Century agrees on new pump

Tuesday night, the Century Council approved to put out for bids, as required by the town's charter for any purchase of more than $500, on a new pump motor the town's waste water treatment plant used to keep the system in operation.

In operation one at a time, the town had three pump motors. One is in service right now at the water treatment facility, one was repaired and is on its way back to the town and the third was deemed unrepairable, which prompted the need to purchase a new one.

A new pump would cost a total of $11,100 to purchase. Town Clerk Leslie Howington, speaking for Water Superintendent Heath Burkett, who was out of town due to an emergency, made a request at the last council meeting for the purchase. Councilman Luis Gomez made it clear he was against spending the money to purchase a new pump and asked why the pump couldn't be paid for with using funds from a $600,000 grant the town had been awarded to upgrade its water treatment facility.

Robin Phillips, president of Jones-Phillips and Associates in Pensacola, who is working with Municipal Engineering's Dale Long and others on the town's upcoming water treatment facility upgrade, was on the phone. Phillips explained to Gomez how slow progress on such a large project can be, citing Florida's strict environmental policies, including studies and surveys that are required, plus the fact that grant money is earmarked for particular projects and cannot be spent on anything that it is not designated for, or risk losing the grant. In that last meeting, Howington put forth the request, and no one made a motion. The issue was not addressed and the council moved on with the agenda.

At Tuesday night's meeting, Howington said Burkett has been trying to have at least one backup motor in case of a break down and recent took the opportunity to have the two pumps, not in use currently, made ready for service.

Howington told the council members that according to the town's CPA, Robert Hudson, the funds to pay for the motor can come from either the town's waste water treatment fund, which has $217,792, or from Local Option Sales Tax funds, which the town can transfer from the Florida State Board's revolving fund. She reached out to Hudson after the meeting for his advice.

Councilman James Smith made a motion to bid out the cost of the pump motor, which was seconded by Councilman Leonard White. The motion carried unanimously. The council agreed the money would come from wherever Hudson advised it should.

The following day, Howington said Hudson had gotten back with her and recommended using LOST funds for the purchase, which leaves the water fund money for other things.

CDBG grant house

Even though they took no action, the Century Council discussed how to move forward in dealing with a house built with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds at 581 Church Street where a mobile home was that had been damaged by the 2015 tornado where the owners have not moved back into the house and possibly have rented it out.

Robin Phillips, president of Jones-Phillips and Associates in Pensacola, was on the phone at the March 1 meeting to discuss the situation, stating it was recently brought to her attention that the owners had not moved back in, but may possibly be renting it or planning to rent it out.

Council President Luis Gomez expressed concern about the house's property tax status and Phillips checked online and stated the property taxes are paid up to date.

Gomez stated he did want the council to get caught in the middle and advised turning issue over to Town Attorney Matt Dannheisser and let him make recommendations on how to move forward.

Phillips said the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) does allow the owners to rent it out as long as the renters were low to moderate income. She said they are not allowed to sell it within three years and that if they do sell it, they could owe up to 100 percent of the contract funds to the state of Florida. She said every CDBG grant pays 100 percent to construct the home with no home owner contributions and that's why the grant funds would have to be paid back.

Phillips said it isn't her usual practice to check back months later to make sure the owners have moved back in. She said she has been doing this for 23 years and has never encountered this situation where a homeowner has not moved back into the house and certainly cannot force them to.

“My job pretty much ends when we sign the close-out document with them, and we make the final payment to the contractor,” said Phillips. “That's where my responsibility ends, with regards to the construction.”

She said she followed up with the owner and was told they had planned to move back into the residence, but health problems had prevented them. She wasn't sure what the current status was.

Phillips said if the council wanted her to, she could go to the residence and speak to whoever is living there and find out if they qualify as renters, if that is the case. She pointed out that because the DEO states the owner can do whatever they would like with the house, the town would not have any legal responsibility.

Council members asked who is responsible for monitoring what happens after the completion that would prevent the owner from selling it immediately or within the three years. Howington assured them that a lien is placed on the house which would prevent it from being sold within those first three years.

Councilman Gomez reiterated to council members that he would prefer the attorney look at the situation and advise.

Councilwoman Sandra McMurray Jackson made a motion to let Dannheisser review the documentation and make a recommendation. Councilwoman Dynette Lewis seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

Howington said she and Phillips will work together to provide the documentation for Dannheisser.

The next council meeting will be at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 15, at Century town hall.