Recapping the Eagan saga

While your publisher was on vacation, the City became entangled in a bizarre controversy involving a convicted felon, the Community Maritime Park, and the Port of Pensacola.

The background. Tim Eagan, a convicted felon and City Hall lurker, attempted to hold the City hostage by threatening a petition campaign to reverse the City Council’s decision to issue bonds for the Community Maritime Park project. Even if his campaign wasn’t successful, it could have delayed issuance of the bonds, costing the City millions and causing us to miss out on obtaining New Market Tax Credits for the project. So, the City attempted to broker a deal with Eagan. He agreed to drop his petition drive if the City Council would agree to hear his presentation on redeveloping the Port of Pensacola. The City’s legal department drafted an agreement and it was signed by Mr. Eagan and City Councilman Sam Hall. Then, Mr. Eagan went to the media and the state attorney’s office and alleged that the City had pressured him into making the agreement.

The fallout. Mr. Eagan has a lengthy rap sheet, including many charges for writing bad check, numerous theft charges, and as Rick’s Blog reports, he has admitted to using crack cocaine in the past. Rick Outzen and many in the community are sharply critical of the City and City Councilman Sam Hall for meeting with and pandering to Mr. Eagan; and at first glance, it really does look bad. However, we understand what City officials and Councilman Hall were trying to do: save the City millions of dollars. If the City hadn’t acted, and Mr. Eagan had raised the required number of petitions, forcing a referendum and costing the City who-knows-how-much, folks would have yelled at the City for not doing more to avert the situation.

Going forward. Despite Mr. Eagan’s decision to go to the media and the state attorney’s office to cry foul, the agreement he and Councilman Hall signed is legally binding, and Councilman Hall has said he intends to honour his part of it by arranging for Mr. Eagan to present his Port plan to Council. Mr. Hall said the presentation could occur sometime in December.

Below, see a copy of the legal agreement, as well as the coverage from other local media:

101309 Agreement

Links

• Pensacola News Journal: “Deal cut to avoid Maritime Park petition”
• Rick’s Blog: “Felon threatens to halt CMP bond issuance”
• Rick’s Blog: “Eagan can’t vote”
• Rick’s Blog: “Port dreamer admits to crack usage”