OKALOOSA ISLAND — The Republican Women of Okaloosa Federated will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at the Wyndam Garden Hotel on Okaloosa Island.

Socializing will begin at 11:30 a.m. A buffet lunch will be served at 12 p.m. There will be a "Dine and Dash" table for those who can only stay for a limited time. Non-members and guests are welcome

Installation of the 2018-2020 board of directors will take place with Jean Wingo, vice president of Florida Federation of Republican Women, as the installing officer.

Republicans who are running for office are invited to attend. The hotel is located at 575 Santa Rosa Blvd., on Okaloosa Island. 

To make a reservation, contact Donna Pattison at 651-5416 or donnapattison@cox.net by noon on Saturday, Dec. 30. Cost of the lunch is $18 for members and $20 for guests. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Republican Women of Okaloosa Federated to install officers

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County property owners saved more than $7.1 million by taking advantage of the 4 percent early payment discount last month.

"Our offices collected more than $177.6 million during the month of November," Tax Collector Ben Anderson said. "With Christmas just around the corner, money saved is better spent in the hands of citizens than in the hands of government!"

Anderson encouraged those who missed the November discount to use some of the remaining discounts.

"There is still time to take advantage of additional early payment discounts. Property owners will receive a 3 percent early payment discount if the payment is made by Dec. 31."

Discounts will continue to decrease by one percentage point until March 1, 2018, after which full payment is due.

Several payment options are available for paying property taxes, including online payments such as an electronic check (E-check).

"E-check is a smart and easy way to process your payment," Tax Administrator Justin Gordon said. "It’s like writing a check but only electronically. It’s fast, safe, secure, and most importantly, it’s free!"

You can also pay your property tax bill at one of the county’s six locations (1250 N. Eglin Parkway Suite 101, Shalimar; 310 Van Matre Ave., Building 210, Suite 155, Eglin Air Force Base; 701 E. John Sims Parkway, Niceville; 4012 Commons Drive W, Unit 122, Destin; 302 N. Wilson St. Suite 101, Crestview; and 120 Simpson Ave., Building 90320, Room 111, Hurlburt Field.

Alternatively call 651-7300. See www.OkaloosaTax.com for more information about payment options.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Property owners: last call for 3 percent tax discount

CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa County Commission recently approved an option agreement to buy up to 1,665 acres of Shoal River Ranch land for potential economic development.

The option is for three years, includes the ability to obtain a one-year extension and allows the county to purchase all or any part of the acreage involved.

Shoal River Ranch, just east of Crestview, is owned by the Holland M. Ware Charitable Foundation of Boise, Idaho.

The ranch encompasses about 10,500 acres, with roughly 6,850 acres north of Interstate 10 and about 3,650 acres south of the highway. The parcels are connected by a state-maintained overpass.

About 2,043 acres of the ranch are available for industrial development, according to the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County.

The valuation of all or part of the 1,665 acres that the county could buy would be determined by averaging various appraisals.

"In consideration for the granting of the option, the county would grant to the foundation the timber and pine straw rights on Stand 1 and 2 of property owned by the county for the benefit of the Water and Sewer Department," county officials said in a report for the Dec. 5 commission meeting.

Stand 1 covers about 96 acres and Stand 2 encompasses about 55 acres. The foundation retains the right to grow and harvest timber and pine straw at its sole discretion, but not to replant trees, according to the option agreement.

A one-year extension on the option would be granted provided that the extension of water and sewer lines to Jericho Road is 80 percent completed and the county has received a non-binding letter of intent from an economic development prospect seeking to use the land.

County Attorney Greg Stewart told the commission Dec. 5 that, "We have the ability within this option to assign it. If we have an economic development prospect that becomes available to developing that area, the concept is that we would assign this option to them, and they would be the actual person who would acquire this property, depending on their particular needs."

Nathan Sparks, executive director of the EDC, said he and Stewart began negotiating the option agreement with the foundation several months ago.

"You all know that we’ve had some near misses (or potential development opportunities that fell through) at Shoal River Ranch in the past," Sparks told commissioners. "And one of the big challenges we’ve had, of course, is a lack of infrastructure."

He then praised commissioners for seeking Triumph funding to extend infrastructure, such as water lines, down U.S. Highway 90 to the ranch.

Commissioner Nathan Boyles said the option agreement doesn’t guarantee economic development will occur at the ranch.

"But this positions us as well as we can possibly be positioned for the next three years to go and pursue those opportunities," he said.

"I look forward to that process and working with the EDC to try and actually land some type of good job creator out there for our citizens."

"… This positions us as well as we can possibly be positioned for the next three years to go and pursue [economic development] opportunities."

—County Commissioner Nathan Boyles

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: County secures option to buy more than 1,600 acres

LAUREL HILL — Laurel Hill's city attorney, Dan Campbell, recently decided to end his contract with the small North Okaloosa County community, but he plans to provide services until a new attorney is found.

Campbell has been the city’s attorney for many years, but according to Councilwoman Debra Adams, he is in the process of moving and possibily will retire. Campbell did not attend the city council's most recent meeting, which was Dec. 7. The council discussed hiring a replacement attorney during that session.

Campbell has already closed his private practice, Adams said. The city has issued a request for proposal for the service.

The council initially planned to choose a new attorney during the January City Council meeting; however, Adams suggested pushing the decision to February since the city will likely get few responses before Christmas.

The council agreed to change the deadline for applications to Jan. 25, and open them during the Feb. 1 city council meeting.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill begins search for city attorney

CRESTVIEW — At Monday night’s City Council meeting, Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux explained to the council the options they have regarding a referendum for their recently amended city charter. 

In May 2017, the city council appointed seven members to the Charter Review Committee with the duty of researching and deciding whether the city should keep the same form of government. The committee had 90 days to review the charter, and they presented their findings to the council in September.

"You’re at the crossroads," Lux said. "Your charter review committee has done its work… so I asked my staff to come up with a good-faith estimate, so you basically have the same three options that you always have."

Residents of Crestview who are eligible to vote can vote on the new charter. According to Lux, the city has three options when it comes to administering the referendum: a vote-by-mail election, a stand-alone election or add on to an already scheduled county-wide election.

With a mail-out ballot, every eligible voter in the city is mailed a ballot. This would cost the city approximately $12,439.

A stand-alone election would be similar to the semi-annual city council election. Lux would need to reserve the polling places and staff them with the number of poll workers specified by the law. This option would cost approximately $15,646.

The cost of legal advertising to put in conjunction with another election would be the only cost for an add-on election.

"[An add-on] brings up a lot more questions," Lux said. "If you’re only going to have one referendum about the city charter, then obviously the cost for that legal advertisement is smaller. If you decide to have multiple questions… the cost is going to go up."

Lux told the council to not consider the November 2018 election, as there will be no room for the charter referendum on the ballot.

"There are already two legislative initiatives slated to go on the ballot, there are two citizens' initiatives that are very well poised to make ballot position, and… the constitutional revision commission is meeting, and the last time they met they gave us 11 constitutional amendments to go on the ballot," Lux said. "I’m rapidly running out of room on the ballot already."

According to Lux, the earliest opportunity would be to have the referendum in conjuction with the August 2018 primary election.

The referendum is limited to 75 words in body and 15 in title. According to Lux, the last time Crestview put a referendum on the ballot, they made it a "catch-all" and many citizens voted no due to not agreeing with or not being educated on certain parts of the referendum.

"I would contend that doing it as a big giant catch-all amendment is probably a bad idea, unless [you] budget and plan for a very robust outreach to the voters," Lux said.

There are currently approximately 7,200 households in Crestivew with eligible voters. A not-for-profit bulk mailing to those households with an informational booklet would cost the city approximately $1,000, Lux said.

Councilman Joe Blocker made a motion to have the referendum added to the August 2018 primary election ballot and Councilman Shannon Hayes seconded the motion.

The motion passed with all council members in favor.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: City adds charter vote to August ballot

LAUREL HILL — The City Council Dec. 7 received an update on projects currently being completed in Laurel Hill.

Joe Rector, West Florida regional manager of Dewberry, shared information on nine projects underway.

According to Rector, Sunnyside Avenue work is nearing completion. All that is left to do is road striping, and projected completion — depending on weather — is the beginning of January.

Designs for Millside Road improvements are underway, Rector said. Dewberry is coordinating with Okaloosa County Water Management to start the project.

Gene Clary Park improvements await review of documents by the Department of Environmental Protection.

Rector said an application for a Department of Economic Opportunity grant for additional Millside Road improvements awaits the council's signatures.

Dewberry submitted a Statewide School Zone Implementation Plan application Nov. 6 that states all school zones in Florida will meet new criteria for signing and marking. Local agencies must submit a list of existing deficient school zone locations to districts for inclusion in their implementation plan within one year of the criteria being set (by July 2018). School zones must comply by July 2022, five years after the plan is set.

An application for a Legislative Appropriations Request for Steel Mill Creek Road improvements is being submitted, according to Rector. An application for a grant through Safe Routes to School is also being submitted, and applications are due Jan. 31.

Dewberry will meet with a contractor next week to discuss improvement of a culvert on Chicago Avenue and to get a better cost estimate for the project.

Dewberry is working on a pre-application for Laurel Hill for Triumph Gulf Coast funds. The city submitted a list of projects they would complete using the funds if received. Triumph oversees funds recovered by the Florida attorney general for economic damage resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Triumph must administer distribution of the funds to be used for the recovery, diversification and enhancement of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf, Franklin and Wakulla counties.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill improvement projects in the works

CRESTVIEW — The Yellow River Plantation subdivision's developer eventually could, with state and Okaloosa County approval, build hundreds of single-family homes on adjacent, currently wooded land.

The County Commission on Tuesday took the first major step toward making that possibility a reality by unanimously agreeing to send the developer’s requested large-scale comprehensive plan amendment to state agencies for review.

Coordinated by the state Department of Economic Opportunity, the agencies will consider whether to approve changing the future land-use map of six unincorporated parcels that encompass a total of about 689 acres.

If that and other approvals are granted, the overall property would have the potential of containing more than 900 single-family homes.

The site of possible development is west of State Road 85, east of Welannee Boulevard and south of Bill Lundy Road, and is owned by the U.I.L. Family Limited Partnership of Pace.

According to state records, the partnership’s registered agent is Edwin Henry. He owns the Pace-based Henry Company Homes, which developed Yellow River Plantation.

"We’ve built approximately 20 homes a year (over the past five years) in the Yellow River Plantation," Henry told commissioners, adding that it could take about 40 years to reach build-out status on that ongoing project.

The adjacent, proposed development also would be a long-term project, and each of its lots would be no larger than a half-acre, Henry said.

County Growth Management Director Elliot Kampert said the developer proposes building about 42 homes per year "over time" for the proposed subdivision.

The developer seeks to have the property’s future land-use map designation changed from agriculture to rural residential. If state officials approve that change, the developer would then seek to have the county rezone the property from agriculture to rural residential.

The overall approval process could take many months. Following that process, the county would begin to review more specific details about the proposed project, such as the location of access roads to the potential subdivision.

After subtracting wetlands and areas for roads, parks and other infrastructure, the developable area might total about 458 acres, according to information Henry provided to the county. At a possible density of two homes per acre, the overall site could have a total of 915 homes.

"Based on this data, any future development of this site, reasonably speaking, would be accomplished by a "multi-phase construction/development plan" and could take approximately 20 to 22 years to build out," Henry wrote in a report to the county.

"We don’t have that actual number (of new homes) because we don’t have the actual development (plan) in front of us," Kampert said at Tuesday’s meeting.

Several Welannee Boulevard residents who attended the meeting expressed concerns about the proposed development, such as its effect on State Road 85 as well as neighborhood roads.

Commissioner Nathan Boyles said the future land-use map amendment would, if approved, allow for higher-density development on the roughly 689-acre site, which would mean more vehicles on area roads.

But the county shouldn’t hold up any developer to make them fix S.R. 85, Boyles said. Expanding that highway to accommodate growth is a Crestview, county and Florida Department of Transportation problem, he said.

Boyles also said that while expanding S.R. 85 to six lanes is a top priority of the Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization, that potential project has not been funded, might not get funded and cannot be relied on to satisfy future traffic concerns.

Commission Chairwoman Carolyn Ketchel said perhaps the county should not approve more developments until it’s able to get new roads in place to handle the future growth. But Boyles deemed putting a moratorium on the private use of property "pretty draconian in nature."

Earlier in the meeting, Commission Vice-Chairman Graham Fountain said the commission understands residents’ concerns about the proposed, large-scale housing development, the site for which is in his district.

"Anytime you add homes, there’s a concern," Fountain said. "But we live in a great country, in a country that anybody who owns property has the right to develop the property and make use of the property as long as they meet the requirements. I’ve reviewed all of the supporting documentation and everything appears to be in order, and I feel sure that it will be in order as they move forward with future developments there."

Commissioner Trey Goodwin said while the county has pressing needs for new and larger roads, it also has big needs for more housing.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Area north of Crestview could see housing boom

CRESTVIEW — An ordinance banning medical marijuana will take effect Dec. 1. But even though dispensaries to pick up the prescription medication won't be allowed within city limits, North Okaloosa residents may have another option to secure local access.

According to Growth Management Director Teresa Gaillard, the city would have to regulate medical marijuana treatment centers the same as pharmacies.

A city map highlights commercial areas where pharmacies are allowed. Medical marijuana dispensaries have to be regulated the same as pharmacies; therefore everywhere a pharmacy is allowed, a medical marijuana dispensary would also be allowed.

Gaillard says the new ordinance bans the centers until the state allows for a number or location rule. Okaloosa County also has the option to vote for or against medical marijuana dispensaries in the county.

"The majority of the areas that are around our particular areas … in Okaloosa County are either residential or mixed use," Gaillard said.

If the county allows dispensaries into its mixed-use or business-use properties, it would be able to allow a medical marijuana treatment center within Crestview as long as it’s not within city limits and is in the unincorporated areas, according to City Attorney Ben Holley. 

However, such a facility would have to abide by a 500-foot buffer area for the schools.

"The only thing I have on it, and the only thing I’ve ever had on it, is I want something, either in state law or county ordinance or city ordinance, that says this is not your wholesale ability to legally buy buds of marijuana and walk down the street smoking it," Councilman Doug Faircloth said.

Faircloth said instead of calling it medical marijuana, the city needs to call it "the derivatives of marijuana that are medicinal," as he is in support of people with illnesses using cannabis oil.

Councilman Shannon Hayes said he supports the ban, because there are still too many unknown variables and the state hasn’t given the city direction. Hayes said Crestview "doesn’t want another Colorado on their hands."

A moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries will end Dec. 1. The new ordinance will take effect that same day, banning medical marijuana facilities in Crestview until further notice. 

A number of residents question the City Council's statements and their intentions. 

"How dare these people deny the will of the people who voted for this," Kimberly Mathis said. "Our voice should be heard! This council member should have to go face the people that need this and tell them no their lives and quality of life is not worthy… they need to be voted out of office.

"Looking at Crestview , I know they don't know what's best for us. Is there a way for the people of Crestview to go over these people to the state level?"

"Meanwhile, half of Crestview is strung out on meth, pain pills and heroin," Daniel Foster said. "This is ridiculous, [the] system is ass backwards."

"Let's deny people something that could enhance their quality of life and instead keep building McDonalds on every corner," Leslie Brown said. "We can have multiple liquor stores and a sex toy shop, but not medical marijuana which is proven to help people.

"Not only that, but the people have spoken! We said yes in an overwhelming number."

According to Councilman J.B. Whitten, the council has researched the subject and attended topical workshops and a symposium with the Florida League of Cities.

Whitten said he had many concerns with the legislation, including the need for more police training to be able to better assess DUIs.

"First and foremost, this is not a permanent ban," Whitten said. "This is a ban with a built-in monitoring system to address at a later date, if needed. Monitoring is needed because although many think all the guidelines are in place in the state, right now there is a current bill in the House that would change this to say that smoking would be permitted — right now it’s not."

The bill Whitten references is one filed by Sen. Gary Farmer, D-Fort Lauderdale, on Nov. 2. Farmer filed a proposal that would undo a ban on patients smoking medical marijuana. The bill is filed for consideration during the 2018 legislative session, which starts in January.

However, House Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, an Estero Republican, told the Associated Press the House won’t go along with allowing cannabis to be smoked.

THE ISSUE: An ordinance banning medical marijuana treatment facilities within city limits will take effect Dec. 1.

LOCAL IMPACT: Residents who have prescriptions for medical marijuana will have to look elsewhere for their medication. Crestview leaders won't allow the dispensaries until they receive more direction from the state legislature.

However, area residents could still have local access on one condition: If Okaloosa County does not decide to ban the facilities, a medical marijuana treatment center could open in unincorporated areas of Crestview and throughout the county.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Medical marijuana ban has one loophole

CRESTVIEW — Following the second reading of the ordinance amendment concerning recreational vehicles, the City Council held a public hearing.

According to Growth Management Director Teresa Gaillard, this new ordinance would affect 7,800 parcels of single-family homes and approximately 70 percent of the city. The ordinance would require that residents who own RVs park them on the side or back of their home and cover them with some type of screening.

The screening can be a 6-foot privacy fence, a faux fence, plants and shrubbery, or other forms of approved screening apparatus, according to Gaillard.

According to Councilman Doug Faircloth, the main reason for the ordinance amendment was to ensure residents aren’t hooking their RVs up to their homes, using the utilities and living out of them. With a 6-foot fence, he said, the city would not be able to tell if someone is living in their RV.

Another issue Faircloth had with the ordinance was the lack of specification of who approves the screening. According to Gaillard, the growth management department would approve the screening.

While the council discussed the amendment, Councilman Shannon Hayes said if the ordinance amendment is not approved, they will revert back to the previous ordinance which is more restrictive; RVs 24 feet in length or longer cannot be stored on property.

Councilman Joe Blocker questioned if the city is crossing the line by regulating private property. City Attorney Ben Holley said the city has a right to regulate what residents do on their private property.

According to Gaillard, the council did not provide firm feedback to staff when the ordinance was discussed at previous meetings, workshops and during a first reading. Councilman J.B. Whitten disagreed with her statement, and said they provided much feedback to city staff.

Residents approached the council to voice their opinions; among them was Andrew Rencich, who received a notice of code violation in early 2017.

"As I mentioned before… the ordinance… affects working and retired, middle-class families through the city of Crestview," Rencich said. "This ordinance is a gross government overreach on individual property rights. The way the ordinance is written leaves massive holes for possible litigation and is open to interpretation."

Rencich said the ordinance is discriminatory against RV owners, as other types of trailers are not mentioned. Resident Stephen Strom agreed.

"I don’t have a dog in this race, as I don’t have an RV," Strom said. "This is discriminatory. Flat out, no question about it… We can put any boat in our yard; I can put the Queen Mary on a trailer and park it in my yard… and it would be no problem."

Hayes made a motion to approve the ordinance and send it to the mayor and the city clerk to sign. Councilman Cox seconded the motion. According to Cox, the ordinance was well done; there was a length restriction before, and now there is not.

Whitten said the council promised the citizens they would continue on until the ordinance was fixed, and he feels it needs to be fine-tuned before passing. Most back yards aren’t equipped to take on an RV, and equipping them would be costly or impossible.

"I think we overdid it, and got carried away with what we wanted to do," Whitten said. "In case you can’t tell, I don’t support it."

The council voted on the previous motion to pass the ordinance, but it failed with only Cox and Hayes in favor. Hayes made a motion to hold a continuing workshop on the issue on Jan. 22, 2018, and all council members were in favor.

The moratorium was extended until the council can make a decision.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: RV ordinance doesn't pass second reading

CRESTVIEW — The Democratic Women's Club of Okaloosa County has selected its officers for the upcoming two-year term.

New officers are President Deborah Baker-Rian; First Vice-President Frost Jones; Second Vice-President Kathy White; Secretary Toni Pentecouteau; and Treasurer Beth Campbell.

The group meets the third Thursday of each month.

Visit www.okaloosademocrats.com or contact Deborah Baker-Rian, deborah.bakerrian@gmail.com, for information on scheduled events.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Democratic women's club selects officers