CRESTVIEW — Public Works staffers will receive assistance from an outside contractor to complete state-mandated annual checks of the city's estimated 9,000 backflow water valves.

Public Works Director Wayne Steele said during a city council meeting Monday that this is the first year his department has undertaken the inspections and therefore had no previous data to work from to judge how long they would take.

With only about 200 of the devices inspected since the start of the year, the department's limited staff has fallen behind on the inspections, and with developments being constructed, more backflow valves are going online almost continuously, Steele said.

The valves prevent contaminated water from flowing from a residence or business back into the water system.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection requires annual inspection on each backflow valve. Each inspection takes about 30 minutes, Steele said.

"You see the dilemma I have," Steele told the city council at its Monday meeting. "We just don't have the staff. As of now, I'm providing help to Ms. (Betsy) Roy (Crestview city clerk) to read meters. We cannot just apply this workload to our existing workload."

In response to a query by Councilman Joe Blocker, Steele assured the council that a contractor's inspection services would not cost residents more than the $40 inspection fee established by city ordinance.

"My personal feeling is, if we need some additional assistance to make sure we're adhering to our own ordinance, we have to determine if it makes more sense to hire contracted help or hire the staff to see this through," Council President Robyn Helt said.

Councilman Shannon Hayes moved to allow Steele's department to engage a contractor through the remainder of the budget year. The city would then monitor the inspection progress and determine during the budgeting process for 2013-14 whether to hire additional city inspectors.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Contractor to aid backflow valves inspection for Crestview council

CRESTVIEW — This fall, area residents might celebrate Veterans Day on the holiday's Nov. 11 date, rather than the Saturday before, if a request before the city council is approved.

City leaders are expected to discuss the issue during their next meeting, 6 p.m. May 13 at city hall.

Events organizer Deborah "Pinky" Jimison, of the Crestview Veterans of Foreign Wars post, said she brought the matter before the council at other veterans’ request.

In past years, the city's downtown parade has occurred the Saturday before Veterans Day while a "Wall Ceremony" honoring veterans' sacrifices occurs on Veterans Day itself.

However, organizers envision a daylong observation of downtown Veterans Day events, beginning with the 9 a.m. parade on Main Street, followed by the "11-11-11" Wall Ceremony at the Okaloosa County Veterans Memorial, Jimison said. Other events could include a downtown festival with vendors, food and exhibits honoring local veterans, for which organizers would like to collaborate with the Main Street Crestview Association.

Public Works Director Wayne Steele said his crews would need two hours before the 9 a.m. parade to set up barricades on Main Street.

Police Chief Tony Taylor said his officers could readily handle rerouting downtown traffic, along with setting up and taking down parade barricades.

Councilman Tom Gordon noted that some downtown businesses will be closed for the holiday and would be unaffected by the morning street closure.

Council President Robyn Helt suggested researching the proposal before taking action on it.

Want to go?

The Crestview City Council will discuss whether to allow a daylong downtown Veterans Day observance on Nov. 11. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. May 13 at the City Council chamber in City Hall.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: VFW asks Crestview council to allow Veterans Day parade Nov. 11

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Guardian Ad Litem will commemorate abused, neglected and abandoned children at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Twin Hills Park.   

The program will feature musical performances from Jeilani Champion; Dr. Linda Smith, a case advocacy manager for Guardian; and the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church children’s choir. The Baker School ROTC will present the color guard. The event will also feature guest speaker Ken Hair of Children in Crisis in Fort Walton Beach.

Guardian Ad Litem, a non-profit, volunteer-based, state-operated organization, works on behalf of foster children or children placed in another home due to court intervention. The program coordinates with the Florida Department of Children and Family services, in which volunteers ensure children's needs are served in their new environments.

"We make sure no further harm comes to them," said Carita Smith, lead volunteer coordinator. "We speak to the judge on that child's behalf."

The event aims to raise awareness for children not currently in the Guardian program.

The program assists more than 1,000 Okaloosa children; 140 north Okaloosa children lack Guardian representation, Smith said.

Due to the limited number of volunteers, Guardian cannot reach as many of these children as they would like.   

Prospective volunteers can call 689-4107 or see guardianadlitem.org.

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 Guardian Ad Litem raising awareness April 28

CINCO BAYOU — Okaloosa County District 3 Commissioner Nathan Boyles is implementing a quarterly Coffee with the Commissioner event at various dates, times and locations.

The first one — 7:30-9 a.m. April 17 at Cinco Bayou Town Hall — includes coffee and baked goods.

"I am hoping that these quarterly coffees will be an opportunity for me to meet with constituents and discuss county issues in a relaxed and informal format," Boyles, also a Crestview attorney, said.

Boyles’ constituency includes areas in north and south Okaloosa County.

FIND IT ONLINE

See okaloosafl.com or search for “Nathan Boyles Okaloosa County Commissioner, District 3” on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Boyles announces Coffee with the Commissioner meetings

CRESTVIEW — The city council has set an April 16 workshop to discuss establishing guidelines for granting non-profit groups’ request for free use of public facilities.

Three groups, as follows, requested use of city facilities during the meeting:

•Resident Connie Murray requested a $350 waiver to use Old Spanish Trail Park for a May 11 Lyme disease awareness fund-raiser.

•Sabu Williams, president of the NAACP’s Okaloosa County chapter, requested a $205 fee waiver to use the Crestview Community Center for an April 14 fund-raiser benefiting former council member Lily Conyers, who is ill. 

•Bob Lynn, chairman of the city's Military Appreciation Recognition Celebration, requested the city contribute use of Old Spanish Trail Park and provide event insurance for the annual Armed Forces Day family event, set for May 18.

All three requests were unanimously approved after discussion, but questions about event insurance and guidelines for granting fee waivers remained. Mayor David Cadle suggested the council have a public workshop on the matter.

"I know we have no criteria and we have struggled with that," Cadle said. "If you knew just what the criteria was, it would make things much easier for you."

The council agreed and, following Gordon’s motion, unanimously approved scheduling the April 16 workshop.

The recently seated new council members and their immediate predecessors agree that all the requests so far received are worthy, but questions of how responsible stewardship of public tax money can be reconciled with supporting a cause have arisen.

At Councilman Tom Gordon’s recommendation, groups must complete a detailed request form through City Clerk Betsy Roy that affected department heads use to determine the cost to Crestview taxpayers of providing the services.

Earlier requests for free use of Old Spanish Trail Park came from local Relay for Life organizers and an area church that provides free school supplies for children during a summer event.

In some instances, groups have requested free Public Works and Recreation Department labor to provide services such as rigging banners, setting up chairs or running electricity.

Want to go?

The Crestview City Council will have a public workshop to discuss fee waivers and event insurance for non-profit organizations seeking to use city facilities. Mobile and itinerant vendor guidelines will also be discussed. The workshop will be 3-5:30 p.m. April 16 at the City Council chamber in City Hall.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: April 16 workshop set to mull guidelines for nonprofit contributions

CRESTVIEW — The city council this evening unanimously approved a proposed Krystal restaurant for the site of a long-closed gas station on State Road 85 across from the Dunkin Donuts shop. The request was included in the consent agenda of the new council's first meeting.

The restaurant will be situated between an existing Region's Bank and the Family Vision Center on the east side of the highway on what is locally known as Juke Hill.

Krystal, based in Chattanooga, Tenn., has indicated on site plans filed with the city that it would in the future build a commercial building on the site as well.

With the city council's approval, in the first vote of the new council, Krystal has stated that the new restaurant might be open as soon as the end of July.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: City council approves Krystal restaurant for S.R. 85

CRESTVIEW — Council member Robyn Helt became "madam president" Monday evening with her election to the head of the Crestview City Council.

Mayor David Cadle opened and presided over the first several minutes of the new council's first meeting, during which new Councilman Joe Blocker nominated fellow freshman Mickey Rytman to the president's chair.

Rytman, however, nominated Helt, who was elected to the position on a 4-1 vote, with Blocker voting "nay."

With a nomination by Councilman Shannon Hayes, also a new member of the body, Rytman was elected vice president by a 3-2 vote, with Rytman and Councilman Tom Gordon voting "nay."

Gordon had nominated Blocker for vice president.

Helt, who was elected to the council in 2011, welcomed the new council members and thanked them for their "vote of confidence."

"I will work very hard to do you all proud," Helt said to her colleagues.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Helt elected council president; Rytman chosen as veep