Century Town Planner Debbie Nickles was asked by Century Mayor Henry Hawkins to explain charges totaling $1,500 she had submitted to the town at Century's last council meeting on Jan. 13.
“I got the invoice today and I've got some questions on it that I'm going to basically challenge or question the whole thing,” said Hawkins. “Bills for May 2, May 16, June 4, Sept. 19 and Oct. 23. Can you give me more information on these?”
Nickles had submitted the bills to the town to be paid, which included a quarterly conference call with representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency, work to get site owners to give permission for site assessments, an Alger Sullivan mill property site assessment, and a meeting with individuals at Pensacola State College about property there that needs a site assessment. Nickles told the council, in detail, who she met with or spoke to on the phone with on each date in question and why.
Hawkins said he just wanted some clarity, that he did not want people to think he is just signing checks, not knowing what the monies were spent for.
In a later phone interview, Nickles explained that her job and the hours she submitted are part of administering a grant and that there are many requirements and regulations in the state of Florida that must be met and carried out when public monies, such as a grant, are approved for expenditure.
“These actions are to assess sites of potential hazardous materials or petroleum for properties for reuse for the Brownfields Grant to help clean up,” said Nickles. “Thats the whole purpose of the Brownsfield program, is to clean up property to use so that the land can be productive again. What's unique about the grant for Century is that we are working with the town of Flomaton. This is the first time local government has received a Brownfield Grant to work with two different states. We've got sites in Flomaton also. I don't mind explaining to the council my invoices if they have questions about them. I have nothing to hide. I feel like I give more time and effort to the town than I have ever charged them for.”
