Latest news with #AshleeHofberger
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
VOTING OPEN: Residents can chime in on new Pensacola Beach gateway design
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) — Big changes are coming to the gateway entering Pensacola Beach. Escambia County officials plan to tear down the toll booths that greet visitors driving into Pensacola Beach, add an automated tolling system, and install a new arch over the roadway. Escambia County Commissioners are asking residents for their input by voting on their favorite architectural design. 'We have three different renderings available online, people can vote for their favorites, and we also have a comment section,' Escambia County Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger said. The three options residents can vote for on (Courtesy of Escambia County Commissioners Office) Residents can vote on their design of choice on the MyEscambia website. 'We do ask for names and emails,' Hofberger said. 'That way if we have follow-up questions or if you give us a really good idea, we can email you back and say, 'Hey, I really like this idea, can you give me some information as to how you think that would look.' Voting opened Friday afternoon and will close Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. The total project will cost anywhere from $6.3 to $7.5 million. Construction is set to begin this fall. The target completion date is April 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Four new fire stations could be coming to Escambia County
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG)- Civic leaders are looking to build four new fire stations in Escambia County. 'I wanted to make sure that when people pick up the phone and they call 9-11, that someone is available to respond and that person has the training and equipment they need to fix the emergency the person is experiencing,' Ashlee Hofberger, District 4 County Commissioner for Escambia County, said. Proposed plans include the demolition and replacement of stations 11 and 14 on Lillian Highway and Gulf Beach Highway. And the construction of two additional fire stations, one on Highway 97 and Kingsfield Road in Cantonment, and another in the Paradise Beach area. Plans also include the addition of sleeping quarters to station 21 on White Ash Road in Molino. With the new stations, County Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger hopes they can enhance emergency response capabilities and lower insurance rates for residents who don't have a fire station nearby. 'One of the biggest impacts that our community has seen from the areas that have previously had a fire station but don't have one anymore, for various reasons, is a huge hike in insurance. So their insurance premiums have went up anywhere from 30 to 60%,' Hofberger said. Hofberger says she's worked with Escambia County Fire Rescue Chief Adam Harrison to identify the locations. 'Chief Harrison's been great. He's got a running list of everything that the fire department needs for the future. Depending on growth…because we kind of know where people are moving and what areas are experiencing more growth,' Hofberger said. With an estimated cost of $34 million, Hofberger said the new stations and the expansion would be funded through Local Option Sales Tax dollars. Plans are expected to be voted on at a future Board of County Commissioners Meeting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
