CRESTVIEW — The North Okaloosa Fire District board of commissioners will delay considering the fire chief's removal until the board's attorney has more information.

In an October meeting, commissioners asked NOFD Jonathan Holloway to seek the state attorney general’s office input on revising a department-wide disciplinary policy.

The issue arose when commissioners were unclear of the department’s disciplinary structure.

"There isn't a specified structure for disciplining the chief; we also didn't have one with the office administration," Commissioner Craig Shaw said.

Commissioner Todd McGirr at the NOFD's Thursday meeting asked why the policy was needed.

"Why would we want a policy when it is our decision anyway?" McGirr said.

Craig assured him that other policies would be considered soon.

Holloway said he had only recently sent a memorandum stating the situation and said the office was looking into the matter.  

Holloway said he should receive a response within the next 30 days.

 Agenda items involving the disciplinary policy and the chief's removal were then motioned by Commissioner Craig Shaw and unanimously passed by the board.

With new commissioners McGirr and Rollin Rathbun, the board started the meeting by voting in new positions. McGirr, who defeated Franklin Sauls in the September election, was voted in as treasurer. Craig Shaw, the previous treasurer, was voted in as chair. Willie Terrell was voted in vice chair and Dan Bowers Jr. was voted in as secretary.

At the end of the meeting, Bowers made a motion to help the district save money.

"I make a motion for the board members to be treated as non-employees in regards to their stipend," Bowers said. 

All the commissioners agreed, passing the motion unanimously.

Bowers explained that each commissioner would save the district money by paying the taxes from their stipends. Each commissioner makes $250 a month. 

"It's not a lot of money, but it's enough that can go back into the department," Bowers said.  

READ MORE: See "Related Links" at top left of this article.

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: Commissioners drop discussion of chief's removal until further notice

CRESTVIEW — A calendar of downtown celebrations may include Earth Day if Crestview City Council President Ben Iannucci III and Public Works Director Wayne Steele’s efforts are successful.

Iannucci said he and Steele have discussed emulating DeFuniak Springs’ successful Earth Day celebration. The topic came up while they mulled incorporating green technology and practices into city services.

Local companies pursuing conservation and energy efficiency initiatives could share such innovations at a downtown Earth Day festival, Ianuuci said. Demonstrations of energy generating and conservation equipment could line Main Street at such an event.

“We would invite vendors to come in and companies that want to display things. It’s a lot of education. Invite groups to set up booths the way we do with a lot of the things we do on Main Street.”

Iannucci said he and Steele discussed including the city’s garbage contractor if a Crestview Earth Day festival becomes a reality.

“We talked to Waste Pro about things they would be able to do,” he said. “They have new technologies out there, such as natural-gas-powered garbage trucks. We had discussed having a garbage truck where we’d open up the back end and everybody can bring in their recyclables and toss them in.”

The event would be open to the public, Steele said.  

Jason O’Daniels — DeFuniak Springs’ code enforcement and environmental compliance officer, who organized his city’s April event — has offered to help Crestview leaders produce a similar festival. Demonstrating green technologies showed residents in the neighboring city how the practices can save taxpayer and personal dollars, he said.

“I had so many different types of vendors last year,” O’Daniels said. “I had Alabama A&M University bring a biodiesel reactor down. It took raw waste vegetable oil, ran it through the whole process and produced diesel oil at the end and ran a generator.”

Companies demonstrated solar power applications for residences, a wind turbine that generates power in as little as a half-mile-an-hour breeze, and “a guy running his car, lawn mower and weed whacker off of propane.”

“I wanted to make sure I encompassed everything so I even had a soybean-based spray insulation company that reduces energy consumption for heating and cooling,” O’Daniels said.

Embracing green technologies is key to a successful conservation program he said.

“You can become energy (efficient) and self-reliant — municipal and personal — but it takes so many ways,” O’Daniels said. “You can’t put all your eggs in one basket. At our Earth Day event, we were showing how this is achievable.

Working with Gulf Power, DeFuniak is poised to cut its street lighting bill by 70 percent, O’Daniels said.

Crestview officials anticipate potentially displaying current technologies that residents and the city can use to save energy — and money.

“Well, we just agreed to recycle a building from Gulf Power,” Councilman Tom Gordon said somewhat jokingly. He was referring to the city’s acceptance of a donated building that could become a city recycling center.

The Crestview City Council on Dec. 10 unanimously approved Ianucci’s request to form a committee to discuss a downtown Crestview Earth Day festival.

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: Earth Day 2013 might be celebrated with Crestview street festival

CRESTVIEW — With local officials projecting northwest Crestview will be the city’s next area of growth, the City Council took steps toward preparing for the quadrant’s expansion by approving a new water system.

Meeting Monday evening in its first business meeting of the year, the council received a report from Michael Bomar, vice president of Tetra Tech municipal water system consultants. The city had directed the company to develop a master plan for Crestview’s water system. Improving service to the growing northwest quadrant enclosed by Old Bethel Road was one of Tetra Tech’s recommendations.

Bomar presented bids for the system’s two components, which he said came close to or below Tetra Tech engineers’ estimated cost.

Speegle Construction submitted the low bid, $2 million, for Part I, encompassing drilling the city’s new Well No. 9 and building a water tank for it.

However, Tetra Tech was able to strip from the bid “value engineering items … that we do not feel will decrease the level of service for this project,” Bomar stated in a letter to the city.

Removing items including a generator and its soundproofing enclosure, and providing a shingle roof instead of a metal roof on the well house, reduced the bid by $91,840.

Evans Contractors Inc., submitted the winning bid of $428,830 for Part II, the construction of a network of water mains. The council unanimously accepted both bids.

Council President Ben Iannucci III asked Bomar if the cost would’ve been less if only one contractor did the work.

“The reason we broke it out is to save the city money,” Bomar said, explaining contractors generally have a specialty, such as drilling, and would in turn substitute the project’s other components, charging the city for the project management and the actual work.

The work would likely start within 30 days of signing the contracts with Speegle and Evans, Bomar said.

In other matters, the city:

• Unanimously approved a social media policy for city employees that will govern use of such Internet sites as Twitter and Facebook.

• Unanimously approved a request by Catherine Dortch of the Concerned Citizens Group for city support of its annual parade honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King. City attorney Jerry Miller recommended the group be added as an additional insured entity on the city’s liability insurance.

• Unanimously approved Mayor David Cadle’s recommendation to appoint Warrant Officer Joann Durm to the Crestview Public Housing Authority board, replacing long-time member Sgt. George Stakely, who recently resigned.

• Unanimously approved a revised returned-check policy requested by City Clerk Betsy Roy. The new policy will protect utilities customers who passed a bad check from having their service turned off on a weekend or holiday when they can’t make a proper payment because city offices would be closed.

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: Council approves new water system for northwest Crestview

CRESTVIEW — Networking with other cities’ elected leaders and learning innovative ways to meet Crestview’s challenges are some benefits of attending out-of-town conferences, city council members said.

For long-distance travel, though, council members would like some of their expenses reimbursed.

Meeting in a Dec. 10 workshop to discuss travel expense reimbursement, council members said having Crestview represented at events like the regional and state League of Cities meetings has increased the city’s stature.

However, travel expense reimbursement money was excluded from the 2012-13 city budget, so city leaders must fund their own expenses. For trips no farther than Tallahassee, they willingly assume the expense, Councilman Charles Baugh Jr. said.

 “If we’re gonna grow (as a city), we gotta go (to league meetings),” Councilman Tom Gordon said.

Reimbursement discussion originated in October when Council President Ben Iannucci III requested reimbursement for nearly $600 in expenses, including $239.27 for a one-night stay at the Florida League of Cities conference hotel in Kissimmee. He learned there was no budget item for travel reimbursement.

“We have done a lot as council members to have representation on various boards,” Baugh said. “People don’t ask me ‘Where’s Crestview?’ anymore, but now they know that Crestview is one of the largest cities we have in Northwest Florida because of our representation on the board.”

Travel reimbursement could come from the city’s contingency fund or another line item if necessary, Finance Director Patti Beebe said.

The Florida League of Cities can also reimburse some travel expenses, Baugh said. He offered to set aside a quarter of his councilman’s compensation to help cover his travel expenses.

City Clerk Betsy Roy said her office would review past travel expenses, examine the mayor’s budget and other budgets and bring recommendations for reimbursement options before the council for consideration.

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 council mulls travel expense reimbursement

CRESTVIEW — Gulf Power has a new, unwanted building that could become a recycling facility for the Hub City. The City Council on Monday unanimously approved accepting the electric utility’s gift.

There’s just one catch: The city must dismantle and move the building.

The structure — originally a warehouse on Cadle Drive in southwest Crestview — comes with no other conditions, Public Works Director Wayne Steele said.

The 3,552-square-foot building is 96 feet long, 37 feet wide, was never occupied, has metal trusses, a metal roof, plywood walls and HardiePlank composite siding.

The cost to dismantle the building would not affect the Public Works budget, Steele said. The Okaloosa Correctional Institute’s inmate labor would dismantle and store components at Public Works until the council decides where to place the building and determines its purpose.

“We have been proactive in our recycling initiative. It would serve well as a recycling facility,” Steele said. “My recommendation would be to move it to behind the hospital by the fire building” on Brookmeade Drive.

Councilman Tim Grandberry praised the donation and Steele’s suggestion, and moved to accept the donation upon approval of the city attorney. Council President Ben Iannucci III, a proponent of introducing more green initiatives to Crestview, pronounced the suggestion as “Great!”

In other matters, the council:

• Unanimously approved an ordinance waiving collection of traffic impact fees for a 24-month trial.

“It’s a very big step to move our business development forward,” Iannucci said.

• Unanimously approved renewing Crestview’s annual dues to Sister Cities International for 2013. The action followed a two-week visit last month by 36 Noirmoutier, France guests.

• Unanimously approved placing an ad in a Crestview city map the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce will publish.

• Unanimously approved a contract for officiating services at Crestview Recreation Department sports events. Hub City Sports Officials’ $56,300 winning bid is $8,700 less than the budgeted amount.

The services had not been previously submitted for competitive bidding, Steele said.

• Unanimously approved having consultant Jack Dorman study the city’s military compatibility update to the comprehensive plan.

A workshop on the issue is at 8 a.m. Feb. 9 at 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: Gulf Power donates building to city

CRESTVIEW — Public Works employees Floyd Spence and Randy Broxson, received HERO awards at the Dec. 4 Okaloosa County Commission meeting for their assistance following a May 11 two-car accident.

Spence and Broxson directed traffic around the accident site; helped move the uninjured driver of one car from danger; and simultaneously applied medical assistance to an injured mother and son. They provided moral support and first aid until the police and an ambulance arrived on the scene.

The Humanitarian Efforts Recognized by Okaloosa County award celebrates county employees who go beyond their job’s scope and do something humanitarian or heroic.

The HERO award can include acts occurring outside work hours and submissions by people outside Okaloosa County staff.

Above and Beyond forms are available online at www.okaloosafl.com, or you may call 311 for details or to recognize an Okaloosa County employee.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Spence and Broxson presented with HERO awards at county meeting

FORT WALTON BEACH — Tax collections for November, when taxpayers receive the largest early-payment discount of 4 percent, resulted in millions of savings, the Okaloosa County Tax Office reported.

“Due to that discount, Okaloosa taxpayers realized just over $5.6 million dollars in combined savings,” Tax Collector Ben Anderson said. “Because we work for the citizens, it has been a priority to communicate all possible ways to save and conduct business with our office. As a result, the taxpayer gets to keep more of their hard-earned money in their pocket.”

Seventy-four percent of 2012’s total tax revenue was collected by Nov. 30.

Internet transactions reportedly increased by 193 percent from the same time last year and payments via free E-check increased almost 500 percent over November 2011.

Anderson said those who haven’t done so should sign up for BillExpress, which sends tax bills to your inbox and mailbox.

An installment payment plan is also available.

“The installment option allows you to spread out those tax payments over the course of the tax year, easing the burden of lump sum payments,” Anderson said.

ONLINE: Click on “Real Estate Taxes” on the left at www.okaloosatax.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Taxpayers save millions with early payment discounts

@font-face { font-family: "News706 BT";}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.bodycopy, li.bodycopy, div.bodycopy { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 12.25pt; line-height: 10.5pt; font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }

CRESTVIEW — A current Bob Sikes Airport tenant next week is expected to announce a major expansion that would bring 300 jobs to the area.

“We have been working with the project for the last year and a half,” said Kay Rasmussen, the Okaloosa County Economic Development Council’s interim president, during Monday’s city council meeting. “We’re not released from the non-disclosure law. But there will be a public announcement next week. We have been working with the state of Florida on this.”

State confidentiality laws protect businesses’ identities during sensitive negotiations with municipalities. While Rasmussen couldn’t reveal the business’ name, the EDC’s efforts assured 80 existing jobs will be retained, and more will be added.

“Through this expansion, they are creating over 300 new jobs and they will hire over the next two years,” Rasmussen said, adding the average salary of the new positions is above average for the area. “As you can tell just by the job count alone, this is a high-wage company and a huge investment in the community.”

The official announcement will come from Gov. Rick Scott’s office, which has worked with the Okaloosa EDC on a package of incentives to retain the company and allow it to grow.

The unnamed tenant’s expansion follows a recent expansion announcement by another airport business. L3 Crestview Aerospace will begin construction of an administration building this month and will build an 80,000-square-foot hangar next year.

Rasmussen also distributed a list of 12 projects the EDC is working on in the Crestview area, including four within the city limits and most of the rest at the airport or its neighboring Industrial Air Park. Among them is a possible expansion of Qwest Air Parts, which would add approximately 100 jobs.

“There is a lot of activity taking place in Crestview and surrounding Crestview,” Rasmussen said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Airport business to add 300 jobs