DEFUNIAK SPRINGS — Governor Rick Scott stopped in Northwest Florida Feb. 28 to promote his $500 million school safety plan.

The governor met with sheriffs from five area counties at the Walton County Sheriff’s Office in Defuniak Springs on Feb. 28, the first day Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students returned to school following the Feb. 14 mass shooting at the school.

What happened at Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, Fla. has reinvigorated the national conversation on school safety. Gun control, mental health and increasing security within schools are among a range of issues being discussed. Scott called on experts in these fields for input.

The visit was part of the governor’s statewide tour to talk about his plan to increase school safety. Scott stood alongside law enforcement officers to do so.

“The money will be spent really primarily in three areas: more law enforcement, significant law enforcement presence at all of our schools; mental health counselors at our schools; hardening of all of our schools; and on top of that, some money for Department of Children and Families to have more teams to go out and work with our youth,” Scott said.

Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson introduced Governor Scott.

“What you have here is a united, dedicated front saying we believe the proposal made by Governor Rick Scott is the most significant improvement to the safety and well-being of our children proposed in my 25-year career,” Adkinson said.

The governor said that the state has the money to fund the $500 million dollar proposal and that it was important to pass the legislation during the current session.

Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley was one of the area sheriffs invited to appear with the governor. Ashley was enthusiastic about the plan and appreciated that the governor took the input of local sheriffs into account in developing the plan. Ashley said addressing this issue is vital to maintaining the public’s trust that children will be safe attending public schools.

“Every parent in the state—every parent in our country—should be very comfortable when they send their child to school; their child is going to come home safely,” Scott said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gov. Scott unveils three-pronged school safety plan

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview City Council discussed plans to rebuild the John McMahon Environmental Center at the meeting Monday night.

The center is located at the corner of Mapoles and First Avenue on Butler Circle.

The proposed plans call for rebuilding the center and preserving keepsakes inside.

“It is in sad shape … it has asbestos issues, squirrels eating the inside," said Jeff Morgan, president of the Crestview Kiwanis Club, which proposed the plans. "We’re going to lose it if we don’t do something with the building.”

If approved, the funding will come from the city's park reserve account. The Kiwanis Club also plans to donate between $20,000 and $30,000 for playground equipment at the park.

The plans also call for installing fencing and restocking the park's fish pond. Last year, the Kiwanis Club completed a project to create walking trails at the park.

"I was fortunate enough to know Mr. McMahon,” Councilman Doug Faircloth said. “Having the park named after him pleased the family greatly and letting it deteriorate is on us.”

The council is scheduled to vote on the plans at the next council meeting in February.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview City Council discusses rebuilding John McMahon Environmental Center

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview City Council on Monday continued talks to rewrite the city's rules for storage of recreational vehicles.

Currently, the city follows the county's ordinance, which prohibits RVs and campers from being kept inside the city. The rule has largely gone unenforced.

The proposed revision would allow RVs to be stored in the rear and side yards of single-family homes, but prohibit anyone from living in the vehicles and hooking up vehicles to water and sewage lines. Only one RV would be allowed per home.

There were also proposed enclosure and fence requirements, which were nixed during the discussion.

“We need an honest compromise that shows we’re looking out for all our citizens," said Councilman Shannon Hayes.

The ordinance would allow RVs to be lived in only during temporary emergencies, such as floods or fires. Residents would need to apply for a permit during such situations, which would be valid for 180 days with a possible 90-day extension.

During emergency uses, RVs would need to be pumped out by a licensed and bonded wastewater hauler or taken to a licensed wastewater receiving station.

The council plans to vote on the final ordinance at the February council meeting.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Council talks new RV rules

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Shoal River Republicans install new officers

CRESTVIEW — The City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to hold a joint public meeting with the Okaloosa County Commission to discuss the Community Redevelopment Agency Comprehensive Master Plan.

The commission objected to portions of the updated plan, which the CRA submitted on Nov. 27 of last year, prompting the county to request a special meeting to discuss those concerns.

After a lengthy discussion of whether to agree to the public forum involving the full city council and county commission or hold a smaller mediation involving representatives and attorneys from each governing body, the council voted to approve the full meeting.

Mayor David Cadle expressed his frustration with the process.

"Some of the criticisms that we’re getting from some commissioners is that that money has been put aside for the downtown area of the CRA district," Cadle said. "The criticism is that we’re not spending the money, and we can’t come to an agreement on much of anything, just like tonight."

Cadle was referencing the earlier CRA board meeting where the council members, who also serve on the board, delayed further discussions on a plan for new gateway signs.

"That is one of the reasons that we’re having to go into this negotiation is that we drag our feet," Cadle said, admonishing members of the council. "Now please forgive me if I’m hurting your feelings, but I’ve watched this for 11 years now and it just drags and drags and drags. Nothing gets done very quickly."

The public meeting will be held 2 p.m. Jan. 17 in the City Council chambers. Council members and commissioners would then convene separately to vote on any agreement that comes out of the meeting.

Also on Monday:

• Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce board member Dino Sinopoli made a special presentation to the council on the Triple B Festival. He asked that the council allow alcohol sales to be added to this year’s event, which is planned to be held at Spanish Trail Park for a second consecutive year.

  Councilman J.B. Whitten raised the issue of insurance and whether the city could be held liable in the event of an alcohol-related incident, but made it clear that he did not object to the idea of alcohol sales at the event. The council then unanimously approved the use of park facilities for the festival without charge.

• Other council business included the approval of a settlement agreement with the Perez family of Crestview, stemming from an incident in 2014 where a retention pond berm failed during a flood. The incident caused a large amount of silt to wash into a lake adjacent to the property, where the family owned a dock.

  The settlement involves the city building a new dock for the family, rather than attempt to remove the silt, which would be a much costlier alternative. The council voted to approve the settlement by a unanimous decision.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'We drag our feet'

CRESTVIEW — New city gateway signs could be in Crestview’s near future. The Community Redevelopment Agency discussed the idea of replacing the signs located around the downtown area.

CRA Director Alisa Burleson’s idea for three new signs includes a monument-style sign located at South Main Street and Highway 85, an archway at North Main Street and Highway 90, and a stone column design in the small triangle at the intersection of Highways 85 and 90.

"Gateway entrances are very beneficial to a district," Burleson said. "If you all will think about when you build a subdivision, one thing that attracts buyers to the subdivision is the pretty entrance."

Burleson estimates the cost of the new signs will be at least $100,000, or half the available funds in the CRA Master Plan budget for parking, land, signage, buildings and security. She also noted that the current signs are beginning to show their age, prompting the need for an upgrade.

"I’d like to say we should move pretty quick on this," board member Ron Gautney said. "We’ve delayed this for so long now; at least we’ll get started on it."

The board agreed that there should be an extended meeting or a special workshop to discuss the issue further.

A proposed partnership with ePropertyPlus was also on the CRA agenda. ePropertyPlus is a northern Virginia-based company that works with governments and land bank trusts to store and manage property data.

"It’s a larger scale of what Zillow does," Burleson said. "The best way I can kind of describe it is like you’ve got several file cabinets, and each file cabinet has different information on a property. This puts all that information in one compiled area that can be on the city’s website."

Many board members were skeptical of the need for the program, and expressed concern that they had not seen enough evidence that it would be beneficial. They requested more information on the project, specifically cases from other localities that have used the program.

Burleson promised to get more data for the board. She also stated that she believes the issue encompasses more than just the CRA, and asked for approval to present the proposed partnership to the city council.

Another item discussed was a recap of the city’s Christmas retail promotional program that raised money for the Crestview Police Department’s Christmas toy fund. The promotion involved the sale of coins redeemable for discounts on eligible items at participating downtown retailers. A total of $271 was raised in sales and donations, according to Burleson.

The city will continue to sell the promotional coins while supplies last; they retail at $5 for large coins and $3 for a smaller version.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CRA board considers new gateway signs

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