By DOTTY NIST
A week after a Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) decision to start over on design and permitting for a new tourism visitor center and administrative offices, members of the Walton County Tourist Development Council (TDC) were presented with a plan involving two welcome centers for tourists, one on the north end of the county and one in the south end.
The TDC heard details on the new proposal at the April 4 TDC regular bimonthly meeting at the South Walton Annex.
Walton County Commission Chairman Danny Glidewell, who serves on the TDC, presented the plan and asked for council members’ approval.
In June 2018, the TDC had purchased property on the west side of U.S. 331 a short distance south of the bay bridge for a new visitor center and administrative offices to replace the current facility on the northeast corner of U.S. 98 and U.S. 331.
After the construction of the current facility in the 1990s, the building had become difficult to access as a result of road widening and improvements in the area. Final BCC approval of a design for the new facility and a $9.2 to $11.4 million budget had been granted in August 2020, with the project to be funded through the TDC budget.
With all county and state permits and development orders in hand by May 2022, the BCC had granted approval in July 2022 for taking bids for construction of the new facility.
Glidewell introduced the new Tourist Department Visitor Center Plan at the April 4 TDC meeting by reporting that there had been no bidder to construct the new visitor center project when it was put out for bids in spring 2023. “The unofficial price that was attached to that plan was north of $29 million,” he told the council members.
When the project had been brought before the BCC for direction on March 28, due to the high estimated cost for the building the project was sent back for “a redo,” as Glidewell termed it.
“So, with that in mind…I have a proposal I would like for the council to approve,” he said.
Glidewell presented a four-phase plan, the first phase of which included issuance of a request for qualifications for redesign and permitting for the new facility on the west side of U.S. 331 north of the bay bridge, as directed by the BCC, with a target cost of $6 to $8 million for the building.
Phase 1 also featured purchasing property at U.S. 331 and Hwy. 90 for a second visitor center.
Glidewell explained that the visitor center at the latter location would capture a lot of traffic and that there are two buildings on the property. The building at the right corner he said could be ready within six months to provide a working visitor center. Glidewell also proposed using the property to put up marketing signage on top of a large hill on the parcel and also at the other end of the property for attractions, accommodations or anything the TDC chose to advertise.
Phase 2, envisioned to take three years, included getting started on construction of the new visitor center on U.S. 331 south of the bay bridge plus beginning design work on the existing TDC building to remodel it in order for staff members to continue working at that location with adequate work space.
Phase 3, envisioned to take another year, included remodeling of the current facility and beginning design work for a new visitor center at the DeFuniak Springs location, estimated cost $1 million.
Phase 4, envisioned to take an additional two years, included construction of the new visitor center at U.S. 331 and Hwy. 90 to replace the existing building and was estimated to cost $3 million.
Glidewell noted that within six years this would provide two welcome centers, both accessibly located on the right side of the road, plus the remodeled headquarters space for staff, at a total estimated cost of $13.5 million.
He moved for approval of the plan, and his motion received a second.
Council Member Jill Tanner was complimentary about the plan, saying she thought it would be a great use of funds.
Glidewell said he was excited about the opportunity for signage with the DeFuniak Springs facility plus being able to provide a stop for visitors, with places to stop being scarce after visitors driving to Walton County get south of the towns in southern Alabama.
TDC Chair Jennifer Steele asked what the plan would be for the former city hall building, which is on the subject property in DeFuniak Springs in addition to the smaller building of which Glidewell had spoken.
Replying, he spoke of ongoing efforts to get an Amtrak rail stop in DeFuniak Springs and the need to get the train station in downtown DeFuniak Springs to be used with that effort, including for a transit system location for visitors. The station currently houses a history museum, and Glidewell discussed that the former city hall could be a new location for the museum.
Glidewell spoke of the importance of selling merchandise with branding advertising the county as would be possible with the visitor centers. “We need opportunities to get that merchandise out,” he said.
Council Member Tim Taylor was not in favor of spending $10 million or more “just to sell some merchandise” that he pointed out should be available online. He also did not see the need for welcome centers to provide brochures, noting that that information is available online as well. Taylor said the only time he had ever pulled into a visitor center was on an interstate to use the bathroom. He was in favor of staff having a place to work/operate but did not see the need for a building on a main highway to reach visitors.
“I think the two places that we’re talking about now… are mainly bathrooms and parking lots,” Glidewell responded, speaking of the visitor centers, adding that the plan would also be to sell merchandise at the locations.
Todd Bierbaum, a council member and DeFuniak Springs city councilman, said he would like to politely disagree with Taylor. He spoke about the large volume of traffic coming through the city on weekends and crowding at the businesses that are open on weekends. Bierbaum described the property at U.S. 331 and Hwy. 90 as one of three prime corner lots in the county. He recalled that the TDC had recently voted on a strategic plan that had included developing a north Walton County visitor center. “So this plan here accomplishes that portion of the strategic plan,” he said, “so I think this is a good idea.”
Bierbaum envisioned the latter location as not just a way to offer a bathroom and sell merchandise, but giving travelers a place to stop and providing a work area for staff.
Steele asked if there had been any discussion about staffing for the space at U.S. 331 and Hwy. 90.
Matt Algarin, tourism director, said that would depend on the direction the proposal would go. If it is approved, he said, it would be time to start thinking about staffing at that location as the tourism department begins looking at the new fiscal year budget.
In public comment, south Walton County resident Barbara Morano drew upon information from Bill Geist, the consultant that the TDC had hired for strategic planning, saying, “It all starts with a visit.” She highlighted the importance of “the visit” and associated experience provided by people in the tourism industry who work hard, adding that Geist had not mentioned visitor centers in connection with strategic planning for destinations.
“To have two visitor centers is a big concern,” Morano told the council members. She pointed out that bed taxes collected in south Walton County are projected to provide approximately $60 million for the year while those collected north of the bay are only projected at $258,000. “Where is the emphasis?” Morano questioned.
Arguing that two welcome centers “is not destination leadership,” she asked the council not to approve the plan.
South Walton County resident and rental agency manager Amy Wise-Coble was of the opinion that a welcome center “is not something that in this day and age people are going to utilize,” although she was in favor of staff having a “great place to work.” She urged against two visitor centers. “Now if you want to take everybody north, then let’s take everybody north,” Wise-Coble said, speaking of staff, “but at the end of the day it just does not make sense.”
Suzanne Harris, manager for Edgewater Condominium in Miramar Beach, voiced agreement with Taylor. She warned that the old buildings on the subject property in DeFuniak Springs would not be able to be used as commercial buildings if they have wood studs.
Harris also said she travels back and forth from Alabama every week and has never had a problem finding a bathroom on her trips. She spoke about other routes to the area used by many travelers that do not cross the subject property in DeFuniak Springs. “I don’t think we need to…tear down trees to build bathrooms,” Harris concluded.
Kevin Rosa of the Hilton Sandestin spoke in favor of the plan. “I think it’s a great idea;” he said, “it’s a way of saying thank you…to the visitors who come down here and supply us with the economy that we get to live in.”
In concluding remarks, Glidewell said he believed the plan would “build the brand.”
“We’re supposed to be doing what’s best to put heads in those beds, wherever they may be,” he said.
Council Member Brian Moffat commented that he was a “big fan” of office space for staff and facilities for guests but was not of the opinion that a visitor center would bring additional guests or increase visitor satisfaction. “I think there’s other ways to increase visitor traffic,” he said.
Bierbaum urged for the question to be called and for a vote to be taken.
“I was going to say something,” Steele noted. She said she did not disagree with the plan—but felt that combining the two visitor centers in it for a decision “feels rushed.”
Steele said she would be more agreeable with the two facilities separated for the council’s consideration, and if the council were not “having to vote on one plan that includes both spaces…without any more knowledge and due diligence.”
Bierbaum again called for the question and referenced Roberts’ Rules of Order.
Steele then called for a vote on the plan. The result was a tie vote, with Glidewell, Tanner, Bierbaum, and Council Member Eddie Farris voting in favor. Voting no were Taylor, Steele, Moffat and Council Member Micah Davis.
Glidewell interpreted the result as neither a recommendation for or against the plan from the TDC when it is presented to the BCC, the TDC being an advisory board.