FORT WALTON BEACH — Karen Moore, founder and CEO of Moore Communications Group, is guest speaker for the next meeting of the Republican Women of Okaloosa Federated. Her topic is "Let Our Voices Be Heard — How to Communicate with Our Elected Officials."

In addition to running her award-winning company, Moore has published numerous articles and has facilitated strategic marketing/planning, advocacy and media training sessions for Fortune 500 companies and the British Olympic Team.

As an acknowledged leader in media relations, public relations, crisis communications and the public affairs arena, Henry Kissinger once referred to her as "one tough lady."

The meeting starts with socializing at 11:30 a.m. March 2 at the Wyndam Garden Hotel, 573 Santa Rosa Blvd., Fort Walton Beach.

Lunch cost is $16 for members and $18 for guests. To make a reservation, contact Donna Pattison at 651-5416 or donnapattison@cox.net by noon Saturday, Feb. 27. Cost of the lunch is $16 for members and $18 for guests. For more information about RWOF, visit http://www.rwof.org.

Attendees are encouraged to bring donations of bottled water and empty print cartridges, which are turned in for money for supplies at the USO.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa Republican women's meeting features communications group founder

CRESTVIEW — There’s good news in the gully for residents who live off Oak Hill Road.

Okaloosa County has at last received Federal Emergency Management Agency funding to fix a washout that has severed access between Old Bethel Road and the Lake Silver area since April 2014.

Advertising for bids to mitigate the washout through totally redesigning the structure over Davis Mill Creek began Monday, Okaloosa County Public Works Director Jason Autrey said.

“It’s not just repairing the road,” he said. “It’s putting in a mitigation effort that will minimize the chance of anything like that happening in the future.”

The FEMA disaster relief award was considerably larger than what the federal agency originally offered, Autrey said.

“Initially, FEMA wanted to give us $60,000,” Autrey said. “We kinda dug our heels in and now we have $572,000 to do the project right. We saved our taxpayers a half a million dollars. I think that’s worth it.”

Autrey said the county shares residents’ frustration with the federal agency’s slow pace.

“I don’t like that it took that long,” he said. “It moved at the pace of FEMA, but at the end of the day, we got what it needed to have.”

The county is expecting to receive contractors’ bids by March 9. Finalizing construction contracts will take between a month and a month and a half after that, Autrey said.

“You should see workers out there pretty quickly,” he said. “Nobody wants that road opened more than I do, other than the people that live there.

"This is one project I’ll be glad to see become a memory.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: FEMA awards major reconstruction funding for Oak Hill Road

FORT WALTON BEACH — Business collection agents from the Okaloosa County Tax Collector’s Office are collecting delinquent Business Tax Receipts.

Formally known as an occupational licenses, BTRs are required to conduct business in Okaloosa County.

Tax Collector Ben Anderson said, “Business collection agents will call on those businesses that are delinquent and identify themselves and their department.” He continues, “Furthermore, they will only call during business hours Monday through Friday.”

Local BTRs are for businesses that provide merchandise, entertainment, or services to the public, even if it’s only a one-person company or home-based business. Payment is due by Sept. 30 every year.

Companies with expired BTRs need to renew them as soon as possible to avoid additional penalties.

Payments can be made at www.okaloosatax.com, at OCTC offices (302 Wilson St. N., Suite 101, Crestview), or by phone at 651-7300.

For details, email Joshua Allen, Director of Business Collections, JAllen@okaloosatax.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa Tax Collector's Office collecting delinquent business receipts

FORT WALTON BEACH — The new Crestview courthouse's price is around $22 million, so Okaloosa County leaders plan to generate new revenue. Raising property taxes seems to be off the table, so commissioners are focusing on the county’s own assets — particularly its long-held leases.

Commission Chairman Kelly Windes' plan is to review the county’s major leases of land and structures — such as The Boardwalk, Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier and James Lee Park — and increase some of those rates to market value. County Administrator John Hofstad said the additional revenue could also be applied to the county jail's expansion.

Many of the leases have been held — and regularly renewed — for decades. Some of the agreements have included minimal price increases through the years; many still remain below market value.

See examples from the Northwest Florida Daily News>>

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 1 suggestion to help pay for Crestview's $22M courthouse

CRESTVIEW — The registration book for the Presidential Preference Primary Election closes Tuesday, Feb. 16.  

Florida Voter Registration Application forms are available at all Supervisor of Elections’ offices, city halls, county libraries and social service agencies, and may be downloaded from www.GoVote-Okaloosa.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa voters: Presidential Preference Primary books close tomorrow

CRESTVIEW — Eight independent fire departments —  Almarante, Blackman, Baker, Dorcas, Holt and North Okaloosa Fire Districts — serve North Okaloosa County's unincorporated communities.

But some officials say consolidating districts could provide efficiencies and savings for north county taxpayers.

'IT MAKES SENSE'

“For many, many different reasons, it makes sense,” Okaloosa County Commissioner Wayne Harris, a north county representative, said. “You cross-utilize resources. You can buy in bulk and you get a better deal.”

“The economy comes in mass purchasing of gear, trucks and insurance,” NOFD Chief Ed Cutler said. “Insurance would be a tremendous savings."

“Our local fire districts struggle with compliance costs mandated by the state legislature,” said Commissioner Nathan Boyles, who also represents North Okaloosa. “The annual audit alone can cost a small district $6,000 to $12,000, reducing scarce funds needed for operations.”

“Consolidation could reduce total overhead costs and increase operational funds without raising taxes.”

FIRE CHIEFS' POSITION

Some fire chiefs like the idea of consolidation.

“A north-end fire department would be awesome,” Dorcas Fire District Chief John Polinsky said. “We could put the people where they’d need to be and have them a few miles down the road.”

Okaloosa County Emergency Services Director Alvin Henderson, a former volunteer firefighter and son of a volunteer firefighter, said he’d be glad to facilitate a conversation with north county chiefs and district boards.

“I’m sure if they would be interested in investigating that structure and doing due diligence on pros and cons to provide the Board of County Commissioners, I’d be more than happy to work with them,” he said.  

Not all north county districts support consolidation as enthusiastically.

“It has its benefits, but it has some disadvantages too," Almarante Fire District Chief Charles Carroll said. "Before I would rally around the flagpole, I would certainly want to do a lot more research about it.”

'IT WOULD WORK WONDERS'

In some ways, north county fire companies are already linked together. A countywide 9-1-1 emergency system summons the relevant fire department. With mutual aid agreements, firefighters from one district often help colleagues in a neighboring district. And firefighters occasionally train together.

Consolidation supporters say formalizing training, purchasing and administration into a unified fire district has many advantages.

“No single fire district has enough because of budgets,” Cutler said. “That’s why we rely on mutual and automatic aid.”

“We have some different equipment in each of the districts,” Harris said. “If you put them together, you would have a lot of great resources.”

“It would work out a lot better and save the taxpayers some money,” Polinsky said. “It would work wonders.”

A STATE MATTER

Despite the advantages, the county is not considering creating a unified fire department, both north Okaloosa commissioners said.

“This is important: Okaloosa County is not interested in getting into the fire protection business,” Boyles said.

“That would add hundreds of employees to the county payroll,” Harris said. “It would open up all kinds of issues.”

Besides, Harris said, “It would have to be legislatively mandated. The county has no control of fire districts. That comes out of Tallahassee. You have to sell it to the state, as well as the individual districts.”

There is also a matter of hometown pride.

“Consolidation can be a sensitive issue,” Boyles said. “Communities in my district take pride in their volunteer departments.”

DUE PROCESS

There currently is no effort to consolidate firefighting resources, but Henderson said if firefighters and residents wanted to explore the potential, his office would help — and ensure the initiative preserves each district’s identity.

“A full merger or consolidation, there’s many ways to structure it,” he said. “Part of that due process is to really analyze what they’re currently doing and then look at ways they could be more efficient and, in some cases, advance the services they can provide.”

Boyles said if the discussion goes forward, residents should be involved.

“Our fire districts do a good job with the limited resources available to them," he said. "Consolidation is an issue that the individual districts and the communities they represent must find consensus on.”

Cutler said he understands the importance of preserving each district's identity, but ultimately, the mission is protection.

“It’s not about your department or my department," Cutler said. "It’s about taking care of the residents of the community.” 

Combined unincorporated North Okaloosa County fire district resources*: 

Volunteer firefighters: approximately 100

Paid professional firefighters: 22

Fire engines: 19

Brush trucks: 6

Attack trucks: 2

Tankers: 5

Rescue trucks: 5

Ladder trucks: 1

Airport fire trucks: 3

Other vehicles (excluding command vehicles): 3

*Data excludes Crestview and Laurel Hill municipal fire departments.

Sources: Department personnel and websites

FIRE PROTECTION RESOURCES

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa fire districts officials mull consolidation benefits

FORT WALTON BEACH — County Administrator John Hofstad will speak at the next Okaloosa County Republican Club meeting.

He will brief attendees on the upcoming budget process, competing budget needs, current capital projects, upcoming corrections facility needs and future economic development opportunities. Membership dues for 2016 will also be collected.

The meeting starts with socializing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25 at American Legion Post 235, 105 Hollywood Blvd. SW, Fort Walton Beach, followed by dinner at 7 p.m.

The cost of $15 per person includes dinner, drinks and gratuity. Meal choices are crab cakes with grilled asparagus and cucumber salad or grilled chicken salad. Visitors are welcome and encouraged to attend. We will also continue to collect membership club dues for 2016. 

To make a dinner reservation, call Vice President Nate Lepper, 376-2287.

For details about the club, call President Mark Franks, 240-1279.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: County Administrator to speak at Okaloosa GOP meeting

FORT WALTON BEACH — Okaloosa Tax Collector Ben Anderson says an early-payment discount of 1 percent is available for Okaloosa County property tax payers. But it won't last long. 

Monday, Feb. 29 is the last day to receive the discount on 2015 property taxes, which become delinquent if not paid by March 31.

Payments can be made at www.OkaloosaTax.com; at tax office locations including 302 N. Wilson St., Crestview; or by mailing them.

An installment payment plan is also available. Property owners can spread payments across four installments and receive a 3.375 percent discount. Visit the website for an application.

Okaloosa County Tax Collectors office branches will be closed Feb. 15 in observance of President's Day. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa property tax collector's early-payment discount ends soon

CRESTVIEW — Preparing engineering plans for an estimated $300,000 project to move city-owned utility lines out of the way of the P.J. Adams Parkway widening project received unanimous City Council approval.

“As part of the requirements for the city, we have to relocate some of our water and sewer utility lines,” Public Works Director Wayne Steele said at the Feb. 8 council meeting.

Steele requested and received the council’s approval to hire Atkins Engineering, one of the city’s contracted engineering firms, to prepare technical plans to move the lines.

The plan preparation will cost $62,421, which will be funded by savings realized by refinancing the city’s utilities bonds.

“The county is ready for the drawings now,” Steele said. “There's going to be some sewer and manholes that have to be moved but probably our biggest challenge is moving water mains. We have to put new ones in. You can't just move them.”

The wider parkway will cover existing lines, necessitating they be moved, because “you certainly don't want water lines under the pavement. You don't want sewer pressure lines under the pavement,” Steele said.

In the event of a line break, workers would have to tear up the street to get to the damaged sections if the lines were under the pavement.

Steele said the city has adequate right-of-way to relocate the lines.

The $300,000 estimate does not include the cost if the city had to relocate an existing sewage lift station, which could cost as much as an additional $700,000 to be rebuilt elsewhere. The city and Okaloosa County Public Works have been working in close cooperation to find a solution around the station.

“I'm being positive and the county has been very good partners in this and I think we can work around it,” Steele said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview approves developing plans for $300K utility work

CRESTVIEW — Marie Garcia, the Crestview Public Library's assistant director, will soon drop the “assistant” in her title.

The City Council on Feb. 8  voted 3-1 to offer Garcia the library director position; she replaces Jean Lewis, who is retiring. Councilman Joe Blocker cast the lone nay vote.

Garcia — who starts her new role March 3 — said she plans to expand on Lewis' initiatives. Those include community outreach programs such as the winter holidays' Noel Night; a monthly educational lecture series; weekly Music at the Library performances; children’s learning programs; and arts events.

Emphasizing the library’s role as an educational service and extension of local schools, and having the facility serve as the community’s arts center are among her goals, Garcia said. “The arts and the sciences are equally important to our community,” she said.

Garcia said she recognizes there are challenges ahead, including internet bandwidth limitations and the need to keep pace with the growing community.

In his recent State of the City address, Mayor David Cadle said library plans eventually call for a science, technology, engineering and mathematics-centered children’s wing.

“I’d love to have a computer lab and build the children’s wing,” Garcia said. “Hopefully in the next 10 years that’ll happen. The city’s growing and we’d like to grow with it.”

Whatever the future holds, Lewis said she's confident in Garcia's abilities.

“She’ll do a wonderful job,” Lewis said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: New Crestview library director shares plans, challenges