By By Lisa Tindell – news reporter
The Escambia County Commission will be handing out nearly $14,000 to county retirees after approving the one-time COLA raise during Monday's meeting of the group.
The 7 percent payment was suggested by state officials for all retirees.
Commission chairman David Stokes said he was happy the county was able to grant the raise to those who were eligible.
Annual bids for various products and services were also approved during the meeting. Southern Energy Company/Cougar Oil, Inc. was awarded the bid for gasoline and diesel fuels; Vulcan Signs for signs and signposts; Contec Construction Products, Inc. for high density poly pipe and couplings; Ozark Striping, Inc. for traffic striping; Harvey Metal Culvert Pipe for corrugated metal culvert; Family Life Center, Inc. for drug testing supplies; and Bullard Excavating, APAC Southeast and Mobile Asphalt receiving awards for asphalt plant mix. Concrete pipe supplies and uniform bids were not award and will be re-bid at a later time.
The commission adopted the official holiday schedule for fiscal year 2008 during Monday's meeting. Holidays for county employees will be Nov. 12 - Veteran's Day; Nov. 22 and 23 - Thanksgiving; Dec. 24 and 25 - Christmas; Jan. 1, 2008 - New Years Day; Jan. 21, 2008 - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert E. Lee Birthday; Mar. 21, 2008 - Good Friday; May 26, 2008 - Memorial Day; July 4, 2008 - Independence Day; and Sept. 1, 2008 - Labor Day.
In other business, the commission: