CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections office has moved voting locations for two sites, one in Crestview and another in Fort Walton Beach.

The office mailed New Voter Information Cards with the updated information on polling places to affected voters.

Precinct 45 voters who previously went to the Foxwood Country Club, 4927 Antioch Road, Crestview, will now place their votes at InDyne, 4050 Ferdon Blvd. S, Crestview.

Precinct 39 voters who previously went to The Order Sons of Italy, 808 South Drive, Fort Walton Beach, will now vote at the same location as Precinct 17 voters at Wright Baptist Church, 795 Beal Parkway NW, Fort Walton Beach. 

These changes will be effective for the Aug. 28 primary election and all future elections until otherwise noted.

Early voting is also possible through Aug. 26. Voters should go to their precinct locations if voting Aug. 28.

Any questions regarding the changes should be directed to the Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections offices, including 302 Wilson St. N, Suite 102 in Crestview.

More information, including updated Polling Place addresses and the Voter Lookup Tool, are at www.GoVote-Okaloosa.com.

Okaloosa residents who want to vote early may cast their votes 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 18-25 at these locations:

•Crestview Public Library, 1446 Commerce Drive, Crestview.

•Okaloosa Supervisor of Elections office, 302 Wilson St. N., Crestview.

•County Administration Building, 1250 Eglin Parkway, Shalimar.

•Niceville City Hall, 208 Partin Drive N., Niceville.

•Destin Community Center, 101 Stahlman Ave., Destin.

Early voting for the Aug. 28 election

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: New Okaloosa polling places, early voting part of August primary

CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners will meet to set the county's tentative millage rate for fiscal year 2018-2019.

The public meeting is 1:30 p.m. July 30 at Crestview City Hall, 198 Wilson St. N.

The current rate as listed at http://www.co.okaloosa.fl.us is 3.4308 mills, with one mill equal to "$1 for every $1,000 of taxable property value – these are ad valorem taxes."

Ad valorem property taxes combine with other funds to create the county budget and represents less than 20 percent of the entire budget. 

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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: A meeting to set Okalooa millage rate is scheduled

LAUREL HILL — The City of Laurel Hill chose Jack Dorman as its temporary planning official June 7 and will re-advertise it's request for proposal for a planner due to a lack of response.

City Clerk Nita Miller said Dorman will advise people on land development code compliance on an as-needed basis.

The city is also drafting ordinances to increase water and fire facility fees. "Once we are finished we will advertise and let the public know water rates will be increasing. We haven't had a water rate increase sine 2008, and the fire facilities fee has not been increased since 2011," Miller said. The current rates no longer completely fund city water and fire services. 

Laurel Hill may also have a contractor to make upgrades to the Gene Clary Park. They received a $50,000 state grant for the upgrades.

Finally, Laurel Hill received a water line grant from the Northwest Florida Water Management District to connect a water line on Millside Road with State Road 85. The city is waiting to hear from Okaloosa County before the connection, as the county wants to straighten and pave Millside so the water line will no longer be on private property.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill selects temporary city planner

SHALIMAR — The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners passed a proclamation in support of National Social Worker Month at their Tuesday meeting. Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel, a licensed clinical social worker herself, presented a copy of the proclamation to Monica Koetters, MSW and Jennifer Steinmeier, LCSW in recognition of the event.

Ketchel praised the profession of social work as “leaders, advocates and champions for the most vulnerable in our society.”

In the proclamation, the commissioners agreed “Social workers are the largest group of suppliers of mental health services in the United States.”

The profession of Social Work is expected to gain almost 650,000 workers over the next seven years, a faster-than-average growth rate.

For more information, please contact Christopher Saul at csaul@myokaloosa.com

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County honors social workers

CRESTVIEW — The Shoal River Republican Club's next meeting will feature Okaloosa County Commission Board Chair Graham Fountain.

The meeting starts 6 p.m. March 13 at Hideway Pizza, 326 Main St., Crestview, with business at 6:30 p.m.

Fountain is the District 1 commissioner for much of Crestview, Laurel Hill, and unincorporated portions of the county within them. The meeting is a chance to get an update on county business and ask questions.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Local meeting to feature commission chair

DEFUNIAK SPRINGS — Governor Rick Scott stopped in Northwest Florida Feb. 28 to promote his $500 million school safety plan.

The governor met with sheriffs from five area counties at the Walton County Sheriff’s Office in Defuniak Springs on Feb. 28, the first day Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students returned to school following the Feb. 14 mass shooting at the school.

What happened at Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, Fla. has reinvigorated the national conversation on school safety. Gun control, mental health and increasing security within schools are among a range of issues being discussed. Scott called on experts in these fields for input.

The visit was part of the governor’s statewide tour to talk about his plan to increase school safety. Scott stood alongside law enforcement officers to do so.

“The money will be spent really primarily in three areas: more law enforcement, significant law enforcement presence at all of our schools; mental health counselors at our schools; hardening of all of our schools; and on top of that, some money for Department of Children and Families to have more teams to go out and work with our youth,” Scott said.

Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson introduced Governor Scott.

“What you have here is a united, dedicated front saying we believe the proposal made by Governor Rick Scott is the most significant improvement to the safety and well-being of our children proposed in my 25-year career,” Adkinson said.

The governor said that the state has the money to fund the $500 million dollar proposal and that it was important to pass the legislation during the current session.

Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley was one of the area sheriffs invited to appear with the governor. Ashley was enthusiastic about the plan and appreciated that the governor took the input of local sheriffs into account in developing the plan. Ashley said addressing this issue is vital to maintaining the public’s trust that children will be safe attending public schools.

“Every parent in the state—every parent in our country—should be very comfortable when they send their child to school; their child is going to come home safely,” Scott said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gov. Scott unveils three-pronged school safety plan

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview City Council discussed plans to rebuild the John McMahon Environmental Center at the meeting Monday night.

The center is located at the corner of Mapoles and First Avenue on Butler Circle.

The proposed plans call for rebuilding the center and preserving keepsakes inside.

“It is in sad shape … it has asbestos issues, squirrels eating the inside," said Jeff Morgan, president of the Crestview Kiwanis Club, which proposed the plans. "We’re going to lose it if we don’t do something with the building.”

If approved, the funding will come from the city's park reserve account. The Kiwanis Club also plans to donate between $20,000 and $30,000 for playground equipment at the park.

The plans also call for installing fencing and restocking the park's fish pond. Last year, the Kiwanis Club completed a project to create walking trails at the park.

"I was fortunate enough to know Mr. McMahon,” Councilman Doug Faircloth said. “Having the park named after him pleased the family greatly and letting it deteriorate is on us.”

The council is scheduled to vote on the plans at the next council meeting in February.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview City Council discusses rebuilding John McMahon Environmental Center

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview City Council on Monday continued talks to rewrite the city's rules for storage of recreational vehicles.

Currently, the city follows the county's ordinance, which prohibits RVs and campers from being kept inside the city. The rule has largely gone unenforced.

The proposed revision would allow RVs to be stored in the rear and side yards of single-family homes, but prohibit anyone from living in the vehicles and hooking up vehicles to water and sewage lines. Only one RV would be allowed per home.

There were also proposed enclosure and fence requirements, which were nixed during the discussion.

“We need an honest compromise that shows we’re looking out for all our citizens," said Councilman Shannon Hayes.

The ordinance would allow RVs to be lived in only during temporary emergencies, such as floods or fires. Residents would need to apply for a permit during such situations, which would be valid for 180 days with a possible 90-day extension.

During emergency uses, RVs would need to be pumped out by a licensed and bonded wastewater hauler or taken to a licensed wastewater receiving station.

The council plans to vote on the final ordinance at the February council meeting.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Council talks new RV rules

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Shoal River Republicans install new officers