by Kathy Foster
Ending their Wednesday Workshop the Washington County Commissioners accepted a check for $1,250 from Ronnie Bell, Waste Management, to enhance education about the Washington County Recycling Center.
At Wednesday’s Workshop session, Washington County commissioners supported sending a letter to Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Senator George Gainer and Representative Jay Trumbull asking they take action to help protect area residents from price gouging when it comes to gas prices.
The letter reads as follows:
“In the wake of the unprecedented devastation Hurricane Michael inflicted upon Florida’s Panhandle, we are deeply concerned that our already struggling citizens now face increasingly disproportionate prices for gasoline at the pump. While the state enjoys the lowest gas prices in three years, Washington County’s citizens face average gas prices of $2.46 per gallon. Our neighbors in unaffected Escambia County, averaging $2.07 per gallon, pay nearly $0.46 less per gallon despite having a higher local gas tax. This disparity simploy doesn’t add up.”
“Anyone who is trying to take advantage of this disaster while Floridian families struggle to rebuild their lives should be investigated and prosecuted. Therefore, we believe that Florida law enforcement agenices and regulators should take every stop to ensure that all state and federal laws protecting Washington County’s consumers from price-fixing, collusion, gouging, and other anti-competitive practices are vigorously enforced.”
“We, the Board Members of the Washington County Board of County Commissioners, respectuflly request that the Attorney General and Division of Consumner Services investigate any potential collusion, price-fixing, or gouging in the sale or distribution of gasoline in whosesale and retail markets. Given the severity of the Florida Panhandle’s devastation, we hope that each of you will devote the necessary resources to expedite review of this disparity and explore the possibility of market manipuation in our area.”
………………………………………………………………..
Continuing to discuss storm-related problems during the workshop, commissioners wanted to remind property owners that all debris from the hurricane must be placed on county or city rights-of-way for pickup.
Commissioners made it clear that both entities are prevented by law from picking up debris on private property.
Commissioners asked that anyone seeing contractors dumping construction debris along roadsides call the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.
Commissioners were informed that already more than 800,000 cubic feet of yard debris has been picked up and that figure is expected to climb to over one million cubic yards before work is complete.
………………………………………………………………………..
Commissioners also discussed the following agenda items during the workshop:
- Sale of county-owned property in Sunny Hills – The county attorney was directed to prepare necessary paperwork.
- Putting in an application for State Grant for the E911 Department.
- Grant funding for 911 Dispatch Equipment.
- A request for a letter of support for the upcoming Ms. Washington County Pageant.
- Having county workers take down a fence erected on county property that is blocking a private drive in the Cedar Tree Landing area.
- Sending a letter to the Wolf Preserve asking they not use the county’s right-of-way for public parking.
- The need to make sure parts are available in the U.S. for equipment the county is planning to lease/purchase from Catepillar.
- The Feb. 7th deadline to apply for NRCS funding to address flood issues.