CRESTVIEW — The Crestview City Council will meet 6 p.m. April 10 at city hall, 198 Wilson St., N.

Here is the meeting's agenda.

1. Call to order

2. Invocation: the Rev. George Thomas, Peoples Missionary Baptist Church. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Open policy making and legislative session

4. Special presentations

5. Approval of the minutes from the Feb. 13 council meeting and Feb. 27 special meeting.

6. Public hearings

7. Public opportunity on council proposition

8. Consent agenda

a. Approval of Ben Holley invoice for $3,990

b. Approval of Ard, Shirley and Rudolph invoice for $844.45

c. Approval of Task Order No. 2017-2 Atkins Engineering

d. Approval of site construction plans for a 4,342-square-foot addition to the existing Walmart building, to be utilized as a liquor sales store.

e. Approval of replacement police vehicle

9. Resolutions

10. Committee reports

11. Scheduled presentations from the public

     a. Quarterly update – EDC – Nathan Sparks

     b. Discussion of RVs – various Citizens

1. Eddie Dennis

2. Michele Dennis

3. Rich Urda

4. Mark Kania

5. Maria Kania

6. Kimberly Dorseck

Other citizens may speak from the floor.

12. Project reports and comments from mayor and council

13. Staff reports and recommendations

14. Comments from the audience

15. Adjournment

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview City Council agenda: April 10

CRESTVIEW — Congressman Matt Gaetz will visit Crestview High School to meet students, faculty and staffers.

His visit is set 10 a.m. April 18 at CHS, 1250 Ferdon Blvd. N., Crestview.

During the event, Gaetz will teach an economics lesson to high school seniors and present letters of recognition to over 60 students receiving the Anne T. Mitchell Academics Senior Award.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gaetz to visit Crestview High School

CRESTVIEW—City Councilman J.B. Whitten hosted a town hall meeting on government structure Thursday evening at Azteca Mexican Restaurant. The purpose was to educate residents on how the current government hierarchy works and what a potential change could look like.

Changes could come in multiple forms and mostly involve shifting of accountability for the government’s various departments.

CURRENT STRUCTURE

Currently, fire and police departments answer to the mayor, finance and utility billing answer to the city clerk and other departments answer directly to the city council.

However, the council can only discuss matters among themselves in a public setting due to Sunshine Laws.

“What we have right now is ineffective in my personal opinion,” Whitten said. This is because communication is delayed due to the council’s public discussion requirement.

Just 85 of Florida’s 411 cities operate this form of council-mayor government, according to Whitten. Of those that do, 83 have populations below 7,500 — Crestview has more than 20,000 residents.

“We haven’t grown our government with our city,” Whitten said.

A proposed restructuring has gone to the ballot and failed three times, the last occurrence in 2012. However, it was defeated by only 7 percent and about 1,000 voters didn’t take a position because an error prevented the vote from being official.

OTHER STRUCTURES

Two other forms of government have been proposed and will be considered by city officials if residents show interest in restructuring.

A council-manager style would create a city manager, hired by city council, to represent the city’s departments. This person would have day-to-day contact with department heads and present reports, inquiries and other matters to the city council and potentially streamline communication processes.

A strong mayor structure would create a city administrator, hired by the mayor, to represent the departments. This administrator would answer directly to the mayor, leaving the council to focus on budgeting and legislative oversight.

Whitten and Mayor David Cadle said they would not endorse any option, deferring the choice to residents and pledging to support what the people decide.

NEXT STEPS

The city council will host a workshop for residents to voice their opinions and thoughts of government structuring.

If people show support for a restructure, the council will vote to create a commission tasked with exploring those options and creating a ballot referendum for residents to vote on.

If there is a no-show during the workshop, the council will interpret this as residents’ approval of the current system, Whitten said.

Placing the matter on a ballot would be the final step in the process if residents desire a change.

Since this would be a referendum and not a candidate vote, ballots could be sent to registered voters via mail, Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux said at a previous city council meeting.

Whitten expressed interest in this process Thursday evening and intends to explore the option if the issue goes to vote.

The workshop to establish a commission will be at 5:30 p.m. or 6 p.m. April 24 at Crestview City Hall. An official time will be determined later and publicly announced.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Town hall meeting explores government restructure

CRESTVIEW — The City Council started March 27 with a special meeting to decide on new ordinances and new leadership.

ORDINANCES

The council unanimously approved a pair of ordinances directing the city’s growth management department — Ordinances 1618 and 1619.

Ordinance 1618 allowed for rezoning a piece of property owned by Central Baptist Church from public land to commercial to allow a non-profit medical facility to be built on the site. The ordinance passed 5-0 with no public comment made.

Ordinance 1619 provides the city with a clear definition of what constitutes an unsafe structure.

“An unsafe structure is one that is found to be dangerous to the life, health, property or safety of the public or the occupants of the structure by not providing minimum safeguards to protect or warn occupants in the event of fire, or because such structure contains unsafe equipment or is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, structurally unsafe or of such faulty construction or unstable foundation, that partial or complete collapse is possible,” the proposal stated.

The growth management department considers this ordinance a necessary first step to combating blight. The council passed the proposal 5-0, also with no public comment.

LEADERSHIP

The Crestview City Council nominated and approved Councilman J.B. Whitten to be the next council president, effective April 1.

The council also named Councilman Bill Cox to be the council vice president, effective the same date.

The council president presides over meetings and enforces the council’s rules and regulations. The vice president serves in an acting capacity during the absence of the president.

Both the president and vice president serve one-year terms and are elected by the sitting council. Each nominee received unanimous support.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Council approves new ordinances, leaders

CRESTVIEW — A new interchange along Interstate 10 could limit traffic and provide additional access to Crestview.

The City Council on Monday listened to early-stage planning on that project and brainstormed the issue of non-city residents and companies receiving city water and sewage utility services.

INTERCHANGE

The Florida Department of Transportation is in the planning and research phase of a project that would create an additional I-10 interchange to the west of State Road 85. The department has created a series of possible projects and stated what their feasibility and potential impact would be.

Several of the plans call for conversion of the Antioch Road overpass to an interchange system, allowing for travel to and from I-10. Multiple interchange variations are being explored including a roundabout style, one featuring a single traffic light and others that would call for the lowering of I-10 several feet.

Beyond the interchange, a PJ Adams Parkway extension would run from Arena Road to State Road 90 at Old Bethel Road. This would alleviate traffic on State Road 85, provide relief for future city growth and provide an additional emergency route, according to Greg Moore of contract company VHB, which is working with the FDOT on the project.

The interchange project would also aim to provide better passage ability for pedestrians and cyclists over I-10. Currently, no sidewalk or bike paths exist on the overpass.

“We’d like to fix that problem for sure,” Moore said.

The survey and research teams have begun contacting “stakeholders” in the project, including residents and businesses in close proximity to the proposed construction sites. Many have been open to an interchange but teams had some pushback from residents on Arena Road, according to Moore.

The FDOT is only a few months into the 24-month research, analysis and approval schedule and, therefore, several details are limited or unknown. The department will introduce its preliminary findings and suggestions to the Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners next month. The department will also have three public meetings over the next year to discuss the project.

Monday’s meeting was a workshop and, therefore, no motions could be made by city council.

OUT-OF-CITY UTILITIES

Crestview provides utility services for approximately 400 parcels of land outside city limits, according to Growth Management Director Teresa Gaillard. If these units were incorporated into the city, it would provide an additional $250,000 in tax revenue.

However, the process to annex property can be expensive to property owners, and only sites adjacent to city property can be annexed.

Chiefs from Crestview’s police and fire departments expressed an urgent need to resolve the issue of city and county lines, not only for the sake of utility taxes. Fractured boundaries create a logistical nightmare in handling emergencies, they said.

The fire department will assist non-city property but receives no tax revenue from those locations, according to Fire Chief Joseph Traylor. The Crestview Police Department faces even larger issues when concerned with jurisdiction over crimes. An improper interpretation of an incident occurring within the city or county line can result in a lawsuit or other legal case being thrown out, according to CPD Chief Tony Taylor.

Heavy discussions were had on how to adjust the city’s annexation procedure and how to lure those that receive city services into city limits. However, they lack legal background and foundation.

Councilmen J.B. Whitten and Shannon Hayes expressed that legal counsel must be had before any further discussions can be held on the matter.

“Right now, we’re just shooting in the dark,” Whitten said.

The council, as well as City Attorney Ben Holley, recommended Gaillard receive legal advising and present her findings at the next City Council meeting; she agreed, and will contact a lawyer with experience in this field.

The issue of out-of-city utilities and city annexation has been discussed countless times over the past several years but the City Council, along with city departments, have taken a closer look at the matter to improve it.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: I-10 interchange, out-of-city utility plans in development

CRESTVIEW—In at least a half-dozen locations across Crestview, woods are the only home to dozens of people with nowhere else to go.

From victims of addiction, to sufferers of mental health conditions, to individuals experiencing unfortunate circumstances — trees provide protection from a world that has largely forgotten them.

OPENING THE CONVERSATION

Crestview lacks a central location for homeless individuals but various churches and groups across the city maintain soup kitchens or cold night shelters to provide aid.

“What I found was that a lot of these groups weren’t talking to each other,” Councilman J.B. Whitten said. “One group would be in need of something and not realize that this other group was able to help them. So, I wanted to open up that conversation.”

Whitten hosted a workshop Feb. 27 to start the process of opening communications. His passion for aiding the homeless began in the years before he was a council member; it focused on assisting veterans.

“I was working on helping homeless vets and I realized that there’s more than just vets that are homeless,” Whitten said. “I had to be educated on the situation and learn what resources are available and who people can call for help.”

People like those taking refuge in encampments. Police Chief Tony Taylor believes there to be a few dozen, but community activist David Booher said this number could exceed 100.

Booher voluntarily brings necessities to people living in the camps and offers them mentorship. He recognizes homelessness as a “community problem” and cites lack of proper medical and mental care as a reason for the poor quality of life many of those he helps have fallen into.

Booher identified six camps that exist in the area but declined to disclose their location for fear of harm brought to residents there. Harm like that which occurred last March, when two homeless individuals purportedly had their tent and possessions set ablaze.

HOUSING THE HOMELESS

Areas like Fort Walton Beach have created group housing projects to accommodate the homeless but Whitten says this isn’t the most feasible option.

“Homeless or no, people don’t want to live in a large space occupied with other people all the time,” he said.

Further, these locations only provide temporary arrangements — not permanent facilities. The cost of building subsidized housing or apartments for those individuals, such as seen in other areas, exceeds a city budget, he added.

This is where groups like the Crestview Area Shelter for the Homeless come in. The non-profit organization coordinates cold-night shelters, food kitchens and supply centers across Crestview with area churches’ help.

The group also runs a temporary, daytime shelter — Helping Hands — where folks can come in to use computers, wash clothes and apply for jobs.

Still, this presents the problem of getting to the various shelters. Moving across the city each day for the chance of a meal or bed isn’t the most feasible option for some, according to Whitten.

The city welcomed an effort to construct a homeless shelter a number of years ago using private grant money but the individual — unknown to Whitten — purportedly was eyeing a location near Twin Hills Park and the City Council at the time opposed the measure due to children’s presence in the park. The person purportedly proposed no secondary location and the effort failed.

WORKING TOGETHER FOR A SOLUTION

Food and shelter aren’t the homeless’ only needs. Some require assistance seeking veterans’ benefits, disability applications, bus tickets, detox information and many other personal and medical needs. CASH works to bring these resources to those in need.

These services are required by people such as one unnamed man, who Booher says has been Baker Acted 27 times but not provided with adequate medical assistance. The Florida Mental Health Act, commonly referred to as the Baker Act, allows for the involuntary mental health examination of individuals considered a threat to themselves or others. Law enforcement officials, judges or medical personnel can enact it.

“I don’t know what the solution is,” Whitten said. “That’s why I’m hoping the workshop and meetings that have followed it can be a springboard for communication.

“It’s not just my issue to figure out alone, it’s an opportunity for the community to work together to find what works best.”

THE ISSUE: Crestview's homeless have few resources available and must find alternative places to live.

LOCAL IMPACT: Individuals face low quality of life and the city runs risks for more individuals falling into similar situations without support systems. Aside from ethical dilemmas, these people are often forgotten.

HOW TO HELP

Contact Crestview Area Shelter for the Homeless, 398-5670, for more information on how to help. Donations of clothing, hygiene items, food, plastic totes or bags can be made from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays and 1 to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Helping Hands, 428 McLaughlin St.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: The dilemma: helping Crestview's homeless

WASHINGTON — OK Food, Inc., an Oklahoma City, Okla. establishment, is recalling approximately 933,272 pounds of breaded chicken products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically metal, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service stated in a media release.

The ready-to-eat breaded chicken items were produced on various dates from Dec. 19, 2016 through March 7. The products subject to recall bear establishment number "P-7092" inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations and institutions nationwide.

The USDA Class 1 recall designates a product high-risk if there is a reasonable probability that the product's use will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.

This is the list of recalled items:

•10-pound packages containing "Smart Foods4Schools ABC – 123 Shaped Nuggets With Rib Meat" bearing case code 133002.

•10-pound packages containing "Smart Foods4Schools Breaded Fully Cooked Chicken Patties Star Shaped Nuggets With Rib Meat" bearing case code 133003.

•10-pound packages containing "Smart Foods4Schools Breaded Fully Cooked Chicken Patties Heart Shaped Nuggets With Rib Meat" bearing case code 133008.

•10-pound packages containing "Smart Foods4Schools Breaded Fully Cooked Chicken Patties Shamrock Shaped Chicken Fingers With Rib Meat" bearing case code 133013.

•10-pound packages containing "Smart Foods4Schools Breaded Fully Cooked Chicken Patties Shark Shaped Chicken Fingers With Rib Meat" bearing case code 133014.

•30-pound packages containing "Chickentopia Fully Cooked Breaded Tender Shaped Chicken Breast Patties With Rib Meat" bearing case code 133015.

•30-pound packages containing "Double D Foods Fully Cooked Herb Seasoned Breaded Chicken Breast Patty With Rib Meat" bearing case code 178981.

•7.5-pound packages containing "Great Value Fully Cooked Herb Seasoned Breaded Chicken Breast Patty With Rib Meat" bearing case code 201258 and "Best By/Use by" dates 3/2/2018.

•20-pound packages containing "TenderBird Fully Cooked, Breaded Chicken Breast Patties With Rib Meat" bearing case code 235384.

•21-pound packages containing "Save A Lot Fully Cooked, Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets" bearing case code 252385.

•18-pound packages containing "Spring River Farms Fully Cooked Breaded Chicken Fries" bearing case code 252386.

•28-lb packages containing "Save A Lot Fully Cooked Breaded Chicken Fries" bearing case code 252386.

•24-pound packages containing "Lake Liner Logo Brand Fully Cooked Breaded Chicken Nuggets" bearing case code 256385 and "Best By" dates 01 23 18.

•20-pound packages containing "Spring River Farms Fully Cooked Breaded Chicken Patties With Rib Meat" bearing case code 342002.

•20-pound packages containing "Spring River Farms Fully Cooked Breaded Tender Shaped Chicken Breast Patties With Rib Meat" bearing case code 342015.

•20-pound packages containing "Spring River Farms Fully Cooked Chicken Patties Breaded Chicken Breast Patties with Rib Meat" bearing case code 342384.

•20-pound packages containing "Tenderbird Fully Cooked Chicken Breast Patties With Rib Meat" bearing case code 342384.

•20-pound packages containing "Spring River Farms Fully Cooked Chicken Nuggets Breaded Chicken Nuggets with Rib Meat" bearing case code 342385.

•20-pound packages containing "Spring River Farms Fully Cooked Chicken Fries Breaded Chicken Fries with Rib Meat" bearing case code 342386.

•20-pound packages containing "Spring River Farms Fully Cooked Spicy Breaded Chicken Breast Filet with Rib Meat" bearing case code 342608.

•20-pound packages containing "Spring River Farms Fully Cooked Crispy Chicken Breast Fillet Fritters With Rib Meat" bearing case code 342614.

•20-pound packages containing "Spring River Farms Fully Cooked Herb Seasoned Breaded Chicken Breast Patty With Rib Meat" bearing case code 342981.

The problem was discovered March 21 after OK Foods Inc. received five consumer complaints stating that metal objects were found in the ready-to-eat chicken products and by FSIS inspection personnel during verification activities. After an internal investigation, the firm identified the affected product and determined that the objects in all the complaints came from metal conveyor belting.

There are no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

Consumers may contact Abby Brown, 479-312-2409, with questions about the recall.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: RECALLED: Metal found in breaded chicken products

CRESTVIEW — Congressman Matt Gaetz invites the community to join him for Service Academy and ROTC Nights.

Service Academy Nights provide constituents with information regarding admission processes, the Congressional Office nomination process and a chance to meet and ask questions of service academy representatives from the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy and University ROTC programs.

The local Service Academy Night is 6-8 p.m. April 18 at Crestview High School, 1250 Ferdon Blvd. N., Crestview.

Guest speakers include Jason Crawford of Pensacola and retired Air Force Col. Edward Hubbard of Fort Walton Beach.

Crawford served eight years in the U.S. Army Infantry, with tours in Baghdad, Bosnia and Korea. He is currently the C.E.O. for Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems.

Col. Edward Hubbard, retired U.S. Air Force pilot and former Vietnam POW, is an internationally known speaker, management consultant, artist and author.

Contact Communications Director Kavontae Smalls or Deputy Director of Military Affairs Nathan Nelson, 479-1183, for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gaetz plans Service Academy Night

CRESTVIEW — City Council member JB Whitten, Mayor David Cadle and City Clerk Betsy Roy will participate in a town hall meeting on how Crestview city government structure is scheduled.

The meeting is 6-8 p.m. March 30 at Azteca Restaurant, 789 Ferdon Blvd. N., Crestview.

Attendees can learn how Crestview government functions, and get answers to these questions:

•What is a strong mayor?

•What is a city manager?

•What are the responsibilities of the city council?

•What are the responsibilities of the mayor?

•What are the responsibilities of the city clerk?

Attendees may voice questions, ideas and recommendations concerning local government structure directly to city representatives.

Those unable to attend may email their ideas to jbwhitten@cityofcrestview.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Town hall meeting on local government structure set

Editor’s Note: All Crestview candidates running for elected office received the same questionnaire relevant to the position each seeks. Their answers follow.

Crestview City Clerk Betsy Roy, City Councilman Shannon Hayes (District 2) and City Councilman Doug Faircloth (District 3) ran unopposed, so we did not send them a questionnaire for this voter guide.

Crestview’s municipal election is March 14. See www.govote-okaloosa.com to find your polling place.  

Name: Joe Blocker

Office sought: Crestview City Council, District 1

Occupation: Commercial construction on-site project manager, 50-plus years

Relevant experience: Supervised and managed untold number of commercial construction projects for 55-plus years, from thousands to multi-million dollar cost, from conception to completion for municipalities, counties, states and federal government projects.

Reason for seeking this position: I retired five-plus years back — and with ample time to devote to my interest in the government and moving our city forward — with the enthusiastic support of multitudes of friends and fellow citizens encouraging me to put my wisdom, knowledge and experience to work for my city.

The increase in population has also resulted in severe road congestion within Crestview. This discourages citizens (and potential ones) from traveling the area as well as increases the likelihood of traffic accidents.

How would you address this issue as a city council member?

Population growth has been a plus for our city, although no doubt has caused many hardships for some people, especially in the traffic problem.

We must realize “no gain, no pain.” I have been a voting member of Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization now for three-plus years and, believe me, I know the hard facts about this traffic problem and (am) working full force in resolving it ASAP.

Population growth has increased over the last several years, resulting in city revenue boosts through tax dollars.

With that growth has come a greater demand for public resources and businesses.

How will you use the economic surge to improve quality of life for Crestview citizens?

My goal has been, from day one, to develop and bring to our city a vast number of wholesome economic developments, mainly in the retail business, and developing resources with assets for the youth and especially our senior adults in the entertainment field. Developing businesses will result in revenue boosts through tax dollars.

Crestview — I’m fully convinced, from the research that I have been involved with the past four years — is at the stage, with correct leaders, to fully develop what was a small, rural city to a city of many means, known internationally, drawing people to this area because who we the people are. And we must meet the people’s needs in quality of services for a great life.

Name: Landrum “Larry” Edwards

Office sought: Crestview City Council, District 1

Occupation: Retired civil service; owner of Edwards Machine Shop.

Message: (Editor’s Note: Edwards did not complete the questionnaire provided but did send the News Bulletin the following statement.)

I have run for public office twice to try and make a difference for the citizens of Crestview. Without change, Crestview will still be stuck in 1950s. (With) certain people who still try to control the growth by not allowing us to have adequate roads. This has gone on since the ’70s, because no one will speak against the people who want Crestview to stay in the ’70s.

I am willing to stand up for the citizens of Crestview. An example is building the new courthouse in the middle of Crestview with inadequate roads and parking. This will not allow Crestview to advance to the future in the downtown area (due to) overcrowding.

Statements have been said that it's our way or no way; the money is in the south end of the county. They do not realize that Crestview area and the north end of the county will have the voting control in the next 10 years.

I will work and speak for the citizens of Crestview and the area around Crestview. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Council candidates talk traffic, economic growth