CRESTVIEW — New use might await a downtown building that once was an Amtrak passenger shelter.

The building — unused since the railway’s Sunset Limited transcontinental service was suspended east of New Orleans in 2005 — was boarded up for several years. Crestview Public Works employees removed the boards last year when then-City Council President Robyn Helt said they made the building look ramshackle.

Now, "the hope is it will be incorporated into the (planned) linear park between Main Street and Twin Hill Park,” Helt said. The city is accepting proposals for a pedestrian and bicycle connector.

Passersby periodically use the building as a rest stop; some eat on wrap-around benches at either end of the building.

The shack could serve any of several purposes, depending on what planners and residents recommend, Helt said. That could mean a food service, welcome center or public restrooms.

There’s even the potential for the building to resume its original function.

Local and regional Transportation Planning Organizations have recommended Florida officials join those in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana in requesting the return of Gulf Coast rail passenger service.

A Crestview stop would serve Emerald Coast destinations including Destin and Fort Walton Beach.

One function the shack doesn’t serve is an overnight shelter for transients or the homeless, Crestview Police spokesman Lt. Andrew Schneider said.

“We have not received a single complaint. We haven’t had any incidents reported in the last several months,” he said. “We very rarely see a transient. It’s just not a comfortable building.”

Routine patrols have not detected unlawful or unusual activity at the shelter, Schneider said.

“We do security checks when we pass by,” he said.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Amtrak shelter could get new life in linear park

Carolyn Ketchel raised $79,558.45 for a campaign battle she never had to fight.

The District 2 Okaloosa County Commission candidate's expenditures through mid-June — when incumbent commissioner Dave Parisot announced he wasn’t pursuing re-election — were $44,304.90, according to Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections records.

She must dispose of $35,253.55 within 90 days.

Florida law states that Ketchel can: reimburse herself for money she spent on her campaign; return a pro-rata share of remaining dollars to contributors; or contribute any or all of the funds to a charity. Florida Statute also grants Ketchel, a Republican Party candidate, the right to turn up to $25,000 over to the GOP. Lastly, it grants her the ability to put $5,000 for each year she’ll serve into an “office account” to buy items she might decide she needs to conduct commission business.

If Ketchel creates the office account, she’ll have to continue filing quarterly reports “until it’s all spent,” Okaloosa Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Ketchel left with $35K in campaign contributions, sure-fire win

CRESTVIEW — The North Okaloosa Republican Club is planning two forums for Okaloosa County commissioner, county clerk, and school board candidates.

The July 30 forum will feature commissioner and clerk candidates; the July 31 forum will feature school board candidates.

Both events begin with a 5:30 p.m. meet and greet, followed by the 6:30 forum, at Warriors Hall, 201 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview.

The public may submit questions to norcoffl@outlook.com no later than July 20.

Contact JB Whitten, 610-1176 or norcoffl@outlook.com, for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Republicans schedule candidate forums in Crestview; questions being accepted

Residents with concerns about transportation in Northwest Florida can attend two Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization workshops to offer input.

Meetings are scheduled for 9 a.m. July 17 in Freeport City Council Chambers, 112 W. Highway 20, Freeport, and 4 p.m. the same day in Warriors Hall, 201 Stillwell Ave., Crestview.

A survey is available on the issue here>>

The Okaloosa-Walton TPO is staffed by the West Florida Regional Planning Council, a not-for-profit agency providing professional planning, coordinating and advisory services to local governments, state and federal agencies and the public to preserve and enhance quality of life in northwest Florida.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Meeting set for input on Okaloosa, Walton transportation

CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners' Fiscal Year 2015 budget reviews begin July 14 and end Aug. 12, followed by two public hearings.

All meetings alternate between the Okaloosa County Courthouse, 101 E. James Lee Blvd., Crestview; and the Water & Sewer Building third floor conference room, 1804 Lewis Turner Blvd., Fort Walton Beach.

Meetings and agendas are as follows:

July 14, Fort Walton Beach

6 p.m., Overview

6:15 p.m., Inspections/Planning

6:30 p.m., Code Enforcement

6:45 p.m., Coordinated Transportation

7 p.m., Corrections

7:15 p.m., 911 Coordinator

7:30 p.m., Beach Safety

7:45 p.m., Emergency Medical Services

8 p.m., Emergency Management

 8:15 p.m., County Warning Point

July 22, Crestview

1 p.m., Medical Examiner

1:15 p.m., County Health Department

1:30 p.m., State Attorney

1:45 p.m., Public Defender

2:15 p.m., Clerk of Courts

2:30 p.m., Property Appraiser

2:45 p.m., Supervisor of Elections

3:15 p.m., Sheriff

July 29, Fort Walton Beach

8:30 a.m., Purchasing

8:45 a.m., Human Resources

9 a.m., Veterans Services

9:15 a.m., Risk Management

9:30 a.m., Facilities Maintenance

9:45 a.m., Capital Outlay Fund

10 a.m., Capital Improvement Program

10:15 a.m., Information Systems

10:30 a.m., Fleet Operations

10:45 a.m., Board of County Commissioners

11 a.m., County Administrator

11:15 a.m., Library Cooperative

11:30 a.m., Tentative millage discussion

Aug. 7, Crestview

8:30 a.m., Purchasing

8:45 a.m., Human Resources

9 a.m., Veterans Services

9:15 a.m., Risk Management

9:30 a.m., Facilities Maintenance

9:45 a.m., Capital Outlay Fund

10 a.m., Capital Improvement Program

10:15 a.m., Information Systems

10:30 a.m., Fleet Operations

10:45 a.m., Board of County Commissioners

11 a.m., County Administrator

11:15 a.m., Library Cooperative

11:30 a.m., Tentative Millage Discussion

Aug. 12, Fort Walton Beach

6 p.m., Water & Sewer

6:45 p.m., Airports

6:30 p.m., Agriculture/Extension

6:45 p.m., Tourist Development

7 p.m., Convention Center

The first public hearing after the reviews is 6 p.m.Sept. 4  in Crestview; the second is 6 p.m. Sept. 15 in Fort Walton Beach.

Talks also include a tentative millage rate discussion at the end of the fourth budget meeting.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners sets budget reviews

The Okaloosa County Democratic Women’s Club's annual membership drive is July 17 at Joey’s Italian Grill, 1027 E. John Sims Parkway.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m., with dinner served at 6:30 p.m.

Guest speaker Kim Ross, president and founder of Rethink Energy Florida, will discuss fracking in the state.

The cost to attend is $25, and for an additional $5 you can become a DWC member.

Contact Trish Rowe, 678-0871, by Monday to make a reservation.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Deadline approaches for joining Democratic women's group

CRESTVIEW — The Northwest Florida Regional Transportation Planning Organization will submit a request for a Navarre road project to the state Department of Transportation even though its Wednesday meeting failed to garner a quorum.

The Navarre Community Access Road project lost five of nine points when its ranking criteria was reevaluated, but it was the lone community to submit a request for Transportation Regional Incentive Program funds. It met the criteria for a TRIP money.

TPO staffers and county officials worked their phones to summon alternate representatives to the meeting, but even when Okaloosa County Commissioner Wayne Harris was reached and arrived, the board was one member shy of a quorum.

Though it was hoped a missing member could vote to approve the Navarre request by phone, senior TPO planner Mary Beth Washnock reminded Chairman James Wood that a quorum was still required to make a motion to approve the request.

Navarre’s request was saved by Department of Transportation official Ray Kirkland, who was in the audience and advised the TPO that the request could still be submitted by the July 15 deadline and approved retroactively at a future meeting.

REVISING QUOROM CRITERIA

Wood suggested that the TPO revise its definition of a quorum, which is the minimum number of members that must be present to make a meeting valid.

It was the second meeting in a row in which no business could be conducted because of lack of members in attendance.

Washnock said her staff could certainly look into revising the number of members that constitute a quorum, but the measure would have to be approved by local TPOs, including the Okaloosa-Walton organization.

Wood suggested an alternate solution might be to increase the number of alternates who could be summoned if needed.

“We frequently have this problem in the summer,” Wood said.

Because of inability to conduct business, the TPO did not approve requesting a federal TIGER Planning Grant to perform a feasibility assessment and economic impact study supporting restoration of Gulf Coast passenger rail service between New Orleans and Jacksonville.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Transportation planning group may revise quorum criteria after 2nd meeting cancellation