CRESTVIEW — The community's fireworks show, rained out on the Fourth of July, will burst over Twin Hills Park on Labor Day, city council members unanimously agreed.

Concerned that daylong holiday rains would wet the fireworks after they were set out, Ashley Pyrotechnics of Tallahassee canceled the planned $11,000 display, Public Works Director Wayne Steele said on Monday.

The fireworks take about four hours to set up, Steele said. Sudden downpours could ruin those already set out.

"I hated to agree with them," Steele said. "I learned a lesson over the years: the weather's a funny thing. It's better to stay on course and wait it out. Sometimes the Lord will bless us."

Steele's suggestion of moving the display to Labor Day, Sept. 2, was well received by the City Council, which unanimously approved the recommendation. (Editor's Note: Keep reading as updates on the display's time become available.)

Steele said all the activities planned for Independence Day, including bounce houses and inflatable slides, would be available at the Labor Day festivities.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Fourth of July fireworks display rescheduled for September

CRESTVIEW — Emphasizing several times that it can be lowered during budget discussions, the City Council has voted to set a tentative millage rate of 5.8466.

The .25 percent increase will give the council leeway to produce a 2013-14 fiscal year budget that maintains services demanded by residents without becoming encumbered by a too-low tentative millage.

During the 3-1 vote Monday evening, Councilman Thomas Gordon voted "nay." Council President Robyn Helt was absent. Vice president Mickey Rytman conducted the meeting.

The increase from the current 5.5966 millage rate would provide an estimated $5,380,692 in revenue, a $218,574 increase over the current fiscal year, according to figures provided by Finance Director Patti Beebe.

By law, once a tentative millage rate is established, it can be reduced. However, it can only be increased after an expensive process of paying the county property appraiser to send out revised Truth in Millage, or TRIM, notices, as state statute requires.

The tentative millage rate discussion followed a report by the city's accountants, Carr, Riggs and Ingram, which stated Crestview's governmental operations had a $1.5 million deficit in the 2012 fiscal year.

The council promised a thorough revue of each department's proposed budget during the budgeting process in hopes of decreasing the tentative millage rate.

"We want to reiterate this is a tentative rate," Rytman said. "It can always go down, but it costs us to go up. We do not want to raise taxes. A lot of the council members want to dig deep in the budget and lower the amount of money we spend."

Gordon explained the situation.

"When you get less money to run your household, you either get a nighttime job or you cut the cable (TV) off," he said. "We need to cut the cable off."

The council unanimously set a public budget hearing for 5 p.m. Sept. 10 with the final meeting at 5 p.m. Sept. 24. By law, the budget must be passed before Oct. 1. Budget workshops will be scheduled at the council's July 22 meeting.

Want to go?

The Crestview City Council will set dates and times for budget workshops at its July 22 meeting at City Hall. The meeting starts at 6 p.m.

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: Crestview City Council OKs tentative tax rise

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