Community members recently got their say on Walton County’s “wish list” of projects proposed for funding through the Natural Resources Damage Assessment (NRDA) process.

This was at a May 7 Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) workshop at the South Walton Courthouse Annex.

NRDA is a legal process to determine restoration needed to compensate the public for harm to natural resources and human uses, in this instance as a result of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Some restoration projects, termed early restoration, are being implemented as planning proceeds to address the full range of damages.

In April 2011, BP agreed to provide $1 billion for early restoration projects, with Florida’s share of that amount to be $100 million. The approval process for projects has been a three-step one, with state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) approval required first, then approval by Florida’s NRDA trustees and by BP.

On May 17, 2011, Walton County submitted a list of projects proposed for funding from Florida’s $100 million. These included a gulf fishing pier at Grayton Beach State Park, the county’s Habitat Conservation Plan, artificial reef construction, dune monitoring and restoration, water quality monitoring/restoration of the 15 coastal dune lakes, sea turtle monitoring/population restoration, shorebird monitoring and habitat/population restoration, water quality monitoring/restoration of Choctawhatchee Bay, beach nourishment, and projects to address recreational loss. Also proposed were infrastructure projects to offset water quality impacts, including stormwater upgrade retrofits, stream and shoreline protection, and wetland restoration.

Public input on the project list was sought at a workshop a week later at the South Walton Annex.

In August 2011, the BCC was asked to rank its top five projects from the 12 on its NRDA project list. At the Aug. 12 BCC meeting, the commissioners selected as their top five the fishing pier, a fish hatchery/research center, construction of 20 offshore and inshore artificial reefs, water quality investigation, monitoring and restoration of the 15 coastal dune lakes, and projects to address recreational loss. The latter proposal would combine land acquisition, improvements to beach accesses and parks, including construction of dune walkovers, and improvements to the Kellogg Nature Center property.

Walton County Environmental Manager Billy McKee began the recent NRDA prooject worshop by discussing the previous week’s announcement that Walton County’s number-three-ranked proposal for artificial reefs had been selected for funding through a combined package with other counties.

The counties are Walton, Escambia, Santa Rosa, Bay and Franklin, and the projects will total $11.4 million. McKee said he was awaiting more information on the project package.

In all, NRDA early restoration funding was announced for approximately $58 million in projects statewide.

In addition to the funding for artificial reefs, Walton County is to share in $3 million in funding for enhancement and re-creation of scallop fishing opportunities throughout the Panhandle.

McKee told county commissioners and workshop attendees that, with the projects just announced, $69 million of Florida’s original $100 million for early restoration projects had been “spoken for.”

He suggested a look at projects six through 12 on the county’s list of proposed NRDA projects, since those had not yet been ranked by the commissioners.

District 4 Commissioner Sara Comander discussed moving up one of those projects, Walton County’s Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), which provides protection for endangered and threatened species along the coast. With the Wildlife Lighting Ordinance as its centerpiece, the HCP was developed in response to regulatory authorities’ concerns about the impact of seawalls permitted by the BCC during the emergency period following Hurricane Dennis. McKee estimated that the HCP could be fully implemented at a cost of approximately $3 million.

District 3 Commissioner Bill Imfeld asked McKee if he thought BP paid attention to how Walton County ranked or prioritized projects on their list.

“Probably not,” McKee responded.

Representing the South Walton Community Council (SWCC), Anita Page expressed concern about a “noticeable decline” in observable species in the vicinity of the coastal dune lakes. Since the county is promoting a number of projects involving the dune lakes, she suggested the addition of a species inventory. Page suggested a “watershed approach,” with the county meeting with other stakeholders with regard to the lakes.

A number of the lakes still have culverts on CR-30A rather than bridges, Page added, making it difficult for erosion into the lakes to be controlled. She also spoke of invasive plants that have become a problem in the dune lakes, urging for stakeholder meetings and brainstorming on ways to combat these plants. South Walton County resident Bonnie McQuiston, who spoke later, also asked the commissioners to look at what could be done to get rid of the invasive plant growth.

Page suggested partnering with state agencies and environmental organizations with project proposals.

She called for a different approach with what is known as the “Angelo’s” beachfront parcel, which is being proposed for acquisition under the category of recreational loss compensation. Page suggested proposing the acquisition of this 2.78-acre property in Seagrove, which features an intact dune system, under the category of habitat enhancement for the beach mouse.

McKee was receptive to this approach and to Page’s other suggestions. In response to a question, he said the Angelo’s property could still be used for public beach access if acquired for beach mouse habitat.

Page asked for details on the proposed fishing pier at Grayton Beach State Park. She was concerned about parking for the pier and about who would be responsible for maintaining the pier.

Cliff Knauer of Preble-Rish, county engineering consultants, provided details. Knauer said a number of meetings were held about the pier proposal between the South Walton Tourist Development Council (TDC) and state park leadership, who had expressed enthusiasm about the proposal. The meetings took place a number of years ago.

Knauer said the question had been asked why Walton County does not have a fishing pier on the Gulf of Mexico, while other coastal counties from Escambia to Bay have one or more gulf fishing piers. He explained that a location had been sought where a fishing pier would have minimal impact, adding that there would be no impact on the dunes at Grayton Beach State Park with the proposal.

The proposal calls for a 1,000-foot-long pier and the addition of a 100-space parking deck on top of the current 80-space parking lot at the park. Knauer said he and his colleagues had put the proposal together free of charge and that he hoped the pier would become a reality regardless of who would be doing the project.

“I would love to see us put in a fishing pier,” Knauer said.

He said the proposal called for Walton County to maintain the pier and that gate fees should be sufficient to defray those costs. In the event that the pier suffered damage and there was a need to replace it, Knauer explained, FEMA funding would cover 75 percent of that cost.

Knauer was of the opinion that both people living north of the bay and south of the bay would enjoy fishing from the pier. He said another location would be possible. Knauer pointed out that not everyone can afford to pay to go out on a charter fishing boat.

Jack Slattery spoke in opposition to the pier proposal, complaining that, with the pier, the public would be “stuck with no Grayton Beach State Park anymore.”

Bob Brooke urged for a look at financials with the proposal, warning that Walton County would not be likely to get the thousands of tourists coming to the pier that Bay County gets.

Johnny Mall told the BCC that the pier would be an “excellent idea.” Another resident expressed support, as well, saying that, before coming to Walton County 12 years ago, he had lived in a little town with a pier on the gulf—and that the pier had “kept me out of trouble” growing up.

Jacquee Markel came forward to urge the commissioners to consider sponsoring a proposal to replace culverts at five coastal dune lakes with bridges in order improve water flow and the health of these unique water bodies. The lakes include Deer Lake, Big Redfish Lake, Little Redfish Lake, Draper Lake, and Alligator Lake.

J.B. Hillard encouraged a partnership between the county and the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance to address excessive sediment in the bay and to improve the general health of the watershed. He emphasized the importance of partnership efforts.

“Partnership is key,” agreed Pat Blackshear.

County Commission Chairman Kenneth Pridgen observed that many good ideas had been presented and that there was much work to do. He directed staff to schedule more workshops on the topic and to work on “what is viable and what needs to be approved.”

Comander said she and McKee had been meeting with other counties and with representatives of environmental agencies on project proposals. She spoke to the need to get projects on the NRDA list “road ready.” “We’ve got to spend money to make money,” she said.

Information on additional workshops on the NRDA project list will be forthcoming.

Extending a moratorium on impact fees sparked a debate among members of the DeFuniak Springs City Council, with new member Mac Carpenter coming out in favor of tabling the issue until June.

Councilman Henry Ennis’ motion at the May 13 meeting to extend the suspension of the fees until May 31 of next year was quickly seconded, but Carpenter countered with a motion to have city staff research the effects of the moratorium since it was first implemented two years ago. Carpenter opposed approving the moratorium extension until a full report had been submitted to the Council at its first meeting in June. He argued that neither he nor the public had sufficient information about the pros and cons of extending the moratorium and what benefits it may or may not have provided to the city.

“The only thing on the agenda is ‘impact fees,’” Carpenter said. “There’s not anything on the agenda that says we’re going to continue them, (or if) we’re going to increase them, (or if) we’re going to decrease them. There’s no explanation of what’s on here, so nobody in the public knew anything about what we were about to do tonight. I certainly didn’t know.

“I very may well vote the same way the rest of this board will because it might  be the right thing to do, but I don’t have any information on this right now.”

The other four councilmen all spoke in favor of the moratorium, citing the 17 new businesses and two expanded businesses that opened during the time impact fees have been suspension, plus the numerous phone calls and conversations with prospective businesses looking to locate in DeFuniak Springs. Councilman Ron Kelley said that, in their experience, the moratorium had been so successful at attracting new businesses and helping existing ones that he would even be in favor of extending the moratorium for longer than a year at a time. While Mayor Bob Campbell approved of the Council’s past decisions to waive impact fees for new and expanding businesses, the time was coming to take a look at the potential long-term effects on the city, especially as the U.S. 331 expansion project picked up the pace.

“[Impact fees are] not an imaginary thing – it’s real,” Campbell said. “I think it’s been good, what [the Council] has done, but you’ve got to be careful that you don’t go too long with this because impact fees impact our systems….The city is going to absorb the cost. When we waive that, we don’t really waive it, we shift it to the taxpayer.”

Carpenter’s motion to table the decision until June nevertheless died for lack of a second and the original motion to extend the moratorium until next May passed 3-1, with Carpenter casting the lone nay vote.

The remainder of the Council’s agenda was occupied by a few key items that all met with unanimous votes to approve.

DeFuniak Springs Police Chief Mark Weeks got the go-ahead to purchase three new police cruisers, 2013 Dodge Chargers, at a state contract price of $24,589 per vehicle. City Manager Sara Bowers recommended that the DFSPD purchase the base model vehicles and purchase the additional equipment separately (adding up to a total on-the-road cost of $34,926), rather than to purchase cars with the police gear included in the price. Auditors could bring down undue scrutiny on the city in the event of a discrepancy if the state contract price for the fully equipped versions of the vehicles did not include all the law enforcement-specific add-ons, Bowers said.

The Council also approved agreements with APAC Mid South, Inc. for the transportation of natural gas as well as a slightly modified version of the city’s roadside maintenance agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation. The board awarded a contract for the construction of a multi-unit t-hangar at the municipal airport to Slack Construction, Inc. at the amount of $368,010. The contract is subject to FDOT funding availability, but Bowers said the project was within budget.

Finally, the Council took care of community event decisions, including granting permission to the local Kiwanis Club to host its 10th annual Take a Kid Fishing Day at the Lakeyard on June 10. The board also approved closing Circle Drive for the annual Fourth of July parade and also placed a ban on fireworks other than those used by professionals in the Lakeyard on the day of the fireworks show. Lastly, Candy Nowling of The Matrix Community Outreach Center reported to the board that 1,140 food items were collected at the Third-Annual Marvel of Flight expo, held May 14 at the municipal airport.

The Council voted unanimously to cancel its May 27 meeting in observance of Memorial Day with the understanding that a special meeting could be convened another day if a matter needing immediate action was to be placed on the board.

DeFuniak Springs City Council elections are set for next week, and the two Seat 1 candidates got a chance to make a case to the public as to why they should be picked for the job.

The candidates, Mac Work and Janie Griffith, met with a sizeable crowd at a DeFuniak Springs Business and Professional Association-hosted question-and-answer style forum on Wednesday, May 8. Work and Griffith fielded questions on a variety of topics, but, predictably, most involved attracting new jobs and balancing the budget. While each had their own stance, Work and Griffith’s policy positions on those two main issues were pretty similar.

Work, who only recently resigned his seat on the Council in an unsuccessful bid for the office of mayor, is essentially running for re-election, having served on the board for the better part of the last two years. He said, unlike two years ago, he hadn’t made many campaign promises. Having been on the Council during a period when 17 new businesses came on-line and major strides were taken in balancing the budget, with revenues now $1.5 million ahead of expenditures, Work was to the point when it came time to make his pitch.

“I had some platform items and within the first six months all of them were taken care of, so I shifted from those to looking for new businesses and getting the budget under control and we’re currently still doing that,” he said. “It’s an ongoing fight to balance the budget. You can’t turn an aircraft carrier around in Lake DeFuniak very quickly, but we’re getting there.”

Griffith, a member of the Planning Board and Tourism Board going back to 2011, the same year she last ran for a Council seat, said openness between the board members, city staff and public was crucial if progress is to be made on all fronts.  She also said she is prepared to do her part as a Council member to see the business community grow while helping to find ways to get the budget to shrink. Griffith said she will draw on 18 years’ worth of experience as the manager of Walton County School District’s technology budget to achieve those goals, but, like Work, she avoided making any explicit campaign promises.

“I didn’t keep any promises from last time I ran because I didn’t make any, and I don’t have any to make for the future or to talk about tonight,” Griffith said. “I just feel like we need to have open communication and to take care of our budget.”

The candidates had differing opinions when discussion turned to the possibility of expanding the city limits to include outlying unincorporated communities – specifically Woodlawn. Work was against such a move, speaking at length about the expense of bringing utilities to newly annexed areas and the difficulty associated with bringing all homeowners with adjoining property on board. Griffith was not opposed to the idea, and she pointed out that new utilities customers could be a great untapped revenue source for the city, though she tempered her argument by saying a thorough cost-benefit analysis should be done before going ahead with any large-scale annexation plans.

Neither Work nor Griffith liked the idea of combining the city’s fire department with Walton County’s or of entering into a mass sewer and water expansion agreement with the city of Freeport. Griffith said that local taxpayers already felt enough of a squeeze due to the still-slow national economy and increased federal taxes, while long-term planning on both cities’ parts is needed if such a project was ever to come to pass.

Griffith returned to her idea of a 5-, 10- and 15-year plan when the question of recruiting new businesses came up, saying the city first needed to identify what kinds of businesses it wanted to attract, what infrastructure those businesses need to set up shop as quickly as possible and how to go about constructing that infrastructure. Work agreed, though he added an increased focus on providing more vocational training opportunities for the local labor force to the list, saying that DeFuniak’s lower population figures and limited skilled labor pool held the area back when it came to recruiting high-paying employers.

As to new city buildings, Work and Griffith agreed that a new City Hall shouldn’t be in the cards right now, considering the current building is able to meet the needs of local government for the foreseeable future. Conversely, both were in favor of a new DeFuniak Springs Police Department headquarters going in at the former site of the Walton County Health Department. Work and Griffith also said the municipal airport should become one of the city’s primary economic engines, and both commended the progress that has been made to expand and improve the airport with new construction at the site.

Finally, the candidates held nearly identical views on the Council members’ roles, or really non-roles, when it comes to managing the day-to-day operation of the city. Work and Griffith expressed their beliefs that the board members should work together with city staff and employees and should leave management to the heads of the various departments. Cooperation between all members of the city’s “team” was a crucial component of good governance, they said.

City Council Seat 1 elections will be held Tuesday, May 21.

The Walton County School Board(WCSB) met for their scheduled session on May 7, 2013 at 5 p.m. During announcements Walton County School Superintendent Carlene Anderson congratulated area school athletes on recent achievements. The South Walton High School girl’s basketball team, along with coaches and supporters, visited the board after their 1A State Championship win in February of this year.    

The board approved an amended agenda unanimously 4-0, with board member Sharon Roberts being called away from the meeting unexpectedly. The adoption of minutes, including workshop, regular meetings, and expulsion hearings from April 2013 were passed unanimously as well.

WCSB Chairmen Mark Davis called for public comments and with none forthcoming the board moved on to the consent agenda portion of the meeting.

Anderson recommended approval of the consent agenda and the board moved to vote 4-0 to approve the recommendation.

Action agenda items came before the board next. The board moved unanimously to approve multiple project applications for Perkins IV secondary, and rural funding that is contingent to Florida’s federal funding. The funds would be used to help expand Career Technical Education (CTE) and expanding career education programs in the district. The funding would come in a little over $130,000 if expectations are realized from the applications.

A budget amendment in the general fund was the next item before the board. Davis requested information about a decrease in A+ School Recognition funds from the original budget. WCSB Chief Financial Officer Mary Hobbs responded the funding was being estimated on last year’s numbers as the new numbers are gathered and the last year’s funding levels were lower. The board approved the amended budget 4-0.

Requests to approve invoices for the Florida School Labor Relation/Florida Educational Negotiators dues for 2013-2014 were passed 4-0, as well as approvals of format changes to Federal Impact Aid documents, and personnel recommendations.

WCSB member Faye Leddon asked questions about a personnel resignation and an email she received about certain conditions and possible financial issues with Mossy Head School. Anderson responded that she had read the letter as well and had launched an informal investigation on the “allegations” put forth in the circulating email and thought part of the issue might be “personality differences.” The finances for all schools would be audited this summer, as they are every year, she said.

Insurance Consultant Service contracts were renewed by the board unanimously, as were payroll slot deductions for Allstate and New York Life insurance companies.

Approval of the 2013 Summer Voluntary Prekindergarten Programs and Implementation Plans was passed 4-0, as was a request for a separate school number for Walton Career Development Center’s Post Secondary Programs.

The board also approved 4-0 to advertise a notice of rule development and intent to adopt a proposed rule to give administrators emergency pay who are legally bound to stay with school properties during their use as a shelter, in the future.

Lisa Harrison was approved 4-0 as the newest board member of the Walton Education Foundation.

Professional membership dues for Anderson to the Florida Association of District School Superintendents was approved unanimously.

Student expulsions were next on the action agenda. Six expulsions were up for the board’s examination. Two expulsions requested were from students’ bus incidents, one was a revision to an original expulsion, and the last three were regular expulsion requests. The board approved the recommendations for expulsion and the one revision to allow a student to attend an adult secondary program 4-0.

In closing remarks, Leddon thanked retiring school employees for their service. Anderson congratulated many students that had placed in technical events at the state level.

The board discussed possible workshop dates and approved unanimously a date of June 4, 2013 for three meetings dealing with student progression, codes of conduct and budgets, before adjourning.

The next regular meeting for the board is scheduled for May 21 at 5 p.m. To see agendas, minutes from past meetings and more from the WCSB, go to www.walton.k12.fl.us/board/minutes.

The Rev. Moses Mbuga does not believe in mere happenstance, especially when it comes to doing the work of ministry.

Mbuga, the founder and director of Imani Milele Children, a Ugandan non-profit organization that focuses on taking in orphaned and at-risk young people of the East African country and bringing them up with Christian values, trusts in the providence of a higher authority. That trust led him to accept the invitation to have Imani Milele’s children’s choir perform in DeFuniak Springs on May 8 when the next scheduled stop on their American tour fell through at the last minute.

“Everything that happens is according to the will of God,” Mbuga said. “It was in his plan that we come here to share our message. Nothing happens just by coincidence.”

Imani Milele (meaning “everlasting faith”) arrived in America in mid-March, making their home base in Sebastian, Fla., and the group began its tour of the country in May when the choir, comprising 25 young people between the ages of 8 and 17, performed in Fort Walton Beach. The choir’s DeFuniak Springs visit is its second stop before heading to several other states including Georgia, the Carolinas, Oklahoma and Texas before finishing their tour in south Florida and returning to Uganda in December.

Candy Nowling, managing director of The Matrix Community Outreach Center, took the helm coordinating Imani Milele’s visit to DeFuniak Springs. She met Mbuga two years ago and, upon hearing that the choir was in the area, invited the children to visit DeFuniak and to perform at the First Baptist Church before leaving for an engagement in Georgia. The children and adult staffers stayed in the homes of 10 DeFuniak families during their three-day stay in the city, and Nowling said the families involved had a great time hosting the group, short-notice as the arrangement was.

“It was amazing, the outpouring of support we got from everybody,” Nowling said. “We’ve had a full schedule for the kids and a lot of activities in the community for them. It’s just been wonderful to have everyone visit.”

Mbuga started Imani Milele’s ministry in 1989 with just three children, but the program today gives educational, financial, medical and spiritual support to more than 3,000, while housing 80 and operating eight schools in Uganda. The group’s choir is its chief outreach tool, with the aim of performances and singing engagements being to raise awareness for the plight of orphaned, impoverished and at-risk children in the African nation. Mbuga said Uganda’s violent history, which includes eight years under the military rule of Idi Amin in the 1970s and ‘80s and an ongoing civil war against Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Liberation Army, has left upward of 3 million children homeless or displaced.

Having lived in poverty after the death of his father in his early 20s, Mbuga said he knows first-hand what the struggles of Uganda’s youth can do to a child’s outlook on life and future prospects. He founded Imani Milele as a means of connecting vulnerable young people with educational opportunities they need to live up to their potential.

“Working with children for all these years, I’ve discovered that many children have dreams but their dreams are dormant or some dreams have died because of not having anyone to step into their lives,” Mbuga said.  “For us, as a body of Christ, we cannot sit back and just look on as our country’s problems worsened. As Imani Milele we came out to be a solution to the big problems faced by our country.”

Though 2013 marks Imani Milele’s first trip to the U.S., Mbuga already has plans to return with a new group of 25 students next year. He said the group’s efforts in the States have already paid dividends in terms of increasing the awareness for the group’s ministry in Uganda, and several new partners and sponsors have already come on-board. While the outreach side of Imani Milele remains a crucial component of the organization’s mission, Mbuga said the bottom line is to transform the lives of the individual young people through teaching them about God’s love.

“Our goal is to raise these children with Biblical values so that they grow up with the fear of God,” Mbuga said. “If someone grows up with respect and fear of God then the future is bright because they will know they were created by a loving creator.”

Director of county DOC to assist in interim oversight.

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BCC TO ENLIST HELP IN FINDING NEW ADMINISTRATOR

Investigation into Halfhill reportedly proceeding.

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APRIL 9 TDC MEETING

Approves strategic plan.

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WALTON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION APRIL 11 MEETING

Idyll Hound Beer applies to build brewery.

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FREEPORT COUNCIL APRIL 9 MEETING

Will make offer on portion of Owl’s Head property.

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SOUTH WALTON SOFTBALL WINS COUNTY TOURNAMENT

Defeats Freeport 10-6 to capture title.

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WALTON AND SOUTH WALTON ATHLETES WIN AT DISTRICT MEET

Moving on to Jacksonville regional meet.

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FREEPORT AND  PAXTON ATHLETES ADVANCE TO REGIONAL MEET

Strong showing at district meet.

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A strategic plan document compiled by South Walton Tourist Development (TDC) advertising agency Zehnder Communications was presented at the tourism council’s April 9 meeting at the Walton County District 5 office.

TDC Executive Director Dawn Moliterno noted that the agency had attempted to put the direction of the council provided during its strategic planning session two months earlier into the document.

Included were the exploration of a public/private partnership for a sports complex in south Walton County, the exploration of available properties for a new visitor center and TDC offices, and the assumption of responsibility by the TDC for maintenance of the south Walton County bike paths, along with a bike path construction project. The latter project is to connect with a pedestrian/bicycle bridge across Western Lake.

Moliterno said staff was recommending that the TDC increase its yearly budget for 2013-14 by approximately $1 million to fund the bike path maintenance—and that $1.357 million be pulled from reserves for bike path construction.

Also recommended, she noted, was an amendment to the current year budget to utilize funds previously set aside for parking lot projects that had been eliminated, in order to start now with items such as wayfinding signs, bike path renovation, and painting of beach access restrooms.

TDC member Scott Russell asked if the additions to the budget that Moliterno had discussed meant that the TDC would maintain the bike paths “moving forward.” He was unsure whether that had been the direction of the council members.

Moliterno responded yes, that all the items council members had indicated they would be interested in exploring had been included/imbedded in the strategic plan and budget. The exception was the “Science on a Sphere” partnership possibility, which had been withdrawn by the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center.

“There is a real changing of the guard here,” TDC member Richard Veldman observed with reference to the TDC taking over responsibility of the bike paths from the county. There was discussion on equipment previously used by the county to maintain the bike path being transferred to the TDC.

Bob Hudson urged for transparency to be improved regarding the TDC budget.

Hudson also questioned the use of TDC funds to contract services to clean up trash along the beach on private property at a rate of $500 per day. According to Michelle Ray, TDC finance officer, the cleaning services were contracted for a number of weeks during spring break. Moliterno commented that then-County Administrator Bob Halfhill had required the TDC to sign off on the contract for the cleaning. She said this occurred while she was out of town.

Hudson was concerned that tourism council members, who are responsible for oversight of TDC expenditures, had not been notified of the contract. Moliterno responded that the invoice for the services had not been processed yet.

She explained that there had been massive crowds in Miramar Beach, leaving debris that TDC beach cleaning crews had been unable to remove without assistance. The cost had been under $25,000, the limit of the TDC director’s spending authority, Moliterno added.

Suzanne Harris commented that getting the debris cleaned from the beach was a good thing, since it was damaging for pictures of debris-filled beaches in Walton County to circulate. However she called for better planning for this type of situation. Harris also brought up the issue of equity, since some beachfront areas pay for their own beach cleaning.

Hudson warned that once word got out that the TDC was paying for beach cleaning on private property, other areas would expect this service also.

TDC Chair/District 5 Commissioner Cindy Meadows commented that it would be helpful to have a policy on this issue. TDC Attorney Clay Adkinson offered to provide a proposed policy at the next TDC meeting

Tory Bradley, who works on Miramar Beach, also addressed the TDC about trash on the beach, including piles of 20-30 beer cans being buried in the sand daily during spring break. She said residents and businesses had mounted a grass-roots effort to combat trash—and that businesses had been sending out their employees to pick up debris.

“The beach, whether public or private, is being trashed,” Bradley said. She pledged to do whatever she could as a concerned citizen. Bradley suggested an educational campaign by the TDC on how beach trash hurts the environment and negatively impacts sea turtles.

In examining the TDC’s proposed budget, Meadows said she had not previously been aware of a $150,000 item in the budget in connection with Emeril Lagasse’s television program. “I will vote against that,” she said.

Moliterno said the item was a second-year renewal for Lagasse’s program in a partnership between the TDC and Visit Florida. She added that the TDC’s media plan would be presented in detail on May 14.

Meadows was concerned that the TDC was being asked to approve a budget without having seen the media plan.

Moliterno replied that the TDC would be able to change the make-up of the media plan when it was presented.

TDC member Amy Wise-Coble said she thought the partnership with Emeril was beneficial for the TDC.

Meadows responded that there was no empirical data showing that people had visited the area as a result of Emeril’s program.

“When you get to a brand, all you can talk about is reach,” said Russell. He said it is difficult to track whether a program influences visitation unless a poll of visitors is conducted….

Read the full story in the April 18, 2013 edition of the Herald Breeze.

County commissioners have agreed to interview nine candidates for the vacant South Walton Tourist Development Council (TDC) executive director position, have set a salary range for the position, and have provided for temporary oversight of the TDC.

The decisions took place at the April 9 Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) meeting at the South Walton Courthouse Annex.

The nine candidates are the result of the BCC-appointed TDC Review Committee’s work examining 45 applications submitted for the position. The committee had been tasked with picking the 10 top candidates, a task that was completed on April 1. Subsequently, the committee’s top choice, Kelly M. Miller of Tampa, withdrew to pursue another opportunity.

The remaining nine candidates are: Douglas C. Traub, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; Robert L. Warren, DeFuniak Springs; Terry Cook, Harrison, Ark.; James “Jim” Bagby, Destin; Yan Baczkowski, Miami; Dennis A. Tracy, Jacksonville; Jessica L. Jarosz, Fort Walton Beach; Julie Morgan, Sweetwater, Tenn.; and Mary Chris Murry, Atlanta.

Walton County Human Resources Manager Nan MacGinnis and Sally Merrifield, TDC Review Committee member, announced the finalist candidates to the county commissioners at the April 9 meeting. District 3 Commissioner Bill Imfeld conveyed thanks to the committee members for their hard work.

MacGinnis asked the BCC for direction on how many candidates would be interviewed, whether the person hired would be under contract or have regular employee status, and what would be the salary range.

District 4 Commissioner Sara Comander commented on what an important position this is for Walton County. “I will take the time to listen to all of them,” she said.

The TDC director position is one of only three county staff positions for which the BCC hires the person directly by a vote, the others being county administrator and county attorney.

District 5 Commissioner Cindy Meadows was of the opinion that the TDC director should not be under contract but should have regular employee status.

MacGinnis stated that this would result in the TDC director being subject to all the same regulations as other county employees. Meadows responded that the TDC director should be treated the same as other county department directors.

Imfeld agreed and said he looked forward to interviewing the candidates.

Comander said that previously she had been against contracts for the three positions in which the people work directly by the BCC. However, she said, after a discussion with McGinnis she had changed her mind and understood the value of having the three people under contract. “We expect more from them,” she said.

“It’s all very subjective,” Meadows responded. She warned that politics come in when the positions are treated differently. “I just want them to do their job,” she said.

Imfeld commented that he understands that the public is asking for an approach to tourism that balances attracting tourists with accommodating the needs of residents.

Meadows made a motion that the person hired would have employee status rather than being under contract. The motion carried 3-2, with District 1 Commissioner Bill Chapman and Comander voting no.

Meadows noted that the BCC has the option of having the TDC director work under the direction of the county administrator rather than directly for the BCC. However, there was no motion to make that change at this time.

In discussion of the salary range for the position, Comander said, “I don’t like giving away the farm to begin with. I think it’s just not prudent.”

The salary range advertised for the position had been $78,599 to $134,794, and $130,000 had been the annual salary for TDC Executive Director Dawn Moliterno, whose last day on the job was April 9.

On a motion by Meadows, the commissioners voted to revise the salary range to between $78,599 and $130,000.

MacGinnis agreed to set up the interviews as soon as possible. She said that the end of the week would probably be the earliest possible.

Later in the meeting, Gerry Demers of Walton County Administration asked the commissioners for their direction regarding the operation of the TDC during the time prior to a new director coming on board.

Comander commented that the TDC staff know their jobs well and that possibly all that would be needed was some temporary administrative oversight. She suggested that Stan Sunday, Walton County corrections director, take on this duty on a part-time basis, reasoning that Sunday has his staff well trained and ready to take over for him when needed.

Chapman agreed, saying that Sunday’s role should be oversight and ensuring that rules are followed

Comander said she expected that the county would have hired a new TDC director within a month or six weeks’ time. She moved for approval of utilizing Sunday as had been discussed.

Meadows expressed concern that Sunday was based north of the bay and might not be able to spare the time. She suggested instead enlisting the help of the Institute for Senior Professionals of Northwest Florida State College.

Comander called for a vote on her motion. District 2 Commissioner Kenneth Pridgen clarified that the TDC would remain under the authority of county administration with Sunday assisting. The motion was approved.

At the Freeport City Council meeting of April 9, City Planner Latilda Hughes presented the second reading of a proposed ordinance to revise the Industrial Use section of the City’s Land Development Code. The Council adopted the ordinance.

Henninger introduced request to abandon the development plan for a 34 acre portion of the Owl’s Head development that lies west of U.S. 331 adjacent to the industrial parks. Ownership of this property has reverted to a bank and it is available for sale. The Walton County Economic Development Alliance (WCEDA) has authorized Mayor Mickey Marse, a member of the WCEDA Board, to make an offer to buy the property. The amount of land still available for expansion in the Freeport industrial parks is down to 25 acres and the Owl’s Head parcel would enable WCEDA to attract additional businesses to the area. A motion was approved with the provision that if the offer to buy is accepted by the bank, then the City Council will undertake rezoning the parcel for light industrial use.

Capt. Tom Palmer of the Freeport Fire Department gave a summary of department activity for March. During that month, the department responded to a total of 75 calls including 47 for medical aid, 12 for vehicle accidents and five structure fires. The firefighters also participated in training and cleaned and painted 75 fire hydrants. Palmer also reported that the upgrade of the station’s electrical system was proceeding well.

Parks Director Shane Supple complimented the fire department personnel for the support they provided during the annual Easter egg hunt. The event was declared a great success. Marse said, “When the kids were turned loose it was like a giant vacuum cleaner going across the fields.”

Anna Hudson of Preble-Rish Engineering reported that at the control house for No. 4 Well, the contractor is working to correct the last items on the punch list (deficiencies) and that the work on the new altitude valve for the Portland water tank has slowed awaiting delivery of additional pressure tubing for the system.

Engineer Cliff Knauer of Preble-Rish reported that, with the aid of Councilman Earl King, the reason that one of the storm water retention ponds in the Cross Creek development was draining rapidly has been identified. The problem is corrosion failure of a section of pipe that allows water to drain out of the pond. Options, including the possible use of HDPE (high density polyethylene) pipe are under review. In any event, Department of Environmental Protection approval will be required for the proposed work.

Lora Renfroe, representing Relay for Life, asked the Council to provide a proclamation honoring cancer survivors and observing the “Color Our Town Purple” event to be held at the Sports Complex on May 3 and 4. They also asked approval to place large purple ribbons in the downtown area on May 1 and for the Council and city hall employees wear purple on that day. The request was approved.

Councilman Ray Jackson reported, “The rodeo went off good. The was a big turnout. Events went off without a hitch and a lot of people were pleased.”