Citizens of Crestview, 

Tuesday night, the Crestview City Council voted 3-1 to increase the millage rate by 1.1 mills, and approved the proposed, tentative $29.5 million budget that drove the increase.

Councilmen Shannon Hayes, Joe Blocker and Bill Cox voted in favor of the increase; Councilman JB Whitten dissented on both votes.

There were a half-dozen citizens in the audience, and only three of us spoke — all against the increased property tax.

Maybe the reason for the poor showing is that the public hearing was held at 5 p.m.; maybe not. As citizens, we need to be involved and hold our elected officials accountable.

Our ad valorem taxes are already the highest in the county. 

Some points to consider:

●This budget includes an across-the-board 5 percent pay raise for city employees

●It includes an $800,000 operating system for the police department to improve reporting (about $145,000 in the fiscal year '16 budget)

●The fuel line item was only decreased by two departments (Police and Inspections) even though the cost of fuel has decreased significantly (this year's fuel budget is $37,000 more than actually spent in fiscal year '14)

●Retirement contributions and life/health insurance costs were reduced by over $500,000. (Where did this money go?).

I'm sure there are some other line items that need to be discussed and should have been earlier in the process.

The increase is all but in the bag, but it's not set in stone.

The final hearing is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28 at City Hall. If you are not in favor of your taxes being raised, show up and be heard.

If you can't make the meeting, call or email the council; their contact info can be found on the city website, http://www.cityofcrestview.org/citycouncil/citycouncil_overview.php.

Better yet, contact them and show up at the hearing.

What's your view? Write a letter to the editor or tweet us.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LETTER: Don't want higher taxes, Crestview? Attend this meeting

CRESTVIEW — The front sign may say Bay State Cable Ties, but the manufacturer's local management is happy to be in the Sunshine State, expanding its Crestview plant and workforce.

Gov. Rick Scott visited the plant Thursday afternoon to help the company celebrate its growth and the success of state and local programs that kept the company at the Okaloosa Industrial Air Park.

Twelve years ago, Bay State distributed Chinese-made cable ties — also called zip ties — in Massachusetts, Scott said. But Enterprise Florida and the Okaloosa County Economic Development Council lured the company to Crestview.

Earlier this year, the two entities crafted business development incentives that allowed Bay State to expand and facilitated its new addition's construction. “It went up in six months: from the day we decided to do it until the day it was finished,” Sires said. “Florida has a lot less red tape. I have a manufacturing facility in Connecticut. There, it (approval of plans) takes months. Here, it’s days.”

The expansion will add 40 employees to Bay State’s 100-person workforce. Sires said he expects production to reach close to 2 billion cable ties this year, up a half-billion from last year. “This operation proves that we can compete globally with China and Mexico,” Okaloosa County Commission Chairman Nathan Boyles said. “Mr. Sires is disproving the myth that manufacturing is dead in America. If we can outperform China in making zip ties, we can outperform them in making anything.”

“The Crestview area itself in the last 12 months has added 1,200 jobs and the unemployment rate here is clear down to 4.5 percent,” Scott said to applause. The state unemployment rate is 5.3 percent, he said.

“Anytime you can bring more jobs to the area, it’s good news for our citizens,” Crestview City Council President Shannon Hayes said.

Crestview resident Pat Norris, who has been with Bay State since it opened here, has seen the progress firsthand. “We didn’t have but five machines on the floor,” she said, noting that now 13 machines produce cable ties all day and night. “We’ve come a long way and we’re going a long way, too.”

“Made in America,” Sires said. “Just remember that. Not ‘made in China.’”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Florida governor lauds Crestview company's expansion, job creation (VIDEO)

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County will maintain its Community Rating System score of 5, ensuring an approximate 25 percent reduction of flood insurance rates for area citizens.

“The CRS rating is a result of the combined efforts of the hard-working employees in our Growth Management, Public Safety and Public Works departments each year,” stated Commission Chairman Nathan Boyles. 

 In 1968, Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program to provide affordable flood insurance to people who live in areas with the greatest risk of flooding.

Okaloosa County joined the NFIP on July 1, 1977. Residents receive a letter each year encouraging them to review their flood risk.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Lower flood insurance rates expected for Okaloosa

A lieutenant and former public information officer with the Crestview Police Department has resigned following allegations of sexual battery.

See the CPD intradepartmental memorandum on the investigation.

Don Fountain stepped down Thursday, immediately “ahead of termination,” according to Chief Tony Taylor.

His alleged victims declined to pursue criminal charges, but at least one notified the mayor and the Police Department about Fountain's behavior on a date in late June.

She said Fountain drove her to his house after consuming four margaritas and forced himself on her sexually, despite her protests.

The two met online at a site called Plenty of Fish, the release said.

The woman texted Fountain before they met that she was not interested in having sexual relations with him unless they were in a committed relationship.

Other apparent victims came forward during the investigation and confirmed that Fountain was “aggressive” toward them.

The case has been forwarded to state agencies which will investigate it further and make a decision of whether to take action against Fountain's certification as a police officer, Taylor said.

Crestview Police Department has seen more than its share of scandal in the last decade.

Taylor, who has been with the department for three years, said the difference between then and now is the allegations against Fountain were investigated immediately.

“The problem came to my attention,” he said. “We immediately ordered an internal investigation. The allegations were sustained and we took action.

“We took care of business,” he added.

Fountain had been with the department since May 2014, Taylor said. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview police officer resigns amid sexual battery allegations (MEMO)

CRESTVIEW — For a few minutes during Tuesday's millage and budget hearing, it appeared the City Council could disapprove the 2015-16 budget, but it finally passed on a 3-1 vote.

Councilman JB Whitten, who cast the dissenting vote, has consistently opposed millage and budget increases, saying they will hurt business and burden taxpayers. “Despite what some people say, our millage rate does make a difference,” Whitten said. “We already had the highest millage rate in Okaloosa County, Escambia County and Santa Rosa County.”

With the increase from 5.8466 to 6.9466 mills, Crestview moves to the top 20 percent of Florida’s more than 400 taxing municipalities, Whitten said. One mill equals a thousand dollars per a property’s taxable value after exemptions have been applied.

Council President Shannon Hayes said a mill assessed in Crestview does not generate the same amount as a mill assessed in neighboring cities because of Crestview’s lower property values.  He also challenged Whitten’s assertion that higher millage will discourage businesses from coming to Crestview. “The largest businesses and corporations don't even consider the tax rate. That's the cost of doing business for them,” Hayes said. “They know they'll make that back in sales.”

After the millage rate passed 3-1, it appeared Councilman Joe Blocker might join Whitten in voting against the proposed $29,593,225 budget. “I’m not 100 percent for it,” Blocker said.

“We've had numerous budget meetings,” Hayes said. “This is not the time to have objections to what has been before us for some time.”

“If you don't adopt these resolutions, then the ad will be invalid and you cannot have the public hearing Monday night,” Roy said, and the city would not be in compliance with state law requiring the millage and budget be in place by the start of the Oct. 1 fiscal year.

“You can always change the budget after it’s adopted,” Roy said, with city attorney Ben Holley's agreement.

The council then approved the tentative budget.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview millage and budget survive first public hearing

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County tax collector Ben Anderson has earned the Legacy Award for excellence in the field of financial operations.

A judging panel performed a detailed review of Anderson's financial records, practices and use of technology in considering him for the honor.

“The Legacy Award is one of the highest achievements the Florida Tax Collectors Association can award a local tax collector,” said Florida Tax Collectors, Inc. Past-President Lisa Cullen, of Brevard County.

Last year, Anderson earned the Excellence in Financial Operations Award after demonstrating proficiency in four areas of expertise: Innovation & Automation; a Perfect Annual Audit Report; Customer Focus; and Budgeting.

For the 2015 Legacy Award, Anderson demonstrated that the office had further enhanced its financial operations.

A five-person judging panel made up of government financial executives from throughout Florida reviewed the tax collector’s processes as related to the four areas of competency.

Tax collectors carry out State of Florida work at the local level on behalf of Florida’s citizens. This work includes property tax collections and enforcement; driver licenses and motor vehicle services; hunting and fishing licenses; birth certificates.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa tax collector receives state award for excellence

CRESTVIEW — The City of Crestview planning and zoning boards will meet 6 p.m. Sept. 22 at city hall, 198 Wilson St., N.

Here is the meeting's agenda.

1. Convene meeting.

2. Approve Aug. 4 meeting minutes.

3. review request for a small scale comprehensive plan amendment for a property consisting of 0.61 acres at 492 Ferdon Blvd North, owned by First Presbyterian Church of Crestview, Inc. (LPA 15-20).

4. Review request for a small scale comprehensive plan amendment for a property consisting of 2.55 acres at 400 Ferdon Blvd S., owned by Lifepoint Church, the Assemblies of God, Inc. (LPA 15-21).

5. Review site development plans for the proposed revisions to Phase II for Tom Thumb No. 85 at 5150 Ferdon Blvd. S., the current training facility behind the Tom Thumb Store at PJ Adams Parkway and Ferdon Blvd. Requested by Paul McLeod, P.E., Southern Site & Utility Design, Inc. (LPA 15-19).

6. Consider other business as necessary.

7. Adjourn.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Here's what the Crestview planning and zoning boards will meet about Sept. 22

CRESTVIEW — The discovery of mold in the Okaloosa County Courthouse could result in the temporary relocation of court operations.'

Read the full report at the Northwest Florida Daily News (subscription required)

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Mold found in Okaloosa County's Crestview courthouse

CRESTVIEW — The City Council will meet 5:05 p.m. Sept. 22 for a public hearing at city hall, 198 Wilson St., N.

Here is the meeting's agenda.

1. Call to Order

2. Invocation: Pledge of Allegiance

3. Open meeting

4. PUBLIC HEARING:

a. Adoption of Tentative Millage Rate for Fiscal 2016 – Resolution 15-19

b. Adoption of Tentative Budget for Fiscal 2016 – Resolution 15-20

5. Adjournment

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Here's what the Crestview City Council will meet about Sept. 22

Okaloosa County will maintain its Community Rating System score of 5, ensuring an approximate 25 percent reduction of flood insurance rates for citizens.

The 2015 Annual Report is posted at www.okaloosafl.com, according to the requirements of Federal Emergency Management Agency National Flood Insurance Program.

For all reports, follow this link: http://www.co.okaloosa.fl.us/gm/home. 

“The CRS rating is a result of the combined efforts of the hard-working employees in our Growth Management, Public Safety and Public Works departments each year,” stated Commission Chairman Nathan Boyles. 

In 2011, Okaloosa County and its municipalities adopted a Local Mitigation Strategy.

In 1968, Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program to provide affordable flood insurance to people who live in areas with the greatest risk of flooding called Special Flood Hazard Areas.

Okaloosa County joined the NFIP on July 1, 1977. Residents receive a letter each year encouraging residents to review their flood risk.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa homeowners can expect lower flood insurance rates