Latest news with #ECUA
Associated Press
23-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, FL Modernizes Permit Reviews with OpenGov
EMERALD COAST UTILITIES AUTHORITY (ECUA), FL, UNITED STATES, May 23, 2025 / / -- Facing growing frustrations from applicants and the burdens of a highly manual system, the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) in Florida set out to find a more efficient way to manage its permitting process. The organization chose OpenGov, the leading software partner known for driving efficiency and improving transparency across local government operations. Based in Escambia County, ECUA provides critical water, wastewater, and sanitation services and was struggling with review delays, manual plan deliveries, and an over-reliance on outdated tools like Excel and Access. Leadership was seeking a solution that could offer electronic review integration, unlimited user access, and an online portal to reduce both staff workload and applicant complaints. OpenGov Permitting & Licensing stood out for its user-friendly interface, cost-effective pricing, and ability to support cross-department collaboration on a single platform. With the implementation of OpenGov Permitting & Licensing, ECUA anticipates faster turnaround times and improved visibility into every stage of the permitting process. The team looks forward to automating reviews through direct Bluebeam integration and gaining access to a centralized dashboard to track applications in real time. Just as important, unlimited user access will allow departments to work simultaneously without bottlenecks, ensuring a smoother experience for both staff and residents. OpenGov is the leader in AI and ERP solutions for local and state governments in the U.S. 2,000 cities, counties, state agencies, school districts, and special districts rely on the OpenGov Public Service Platform to operate efficiently, adapt to change, and strengthen the public trust. Category-leading products include enterprise asset management, permitting and licensing, procurement and contract management, accounting and budgeting, billing and revenue management, and transparency and open data. These solutions come together in the OpenGov ERP, allowing public sector organizations to focus on priorities and deliver maximum ROI with every dollar and decision in sync. Learn about OpenGov's mission to power more effective and accountable government and the vision of high-performance government for every community at Peter Fudalej OpenGov email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority may soon stop adding fluoride to drinking water
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) — Emerald Coast Utilities Authority may soon stop adding fluoride to drinking water. 'Sand In My Boots Festival' prep underway — what to know ahead of the event 'In about 1988, when it was voted on by the public at large, at that point in time it passed with about 58% of the voter base favoring fluoride. That's the reason it was added at that time,' Bruce Woody, executive director of Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, said. Florida legislators passed a bill banning local governments from adding fluoride to public drinking water. The bill has not been signed, but Governor Ron DeSantis's administration has advocated against fluoridation, arguing high levels could pose a risk to children's intellectual development. However, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fluoride strengthens teeth by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear helping both children and adults prevent cavities. 'Without fluoride in the water then it would be important to discuss with your dentist what would be important for your particular situation, whether that be fluoride additives or be sure that you use other dental products such as toothpastes and washes and such,' Woody said. ECUA said they have been ordering less fluoride as a result of the bill's passage. They said they will monitor their supply to avoid having chemical supplies beyond what they can use through July 1, when the bill would take effect. Baldwin County Public Schools graduation schedule ECUA said the addition of fluoride costs approximately $340K per year in total. They said the future savings from no longer adding fluoride would be used toward the increasing expense of water production operations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Yahoo
Here's what you missed: New apartments, new restaurants and more
Here's a roundup of our top stories from the past week. With a subscription to the Pensacola News Journal, you will receive full access to the work done by our journalists and photographers as they head out every day to help inform and explain the important issues affecting your community. Pensacola prides itself on its historic homes and preservation efforts, but the fate of a Victorian-era Old East Hill is raising questions about whether rules meant to stop the demolition of historic buildings are coming too late. The home at 520 N. Sixth Ave. is slated to be demolished. The homebuilding company aDoor Properties is seeking a demolition permit to build two new homes in its place, but some residents of the Old East Hill neighborhood are calling for the home to be saved. The home was built in about 1892 and is the only local example of a Victorian architecture style known as Second Empire, a type of Victorian style that is common in the Northeast and Midwest, but rare in the South, according to the Old East Hill Preservation District's architecture guide. Full story: A 133-year-old Old East Hill Home faces demolition after years of neglect A young Milton man and his family are speaking out after he was allegedly manhandled by a Santa Rosa Sheriff's deputy after walking his brother home from the bus stop in an incident captured on video by their neighbors. Zander Cash, 20, walks his 11-year-old brother home from the bus stop in their Milton neighborhood every afternoon. It's part of their daily routine, like checking the mail. Only on Wednesday, Jan. 29, the Cash family says what started out as a normal day took a terrifying turn. Zander said he opened the door to a Santa Rosa Sheriff's Deputy telling him to step outside. He asked why, but the officer didn't say, and Zander said they went on like that a couple more times when the deputy pulled him out of the house. Full story: Milton family wants answers after Santa Rosa deputy snatched son from home in viral video Work is beginning on a new 282-unit luxury apartment development on a long-vacant piece of downtown Pensacola real estate. Crest Residential is beginning work to build The Romero on the western half of the former ECUA downtown sewage treatment property, once known as "Old Stinky,' and is the first project that will begin construction under the West Main Master Plan. The 282-unit development will have 10 different floor plans with units that range from 612 to 1,393 square feet and one, two or three bedrooms, according to information provided by Crest Residential, a developer based in Birmingham, Alabama. Full story: New luxury apartments coming to downtown Pensacola at former ECUA sewer treatment plant Pensacola's Blake Doyle Skatepark and From the Ground Up Community Garden have a tasty new neighbor moving in with plans to open this March. What was once the neighborhood's historical Malamo Brothers corner grocery store at 524 N. Hayne St. will soon become a café, restaurant and event space – a project spearheaded by Casey Jones, Reservoir's owner and operator and a member of the Pensacola City Council. 'I think back to when I was a kid and I was skating around downtown, and basically Subway was the only place to go get food. But we're going to have a whole section of our menu where those younger kids, or young adults, that maybe don't want to spend a lot of money on lunch, but they still want to be able to grab something convenient,' Jones said. 'We'll have a whole section of the menu of lower priced items that are kind of quick to grab and get going.' Keep reading: New restaurant opening soon near Pensacola's Blake Doyle Skatepark. Here's what's coming. Pensacola Beach restaurant Felix's Restaurant & Oyster Bar has permanently closed its doors, according to the restaurant's social media Monday evening. Pensacola Beach's Felix's restaurant was the first Florida location for the Louisiana-based restaurant group and opened in the fall of 2021, replacing the former Hemingway's Island Grill at 400 Quietwater Beach Road, Suite 16. "This decision was not an easy one, and we are immensely grateful for the support and love we have received from the Santa Rosa Island community over the last several years," Felix's statement read. "While we bid farewell to our Pensacola Beach location, we remain committed to serving our patrons at our other cherished establishments. Felix's will continue to uphold the legacy of exceptional seafood and unparalleled hospitality at our French Quarter, Lakefront and Gulfport locations." Keep reading: Felix's Restaurant & Oyster Bar permanently closes Pensacola Beach location This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola news stories: New apartments, new restaurants
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New luxury apartments coming to downtown Pensacola at former ECUA sewer treatment plant
Work is beginning on a new 282-unit luxury apartment development on a long-vacant piece of downtown Pensacola real estate. Crest Residential is beginning work to build The Romero on the western half of the former ECUA downtown sewage treatment property, once known as "Old Stinky,' and is the first project that will begin construction under the West Main Master Plan. The 282-unit development will have 10 different floor plans with units that range from 612 to 1,393 square feet and one, two or three bedrooms, according to information provided by Crest Residential, a developer based in Birmingham, Alabama. The company closed on the 8 acres of the 19-acre 'Old Stinky' property on Feb. 20 for $6.24 million, according to Escambia County public records. "The Romero directly addresses the need for modern multifamily housing in downtown Pensacola," said Matt Benak with Crest Residential. "A growing residential base will drive economic activity, strengthen local businesses, and ensure downtown remains a thriving destination.' Crest Residential's announcement said they plan to provide 'resort-style amenities, including a saltwater swimming pool, outdoor entertainment and dining areas, pickleball courts, fenced dog park, and a luxury pet spa.' The company expects to start pre-leasing units in the spring of 2026. The deal was 10 years in the making. In 2015, Pensacola businessman Quint Studer and his wife, Rishy Studer, bought the 19-acre property after Emerald Coast Utilities Authority decommissioned and cleaned up the old downtown sewer treatment facility, which closed in 2011. The property remained undeveloped for the next several years. Studer said questions over what would be built at Community Maritime Park held back any development of the property. In 2018, Studer approached the city to propose paying for the creation of a master plan to coordinate the development of the two large properties and add to the growing vibrancy of downtown Pensacola. The West Main Master Plan was the result. Urban planning experts Jeff Speck of Speck and Associates and Marina Khoury of DPZ CoDesign developed the plan after many public meetings with city residents. The city adopted the plan by implementing the zoning changes to the properties under the plan. The West Main Master Plan calls for restaurants, apartments and hotels to be developed along the unbuilt parcels of Community Maritime Park and the undeveloped "Old Stinky" property across West Main Street. Studer estimates he spent about $500,000 on the creation of the West Main Master Plan. While the city controlled the Community Maritime Park parcels, Studer controlled the 19-acre former ECUA property and formed an eight-member committee to review proposals for the property. The committee selected a proposal from The Dawson Company to develop the site. In 2023, The Dawson Company entered into a purchase agreement with Studer and bought the first 6 acres of the property for $4.5 million. However, developments on Maritime Park ultimately led to the Dawson Company obtaining lease options from the city for those parcels. The developers announced last year they were going to build a Hard Rock Reverb hotel and an apartment development at Maritime Park. As it became clear that the development of the former ECUA property had taken a back seat to the Maritime Park, Studer said he raised the price on the next purchase agreement to incentivize the development of those properties as well. 'We basically put a dollar amount in there, which we thought sort of forced them either do something on it or we'll take it back,' Studer said. Studer said he likes The Dawson Company and has worked with them on other projects like Southtowne, but he didn't want the former ECUA property to languish as an empty field. Last year, Studer told the News Journal that all of the former ECUA sites were under contract, except for 2 acres that would be set aside for overflow parking for Blue Wahoos Stadium. Crestline Residential is the first of those contracts to close. According to Escambia County public records, Crestline Residential paid $4.77 million to The Dawson Company for its 6 acres and $1.47 million to Studer Properties for another 2 acres. Studer said last week that the other potential buyer is still undergoing their due diligence before buying 8 acres to build a residential development with 324 units. As the housing crisis has driven up home prices and rents, Studer said he believes these developments will help add to the supply of residences and will pay full taxes. 'It's a great thing for the city,' Studer said. 'We all know supply is the big issue. They're getting a lot of apartments at different price points. And Crest is very committed to stormwater. They're getting better stormwater. They're getting all these tax dollars and all these people to live downtown. There's absolutely no subsidy.' Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves said while the city is not invovled in these developments other than its role of review construction permits and site plans, it will still help the city that is dealing with a housing crisis at every income level. 'Adding 280 units anywhere in our city is always a good thing, considering the housing crisis we're in,' Reeves said. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Downtown Pensacola apartments The Romero planned near Maritime Park
