FORT WALTON BEACH — At the Florida Panhandle Patriots Tea Party monthly meeting,  Commissioner Trey Goodwin will address issues concerning Okaloosa County and what members can do to help. 

Actions alerts about upcoming bills of concern to citizens will be discussed and attendees can ask the commissioner questions.

The town hall format meeting starts 6:30 p.m. April 7 at the Elks Lodge, 1335 Miracle Strip Parkway, Fort Walton Beach.

Invite your friends to come.

Snacks and beverages will be available for purchase. 

For more information call 582-2629.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Florida Panhandle Patriots meet April 7

Okaloosa County will delay its plan to accept new bids for residential solid waste collection by at least six months.

County commissioners said they were not satisfied with the terms of the Request for Proposals — the official document that outlines to interested companies the kind of service the county wants.

“It’s my view … that it’s not quite ready for prime time,” Commissioner Nathan Boyles said. “I’m not comfortable putting this RFP out on the street.”

Read more from the Northwest Florida Daily News>>

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa garbage pickup proposal 'not quite ready for prime time"

CRESTVIEW — Beginning in April, and while the Okaloosa County Courthouse in Crestview is under construction, Crestview meetings for the Board of County Commissioners will be held at Crestview City Hall, 198 Wilson St. N.

South county meetings, held the third week each month on Tuesday, will continue at the Okaloosa County Administration Building, 1250 Eglin Parkway N., Shalimar.

The next meeting is 6 p.m. April 19 in Shalimar.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview venue changes for Okaloosa commission meetings

CRESTVIEW — Mayor David Cadle has asked the City Council to consider giving Police Chief Tony Taylor a raise.

While not requesting a specific amount, Cadle said Taylor has proven himself worthy of an increase above his current $73,630 salary.

Fort Walton Beach’s retiring police chief makes $105,000, but “I’m not asking for anywhere near that,” Cadle said.

Cadle credits Taylor for turning around a dispirited agency riddled with corruption to one that has regained the public’s trust and support, and works diligently toward accreditation.

“I did not know what anyone could do to restore that agency,” Cadle said. “He exceeded my expectations in every way.”

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Cadle cites several of Taylor’s accomplishments:

●Implementing initiatives such as the Citizens Police Academy and informal Coffee With a Cop gatherings

●Beginning the agency’s lengthy accreditation process

●Tightening the department’s budget through programs including refurbishing older patrol cars at one-quarter the cost of buying new ones and consolidating resources

●Increasing officers’ salaries, bringing them closer to the local average to prevent officers leaving for better pay after Crestview taxpayers finance their training

●Using Warriors Hall for training Crestview police officers and officers from regional agencies.

“He has restored cooperation between the Crestview Police Department and the other agencies in the area,” Cadle said.

Cadle announced Taylor’s appointment Sept. 24, 2012, after a search to replace discredited former chief Brian Mitchell, who resigned following a scandal leading to the arrest of his former operations commander, Maj. Joseph Floyd.

“Chief Taylor had a daunting task ahead of him,” Cadle told the City Council March 28. “I set the salary scale too low because I wasn't sure what sort of reception I was going to get in this room.”

NO RAISE SINCE ’12

Taylor’s salary has not increased since his appointment, and he has deferred any proposed raise funds to his officers.

Cadle asked that City Clerk Betsy Roy look for sources for increasing Taylor’s pay that would not require additional revenue.

Suggestions include using the difference in recently retired former Library Director Jean Lewis’s salary and the lower salary of her replacement, and savings realized by last year’s relocation of the communications center to police headquarters.

The council, which is beginning the 2016-17 budgeting process, is receptive to Cadle’s request.

“I have known him (Taylor) many years and I know his work ethic,” Councilman Doug Faircloth said. “As a law enforcement veteran myself, I understand what he has gone through and how much effort it has taken. I don't see anything wrong with finding ways to increase his compensation.”

Taylor said he is proud of the progress the department has made and is optimistic about the department’s future.

“I enjoy being here,” he said. “I enjoy my job, and we still have a ways to go.”

Law enforcement head salaries for Okaloosa County municipalities:

●Crestview police chief: $73,630

●Fort Walton Beach police chief: $105,000*

●Niceville police chief: $72,675

●Okaloosa County sheriff: $136,500**

*Salary is for retiring chief; replacement range begins at $74,313.

**Salary established by Florida Legislature

Sources: Respective law enforcement agencies

CHIEFS' SALARIES

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview mayor requests raise for police chief

TALLAHASSEE — Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, has received an “A” on the Florida Chamber’s 2016 Legislative Report Card.

“I am proud to receive such a high ranking from the Florida Chamber, which is reflective of my commitment to further Florida’s pro-business environment by reducing regulations and the burden of government on Florida businesses,” Evers said. “Everyone knows that the private sector creates jobs and opportunities for Floridians — not government.

“I look forward to continuing to work with the Florida Chamber to make the Sunshine State the best place for business, and the perfect opportunity for those seeking employment.”

The Florida Chamber’s Legislative Report Card is an online tool that shares grades legislators earned based on their support of pro-jobs, pro-business issues during the annual legislative session.

See www.flchamber.com for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Evers receives ‘A’ on Florida Chamber Report Card

CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa County Courthouse in Crestview’s closure is slated for today, April 1.

Here’s how it affects the clerk of court’s operations:

●All court-related operations located in the Crestview Courthouse will move into county facilities across Highway 90 to 601B N. Pearl St.

●The Clerk’s Office walk-in customer services will be closed in Crestview Monday, April 4 as its customer service team moves.

●You can conduct business as usual in offices at the Fort Walton Beach Courthouse, 1940 Lewis Turner Blvd. (at the Fairgrounds).

Call 651-7200 or 689-5000 for more information. Additionally, many services are available at OkaloosaClerk.com.

The Crestview Court Operations Center will be open for routine business starting Tuesday, April 5 at 601B N. Pearl St. Crestview. Office hours will be 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. weekdays.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Must-know clerk of court changes following Crestview courthouse closure

CRESTVIEW — Given the City Council’s consensus, City Clerk Betsy Roy and Fire Chief Joe Traylor are continuing to explore possibly acquiring land in the Old Bethel Road vicinity for a new fire station.

That section of northwest Crestview is widely considered the city’s next growth area, but residents and businesses are under-served by fire protection services, Traylor has said.

Under Homeland Security and national fire prevention standards, fire departments should be able to respond to a fire call within four minutes. Much of the Old Bethel area is outside that response time.

If a sufficient percentage of the city’s population ends up living in the Old Bethel Area, not having a manned firehouse in the area could increase all city residents’ fire insurance costs under national Insurance Services Office standards, Traylor said.

“You’re looking at 6,000 people not unrealistically,” Traylor said, which could be up to a quarter of Crestview’s population. “It would have an overall negative effect on the city’s ISO rating.”

Traylor and Public Works Director Wayne Steele said while a fire station could be squeezed into a 1-acre lot, 2 acres is more realistic and would include sufficient space to maneuver fire trucks in and out of the station, and could also accommodate stormwater retention and adequate parking.

Traylor said a location right on Old Bethel Road would be ideal to provide faster response times.

Council President Shannon Hayes said it is prudent to research land acquisition now, not when the expected build-up is underway and the need becomes urgent.

“We’ve got to start looking now,” Hayes said. “If we wait until we need one, the citizens who live there are going to be up here jumping on the council.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview officials seek Old Bethel firehouse land

CRESTVIEW — Judge Michael Flowers presided over the last court session at the Okaloosa County Crestview courthouse before its demolition and subsequent rebuilding. 

Brian Hughes captured this video of the historic final session on March 31. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: VIDEO: Okaloosa County Courthouse's final court session

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County's plan to replace the Crestview Courthouse at 101 James Lee Boulevard East in Crestview will cause permanent closure of the building effective April l.

Many of current court functions will be moved to the Okaloosa County Courthouse Annex Extension in Fort Walton Beach. Proceedings will also be held at the Brackin Building in Crestview and the Fort Walton Beach Water & Sewer Building.

The following location changes apply to matters previously held at the Crestview Courthouse and become effective April 1.

To ensure attendance at a specific proceeding or event, citizens and attorneys are encouraged to phone the applicable judicial office or court personnel to confirm the exact location. For contact information and updated information, visit www.FirstJudicialCircuit.org.

The Clerk of Court will continue to provide full service at the Court Operations Center in Crestview, 601-A Pearl St. N., Crestview.

 For information regarding Okaloosa County Clerk of Courts and Comptroller, visit www.OkaloosaClerk.com or call 689-5000.

Moved to the Brackin Building, BOCC Conference Room, Room 305, 302 Wilson St. N., Crestview:

 ●Judge Flowers

-all criminal proceedings

-all dissolution of marriage hearings

-all family law proceedings

-all domestic violence injunction hearings

●Judge Terrance Ketchel

-civil jury trials

-dependency hearings

-delinquency hearings

●Judge Jim Ward

-Various proceedings

Moved to the Fort Walton Beach Water & Sewer Building, 1804 Lewis Turner Blvd., Suite 400, Fort Walton Beach:

●Judge Ketchel

– Civil hearings

– mortgage foreclosure hearings

●Magistrate Thomas Nixon

-mortgage foreclosure hearings

●Judge Ward

-small claim pre-trials with attorneys of record

-infraction hearings

-claims of exemption

-landlord-tenant hearings

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview courthouse closure affects legal proceedings starting April 1

CRESTVIEW — An unexpected increase in tipping fees at Waste Pro’s Santa Rosa County landfill will be passed on to city garbage customers.

The $7 per ton increase takes effect April 1 but the earliest the city can implement the approved increase is the second week of April, City Clerk Betsy Roy said.

The increase will be 5 percent for residential customers and 4 percent for commercial customers. Residential customers will see about $.72 a month more on their bills.

In addition, a Santa Rosa County recycling plant’s closure and construction of a new one will see a $39 per ton tipping fee implemented, whereas before Waste Pro was not charged to drop off recyclables.

Residential customers will see a monthly increase of about $.18 per month for recycling.

About 30 percent of Waste Pro’s Crestview customers recycle, with recycling doubling to about 2 tons a day since the company implemented recycling incentives. Roy said under state law, by 2020, recycling will be obligatory throughout the county for all garbage customers.

City Council President Shannon Hayes agreed with Waste Pro’s incentive program, which rewards recycling residents with prizes such as gift cards. “We have to look out for our world,” he said. “We've only got one. If we keep destroying it now, there won't be anything for our great grandkids.”

Councilman J.B. Whitten — who, with all other council members approved Waste Pro’s rate increase request March 28 — said sometimes the unforeseeable happens. “You just can't anticipate something like this,” he said.

Waste Pro regional vice president Ralph Mills said it is the first time the company has been faced with a tipping fee increase in its eight years in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview garbage fees increase