CRESTVIEW — Limiting how long someone can park downtown during peak midday hours could be a solution to alleviating a perceived parking crunch.

At a Monday evening meeting of the Community Redevelopment Agency board, Growth Management Director Teresa Gaillard presented the results of a daylong downtown parking study conducted March 31.

“We have uncovered a couple problem areas,” Gaillard said. “To no surprise, it was the Woodruff Avenue and Main Street area near FAMU and Desi’s.”

Gaillard said the other busy area is at the north end of Main Street near the Okaloosa County Courthouse and Badcock and More.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Gaillard’s report made some recommendations to address tight parking, including implementing a two-hour parking limit during lunch hours, “and better signage so people know where they can park and for how long,” Gaillard said.

“Education of the public will be key in our parking solutions,” she said.

Another suggestion would be to work with business owners to make some private parking lots available to businesses that rely on on-street parking.

For example, Tom Gordon, owner of Gordon Martial Arts, has offered his parking lot to daytime parkers because most of his academy’s students attend evening classes.

UNDERUSED LOT

Gaillard also reported the downtown parking lot erected next to the railroad tracks on Wilson Street, about a five-minute walk from Desi’s, is underused except for parking county buses.

Gaillard said the study found some parking spots were occupied throughout the day, usually by employees of downtown businesses, while the average was two vehicles per spot per day.

“There is interchange at least twice for most parking spaces out there,” she said. “Some change as much as every 30 minutes.”

She cautioned that implementing time constraints “is an iffy prospect,” especially because of enforcement issues.

“If you are going to limit someone to two hours or four hours or whatever it is going to be, you may want to run parking meters again, or have citations,” she told the CRA board members.

Parking meters were removed from Main Street in November 1963 to stimulate downtown shopping, the “Crestview: The Forkland” history states.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Limiting downtown Crestview parking to 2 hours could alleviate crunch

CRESTVIEW — The City Council agreed to retain the services of city attorney Jerry Miller until Sept. 23 while requesting qualifications for his possible replacement.

City Clerk Betsy Roy said advertising the request for qualifications, or RFQ, will cost the city between $500 and $700.

Miller said he might apply for the position now that he has separated from Pleat, Perry and Ritchie, the firm with which Crestview has a contract for municipal attorney services.

At its June 22 meeting, the council voted to not reassign the city’s contract to Miller, who entered private practice as of June 30.

On June 23, David Pleat of PPR notified City Clerk Betsy Roy that the firm would exercise its 90-day notice option to terminate its agreement with the city as it no longer had a municipal attorney on staff.

PPR then contracted with Miller to continue to represent Crestview during the 90-day period.

Monday night, the council voted 4-1 to advertise a request for qualifications for a new city attorney, with Councilman Bill Cox voting nay.

The council did not vote to reassign the contract to Miller, although he will continue to represent Crestview as PPR’s contracted attorney until the Sept. 23 expiration of PPR’s 90-day notice.

“I think the message was pretty clear,” Miller said following the meeting.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview to possibly seek new attorney

CRESTVIEW — Many residents are sharing their concerns following the Confederate flag's removal from the William "Bill" Lundy Memorial.

City workers on Thursday quietly removed the rebel flag from its East First Avenue post. It had fluttered in the city, though not always in the same location, since 1958, when the Crestview Lions Club established a memorial to honor a man believed to be Florida's last surviving Civil War veteran.

Mayor David Cadle initially stated in a media release that the flag would relocate. "The proposal includes the Lundy family taking possession of the memorial and moving it to private land," he said.

Since then, several members of the Lundy family have questioned the statement.

"The family did not make a deal," Martha F. Lundy  said on the News Bulletin's Facebook page. "One member of the family took it upon themselves to make this offer without consulting anyone else."

"The mayor's office was flooded with phone calls from the rest of the Lundy family (Thursday) to inform the mayor that this person does not speak for the entire family," Reba Cobb Lundy said. 

"Just so everyone knows, a good portion of the Lundy family did not support this action and were caught as unaware as the rest of the public," Dexter Lundy said.

Family members also raised concerns about the rebel flag being replaced with an American flag.

"I'm pretty sure any Confederate soldier that fought, bled or died fighting a war over taxes for the Confederacy would consider that a slap in the face," Martha Lundy said. "No other flag should fly above a Confederate memorial other than a Confederate flag."

Rebel flags on public property have been targeted nationwide since Dylann Roof, a white man, killed nine black people in mid-June at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. But Okaloosa County's ‎NAACP chapter has called for the Crestview flag's removal for many years.

Sabu Williams, among the flag's critics, expressed relief and concern after word spread about the removal.

"An action long overdue but welcomed nonetheless," he said on Facebook. "My only regret is the fact that the flag was not lowered in dignity, folded in honor, and presented in respect to a surviving member of the Lundy family."

On Monday, former Crestview City Councilwoman Robyn Helt also criticized how the flag removal was handled.

"Our council members have an obligation and responsibility to make hard decisions for the citizens of Crestview," she said, addressing city leaders. "You have that responsibility to do that in a public forum that gives citizens an opportunity to participate.

"With respect to the Lundy memorial, the process should have involved the public's input and it should've occurred in a format that appeared in the sunshine instead of appearing to have occurred in a process where decisions were made without the citizens being consulted."

News Bulletin writer Brian Hughes contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: FLAG FLIES NO MORE: Confederate flag comes down after more than 50 years

TALLAHASSEE — Senator Greg Evers (R-Baker) released the following statement after receiving an “A” on the Florida Chamber’s 2015 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,” said Senator Evers. “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 shares grades legislators earned based on their support of "pro-jobs, pro-business" issues during the annual legislative session, according to the website.

For more information on the 2015 Legislative Report Card, visit www.flchamber.com.

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

CRESTVIEW — According to city department heads, this year's budgeting process could be the last opportunity the City Council has to reverse years of "status quo" budgets that have eroded financial reserves, stymied future planning and halted routine maintenance.

Without increased revenues, the city can no longer afford services expected by residents, the department heads said at a Monday workshop.

City Clerk Betsy Roy said there are three options available to maintain services at the current level now that departments have stripped their budgets to the bare bones.

• Implement the recently proposed fire assessment fee

• Raise water and sewer rates, as recommended several years ago by city consultants

• Increase the millage assessment.

However, three of the five councilmen — Joe Blocker, Mickey Rytman and JB Whitten — had concerns about raising revenue.

UNSUSTAINABLE

Roy said by maintaining the current millage rate, the city general fund incomewould increase only $5,113 in 2015-16. The city can no longer transfer money from the utility fund to sustain the general fund, she said.

"The utility fund itself is not going to have those funds to transfer," Roy said. "We have not raised utility rates since 1993. We have one of the lowest water rates in the county."

Public Works Director Wayne Steele said without money in reserves, the city would be in dire straits if a disaster were to strike.

"How can we get funding to keep going when (Hurricane) Ivan comes again?" Steele asked. "When it came, it cost us $895,000. We had that money in reserves. What are we going to do if that happens to us this year or next year?"

Steele said that previous councils have been reluctant to make difficult decisions to raise needed revenue when presented with similar warnings that the city could face difficulties.

"They wanted to do what we could do to just get by," he said. “Some tough decisions have to be made.”

POOR RESIDENTS SHIELDED

Following the consultants’ recommendation, Councilman Bill Cox proposed modest increases in water and sewer rates he said could raise more than $475,000.

Whitten said the fire assessment fee would be a deterrent to expanding or attracting businesses and may drive small companies out of business or cause them to lay off employees.

When Rytman said proposed increases would hurt low-income residents, Council President Shannon Hayes said the fire assessment included provisions for low-income people to request fee reductions or waivers.

"If we have someone on a fixed income…they're going to be hurting at the end of the year," Rytman said.

"These are the same answers we've been getting for last three or four years," Steele said. "I'm sympathetic. I can make more cuts but I can't provide the same service."

MORE SERVICES NEEDED

Citing Growth Management Department reports saying more subdivisions are being planned, especially in the Old Bethel Road area, Fire Chief Joe Traylor said an additional fire station, firefighters and fire trucks will be needed to maintain the required four-minute response time to the area.

The fire assessment fee offers a means to plan and save for such future investments in equipment and infrastructure, he said.

Police Chief Tony Taylor said the reports indicate thousands of new residents will move to Crestview as the new developments are completed. His department will need more officers and equipment to meet the demand.

"We're either moving forward or we're moving backwards. There is no status quo," Taylor said. "Our contingencies have all been depleted, leaving us vulnerable if a catastrophe should occur. We can't continue on this downward spiral."

"No one likes tax increases or added fees but on the other hand, no one wants to lose services," Taylor said.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview city department heads: revenue increase is needed now (VIDEO)

CRESTVIEW — The Confederate flag's fate may finally be settled.

The embattled William “Bill” Lundy Memorial on East First Avenue would relocate from its current location on city property, according to a new proposal.  

"The proposal includes the Lundy family taking possession of the memorial and moving it to private land … Details of the proposal have not been finalized," a media release from Mayor David Cadle's office stated.

Confederate flags on public property have been targeted since Dylann Roof, a white man, killed nine black people in mid-June at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C.

Okaloosa County's ‎NAACP chapter called for the Crestview flag's removal after the shooting, claiming the flag represents racism and promotes division.

Crestview resident Amanda Kay collected signatures to keep the flag. Supporters claimed the flag honors Lundy, whom many believe was Florida's last surviving Confederate soldier when the Crestview Lions Club established the memorial in 1958.

The city initially scheduled a public meeting about the flag's fate for Tuesday, but canceled it upon receiving the Lundy family's proposal.  

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Confederate flag to relocate

LAUREL HILL— City Council Chairman Larry Hendren says the city has started a list of residents’ questions about proposed dissolution.

Residents may submit questions about what impact dissolving Laurel Hill as an incorporated city would have on individuals.

"One that comes off the top of my head, is what happened to another city,” Hendren said. “When the city dissolved, the street lights went out.”

Send questions to City Clerk Nita Miller, City Hall, 8209 Highway 85 N., Laurel Hill FL  32567, 652-4441, or clhclerk@fairpoint.net.

City officials are exploring possibly turning government functions over to Okaloosa County. Laurel Hill citizens would have to vote in favor of the proposal, and dissolution wouldn’t occur for several years.

Laurel Hill, Okaloosa County’s first city, was incorporated in 1905.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill welcomes residents' questions about proposed dissolution

LAUREL HILL— The City Council unanimously approved setting a 3.5 mills millage rate for the 2015-16 fiscal year.

The rate is unchanged from this year. By law, once it is established, the millage rate cannot be raised during budget planning, although it can be lowered.

One mill is $1 of tax per thousand dollars of taxable property value.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill millage rate to remain unchanged for 2015-16