Okaloosa County hopes to recoup the money Mark Bellinger used to buy his home in Destin some time in March.

Bellinger, the former director of the Tourist Development Council, purchased the home illegally in August 2011 with $747,000 from a BP oil spill grant. He lived in the four-bedroom house in Kelly Plantation with his wife Kathy until his death in early May 2012.

The home was seized by the U.S. Marshal’s Office last summer and now is under contract to sell for $620,000.

“The way the process works with the federal government is they have contracts with outside brokers who attempt to arrive at a buyer for these properties,” said attorney Greg Stewart, special counsel to Okaloosa County.

Stewart on Tuesday presented county commissioners with a plan to “aggressively” pursue the recovery of some of the revenue Bellinger spent illegally and without authorization while he headed the TDC.

See presentation about TDC recovery efforts.

Stewart said the county has filed a petition to receive 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of the house minus maintenance and broker fees.

He said the county has contacted BP and the company has agreed that no refund is necessary as long as the money recovered is spent according to the oil spill grant’s intent.

In addition to the house, only two other items — a $48,000 2008 Porsche Cayman and $6,258 worth of furniture — are considered illegal purchases, Stewart told the board.

Not only were they purchased with public funds, they “went to a private person for a private person’s gain,” Stewart said.

The Porsche was one of Bellinger’s first thefts, occurring in August 2010, about three months after he was hired. He eventually traded it in for a Subaru sedan.

“And I believe there was a cash component. There was $6,000 in cash that ultimately went to him,” Stewart said.

The Subaru has been turned over to the county, which plans to take it to auction.

The county also has seized the furniture purchased with BP money and is deciding how to dispose of it.

“If we use it for alternative purposes, we will be obligated to refund BP,” Stewart said.

If the furniture is sold, the money would have to be used in accordance with the BP grant’s purpose.

Stewart also briefed the board on efforts to recover several of Bellinger’s unauthorized purchases. They include:

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kari Barlow at 850-315-4438 or kbarlow@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KariBnwfdn.  

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa lays out plans to recoup Bellinger theft losses (DOCUMENTS)

Okaloosa County has been vindicated in its assertion that it never abandoned its courthouse annex in Shalimar.

Florida’s First District Court of Appeals went along last week with a circuit court’s ruling and rejected the Meigs family trust’s effort to have the land on which the annex complex stands returned to it.

The family argued the county violated a reverter clause built into a deed drawn in 1973. The deed gave the land on which the Shalimar annex now stands to the county for as long as a courthouse function was maintained at the property.

When the county mostly vacated the annex in October 2011 in favor of the new Courthouse Annex Extension on the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds property in Fort Walton Beach, the family claimed the reverter clause had been violated.

The county argued it had no intention of leaving the annex building mostly empty and that it expected to use about 15,000 square feet of the 66,000-square-foot complex for courthouse functions.

The appeals court agreed.

“There is no evidence that constructing the annex extension somehow precludes continued judicial use of the annex,” the judges said in their ruling, citing case law that states “reduction of use or even non-use is not in itself abandonment.”

While the Meigs family still has time to request a rehearing, plans are moving steadily forward to begin filling a renovated Shalimar annex building.

County Administrator Jim Curry said a “design and build team” expects to present its plans for modernizing and revitalizing the annex, built in 1976, at the County Commission’s second meeting in March.

Newly invested Circuit Court Judge Mary Polson and Okaloosa County Court Operations Manager Alicia Wardlow represent Florida’s First Judicial Circuit on the task force deciding what to do with the Shalimar annex.

Circuit Court Judge William Stone, Okaloosa’s administrative judge, said the task force and county have “shown great deference” in allowing those representing the judiciary to decide what its presence at the annex will be.

“The only request we have made is to ask that they please use their facilities at the annex to conduct the full gamut of judicial proceedings,” Curry said, indicating that hearings, motions, mediation and actual trials all should be conducted in whatever space in Shalimar is allocated to the courts.

At this juncture, Wardlow said, discussions have revolved primarily around using the Shalimar annex for family law or juvenile court proceedings.

“There’s been discussion on that,” she said. “We haven’t hammered out all the details.”

One consideration, Wardlow said, is the ease of movement for children within the one-floor annex structure.

Stone said it isn’t likely the judicial function in Shalimar will return to any of the four big courtrooms where major cases were heard before the move to the annex extension.

 The county’s tax collector, property appraiser, clerk of court, supervisor of elections and sheriff’s office could also be among those occupying space within the renovated Shalimar annex, Curry said.

“We just want to be careful not to try to put ten pounds of potatoes into a five-pound bag,” he said. “We’re trying to determine who will fit and who won’t.”

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Tom McLaughlin at 850-315-4435 or tmclaughlin@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomMnwfdn.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Court sides with county over Shalimar courthouse annex

Editor's Note: Voters of municipal elections on March 12 will decide several positions in Crestview and Laurel Hill city governments.

To help readers make informed decisions at the polls, the News Bulletin will publish profiles of each candidate running for office in each edition of the newspaper through March 2. Today, we profile the two candidates running for mayor of Laurel Hill.

Each candidate was asked to answer the same questions and received the same amount of space to respond. Candidates appear alphabetically.

ROBBY ADAMS

Personal: Lifelong north Okaloosa County resident. Grew up just south of Laurel Hill in the Campton community and moved within Laurel Hill city limits in November 2005.

Married to his high school sweetheart, Debra Adams, for 18 years. Two children, Dylan, 8, and Aidan, 4. Employed by the USDA/Farm Service Agency as a program technician, serves as Laurel Hill's council vice chairperson and is a member of Laurel Hill School's School Advisory Council.

Relevant experience:

Appointed to Laurel Hill City Council in June 2008, began four-year term in April 2009. I have served as council vice chairperson several times and overseen the completion of the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program grant project for Gene Clary Park. Responsibilities included planning for upgrades to Gene Clary Park that were feasible based on allocated funds and selecting vendors through the bid process.

Other education/experience: Associate of Arts in Physical Education;Associate of Science in Drafting and Design Technology. Employed as program technician with the USDA/Farm Service Agency, where my responsibilities include overseeing programs implemented by the USDA Farm Bill.Prior to my employment with the USDA/FSA, I worked as a planner at EJM Aerospace Services for six years.

Reason you seek this position: This is a tough question and maybe the standard answer shouldn't be "because I feel like I am the best person for the job." But why would anyone subject themselves or their family to the public scrutiny that comes from holding a public office? I think I can make a difference.

The citizens and employees of the city deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and I intend to make this a priority. I will treat all citizens equally and approach all issues with an open mind. It's time to bring honesty and integrity back to the office of mayor.

Biggest issue this position faces and how you plan to address it: The city recently began a process to explore dissolving the city charter. With this process, the citizens should be given the opportunity to decide if they choose to continue as a city or if they will be better served as part of Okaloosa County.

As mayor, I want to make sure the citizens are well informed of all aspects of this decision. If the citizens choose to dissolve the city, I want to be their voice in negotiations with Okaloosa County. 

However, if the citizens choose to stay a city, I will work with the new council in continuing to pass financially responsible budgets so that we may remain a city with the least amount of tax burden upon our citizens. 

MIKE BLIZZARD

Personal: Married to Theresa Blizzard (Weaver) for 32 years. Three sons: Michael, 27; Justin, 23; and Josiah, 15. Resident of Laurel Hill since 1992.

Served as a security policeman in the United States Air Force and retired from Eglin A.F.B. in 1994. Employed as a corrections officer with the Walton County Department of Corrections, where he also serves as a field training officer. Politically conservative and a strong supporter of the U.S. Constitution.

Relevant experience:I initially served as a city council member in Laurel Hill in 1996, filling a vacant position. I was then elected to the office of mayor and served two terms, 1997-1999 and 1999-2001. I have experience in city government and the budgetary matters.

Other education/experience:I am a certified corrections officer in the state of Florida, I attended the Corrections Academy in 2005 at Santa Rosa Correctional Institution. I also have 32 credit hours of college.

Reason you seek this position:  I am seeking the office of mayor because I want to see the city of Laurel Hill remain a city. 

There has been some interest expressed in dissolving our city and I think it would be a travesty to allow this to happen. Laurel Hill has a rich history and can have a brilliant future.

Yes, we have budgetary problems, which must be addressed, but I believe we can find solutions to our problems if the mayor, city council and the citizens all work together.

Biggest issue this position faces and how you plan to address it:  Our streets are in a deplorable condition but they did not get that way overnight.

It will take time to resolve this issue, but I think it is not an insurmountable problem. We will continue to seek grants to improve the roadways as well as try to work with Okaloosa County to seek a solution. With the gas tax money we receive each year, we can address this problem a little at a time.

The dissolution of the city will not result in the immediate paving of our streets.

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: MEET THE CANDIDATES: Adams, Blizzard vie for Laurel Hill mayor

Editor's Note: Voters of municipal elections on March 12 will decide several positions in Crestview and Laurel Hill governments.

To help readers make informed decisions at the polls, the News Bulletin will publish profiles of each candidate running for these offices over the next six editions, beginning with today's profiles of the three candidates for Crestview city clerk.

Each candidate was asked to answer the same questions and received the same amount of space to respond. Candidates appear alphabetically.

WANDA G. DAVIS

Personal:Single/Divorced. Two sons, Larry Roberts Jr. and Jason Roberts, reside in Crestview. My parents, grandparents, great grandparents — all resided in north Okaloosa County.

Relevant experience:

I have 20-plus years of management in the medical field, as well as the past 10-plus years as a Realtor/broker. I have experience in accounts receivable, accounts payable, book keeping, budgets, insurance filing, personnel, payroll, maintenance of all records, negotiating contracts, state and local audits as well as medical audits, quality control, hiring subcontractors (IT personnel, transcriptionist, maintenance, etc). Responsible to make sure all personnel were licensed, certifications and (continuing education) were current. Responsible for making sure all patients and customers were satisfied.

Other education/experience: Florida notary, real estate and broker license with the continued education that is required.

Reason you seek this position:

To give the city back to the citizens.

I want to give the citizens back their voice in our local government as well as their confidence in our local elected officials. I want to put transparency, integrity and accountability back into our elective positions and make the citizens of Crestview proud of our community once again.

The city of Crestview has been a wonderful place for families to raise our children and future leaders of not just this city, but our state, as we have in the past.

Our local citizens were proud of where we lived and not ashamed of what goes on in our local government.

Our citizens could stop our elected officials on the streets, in our restaurants and discuss the topics and issues as well as their concerns and knew that they would get honest answers.

I want to help make Crestview a place to be proud of once again.

Biggest issue this position faces and how you plan to address it:

To earn the trust of our citizens.

As your city clerk, there will be an “open door” policy, total transparency, accountability for the actions of myself and staff to our employer, the city of Crestview — you the citizens.

I will work diligently to make you proud of our city and be accountable to you, the people of this fine city. To be able to accomplish this, I need your votes.

Everyone talks how Crestview’s citizens do not go to the polls to vote; let’s prove them wrong with this election on March 12. I am counting on each registered voter to make their voice heard this election.

Go vote and I will gladly put your voice back into your city!

J.T. (JOHN THOMAS) KINSEY

Personal: Married to the former Drew Henley of Clarksdale, Miss. They have two daughters, two sons and seven grandchildren. Kinsey is a member of the University of Georgia Alumni Association, the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary Chapter 57, the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce and co-owner, with his wife, of Elite Yarns, LLC. He is a member of Allapattah Baptist Church. He and Drew attend multiple churches throughout Northwest Florida.

Relevant experience:

I have over 31 years of increasingly responsible management and leadership experience working for the Department of Defense in the Defense Commissary Agency.

I held a variety of junior, middle and senior executive management and administrative positions in stateside and overseas environments at field, regional and headquarter levels.

My extensive management experience enabled me to develop exceedingly strong administrative, operational and leadership skills in human resources, acquisitions, budget execution, program management and strategic planning.  

Other education/experience:

Upon earning a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia, my professional career has been in public service, serving active duty, reservists, veterans and retirees of our military departments in a variety of increasingly responsible management and leadership positions.

My qualifications are the result of a broad scope of assignments I excelled in throughout my career.

The knowledge, skills and abilities I attained enabled me to be the recipient of numerous performance, leadership, meritorious and distinguished-service awards during my career.

Reason you seek this position:

I seek this position because my qualifications and leadership abilities are superior to those of my opponents and that enables me to best represent the citizens of Crestview.

More importantly, my career of public service clearly demonstrates I am more than capable of serving the citizens of Crestview.

A candidate elected by the citizens serves those individuals by carrying out the duties of the position in the best interest of the majority of the constituents.

Based upon previous incidents that have occurred within the office, I am better able to serve the citizens than the incumbent or the other opponent. 

Biggest issue this position faces and how you plan to address it:

The largest issue this position faces is to restore the citizenry’s faith and trust in the office of city clerk.

Utilizing integrity as the cornerstone, this will be addressed by requiring a concerted effort on the part of all personnel associated with the city clerk’s office to conduct themselves in the utmost ethical, honest and professional manner in all endeavors they undertake.

The citizens of Crestview will be provided the optimum in transparency and customer service by all departments and personnel that fall within the purview of the city clerk.

ELIZABETH "BETSY" ROY

Personal: Crestview resident since 1995; member of First United Methodist Church; manager for Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. for 25 years.

Secretary/past president of the Kiwanis Club of Crestview; recipient of the James E. Plew Community Ambassador Awardfrom Eglin AFB; former honorary commander at Eglin AFB and Duke Field; and Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce member.

Recipient of the Bob Sikes Patriot of the Year Award and recipient of the Doc Barrows Citizen of the Year Award.

Married to local businessperson Mike Roy.

Relevant experience:

Have spent my entire adult life in the business world and feel that my experience is what the city of Crestview needs to move forward.

I was appointed to the position in December of 2011 and was sworn in on Jan. 2, 2012. Every situation that has come up in the last year has been carefully researched to make sure we are giving the best answers for the city of Crestview and its citizens.

Other education/experience:

I was a department store manager and buyer for 10 years prior to becoming a manager at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc.

During my 25 years with Cracker Barrel, I was both a manager and a district manager. Fortunately, my career path brought me to Crestview in November of 1995.

Reason you seek this position:

We have accomplished a lot in the last year, but there is even more that I can see that needs to be done.

I would appreciate the opportunity to build on the foundation we have started and continue to make Crestview the city of choice for Northwest Florida.

Biggest issue this position faces and how you plan to address it:

The biggest issue I see is maintaining a strong fiscal foundation for the city.

There are a lot of tough decisions that have to be made and addressed by the city council, and this position needs someone who is not afraid to bring those issues to light.

I believe I have proved that I have been that person for the last 12 months.

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: MEET THE CANDIDATES: 2 challenge incumbent for Crestview city clerk