LAUREL HILL — The City Council rested a proposal to spend $9,550 to refurbish a 1992 generator after hearing a report by Councilman Travis Dewrell.

The city received an $11,700 insurance settlement following the well pump generator’s damage in a lightning strike. In February, council members considered refurbishing the trailered unit for $21,250.

Mayor Robby Adams said the refurbished 60-kilowatt generator could be used as a back-up for City Hall’s aging generator, or used if the remaining well generator is damaged.

ALTERNATIVES

Thursday, Dewrell presented research and argued against spending taxpayer money to refurbish a 24-year-old generator. He suggested several alternatives, including:

●Buy a 60-kilowatt natural-gas powered generator for about $25,000, noting Okaloosa Gas is preparing plans to run a gas line to Laurel Hill, possibly by spring of 2017

●Enter an interlocal agreement with Paxton or Auburn Water, both of which have lines close to Laurel Hill or overlapping the community’s water service

●Save the $11,700 and apply it to a future need. “We can spend that money the best way we can see fit,” Dewrell said. “We’re not bound to buy a new generator.”

INTERLOCAL BENEFITS

Establishing an interlocal water use agreement with a neighboring water department would be mutually beneficial, particularly if the pact is with Paxton, Dewrell said.

“If both (of Laurel Hill’s) wells went down, we could open the valves from Paxton,” Dewrell said. “It could work the opposite way, too. It makes sense if we could work together like a co-op, if you will, helping each other.

“Hopefully we would never, ever have to use it. But if we did, it would be a good investment to put in some pipes and valves so our residents would never have to be without water.”

Dewrell said an agreement with Paxton would be more beneficial to both communities, because Auburn Water’s system is more extensive, and would be unlikely to need assistance from Laurel Hill in an emergency.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill councilman offers alternatives to fixing old generator

CRESTVIEW — It takes money to keep Okaloosa County’s largest city, also its county seat, moving and meeting its growth needs.

More important, it takes people. Of the city’s $29.6 million budget for fiscal year 2015-16, 40 percent goes to salaries.

For the city’s 237 employees, $7.8 million will be paid this fiscal year in regular salaries. Another $100,200 will be paid to the city’s elected civil servants. With benefits, overtime and holiday pay included, Crestview’s payroll is about $12 million.

See a chart comparing Crestview salaries with those of other municipalities>>

Of that, less than $50,000 goes to the mayor and five city councilmen, still making them the highest-paid of their peers in the county’s municipalities.

And with good reason, the civic leaders say.

While their jobs may be officially “part-time” on the city’s books, actual hours put into the position often surpass a typical 40-hour work week.

FULL-TIME, PART-TIME

“With the changes in the growth of Crestview and the many challenges we face every month, I spend a minimum of 40 hours a week on the job,” Mayor David Cadle said. “It stays pretty busy.”

Though Crestview has a weak-mayor, strong-council form of government, the mayor’s duties differ from Cadle’s counterparts in other county municipalities.

“The reason the mayor takes on a higher position here is he is directly responsible for public safety,” Cadle said. “None of the other mayors have that type of responsibility.”

“To me it’s not a part-time job,” JB Whitten, one of the city’s two newest councilmen, said. “I spend a lot of time working city council issues. You don’t need to make it that large a job. I do it because it is my responsibility to the citizens of the city.”

City Council vice president Joe Blocker said though he had been asked many times over the years to seek a council seat, he couldn’t consider it while he had a full-time job.

“People tried to get me to run for 30 years,” Blocker said. “I said it’s not a part-time job, so when I retired, I up and lost every bit of the sense I had and I jumped in it.

“It is not part-time. To serve the people the way they expect to be served is not a part-time job, but I enjoy it.”

TIME COMMITMENT

Blocker said many expenses are not covered by a council member’s $5,040 annual salary, and that he and his fellow councilmen absorb them without reimbursement.

County-level and regional League of Cities meetings and training seminars regularly take council members to destinations often hours from Crestview, Blocker said.

City department heads are in a similar situation, Blocker said.

“They attend lots of meetings and association meetings, and they don’t get paid for it,” he said.

Whitten said neither he nor any of his colleagues on the dais sought their duties without understanding the time commitment they require.

“It is demanding, but no one would run for office unless you want to do it,” he said.

“You go in with your eyes wide open and you have to put a lot of time and effort into it, but you choose to do that.”

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BENEFITS BY THE NUMBERS

City of Crestview workers receive these benefits in addition to their base salaries:

•12 paid holidays

•12 sick days

•40 hours vacation for up to two years’ service

•80 hours vacation for two to six years’ service

•160 hours vacation for more than six years’ service

By union contract, Crestview firefighters receive more annual vacation days than other city workers

Source: City of Crestview

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SPECIAL REPORT: Crestview elected leaders' salaries surpass neighboring cities

BAKER — When Farm Service Agency administrator Val Dolcini returns to Washington, D.C., he’ll take with him area farmers’ ideas, concerns and praises.

En route to a New Orleans conference, Dolcini visited farmers in Mariana before stopping March 1 at James and Nick Marshall’s farm near Baker, where farmers and farm officials from Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa and Escambia counties and Covington County, Alabama, gathered to meet him.

Dolcini was the first Farm Services Agency chief to visit Northwest Florida in at least 30 years, local FSA program technician Robby Adams said.

See "RELATED CONTENT" at left for data on Okaloosa County's various farms

“What the Farm Services Agency does is reconnect our farmers with the people who serve them,” Dolcini said. “I’ve been to 37 states. It’s just important to get out from behind my desk in Washington, D.C., and meet local farmers and see how our programs are being used and what we can do to help them.”

Responding to Dolcini’s queries about local soil conditions, James Marshall took the administrator out to a nearby field where he described area farming techniques and land management practices.

Over a barbecue lunch, Dolcini invited farmers to share their concerns.

James Marshall said he was impressed by Dolcini’s knowledge of farming during the brief tour of his property.

“He knows his answers,” Marshall said. “He surprised me. He knows his stuff.”

Dolcini, in turn, said he was impressed with the Marshalls’ farm.

“It’s wonderful to see a multi-generational family farm,” he said, adding as the world population grows, “it will be up to American farmers, growers and ranchers like these to help feed the rest of the world.”

!——-HUB NOTE: PLEASE IGNORE BELOW

Farm3

Farm Services Agency head Val Dolcini, center, holds a working lunch with area farmers Donnie Richardson, left, of Walton County, and Okaloosa County FSA county committee chairman Gary Booker.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at brianh@crestviewbulletin.com, follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian or call 850-682-6524.                                          

BRIAN HUGHES / News Bulletin

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency’s Crestview office serves farmers in Okaloosa and Walton Counties and administers Congressional farm bills as they apply to local farms.

LOCAL FARMS BY THE NUMBERS

Okaloosa County farmers reported these statistics to the Farm Service Agency in 2015:

•Total farms: 1,519

•Total producers: 2,266

•Corn: 285 acres farmed

•Cotton: 2,123 acres farmed

•Peanuts: 1,772 acres farmed

•Pasture: 4,067 acres

•Timber: 609 acres managed

•Conservation Reserve Program: 4,931 acres

•Pecans: 223 acres managed

•Soybeans: 1,145 acres farmed

•Strawberries: 10 acres farmed

•Cattle: 6,100 head

Source: Crestview Farm Service Agency office

CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM

The Conservation Reserve Program pays farmers yearly rental payment in exchange for them removing environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and planting species that will improve environmental quality. 

Source: USDA Farm Service Agency

FARM SERVICE AGENCY

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Farm Service Agency head visits Baker, meets area farmers

LAUREL HILL — Former City Councilman Johnny James and his wife, Earnestine, are a giant step closer to having their property annexed into the city.

At Thursday evening's meeting, the council passed on 3-1 votes two ordinances that, if approved on second readings at the April 7 meeting, will bring the property into the city.

Councilman Scott Moneypenny, who has consistently opposed the James' annexation, voted nay both times.

It's been almost a year since James had to step down from his council seat when it was discovered his property on Robbins Road isn't in the city but is adjacent to it.

It was thought the property was among those annexed in the 1960s by James' father-in-law, former Laurel Hill Mayor Vizell Robbins. For unknown reasons, the property was omitted when Robbins had his other adjoining properties annexed.

The ordinances passed Thursday evening would respectively accept the James's request for annexation and would amend the city's comprehensive plan and future land use map to reflect the addition of the property into the city.

"I've been living in Laurel Hill all my life," Earnestine James said. "We would appreciate everyone's support. We have been praying we can be annexed."

In related action, the council unanimously voted to approve an ordinance requiring any future annexation requests to be entirely funded by the requesters.

"It will be all on the individual's back to take care of everything and hand it to the city and say, 'I want to be annexed,'" council Chairman Larry Hendren said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: James property closer to annexation in Laurel Hill

The monthly meeting of the Florida Panhandle Patriots Tea Party will feature talk show radio host Ken Walsh of WFTW's "Wake Up Call."

He will discuss "The Media Takeover," concerning who is controlling the media and how they are taking control, as well as what "We the People" need to be looking for and how to keep the truth going in Talk Radio and other media industries.

The meeting is 6:30 p.m. March 3 at the Elks Lodge, 1335 Miracle Strip Parkway, Fort Walton Beach.

Snacks and beverages are available for purchase.  For more information call 582-2629.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Panhandle Patriots meeting set in Fort Walton Beach tonight

After getting unanimous approval from the Florida Public Service Commission, Gulf Power is launching a community solar program, Gulf Solar Energy Share.

Gulf Solar is a way Gulf Power customers can play an active role in pioneering solar energy use in Northwest Florida. It’s also a more affordable alternative for customers who want to support solar energy, but can’t for reasons such as cost, renting instead of owning a home, or having a shaded roof.

“Gulf Solar is for customers who are passionate about the environment and want to be a pioneer in developing renewable energy in Northwest Florida,” said Rick DelaHaya, Gulf Power spokesperson.

“Gulf Solar makes solar energy accessible to all of our customers whether they rent or own their residence. And customers who participate in this program will receive a monthly credit on their bill — a reminder of their personal commitment to developing renewable energy.”

Gulf Solar Energy Share gives all customers, including business owners, the opportunity to subscribe for only $99 a year.

With a subscription, customers can offset a portion of their traditional energy —approximately 750 kilowatt-hours per subscription — with solar energy. Subscribers will receive a monthly credit on their bill — between $2 and $2.50 for 2016. In addition, if participants agree to a five-year commitment, they will receive a reduced annual fee of $89.

There are no additional installation fees or maintenance costs and customers may purchase multiple subscriptions up to their total monthly use.

Subscriptions will be available on a first come, first serve basis. As program demand grows, additional panels could be installed in various areas around the region.

The solar farm will be built near Milton.

“We are getting considerable interest from our customers for renewable programs like Gulf Solar,” added DelaHaya. “Now customers can be part of the solar movement — even if they are not able to install solar panels on their homes or businesses.”

Customers interested in Gulf Solar Energy Share can visit Gulf Power's GulfSolar website at http://bit.ly/1VQDS6F for more information and express interest in the Community Solar program.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Subscription-based solar energy coming soon to Northwest Florida

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Okaloosa County Commission on the Status of Women welcomes five new members as it installs a new board of officers. 

2016 officers, sworn in by Okaloosa Commissioner Kelly Windes, are Chair Dawn Johnson, Vice Chair Mary Florence, Secretary Amy McBride, and Historian Jeanne Rief.  Treasurer Ester Hemphill was inducted during the OCCSW's February meeting. 

New members are DeAndrea Y. Haynes, representing District 1; Tammy McGee, District 2; Patricia Payne, the American Business Women’s Association Emerald Coast; Rachel Winkler, League of Women Voters; and Kathy Foster, Republican Women Okaloosa Federated.

During the installation ceremony, the OCCSW presented $100 donations to Shelter House, the Ronda Coon Women's Home and Opportunity Place.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa Status of Women commission installs new officers

CRESTVIEW — The north end of Pearl Street between Jeff Drive and Phillips Drive will be closed for sewer construction, weather permitting.

The closure is set for 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 8. If weather is inclement, the construction will be done 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 9.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview road to close for sewer construction

CRESTVIEW — The Live Oak Church Road-State Road 85 intersection in south Crestview could be much busier if a proposed 37-acre shopping center opens.

Click here to see the site plan

The Crestview Narrows center, proposed by Birmingham, Alabama-based Blackwater Resources, would have 184,600 square feet of retail space including:

●A 22,000-square-foot and 55,000-square-foot anchor store

●A free-standing 45,600-square-foot anchor store

●A 6,000-square-foot section that could contain up to five 1,200-square-foot shops

●Three 8,000-square-foot stores

●Two 10,000-square-foot stores

●One 12,000-square-foot-store

The project would extend more than a quarter-mile along S.R. 85, and includes 840 parking spaces, plus five undeveloped “future outparcels” available for lease to builders and retailers.

A Crestview Narrows marketing flier states 35,000 vehicle trips per day pass the development’s site, which is located outside Crestview city limits in Okaloosa County.

Access points would include an entrance drive off Live Oak Church Road and three entrances from State Road 85, including one each across from Lee Chrysler and Southview Drive that cross the highway median.

A right-turn lane is indicated north of the Live Oak Church-S.R. 85 intersection. Blackwater Resources proposes adding a traffic signal at the development entrance opposite Lee Chrysler.

County Growth Management Department planner Tim Durbin in the department’s Crestview office said the project’s development order has been reviewed and is close to being approved. “We’re waiting for documents to come in from other agencies,” he said. “It’s close.”

Durbin said how soon construction begins is up to the developer and their contractor.

Blackwater development director and President John Abernathy said the project is still in the proposal and marketing phase. He said the company is not ready to provide information about potential tenants nor a construction timeline.

“We don’t have a break-ground date yet,” Abernathy said. “We’re marketing it right now. It is still a proposal.”

Birmingham, Ala.-based Blackwater Resources, which proposes a 37-acre shopping center in southeast Crestview, was formed in 2010 by former AIG Baker Shopping Center Properties L.L.C. executives. During their real estate careers, Blackwater Resources executives developed, leased and managed more than 25 million square feet of property in 36 states. In Florida, the company owns Shoreline Village in Destin, The Center of Tallahassee and Mitchell Ranch Plaza in New Port Richey.

Source: Blackwater Resources

THE DEVELOPER

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Major shopping center proposed for south Crestview

CRESTVIEW — Like rush-hour State Road 85 traffic, receiving the final approval for a proposed connector road at the Crestview Corners shopping center has become a sit-and-wait situation.

PROJECT'S BACKGROUND

At an Aug. 11, 2014, City Council meeting, then-city planner Eric Davis introduced the proposal to use the existing north-south lane through the shopping center’s parking lot to bypass congestion on S.R. 85. The mall’s businesses include Big Lots, Bealls Outlet and Bamboo Sushi.

The proposed two-lane, low-speed connector would link Hospital Drive and Redstone Avenue East, removing some local traffic from S.R. 85.

The road — which would have regulation striping and parking islands to help define its parameters, and “stop” signs at the east-west parking lanes — would begin behind Advance Auto Parts and Payless Shoe Source, linking behind Taco Bell with the current driving lane and running behind Krystal and Regions Bank before connecting to Redstone Avenue.

Traffic impact fees, collected before the city placed a moratorium on such collections, would finance the project.

North Okaloosa Medical Center, along with Krystal, suggested the project. Today, all affected businesses, except NOMC, have approved the cut-through plans and required easements, Public Works Director Wayne Steele said.

CURRENT STATUS

So, what's with the holdup?

“It’s not the local board, but the board of directors for all the hospitals owned by that company,” Steele said, during a Feb. 22 city council meeting, referring to Community Health Systems, NOMC’s parent company.

Members rotate on and off CHS’s board of directors, so the board’s composition is different now than when the proposal was first raised, Steele said. New members must re-evaluate the project.

“It’s a little bit complicated,” Steele said, adding he had a meeting Feb. 22 with local hospital officials. The city has been waiting for the hospital’s approval since October, but following the recent meeting, he believes it is coming soon.

“We want to help facilitate the city’s proposed easement,” hospital CEO Ronnie Daves said. “However, we …cannot grant access without fully understanding the legal rights of other property owners. We are working with them to see if an agreement can be reached so necessary approvals can be obtained for the city to move forward with development.”

But, Steele said, “They were very optimistic and felt they would achieve getting the easement signed once the board of the directors were able to get the doctors that are now currently owners in that partnership to sign the documents,” Steele said.

 “They didn’t give us a timeline but they felt very optimistic, so we’re glad of that."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview connector road awaits hospital's final approval