CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County commissioners have selected City Councilman Thomas Gordon to represent the north county in oil spill recovery efforts.

Gordon is one of 11 members of the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities and Revived Economies advisory committee. The RESTORE committee determines how to allocate funding following 2010’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Gordon, one of two Okaloosa League of Cities members selected, represents the county’s north end. Destin Mayor Sam Seevers represents the county’s south end.

The RESTORE Act of 2012 allows Florida shoreline counties — from Escambia to Wakulla — 75 percent of the state’s share from fines levied against BP for its role in the oil spill.      

"The RESTORE Act established a Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund in the U.S. Treasury in which 80 percent of the Clean Water Act penalties from the Deep Horizon Oil Spill will be distributed to impacted areas for recovery," the Okaloosa County website states.

Florida is among five states to receive a portion of 80 percent from the total fines levied.

In an example provided on the Okaloosa County website, if Florida were awarded $10 billion, Okaloosa would receive 15.57 percent of the funds, or $65,394,000. 

The RESTORE Act requires each county to form an advisory committee that represents areas including government, education, tourism, the environment and economic development, according to the U.S. Treasury.

"The intent of the RESTORE Act funds is to put the Gulf Coast back where it was before the oil spill," Gordon said.

As a professional in the heating ventilation and air conditioning industry, he knows firsthand the disaster’s impact.

"I saw several HVAC companies close and some drastically downsized," Gordon said. "In my company, it was the worst few years in our 30 (plus) year history, as it was also compounded by the real estate bubble."

Many area HVAC services depended on condominiums in Destin and other shoreline areas that tourists occupy seasonally. Following the spill, when condos didn't fill up, HVAC services went elsewhere, Gordon said. 

Addressing the widespread need of recovery funding is important, he said.

"The proper and responsible application of the settlement monies is absolutely critical and I look forward to getting started," Gordon said.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview councilman represents North Okaloosa for oil spill recovery

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview City Council indicated it wants to rest discussion on a proposed ordinance that would regulate yard sales.

Council members expressed hesitation for a proposed itinerate vendor ordinance that city planner Eric Davis presented during a work session Monday.

The proposal prohibits residents from opening home-based businesses without certification; requires that the home occupation take no more than 25 percent of the home’s floor space; prohibits storing business materials; and excludes mobile food vending from being considered at home occupations.

Davis drafted the document following complaints of excessive traffic and parking in residential yards that ruined sprinkler systems. Such problems associated with recurring yard sales have increased following the economic downtown, the workshop packet notes.

City officials raised concerns about the proposal.

Several residents sell items on websites like eBay; many of them store merchandise inside their home or in a nearby shed, Crestview Fire Chief Joseph Traylor said, adding he was concerned about inspecting structures annually.

"The enforcement of inspecting annually commercial office space in residential areas is so overwhelming," he said. "We have enough trouble keeping up with existing (businesses)."

Councilman Thomas Gordon said current laws cover the concerns.

"I'm cautious about setting rules that we cannot and should not enforce,"he said. "… If they are conducting a business, we have laws in place for that; if they are blocking traffic we have laws against that.”

Davis presented options for dealing with homeowners who purportedly have ongoing yard sales. Limiting the number of yard sales a resident can have within 30 or 90 days could help, he said.  

"Often it is hard for us to control (yard sales) happening on Saturday and Sunday. Typically we don't have planning or code enforcement staff available on those days,” Davis said.

Council president Robyn Helt favored limiting yard sales between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on three consecutive days.

City officials said they just want to ensure yard sales do not become a public nuisance or create unsafe conditions.

"If you are going to address it at all, I would like for it to be somewhat vague," Helt said. "I certainly do not want to prevent people from conducting yard sales; it’s part of being an American."

 Council members Shannon Hayes, Joe Blocker and Mickey Rytman agreed and suggested resting discussion of such an ordinance until larger problems develop.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview City Council mulls options for garage sale regulation

CRESTVIEW — The Hub City may have representation at this year’s Florida League of Cities annual conference, despite council members’ absence from last year’s event.

City leaders decided not to attend the 2012 conference due to budgeting concerns, but council president Robyn Helt said the Aug. 15-17 Orlando event is too important to miss.

"I feel that (league conferences) are a very vital part of city representation … municipal leaders have opportunities to meet with vendors and service providers and learn about different issues affecting municipalities," she said.

Helt said she has shared energy-saving and cost-cutting tips with Public Services director Wayne Steele following past conferences.

Councilman Shannon Hayes said he would like to learn other cities’ tips from the conference, but raised concerns about funding. Council members Mickey Rytman and Joe Blocker shared his concerns.

City clerk Betsy Roy offered to present the council with a listing of travel approximation, hotel costs and registration fees during the council’s July 8 meeting,6 p.m. at city hall.

If city leaders attend the conference, Helt said the council should consider taxpayers when traveling.

"It made sense to me that you would carpool to drive down there, and that mileage (reimbursement) would be paid to one person," she said. "That would be better stewardship over the taxpayer's dollar and resources."

In the past, council members drove separately to avoid the appearance of violating state open meetings laws.

"The council and the public (have) been briefed by the First Amendment Association … that two or more council members can breathe the same air, attend the same functions … and not break the Sunshine Law," Helt said.    

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview council mulls attending Florida League of Cities conference

CRESTVIEW — Mayor David Cadle presented three service awards to city employees during Monday’s regular business meeting.

Two awards went to Crestview Police officers Donald Howe and Pierre Batiste for their five years of service. Batiste was present to accept the award at the meeting.

The third was presented to Crestview Fire Chief Joe Traylor for his 20 years of service.

Asked how many firefighters the department had in 1993, counting him, Traylor said there were 14. The department currently has 50 firefighters.

Twenty years ago, Crestview had one fire station near city hall; now the city has two other stations to better cover the expanding city, he said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Three City of Crestview workers receive awards

CRESTVIEW — The City Council has voted unanimously to present former Mayor George Whitehurst with the Mae R. Coleman Citizen of the Year award during a special meeting.

Whitehurst, 87, the city’s longest-serving mayor, is credited with securing land, at no cost, for the present-day Crestview Public Library and Crestview Community Center. He also helped found the Crestview Chamber of Commerce in 1956. 

"I will see that he gets this award," Coleman said. "After talking to his family twice, they are very happy to be receiving this award, and I am happy to give it to them."  

Coleman asked the council to award Whitehurst, with his family present, following a future council meeting.

Rather than scheduling time after a council meeting, council president Robyn Helt suggested setting a special meeting.

Coleman had a request for the occasion.

"Let him, if he will, sit in the mayor's seat," she said.

Mayor David Cadle had no problem with Whitehurst taking his seat at the special meeting. 

The family has offered to provide cake and punch for the event, Coleman said.  

Want to go?

What: Mae R. Coleman Citizen of the Year award presentation to George Whitehurst

When: 5 p.m. Aug. 13

Where:  Crestview City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: City to honor Citizen of the Year with special meeting

CRESTVIEW — The City Council has unanimously passed an ordinance that ensures Crestview’s compatibility with the military.

City leaders in March sent the state a proposed comprehensive plan amendment; Monday’s action adopts recommendations from Eglin Air Force Base's Small Area Studies report.

Reducing light pollution — which can distract pilots using night vision — and limiting residential development near areas of aircraft noise are among the revisions.

Destin attorney Jack Dorman — working as a liaison between the city and state — said the state had no objections to the amendments.

No resident had publicly criticized the revisions, either.

"What we are trying to do is continue economic growth without conflicting or impacting the mission of the military," he said.

Amending the comprehensive plan falls in accordance with Florida Statute, he said.

"It’s a critical policy; it mandates that local governments must be consistent with the (comprehensive) plan and in no way conflict it," Dorman said.

In other matters, the council:

•Approvedan emergency evacuation shelter agreement with the Okaloosa County School District and Crestview Public Services Department. It allows Shoal River Middle School to use Old Spanish Trail Park for emergencies during the 2013-14 school year.

•Accepted the $29,424 low bid for a breathing air compressor for the Crestview Fire Department. The amount will come from a $35,000 grant.

•Approved an invoice of $898.38 for Allen, Norton and Blue, P.A.’s professional services.

•Appointed Councilman Mickey Rytman as the Tax Increment Financing representative for the city of Crestview. Councilman Shannon Hayes will serve as reserve appointee.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview City Council OKs military compatibility provisions

CRESTVIEW — The City Council on Monday voted not to pursue a settlement for a downtown alley’s ownership. However, family members who claim the property say a nearly yearlong battle doesn’t end there.

The alley in dispute, behind Florida A&M University’s Pharmacy School, serves Main Street businesses in buildings once owned by the late Purl G. Adams. His daughter-in-law, Barbara, and his grandson, Purl Adams III, claim the alley is part of their property.

“I’m not gonna stop just at their decision,” Purl Adams III said, referring to the city council action. “I’m not saying we’re going to court. I’m saying that there’s other avenues to pursue.”

The city had proposed paying $55,000 to Barbara Adams to ensure the city’s access and official ownership of the alley. Council members changed course after reviewing a Nov. 18 1942 warranty deed during a five-minute recess. Purl G. Adams, his wife Edna and W.R. Taylor deeded the alley to the city for $10 and a promise that the property would remain a public alley. For council members, that was enough evidence to stop the settlement.

"I'm holding an official document on file with the city clerk's office … it says this city owns that property," Council President Robyn Helt said during Monday’s meeting. 

"Based on what I am holding in my hand, I say fight it. If we lose, we lose,” Councilman Shannon Hayes said.

Councilman Thomas Gordon also voted down the settlement. Council members Mickey Rytman and Joe Blocker dissented.

Purl Adams said he didn’t hear about the council’s action and didn’t know city leaders planned to discuss the alley dispute until the afternoon after it happened. After learning a June 21 executive session on the matter was canceled, Fort Walton Beach-based attorney Jill Crew, representing Barbara Adams, emailed city attorney Jerry Miller requesting the next date that the council would mull the matter.

Crew did not receive an answer to the email, Purl said.

The News Bulletin reached out to Miller, who offered no comment. The city’s June 24 meeting agenda, released at least four days beforehand, included the alley item.

 “I am very disappointed in the city of Crestview’s actions,” Purl Adams said in a statement. “I would like to believe that, just maybe, the past and present council members do not or did not know the story concerning the alleyway, or the behind-the-scenes happenings, or just possibly everyone has been kept in the dark about the situation.”

The full story, he said, includes the 1942 provision that the “strip of land shall be, remain and forever used as an alley of, for and in the said town for the free use and benefit to the public and said town, as other alleys are so used.”

The city didn’t use the alley for its intended purpose, so the deed was abandoned under state law, Crew contends.

Then there’s the Adamses’ 1944 deed that includes the alley, which “trumps the 1942 deed,” Purl Adams said.

Then there’s the mortgage that Barbara Adams took out on the property in 1996, and an estimated 70 years of property taxes the family has paid on the alley, as county records show.

Additionally, city engineer Fred Cook referred to the property in an Aug. 2, 2011 memo concerning FAMU’s water service.

“The area along the east (northeast) side of the building is not a publicly owned alley — it is private property,” he said.

Helt and Hayes did not return Thursday afternoon phone calls inquiring about the matter. Gordon offered no comment due to potential litigation. City clerk Betsy Roy did the same.

In past newspaper reports, Miller has said the city knows about such claims "and will heartily defend the city's title.”

Meanwhile, the battle has cost the Adamses an estimated $30,000 in legal fees and has taken its toll on his 75-year-old mother, Purl said.

“When all this first started, all my mom asked for from the architect and FAMU was the payoff for her mortgage so she could deed the alleyway to whoever and make all of this go away. The mortgage was around $25,000,” he said. “The city decided to file a suit, causing mental stress on my mother, an elderly widow … not to mention the added stress of having to retain an attorney…

“I really think that the council should take control, use some common sense, and let’s resolve this issue once and for all. It has been simple all along.”

Tom McLaughlin and Matthew Brown contributed to this report.

Email Crestview News Bulletin Editor Thomas Boni, or tweet him @cnbeditor.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Resident: Alley dispute doesn’t end with council decision

CRESTVIEW — The City Council will not pursue a settlement to end dispute of a downtown alley's ownership.

City leaders tonight voted 3-2 to not settle with the late Purl G. Adams' family who claim ownership of property near Florida A&M University's Pharmacy School.

The topic was discussed at length after city attorney Jerry Miller gave each council member a copy of the proposed settlement he had reached with Barbara S. Adams and family.

"There is a settlement in the financial amount of $55,000 to Mrs. (Barbara) Adams," Miller said, adding the proposed agreement would ensure the city's property ownership.

Council members Mickey Rytman and Shannon Hayes wanted to settle. However, Council President Robyn Helt and Councilman Thomas Gordon opposed the notion.

"I don't think I can support paying for something that we already had access to," Gordon said.

 Helt agreed, stating she wouldn't use taxpayer funds to purchase the alley, which the city believes it owns.

Initially, Councilman Joe Blocker motioned to approve the settlement agreement, with a second motion by Hayes.

When Gordon asked what would happen if the council voted against the settlement, Miller said the alley claim would remain unsettled.

"A party could bring a civil action to obtain a judicial result," Miller said.

After much discussion, Helt requested a five-minute recess so that city clerk Betsy Roy could provide a copy of the November 1942 deed.

A warranty deed from Purl G. Adams, his wife Edna and W.R. Taylor gave the alley to the city in exchange for $10 and future considerations.

"I'm holding an official document on file with the city clerk's office … it says this city owns that property," Helt said. 

Hayes changed his stance on the issue.

"With this right here and what I am seeing, I am going to think another way," he said.  "Based on what I am holding in my hand, I say fight it. If we lose, we lose."

In a role call vote, Hayes, Helt and Gordon voted against the settlement, while Rytman and Blocker voted in favor.

The alley in dispute serves Main Street businesses that occupy buildings originally owned by Adams. Some are still owned by his daughter-in-law, Barbara, and his grandson, Purl Adams III, who claim the alley is part of their property, noting the former Alatex Building didn’t have a door to the alley until FAMU refurbished the structure.

The alley has since been renovated by FAMU, which believed it had acquired the right-of-way when the city turned over the Alatex Building to the university. Today, a new paved walk runs the alley’s length, sodded on either side, and new walkways have been laid to the rear doors of the block’s Main Street businesses.

A phone call to the Adams family was not immediately returned by press deadline.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview council votes against settlement agreement on alley