Meeting in regular session on August 20, 2013, the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) adopted the concept for the Land Exchange between NAS Whiting and Escambia County. The BCC adopted the project as an Economic Development Project and approved the commencement of the due diligence process and authorized the County to complete the County property purchase list.
At their regularly-scheduled meeting on November 7, 2013, the BCC authorized the County Attorney to contact RMS Timberland’s attorney to negotiate a contract to supersede their contract with Mr. Cronley.
Meeting in regular session on December 5, 2013, the BCC voted to purchase the property and authorized staff to move forward with the acquisition.
Running congruently, the BCC awarded a contract to Baskerville-Donovan, Inc. (BDI) to perform the due diligence process, perform surveys, including environmental surveys, and develop conceptual designs for both the Santa Rosa property (Site X) and the current Outlying Landing Field (OLF Site 8). March 2014, BDI was awarded the contract to begin the design for Site X.
On November 25, 2015, the President signed into legislation the National Defense Authorization Act of 2016. This legislation authorized the U.S. Navy to engage in conversation with Escambia County staff regarding the Land Exchange Agreement (LEA). Over the next several months County staff met with Navy personnel to work through the requirements that had to be met by the Navy before the exchange would be allowed to take place. The County’s consultant started working through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and the Environmental Assessment (EA).
Meeting in regular session on June 6, 2016, the BCC voted to accept and execute the LEA.
The County awarded the Phase I construction contract to J. Miller in July 2016. J. Miller began clearing Site X in August 2016, began grading and earthwork in late October 2016, and began laying out the sub-grades for the helipads, landing strips and blockhouse in December 2016. In January 2017, the fencing, pinnacles, seeding and irrigation began.
On May 22, 2017, the County Administrator received a response from Rear Admiral Bolivar, U.S. Navy, of concessions, or deferred construction, at an estimated 1.5M.
To finalize these plans and bid Phase II of this project, staff will need further direction from the BCC. |