SRIA plans 'spring cleaning'
BY BRADLEY "B.J." DAVIS JR Gulf Breeze News bjdavis@gulfbreezenews.com

The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) is planning some spring cleaning. In response to 353 notices of violation recently issued by Escambia County Code Enforcement, community members and Pensacola Beach civic groups are being asked to step up to the plate for an April 14 clean up day.

"The violations cover anything from debris, overgrowth and dilapidated structures," said Bob McLaughlin, Escambia's Assistant County Administrator. McLaughlin said he is currently coordinating efforts with SRIA by suggesting a series of clean up days.

"The model that we would like to follow is one that we used at Perdido Key," McLaughlin said. "The Perdido Key Chamber took the leadership role to organize the clean up. The county stepped up to provide the resources they needed to help bring civic and leadership groups together." He added that SRIA would take on the same role as the Perdido Chamber by organizing those groups.

"Basically it's a self-help program we're looking at doing," he said. He charged SRIA with coordinating efforts with local groups and associations on Pensacola Beach to assist in the clean up. SRIA staff said they had a plan in place for rounding up help.

"What we're going to try to do is get the Optimist Club, Pensacola Beach Woman's Club, (Pensacola Beach Realtors and) Leaseholders' Association, and area (associations) like the Little Sabine Homeowners' Association," said W.A. "Buck" Lee, General Manager. He said the efforts would also include inmates from the County and Clean and Green.

SRIA member John Peacock asked if citation recipients who did not have the resources to abate their property would receive help from these groups.

"Hopefully people will come out to volunteer, but this is not for people who have been given citations to help put parts of homes out by the side of the road," said Lee. Lee said the efforts would focus on cleaning alongside Via De Luna and Ariola as well as parking lots.

McLaughlin said he was working on a plan to implement a "yard of the month" to be recognized by SRIA for homeowners' attempts to keep Pensacola Beach "clean and beautiful."