By By MICHELE GERLACH Publisher
Residents of the Dixie community appeared before the Escambia County Commission Monday to voice concerns about changes in their phone service.
The group drove to the meeting rather than call commissioners about their complaints because their costs for calling in Escambia County recently escalated.
Buddy Bradley, who spoke for the group, said that their phone service recently was acquired by CenTel.
Previously, residents of that community could place a local phone call to Brewton. Now, they say, they are being charged long distance fees for calls they consider local.
The commissioners agreed to contact the phone company and attempt to assist the residents with a resolution.
The commission also approved a tax abatement for Tri-County Peanut Co., Inc., which plans a $2.9 million expansion.
The owners of Tri-County Peanut Co., which is located north of Atmore, initially made a $6 capital million investment, according to Marshall Rogers, executive director of the Escambia County Industrial Development Authority. The company dries, cleans and prepares peanuts for shipping.
The business employees 30 people at the height of the peanut season, and the expansion will create four additional jobs.
The company will continue to pay property taxes earmarked for education.
Commission chairman Larry White said the county also is working to help the Tri-County Peanut Co. get an industrial access grant from the State of Alabama.
In other business, the commission: