it doesn’t Local RESTORE Council the systemic problems in our to have them repurposed and cost the city anything, I’m 3 p.m., SRC Administrative Center, Board society,” said Newby. “And placed in front of City Hall, at all for sponsoring it.” Room these meters are a way to solve the Community Center, and Henderson said that he Fire Dept.