CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa County Courthouse has faced Crestview’s downtown district for almost 100 years, but that appears likely to change.

Okaloosa County Commissioners’ recent approval of an orientation adjustment for the new courthouse didn’t sit well with Crestview Historic Preservation Board members.

“It has not shifted a little bit,” board President Ann Spann said. “It has shifted so the new courthouse is now facing west. It is facing Pine Street, which is a dead-end, one-way street.”

Spann said the 3-2 decision — with Commissioners Carolyn Ketchell and Kelley Windes casting nay votes — during a Tuesday morning meeting in Shalimar allowed Crestview residents no convenient opportunity for input.

She said the Historic Preservation Board asked commissioners to delay voting on the new orientation until they met June 7 in Crestview. “The county commissioners turned this into, ‘Oh, it’ll delay things. It will cost more money,’” Spann said. “We asked for a change of even a few degrees to have at least part of the columns and the antebellum look overlooking the historic district and historic downtown Crestview.”

County Commissioner Nathan Boyles said he understood the historic board’s concern, but acted on the building designers’ recommendation to accommodate site restrictions. “The site was very constrained, and there are utilities on the site that had to be taken into consideration,” he said. “Because of those constraints, the designers recommended that the orientation be changed.”

The reorientation will provide eight more parking spots — for a total of 169 — than the original placement. More parking will also be provided at a county-owned lot on Wilson Street and Beech Avenue.

Spann said, until Tuesday morning’s meeting, few Crestview residents were aware the building might rotate.

“We feel … that many in the business district and the city are not aware of what they’re getting,” she said. “We feel the citizens should have an opportunity to at least be aware of how this should be oriented on the site.”

“It isn’t really about peoples’ preferences,” Boyles said. “It’s about aligning a much bigger building on a site in a way that’s feasible. The design team made it clear there was a single preferred orientation.”

Spann said the historic board appreciates initially being consulted on the courthouse design to assure the building complements the historic district’s architecture.

“The Historic Preservation Board was very grateful for the courtesies extended to us in the design of the courthouse with the classic façade, which makes for a very beautiful building,” she said. “It’s certainly historical and aesthetically correct. Why wouldn’t you want it facing the historic district?”

Boyles said the new building will still have an impressive presence.

“When you are on South Main Street looking north, you’ll see the portico projecting forward,” he said. “You’ll see those columns. The building will properly anchor Main Street from all directions, not just the south.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Change in Crestview courthouse plans raises historic board's concerns

CRESTVIEW — As city firefighters look to keep pace with Crestview’s growth, Chief Joe Traylor has asked the City Council to approve a lease-purchase agreement to acquire two new fire trucks.

The Pierce Saber pumpers will allow the Crestview Fire Department to retire its two oldest fire engines, including a 1985 pumper for which replacement parts are no longer obtainable.

Under the arrangement with Pierce’s leasing company, PNC Equipment Finance, the city has the option to keep the fire trucks at the end of the seven-year lease period in 2023.

City Clerk Betsy Roy, who worked with Traylor on the lease details, said under the $902,880 arrangement, the first $109,590 payment would fall due in May 2017.

“And we get two shiny trucks,” Roy said. “We have the option at the end (of the lease) to turn them in and get two new shiny trucks.”

MAINTENANCE

The lease cost also includes regular maintenance costs, which currently the fire department has to pay for, Roy said.

“What this will allow us to do is put in place a process where we can have an efficient and cost-effective way to manage growth,” Traylor told the City Council.

As the city begins looking for land in the Old Bethel Road area on which to build a northwest Crestview fire station in anticipation of predicted growth, “we will have vehicles than can immediately be put there,” Traylor said.

“We'd be planning ahead for that so it wouldn't be an ‘oh-my-God-we-have-to-do-it-tomorrow’ scenario,” he said.

While scheduled routine preventative maintenance on the new vehicles was included in Pierce’s bid, it was inadvertently omitted from the contract.

At the City Council’s direction, Traylor returned to Pierce to assure the provision was included.

“We got that taken care of and the leasing company and the Pierce corporation and the city will be happy with it,” Traylor said.

While the fire department’s trucks don’t put on many miles every year—the average is about 6,000 miles, Traylor said—wear and tear comes from service at a fire scene.

“Fire trucks don't necessarily drive long distances, but they sit there for several hours with the motors running at high RPMs while they pump water,” he said.

MAY 23 APPROVAL

Traylor expects the council will consider the contract at a special meeting called for May 23 before its scheduled workshop.

Leasing the two new engines won’t cost much more than the city paid for two new fire trucks in 2007 with maintenance costs figured in, Traylor said.

The new trucks will be built to meet the Crestview Fire Department’s requirements, Traylor said, right down to the paint scheme.

“They’ll build the trucks to our specifications,” he said. “These are trucks that are in common use throughout the United States. They have a very good track record.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Omission delays Crestview fire trucks lease approval (VIDEO)

CRESTVIEW — The intersection of Wingard Street and Sanders Avenue will be closed May 17 for construction.

The City of Crestview Utility Maintenance Department will be working on construction repair from 7 a.m. through 1 p.m. May 17, weather permitting.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: May 17 Crestview intersection closure set

FORT WALTON BEACH — All Okaloosa Democrats are invited to attend as the Okaloosa Democrat Executive Committee launches its 2016 campaign, "All In, to Win."

The meeting is 6:30 p.m. May 16 at the new Democrat satellite office, 1500 Lewis Turner Blvd., Fort Walton Beach.

Attendees may meet Richard Rian, newly elected committee chair, and get details on becoming a democratic precinct committee member in their neighborhoods. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa Democratic campaign kicks off May 16

FORT WALTON BEACH — Representatives from the Okaloosa County Tax Collector’s Office conduct workshops around the county to educate citizens on its annual Tax Certificate Sale.

Winning bidders can earn between 5-18 percent interest. Investors earned an average of 7.09 percent in 2015 through the sales.

Here's the schedule:

●6 p.m. May 12, Okaloosa Administration Building, 1250 Eglin Parkway N, Shalimar.

●6 p.m. May 17, OCTC office, 701 John Sims Parkway E., Niceville.

●6 p.m. May 19, OCTC office, 302 Wilson St. N, Crestview

●6 p.m. May 24, Okaloosa Administration Building, Shalimar.

Potential investors may go to www.BidOkaloosa.com to take full advantage of the demonstrations, procedural information, links to public records and the Delinquent Tax advertising list.

Bidding began May 11 and ends June 1.

The required published advertisement of delinquent parcels appears in May 11, 18 and 25 Crestview News Bulletins. Copies will be available at all OCTC office locations and www.OkaloosaTax.com.

Delinquent taxpayers have until 5 p.m. May 31 to pay on their account or a certificate will be sold June 1. Payment must be made by cash, cashier’s check, money-order or by credit card.

For details contact the tax department at 651-7604.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa tax certificate sale workshops set

NAVARRE — The Northwest Florida Regional Transportation Planning Organization will meet May 18.

The meeting is 1:30 p.m. at Navarre Visitor Center, 8543 Navarre Parkway.

The Technical Working Group will meet at 10:30 a.m. in the same location. 

A full agenda is available online at www.wfrpc.org.

The TPO strives to plan for the future transportation needs of the region in a collaborative manner that is beneficial to all residents and visitors.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Northwest Florida Regional TPO to meet May 18

CRESTVIEW — The Democratic Women's Club of Okaloosa County will host a local luncheon, "Celebrate Democratic Women."

Speakers include local candidates and one person who will address women's issues in the workplace. Every female guest will get a gift, and other door prize.

The public may attend the event; the lunch buffet costs $10.28 per person, including drink.

 Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 19 at Ryan's Family Steakhouse Restaurant, 3000 Ferdon Blvd. S.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'Celebrate Democratic Women' May 19 in Crestview

SHALIMAR — Okaloosa County Commission Kelly Windes recently signed bond financing for the new county courthouse in Crestview. The last day for employees in the old building was April 4.

Present at the signing were Mitchell Owens, RBC Capital Markets, LLC; Mark Mustain, Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson Law Firm; Jody Bear, Crews & Associates; Mark Galvin, First Southwest Company; Okaloosa Finance Director Gary Stanford; and County Administrator John Hofstad.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa commissioner signs financing for new courthouse

CRESTVIEW — With its unanimous approval of the Monday evening consent agenda, the City Council approved repaving several Crestview city streets.

Public Works Director Wayne Steele said the project, which will provide an asphalt overlay on 3.25 miles of streets, was included in his Streets Department 2015-16 budget.

The winning $298,600 bid by James David Site Prep and Underground of Baker was under the project’s $400,000 budgeted amount. James David will partner with Tony Helms, an asphalt specialist.

Two other bids, one for $334,170 and another for $367,942, were also received. The project, which has 11 components, will require 3,555 tons of asphalt at the winning bid’s $83.99 per ton cost.

Steele did not indicate when the paving projects will commence.

—

WHAT WILL BE PAVED?

The City Council unanimously approved these 11 street paving projects totaling 3.25 miles of asphalt:

●Long Drive, from McArthur Street to First Avenue

●Jillian Drive, from Balou Drive to Christopher Drive

●South Main Street, from State Road 85 to Field and Old Main to Edney

●Alabama Street, from Eighth Avenue to Kenneth Avenue

●Georgia Street, from Eighth Avenue to Kenneth Avenue

●McLaughlin Avenue

●Oglesby Avenue

●Kenneth Avenue, from Dixie Street to Texas Parkway

●Brookmeade Drive, from East Redstone Avenue to Goodwin Avenue

●West Edney Avenue, from Chappie James Street to Gordon Street

●Egan Drive

The City Council unanimously approved these 11 street paving projects totaling 3.25 miles of asphalt:

●Long Drive, from McArthur Street to First Avenue

●Jillian Drive, from Balou Drive to Christopher Drive

●South Main Street, from State Road 85 to Field and Old Main to Edney

●Alabama Street, from Eighth Avenue to Kenneth Avenue

●Georgia Street, from Eighth Avenue to Kenneth Avenue

●McLaughlin Avenue

●Oglesby Avenue

●Kenneth Avenue, from Dixie Street to Texas Parkway

●Brookmeade Drive, from East Redstone Avenue to Goodwin Avenue

●West Edney Avenue, from Chappie James Street to Gordon Street

●Egan Drive

WHAT WILL BE PAVED?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 11 Crestview paving projects approved

CRESTVIEW — City garbage, water and sewer customers, and new residents seeking to tap into the city’s water service, will see fee increases following unanimous approvals of three ordinances.

The City Council approved these ordinances following their second readings Monday evening. The first readings had been approved April 11.

●Ordinance 1600 will increase WastePro’s residential garbage collection fees less than a dollar to $18.16 a month for twice-weekly service. Commercial fees will increase 72 cents to $23.72. The new fees will be effective June 1, and were necessitated by the closing of WastePro’s Santa Rosa County landfill site.

●Under Ordinance 1601, residential water rates will increase June 1 by 15 cents for the minimum 2,000-gallon usage. Subsequent usage tiers each increased 5 cents. Minimum 2,000-gallon sewer rates increased 30 cents to $16.80.

“The approximate increase is 2 percent,” City Clerk Betsy Roy said. “It will be brought back before the council in October 2017 for any increase or decrease.”

●Ordinance 1602 was a request by Public Works Director Wayne Steele to increase water tap fees to bring them in line with the city’s costs.

Currently, city taxpayers fund the difference between what property owners who want water service pay to tap into Crestview’s water lines and what the city’s actual expenses are. Taxpayers’ current costs are nearly half the actual cost to tap into a water line.

The smallest tap, for a three-quarters-inch pipe, will rise from $450 to $800. A 2-inch line’s tap fee increases from $1,080 to $2,000.

INSPECTION FEES

In addition, the council approved on first reading Ordinance 1604, a proposed “modest adjustment in the building inspection fees” brought by Growth Management Director Teresa Gaillard.

To implement the fees, if approved, by June 1, the ordinance will be presented for a second reading at a special meeting called for 6 p.m. May 23.

In addition, the council unanimously approved converting its second monthly meeting into a workshop unless a special meeting is called. This will be the first special meeting called under the new meeting format.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Council OKs garbage, water and sewer fee increases