Library Board Dispute, OLF-8 Master Plan On Escambia County Agenda Tonight

The Escambia Board of County Commissioners meets tonight with an agenda that includes a discussion on library governance, setting public hearing dates for the Outlying Fields master plan, and routine fiscal year authorizations. County Administrator Wesley J. Moreno placed a discussion regarding the West Florida Public Library Board of Governance on tonight’s agenda.

(Photo Credit: Myescambia.com) The volunteer board has not held a meeting in several months. Commissioners are scheduled to consider the future structure and meeting schedule of the board, as well as appointments to open seats. Related agenda documents also officially list Rachel Nicholas as the Interim Library Services Director.

Another major item on the agenda concerns the Outlying Fields master plan in Beulah.

(Photo Credit: Myescambia.com)

Commissioners will vote on scheduling multiple public hearings to address land use and zoning changes for proposed mixed-use development on OLF-8. The future hearings will cover updates to the county's comprehensive plan and official zoning map. The proposed Outlying Fields Master Plan Ordinance will guide the new development along Frank Reeder Road, which is slated to include retail, multi-family housing, a commerce area, offices, and townhomes.

(Photo Credit: Myescambia.com) In addition to land use and governance topics, the board will vote on annual blanket purchase orders to begin the new fiscal year. These authorizations include funding for temporary staffing and operations in Mass Transit, medical supplies for emergency medical services, and new playground equipment for county parks. The commission is also set to handle several legal and administrative items. The board will vote to ratify the county's participation in a class-action lawsuit regarding Discover Financial Services interchange fees. Other administrative items include ratifying a Medicaid funding agreement with the state for charity care, approving a new 36-month vending machine contract for county facilities, and clearing residential grant liens for the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). Commissioners will also vote on scheduling public hearings to vacate unimproved right-of-ways in several subdivisions and process routine property rezoning requests. Between resolving the library system's leadership structure and advancing one of the county's largest commercial developments, tonight's decisions will set the operational tone as Escambia County officially enters its new fiscal year.

(Thumbnail Photo Credit: PNJ)