LAUREL HILL — The City Council unanimously decided to leave the city’s ad valorem tax rate unchanged at 3.5 mils as it begins its fiscal year 2016-17 budget planning.

That rate brings in about $50,000 a year, “which is a lot for us,” Council Chairman Larry Hendren said.

When Councilman Travis Dewrell suggested dropping the rate to .5 mils to have a token “skin in the game” for residents, city auditor Joe Jones advised against the idea.

“I think it would hurt your chances of getting grant money,” Jones said. “It sends a message that you don't need as much money.”

Mayor Robby Adams said setting a millage rate now is just a starting point as required by state law and the council can always vote to lower the amount during the budgeting process.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill sets millage rate

FORT WALTON BEACH — State Rep. Matt Gaetz announced his campaign has raised $729,382.87 since entering the race in late March to replace retiring Rep. Jeff Miller, Fla.-District 1.

Gaetz raised $366,727.57 in the second fundraising quarter, spanning April to June. The Gaetz campaign achieved key grassroots goals, including over 800 donors, more than 200 volunteers recruited, 41,000 Facebook fans, and over 16,000 homes visited and 7,700 phone calls made during this period, according to a campaign media release.

“I’m honored that conservatives across Northwest Florida are joining our campaign at a rapid pace. America faces serious challenges, and it is past time for Congress to secure the border, balance the budget and follow the Constitution,” Gaetz said.

“With well over $400,000 cash on hand, we have the resources to share Matt’s outstanding conservative record with tens of thousands of Republican primary voters,” Campaign Manager Ryan Smith said.

Gaetz, a Fort Walton Beach attorney, represents portions of Okaloosa County in the Florida House of Representatives. He currently chairs the Finance and Tax Committee. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gaetz raises almost $730,000 for Congressional District 1 Campaign

CRESTVIEW — The Constitution Party of Florida will host two candidate forums in North Okaloosa County.

A forum for Okaloosa County School District’s superintendent of schools, school board District 2 and District 4 candidates will be held on Thursday, July 14.

A forum for Okaloosa County’s sheriff, property appraiser and commissioner District 1 candidates will be held on Thursday, July 21.

Both forums will be from 6-8 p.m. at the American Legion Post 75 Hall, 898 E. James Lee Blvd. (Highway 90 E.), Crestview.

The group asks Okaloosa County residents to email questions for the forums to concondaniel@outlook.com or call 758-2863.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa candidate forums scheduled

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview City Council will meet 6 p.m. July 11 at Warriors Hall on Stillwell Boulevard.

Here is the meeting's agenda.

REGULAR AGENDA

1. Call to Order

2. Invocation / Pledge of Allegiance

3. Open Policy making and legislative session

4. Special Presentations

a. Mayor Special Presentations

b. Presentation to Mr. Hayes

c. Presentation by Josh Molyneux, Crestview Housing

5. Approval of Minutes

Approval of the minutes from the May 9, 2016 Meeting, May 26, 2016 Special Meeting and May 26, 2016 Workshop.

6. Public Hearings:

7. Public Opportunity on Council proposition

8. Consent Agenda

a. Approval of invoice from Allen, Norton and Blue in the amount of $398.25

b. Approval of invoice from Ben Holley in the amount of $3850.00

c. Approval of the issuance of Certificate of Compliance for Alcoholic Beverage Sales for Casbah Coffee Company, LLC.

d. Approval of the issuance of Certificate of Compliance for Alcoholic Beverage Sales for Rollin EZ Tobacco, LLC.

9. Resolutions

a. Resolution 16-13 – 106 Creek Dr – Growth Management

b. Resolution 16-14 – 2864 Shoffner Ave – Growth Management

c. Resolution 16-15 – 5762 Seminole Dr – Growth Management

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview City Council agenda: July 11 meeting

The Warriors Hall flag display was hung this week as the nation celebrated its 240th birthday.

PHOTOS: See photos of the flags being hung in Warriors Hall>>

The display, which also includes historic flags that have flown over the area encompassing today’s Crestview, was coordinated by the Friends of the Arts and will be dedicated 5 p.m. at Monday’s Crestview City Council meeting, which is moved to Warriors Hall for the occasion.

Refreshments will follow and the North Okaloosa Community Band will perform.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Grand old flags: Flag display goes up in Crestview's Warriors Hall (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

LAUREL HILL — The City Council voted 4-1 Thursday night to annex former Laurel Hill City Councilman Johnny James and his wife Ernestine’s property into the city.

It’s been 20 months since the couple learned their Robbins Road home is adjacent to, but not in, the city limits.

A 1960s clerical error is to blame.

Someone else’s mistake a half-century ago cost James his council seat in April 2015 and launched his $2,050, year-and-three-month quest for annexation into the city he loves, and loved serving.

In April 2015, city attorney Dan Campbell determined that James was ineligible to retain his council seat. James immediately said he would seek annexation.

“I'm a person to do the right thing and I always did the right thing,” James said at the time.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

At the April 2015 meeting, the council voted 3-1 to reappoint James after annexation to fulfill voters’ mandate to have him as their councilman.

Councilman Scott Moneypenny, who has consistently opposed the James’s annexation, voted nay.

However, Campbell found there is no city charter provision for a council member to take a leave of absence and declared James’s seat was vacant.

In November 2015, the council appointed Travis Dewrell to fill the remainder of James’s term. Now a resident of Laurel Hill, James can run for his former seat in March 2017 if he chooses. 

CONTENTION

Thursday's vote was not without contention. As he has done at previous meetings, Moneypenny produced new arguments not previously disclosed to the council or James on why the annexation should not occur.

His latest salvo involved the property's deed, which Moneypenny claimed was invalid because yet another clerical error listed the wrong parcel identification number.

Moneypenny claimed the number means an estate in Louisiana that holds the same number actually owns the property.

City attorney Dan Campbell, however, said the ID number isn't important.

"The legal description is the only thing that is important," Campbell said. "The parcel ID number is just a convenience for the tax collector. It is not a legal description of the property."

FINAL ATTEMPT

Moneypenny then said that the city's new annexation policy, passed months after James's application for annexation was accepted, should apply retroactively and he thus owed the city more money.

"How long are you going to drag this out?" resident Mike Hanula asked. "You've had him (James) jumping through hoops for more than a year. If you're going to squawk about some kind of application, you should've said something on day 1."

Council members and residents expressed frustration at Moneypenny's continued presentation of impediments.

"Down the road you come up with another ordinance and you try to make him adhere to it," resident Jeff Senterfitt said. "That is not right…(You) come up with another ordinance after you took his money."

"The point is, you go by the legal description and what is real and tangible," Councilman Travis Dewrell said. "The real and tangible facts are that Johnny James owns that property."

"This is one of those things we have been discussing for too long," Councilwoman Debra Adams said.

"Let's get this man annexed into the city and let's move on, for crying out loud," Councilman Daniel Lane said.

Over Moneypenny's protests, Dewrell moved and Adams seconded approval of both ordinances, one approving James's annexation and one amending the city's comprehensive plan to reflect the addition of the property.

The ordinances passed 4-1 with Moneypenny voting nay.

____________________________________

CHRONOLOGY OF AN ANNEXATION

Since April 2015, former Laurel Hill City Councilman Johnny James has been endeavoring to have his property annexed into the city after a 1960s clerical error, discovered in November 2014, forced him to leave his council seat. Here’s a timeline:

●Early 1960s: The Robbins family annexes its Robbins Lane property into Laurel Hill. Through a clerical error, some property on the north side of the street, including that now owned by Johnny and Ernestine James, is accidentally omitted

●March 2009: James is elected to his first term on the Laurel Hill City Council

●March 2013: James is re-elected with 86 ballots cast in his favor

●November 2014: James and more than 20 other Laurel Hill residents are informed that a review of property records indicates they are not city residents as previously thought

●Jan. 8, 2015: James attends his last council meeting as a voting member while city attorney Dan Campbell begins researching his status.

●March 2015: More than 70 residents sign a petition requesting the council allow James to retain his seat

●Feb. 5, 2015: James attends the regular council meeting, but is not a voting councilman. The meeting is cancelled due to lack of a quorum

●April 2, 2015: Campbell declares James ineligible to retain his seat. James steps down after the council votes 3-1 to have him take a leave of absence from the council to annex his property. 

●May 7, 2015: Campbell advises the council that there is no provision in the city charter for a councilman to take a leave of absence, so James’ seat is vacant

●July 18, 2015: James holds a fish fry fundraiser to raise the $2,050 annexation fee charged by Laurel Hill

●July-October 2015: The City Council deadlocks on monthly attempts to fill James’ seat

●Nov. 5, 2015: The City Council votes 3-1 to accept James’ application for annexation, then unexpectedly appoints Travis Dewrell to fill James’ vacant seat. Dewrell had withdrawn his application for the seat Sept. 3, but accepted the appointment.

●March 3, 2016: Ordinance annexing the James property and amending the city’s comprehensive plan to reflect the annexation pass 3-1, with Councilman Scott Moneypenny voting nay both times.

●April 7, 2016: The second reading of the James annexation ordinances was postponed when Moneypenny reported the vote was incorrectly advertised.

●May 5, 2016: Mayor Robby Adams vetoes an ordinance adopted April 7 establishing a city annexation procedure that might be used by opponents to deny the James’s petition for annexation. The veto was nullified because it occurred past the state’s 10-day veto window.  

●June 2, 2016: Re-advertised ordinances annexing the James property and amending the city’s comprehensive plan pass 4-1, with Moneypenny voting nay on both.

●July 7, 2016: After contentious debate, the council approves 4-1 on second reading the ordinances annexing James's property into the city, with Moneypenny casting the nay votes.

Since April 2015, former Laurel Hill City Councilman Johnny James has been endeavoring to have his property annexed into the city after a 1960s clerical error, discovered in November 2014, forced him to leave his council seat. Here’s a timeline:

●Early 1960s: The Robbins family annexes its Robbins Lane property into Laurel Hill. Through a clerical error, some property on the north side of the street, including that now owned by Johnny and Ernestine James, is accidentally omitted

●March 2009: James is elected to his first term on the Laurel Hill City Council

●March 2013: James is re-elected with 86 ballots cast in his favor

●November 2014: James and more than 20 other Laurel Hill residents are informed that a review of property records indicates they are not city residents as previously thought

●Jan. 8, 2015: James attends his last council meeting as a voting member while city attorney Dan Campbell begins researching his status.

●March 2015: More than 70 residents sign a petition requesting the council allow James to retain his seat

●Feb. 5, 2015: James attends the regular council meeting, but is not a voting councilman. The meeting is cancelled due to lack of a quorum

●April 2, 2015: Campbell declares James ineligible to retain his seat. James steps down after the council votes 3-1 to have him take a leave of absence from the council to annex his property. 

●May 7, 2015: Campbell advises the council that there is no provision in the city charter for a councilman to take a leave of absence, so James’ seat is vacant

●July 18, 2015: James holds a fish fry fundraiser to raise the $2,050 annexation fee charged by Laurel Hill

●July-October 2015: The City Council deadlocks on monthly attempts to fill James’ seat

●Nov. 5, 2015: The City Council votes 3-1 to accept James’ application for annexation, then unexpectedly appoints Travis Dewrell to fill James’ vacant seat. Dewrell had withdrawn his application for the seat Sept. 3, but accepted the appointment.

●March 3, 2016: Ordinance annexing the James property and amending the city’s comprehensive plan to reflect the annexation pass 3-1, with Councilman Scott Moneypenny voting nay both times.

●April 7, 2016: The second reading of the James annexation ordinances was postponed when Moneypenny reported the vote was incorrectly advertised.

●May 5, 2016: Mayor Robby Adams vetoes an ordinance adopted April 7 establishing a city annexation procedure that might be used by opponents to deny the James’s petition for annexation. The veto was nullified because it occurred past the state’s 10-day veto window.  

●June 2, 2016: Re-advertised ordinances annexing the James property and amending the city’s comprehensive plan pass 4-1, with Moneypenny voting nay on both.

●July 7, 2016: After contentious debate, the council approves 4-1 on second reading the ordinances annexing James's property into the city, with Moneypenny casting the nay votes.

CHRONOLOGY OF AN ANNEXATION

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Johnny James's property annexed into Laurel Hill

SHALIMAR — The Okaloosa County Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for period ending Sept. 30, 2015 is now available.

The report, required by state law, is conducted by an independent audit firm for compliance standards in financial reporting.

It is available online at http://www.co.okaloosa.fl.us/bcc/budget.

For more information, call the Clerk of Courts office, 651-7200, or 311, the Citizen Information Line.  

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County releases annual financial report

SHALIMAR — The Florida Association of Counties presented an Okaloosa County commissioner with the Presidential Advocacy Award during the 2016 FAC Annual Conference & Exposition in Orange County.  

 As a Chair of the FAC Finance, Tax & Administration Committee, Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel’s leadership and commitment to crafting sound policy was an invaluable asset to FAC this year in advancing the Associations legislative program during a challenging legislative session. 

 The Presidential Advocacy Award is given annually to those county commissioners from around the state that who have shown exceptional leadership in partnering with FAC to advance the counties’ legislative agenda.

“I supported Rep. Matt Gaetz’s ‘no tax is safe tax cut plan,’ because it supports small businesses and encourages those who may be interested in relocating or opening a business here, whereby strengthening the local economy, as well as benefitting all Okaloosa County taxpayers,” Ketchel said.

FAC Executive Director Scott Shalley said, “Commissioner Ketchel’s willingness to advocate for counties was not only essential to the success of FAC’s legislative efforts, but it was also of great service to the citizens of Okaloosa County. The commissioner's advocacy was invaluable in helping ensure that local governments are provided the flexibility and tools they need to meet the needs of Florida’s citizens.”

PAC winners in neighboring counties include Rob Williamson, Santa Rosa County; Jayer Williamson, Santa Rosa County, Vice Chair, Finance, Tax & Administration; Guy Tunnell, Bay County, Chair, Public Safety; and Grover C. Robinson IV, Escambia County, Vice Chair, Federal Committee.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Florida association presents award to Okaloosa commissioner

CRESTVIEW — Sen. Greg Evers will be the featured speaker during a community awareness event for a veterans jobs program.

American Legion Post 75 stated in a media release that the event — which is 2 p.m. July 9 at the post, 898 James Lee Blvd. E. — is open to the community, and local veterans, post traumatic stress syndrome outreach, and support organizations are encouraged to participate.

The program will include information about new jobs and training that will be provided locally.

Local dignitaries will also attend, and refreshments will be available.

In the release, post officials also stated that they hope the post will become a service point for the Career Source mobile unit, since the Crestview Career Source office closed in June. Post Commander John Marshall Sr. is to meet with CS Director Linda Sumblin to work out those details.

For more information on the July 9 event, call 669-9030.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Evers to attend Crestview veterans job training event

CRESTVIEW — The city and county’s animal control agency was in the spotlight when Crestview City Councilmen took turns questioning representatives of the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society, or PAWS.

“We've had some concerns and some complaints, and we understand the complaints are not always valid,” Councilman JB Whitten said.

PAWS director Dee Thompson and Mary Rutter, PAWS’ supervisor of animal control, responded to questions during a June 27 workshop.

Q: What kind of training program does PAWS have?

A: PAWS officers are state-certified and take both classroom and field training. Training includes use of equipment, euthanasia and capturing animals using equipment and chemical means, including dart guns.

Q: What is “chemical capture”?

A: “It's like a blow gun; you blow a dart out of a tube,” Thompson said, adding animal control officers also use CO2 dart guns. “It would be like if you have a big dog or a coyote, it can be used to tranquilize them. We don't ever use it on a cat. It's not a weapon of choice because you can't be sure what an animal's going to do. It's a very last resort. Larger animals, it sometimes makes more excited.”

Q: What do you do when the office is closed?

A: Officers respond to emergency situations 24 hours a day. Two officers live in the Crestview area and can respond to local emergencies, such as animals hit by a car “and drunk drivers with their dog with them,” Thompson said. “Why would someone want to take their dog to a bar I don't understand.”

Q: How many cities or agencies does PAWS contract with?

A: Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, unincorporated Okaloosa County, Eglin Air Force Base and Laurel Hill.

Q: What's PAWS’ average response time?

A: “During business hours it should be pretty quickly,” Thompson said. After hours it depends on where the resident is. “It should be no more than 20 or 30 minutes,” she said.

Q: How much does Crestview pay PAWS for animal control services?

A: PAWS’ fee is based on population, at $4.23 per resident. Crestview pays $85,000 a year. “When we took over you were paying close to $150,000,” Thompson said. “When we took it over we brought it down to $85,000 and we tripled the amount of service.”

Q: Can you address the low satisfaction rating PAWS currently has?

A: “I think because we're dealing with situations where somebody is going to be happy and somebody's not going to be happy, and the people who are not happy talk way louder,” Thompson said.

“They don't want us to kill them (animals) and they don't want us to put them back on the streets. It's difficult to do what we do, but we do it with our heart.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: PAWS responds to Crestview concerns, criticisms