Story by ADRIANNE WALLINE CAMPBELL
The Freeport City Council held its regular meeting on Feb. 22, 2024, at the Freeport City Hall.
Anne McKenzie, Recreation & Events Coordinator, gave an update concerning the pool maintenance bids they have received. The lowest bid came from Freeport Pool Service at $1,800 per month. That price excludes the liquid chlorine that the city will continue to provide. The city purchases it for $365 per gallon from their supplier. Council member Eddie Farris recused himself from voting.
City Manager Mark Martin told the council that the Freeport Library would be painting the interior at no cost to the city. He also received approval to proceed with the purchase of five tablets for the council members. It was up to the members which ones they wanted.
City Clerk Katherine Gatewood presented a form that Bay County uses for citizens to present an item to the agenda. It was approved. She said she is continuing to shred old documents that are 15 years past their retention date. So far there are 43 cubic feet, which is 43 banker boxes that were over their retention date. She said she contacted Gilmore, which offered a second shred bin at no cost. Mark Martin said they are still working on the old City Hall shelving, so they will have a place to put the documents.
Senior Planner Samantha Graves presented the developments that requested approval.
• CHELCO service center Freeport – 28,638 square feet of Operations and Service Center and a 10,000 square feet Storage Building. It will be on the Southwest corner of West Bay Loop and Dunaway Road. Attorney Jeffrey McInnis and Michelle Baker, P.E. of Baker Engineers, LLC, spoke on behalf of CHELCO. Council member Elizabeth Brannon asked if there would be a turn lane into the facility. Michelle Baker said based on the traffic study conducted, a turn lane was not warranted. The Council approved the plan.
• U.S. Hwy 331 Retail Center – 18,030 square feet retail, 7,727 square feet restaurant, 1,228 square feet outdoor seating, and 2,155 square feet future drive-through standalone restaurant = 29,140 square feet. It is located on the East side of Hwy 331, .6 miles north of Sparkleberry Lane. The developer is Matthew Lozecki/Destin Investments LLC, and the project engineer is Curtis Smith, Nautilus Engineers, Inc. The project was approved.
• Watson-Elliott Rezoning/FLU change SSA (Future Land Use Small Scale Amendment) – Over 100 acres West of Lafayette Creek on the West side of U.S. Hwy 331 approximately 450 feet north of Sparkleberry Lane. Ray Greer, DesignWest Group, spoke representing the owners. Approval was given to rezone parts of the road frontage to C-1 (General Commercial).
• Alaqua Preserve Planned Development Project (PDP) – Jay Odom received approval to develop 727+ into 40 large lots of various sizes and +/- 36 acres of RV/Boat Storage. The development will be gated and will not have streetlights, they will also keep the existing trees. The Council approved the project with the condition that the septic systems will be set back twice the state standards and that this will be included in the deeds as a restriction.
• LDC (Land Development Code) Revisions were tabled for a future date.
Mayor Russ Barley received approval for landscaping around the Welcome to Freeport sign, funded by the excess funds in the Protected Tree Buyout Program. This would include solar lighting. The Parks Department would do the installation.
Agendas, minutes, and supporting documents submitted as agenda items for business conducted at the Freeport City Council meetings can be accessed online at the city of Freeport website, www.freeportflorida.gov