UPDATE: The Crestview City Council meet and greet will end at 6 p.m. Feb. 4, instead of the previously stated 5:30 p.m.

CRESTVIEW — The city of Crestview will host a city manager candidate meet-and-greet, followed by interviews with each candidate during the city council meeting this coming Monday.

The public may attend the meet and greet, which is 4:45 p.m. Feb. 4 at City Hall, 198 Wilson St. N., Crestview.

That will be followed by a special meeting at 6 p.m. where the candidates will be interviewed. The agenda for that meeting is as follows:

1. Call to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Open Policy Making and Legislative Session

4. Approve Agenda

5. City Manager Interviews — Order of interviews to be determined at the beginning of the meeting

6. Public input on Candidates

7. Discussion and possible decision of the Council

8. Discussion of Negotiation’s with New City Manager (if chosen)

9. Comments from the Audience

10. Adjournment

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Public can meet, attend interviews with Crestview city manager candidates

CRESTVIEW — For the city of Crestview, the year 2018 was filled with many changes including a revamp of the 50-year-old city charter approved by voters.

Council President J.B. Whitten reflected on the council's past year and ways he hopes to see the city improve in 2019.

What was the city's greatest accomplishment in 2018?

"That's easy," Whitten said.

His answer was simply getting the new charter approved.

"We'd been working on that thing in order to get it worded correctly and get the advertising out, the education," Whitten said. "…That's definitely our greatest achievement. I'm sure everybody on the council would agree with that."

Next to the charter, what would be another great accomplishment from 2018?

"The fact that we were able to bring together all the parties on the transportation needs for Crestview," Whitten said.

He referred to a long list of players in a meeting that all agreed Crestview transportation should be a priority. This list included the city, Okaloosa county, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida Department of Transportation, state legislatures, and other committees.

What was the city council's greatest challenge in 2018?

"I see the greatest challenge is doing a successful transition from the government we had and having the city manager," Whitten said.

When voters approved the new charter in August, they also voted to change Crestview's form of government from a mayor-council government to a council-manager government.

With the addition of a city manger in Crestview, the council now has a responsibility to choose the best candidate for the position, Whitten said.

Where did the city see the most improvement?

Whitten raved about the Public Services Department led by Director Wayne Steele.

"In my opinion, Public Services doesn't get recognition that the other departments do," Whitten said.

He said the other departments like police and fire departments are so visible in the community, but the Public Services Department does things for the community people don't realize like maintain the parks department and organize some sporting events.

"I think they do a great job taking care of the city," Whitten said.

What do you hope to see improve in 2019?

Whitten said he thinks the Growth Management Department employees work hard, but he hopes to see the department become more business friendly.

"We have businesses all the time get discouraged when coming to Crestview," Whitten said.  "I mean, I hear it."

Whitten said the council should look at ordinances in 2019 and figure out how to condense steps for people wanting to do business in the city.

He said the council is looking into an online process that would eliminate people having to return to City Hall as frequently when bringing businesses to Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Council President reflects on 2018

CRESTVIEW — With the city manager likely being chosen by January 2019, time is of the essence in the development of an office space.

At the Nov. 26 city council meeting, the council discussed plans for the city manager's office.

The meeting agenda included a drawing of the potential office layout, which replaces existing city council members' offices.

Cost was a key reason Council President J. B. Whitten said the council decided to look at using existing space rather than adding on to city hall.

Building additional space onto city hall could potentially cost over $20,000. But using existing space would be around $5,000, Public Works Director Wayne Steele said.

The plan eliminates the offices of Councilman Shannon Hayes, Councilman Joe Blocker, and Councilman Bill Cox. These offices would be used as the city manager's suite, a storage room, and the secretary's space.

This renovation would take about one to two week to complete, Steele said.

"I think it will be classy and plenty of room," Whitten said.

In this plan, Whitten's office would remain, and the council members would be able to reserve an additional office in city hall for meetings.

Council Vice President Bill Cox said he was "flustered" about the idea.

"I almost thought it was a joke," Cox said. "…But I'm not at all prepared to move forward with this, this evening."

Cox said his office is smaller than depicted and requested dimensions be added to the design.

"Mr. Steele is quite aware of what the dimensions are, Mr. Cox," Whitten said. "…But I would ask you, Mr. Cox, this here is a concept for discussion, so I would ask you what your alternative would be."

"I don't have an alternative, but I'm telling you assuredly that my little space is a square cubical not as it's depicted on this sketch," Cox said.

Steele said he will work to come up with alternative ideas within city hall and present them to the council with associated costs.

The city council is expected to discuss the plan further at the Dec. 11 meeting, which will be their last meeting until after Christmas.

"In my opinion, and I might be wrong, I think we're looking at time restraint," Hayes said. "…It would be embarrassing to me whoever we select and they come here and don't have an office."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: City council proposes office plan for city manager

CRESTVIEW — Americans will celebrate National Voter Registration Day Sept. 25 with a massive 50-state effort to register voters. The nonpartisan event creates awareness of elections by encouraging Americans to register to vote and come out to the polls for every election.

The Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections office is a NVRD partner and will register voters 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 25 at the following Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative locations:

•Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview.

•Destin Public Library, 150 Sibert Ave., Destin.

•Fort Walton Beach Public Library, 185 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach.

•Niceville Public Library, 206 N Partin Drive, Niceville.

Voters may also update their address, request a replacement Voter Information Card, update their name and signature, or change their party affiliation at these locations.

Visit the Supervisor of Elections website, http://www.govote-okaloosa.com, call 689-5600 or visit the SOE Facebook page for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa elections office, libraries support voter registration

CRESTVIEW — Activities in downtown Crestview this weekend include a quarterly flea market event and a Let's Vote Okaloosa Meet and Greet by the Main Street Crestview Association.

The association is listing both events as a Downton Crestview Block Party.

The 3rd Saturday Flea Market is an outdoor event set for 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 18 at Chestnut Avenue East in Crestview.

Registration and requirements for vendors are available at https://www.downtowncrestview.org/events-1/3rd-saturday-flea-market.

Vendors must provide their own cover. No pets are allowed on sales grounds or in parked vehicles.

The second event on Saturday is Main Street Crestview's Let's Vote Okaloosa Meet and Greet, which is 4-8 p.m. Aug. 18 at South Main Street.

According to information from the event listing on Facebook, attendees may meet and greet local and state candidates and visit a referendum information booth. Okaloosa Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux will also meet attendees at a booth during the event.

Visit http://www.downtowncrestview.org/events or https://www.facebook.com/events/239225580047213/ for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Main Street group to host weekend flea market, Let's Vote meet and greet

CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections office has moved voting locations for two sites, one in Crestview and another in Fort Walton Beach.

The office mailed New Voter Information Cards with the updated information on polling places to affected voters.

Precinct 45 voters who previously went to the Foxwood Country Club, 4927 Antioch Road, Crestview, will now place their votes at InDyne, 4050 Ferdon Blvd. S, Crestview.

Precinct 39 voters who previously went to The Order Sons of Italy, 808 South Drive, Fort Walton Beach, will now vote at the same location as Precinct 17 voters at Wright Baptist Church, 795 Beal Parkway NW, Fort Walton Beach. 

These changes will be effective for the Aug. 28 primary election and all future elections until otherwise noted.

Early voting is also possible through Aug. 26. Voters should go to their precinct locations if voting Aug. 28.

Any questions regarding the changes should be directed to the Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections offices, including 302 Wilson St. N, Suite 102 in Crestview.

More information, including updated Polling Place addresses and the Voter Lookup Tool, are at www.GoVote-Okaloosa.com.

Okaloosa residents who want to vote early may cast their votes 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 18-25 at these locations:

•Crestview Public Library, 1446 Commerce Drive, Crestview.

•Okaloosa Supervisor of Elections office, 302 Wilson St. N., Crestview.

•County Administration Building, 1250 Eglin Parkway, Shalimar.

•Niceville City Hall, 208 Partin Drive N., Niceville.

•Destin Community Center, 101 Stahlman Ave., Destin.

Early voting for the Aug. 28 election

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: New Okaloosa polling places, early voting part of August primary

CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners will meet to set the county's tentative millage rate for fiscal year 2018-2019.

The public meeting is 1:30 p.m. July 30 at Crestview City Hall, 198 Wilson St. N.

The current rate as listed at http://www.co.okaloosa.fl.us is 3.4308 mills, with one mill equal to "$1 for every $1,000 of taxable property value – these are ad valorem taxes."

Ad valorem property taxes combine with other funds to create the county budget and represents less than 20 percent of the entire budget. 

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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: A meeting to set Okalooa millage rate is scheduled

LAUREL HILL — The City of Laurel Hill chose Jack Dorman as its temporary planning official June 7 and will re-advertise it's request for proposal for a planner due to a lack of response.

City Clerk Nita Miller said Dorman will advise people on land development code compliance on an as-needed basis.

The city is also drafting ordinances to increase water and fire facility fees. "Once we are finished we will advertise and let the public know water rates will be increasing. We haven't had a water rate increase sine 2008, and the fire facilities fee has not been increased since 2011," Miller said. The current rates no longer completely fund city water and fire services. 

Laurel Hill may also have a contractor to make upgrades to the Gene Clary Park. They received a $50,000 state grant for the upgrades.

Finally, Laurel Hill received a water line grant from the Northwest Florida Water Management District to connect a water line on Millside Road with State Road 85. The city is waiting to hear from Okaloosa County before the connection, as the county wants to straighten and pave Millside so the water line will no longer be on private property.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill selects temporary city planner

SHALIMAR — The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners passed a proclamation in support of National Social Worker Month at their Tuesday meeting. Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel, a licensed clinical social worker herself, presented a copy of the proclamation to Monica Koetters, MSW and Jennifer Steinmeier, LCSW in recognition of the event.

Ketchel praised the profession of social work as “leaders, advocates and champions for the most vulnerable in our society.”

In the proclamation, the commissioners agreed “Social workers are the largest group of suppliers of mental health services in the United States.”

The profession of Social Work is expected to gain almost 650,000 workers over the next seven years, a faster-than-average growth rate.

For more information, please contact Christopher Saul at csaul@myokaloosa.com

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County honors social workers