CRESTVIEW — The City Council, citing poor management and lack of representation on the Okaloosa County Transit board, is denying funding for city bus routes.

The council's 2-3 vote Monday evening followed a lengthy debate led by Council President Robyn Helt, who reminded OCT and county officials that allowing city funding depended on having a voice in bus operations.

"You're asking for our money but not allowing us any oversight or say in how it is used," Helt said.

In October 2013, the Board of County Commissioners, which pays half the Crestview bus routes' $96,250 operation cost, demanded the city pay the other half. The council agreed, expecting to use money from the city's share of the increased county gasoline tax.

Commissioners then changed their demand, requesting $13,125 to fund the routes only until Feb. 4. The city council agreed.

The county has failed to return the signed memorandum of understanding establishing the agreement, so the city has not yet paid its share, City Clerk Betsy Roy stated in an agenda brief.

Recently, county officials again changed their minds and decided to fund the two bus routes through the rest of the fiscal year.

No tax estimation

Crestview has not received a state estimation of its share of the increased gas tax, so any funding for bus routes would have to come from dwindling contingency funds.

County Growth Management Director Elliot Kampert said Monday that he received a letter from OCT inviting a Crestview representative to observe board meetings.

Helt reminded Kampert that a condition of the county receiving city funding was city representation on the transit board.

"I was very much a champion for this funding but I did make the stipulation that if we would fund, we would have a voting say on the board," she said. "That was a condition of the funding. I'm hearing that has not been met."

Helt said Crestview residents' tax dollars are "misused because the routes are not what our citizens need, the timing is wrong and the stops are not in the right places. We've been saying this for two years.

"As I sit here today, all these issues are still the same issues. There's not one change to any of it — and now you want a check."

Routes could end next month

City Planner Eric Davis, who would have been Crestview's representative on the transit board, said he and county officials are studying creation of a new, public transportation authority with more municipal representation.

Davis also said they have been revising Crestview bus routes that better meet riders' needs. He pleaded for "nine more months to try to work this out."

The council didn't give it to him.

Councilman Tom Gordon, who has traveled extensively abroad, said he found better service on a for-profit transit system in Mexico and joined Helt and Councilman Shannon Hayes in voting against funding the bus routes under the current management.

Kampert said without city funding, the routes will terminate Feb. 4.

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

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: City Council denies bus funding, citing poor management

CRESTVIEW — Florida Department of Transportation officials will start developing a master plan for Interstate 10 that could include one, if not two, Crestview interchanges.

But for now, they seek the public's input, DOT public information officer Tanya Branton said.

The plan, expected to be completed before July, is in the data analysis and evaluation stages, which featured a Thursday meeting to introduce the stretch of highway included in the study. Attendees received an overview of the FDOT I-10 Master Plan Middle Section, which encompasses Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington and Jackson counties.

"We certainly hope the study will result in a new interchange at Antioch Road," Mayor David Cadle said. "We sure need it."

County Commissioner Nathan Boyles recently called for the interchange in a letter to the DOT.

"I'm just glad we're talking about it," Boyles said. "We've acknowledged we have a problem and now we can move to figure out ways to fix the problem."

Crestview residents Earl Halmon and Sharon Brown-Halmon, whose property backs up to I-10, said sound-proofing barriers would also be welcome.

"Sometimes semis pull off I-10 and idle near our house," Earl Halmon said.

Sharon Brown-Halmon said they get used to the highway noise, but in pleasant weather, when they'd like to open their windows, it can be annoying.

She'd by OK with moving, she said.

"If they want to buy all our property, that would be all right, too," she said.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Residents wishing to suggest improvements or comment on the Interstate 10 study area between Okaloosa and Jackson counties may contact consultant project manager Sarah Walker, 850-878-977 or SaWalker@HNTB.com; or Florida Department of Transportation District 3 project manager Virgie Bowen, 888-638-0250, ext. 1530 or Virgie.Bowen@dot.state.fl.us.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Additional I-10 exit considered for Antioch Road; input wanted

EDITOR'S NOTE: Laurel Hill's city leaders answered our questionnaire about what they believe are the area's top priorities in 2014. We appreciate all of their responses.

What do you anticipate, or think should change, in 2014?

"We are hoping to replace some of the thin-walled (water) piping that we currently have. We also will have some new revenue from the (county) gas tax, which was recently passed."

Robby Adams, Laurel Hill Mayor 

"We have had some problems in the past about … getting the word out when (special council) meetings happen. I am working on a (city) resolution to solve that. The expectation is that, when you come here on the first of the month at 6 p.m., there will be no (special) meetings prior to that."

Larry Hendren, Laurel Hill City Council

"We are trying to get the roads taken care of and trying to get more businesses to the area. I would like to bring a band or a credit union to Laurel Hill. I am also looking forward to adding a new council member to working with us."

Johnny James, Laurel Hill City Council

"We need more jobs here for younger people, and we need programs to help these young people get jobs, because there really isn't anything here."

Willie Mae Toles, Laurel Hill City Council

"We are hoping to get some grant money and get some roads paved."

Betty Williamson, Laurel Hill City Council

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill city leaders anticipate 2014 goals

EDITOR'S NOTE: Here is what Crestview's leaders say are the city's top priorities in 2014.

What do you anticipate, or think should change, in 2014?

"I am looking forward to the several educational facilities and industries (that) express interest in coming to Crestview and Northwest Florida."  — David Cadle, Crestview Mayor

" The major concern I have for our city is that we do not have a city manager to oversee and manage the city. Our form of government is highly unique, and there is a reason for that … Other cities have recognized that without professional management and accountability, your city is set up to fail the employees and the taxpayer.

"I plan to engage the taxpayers this year to explain how (hiring) a manger/administrator could help improve the efficiency of our city and yield them a better return on their tax dollars.

"The recent Gulf Power over-charging fiasco is just one example of why we need a better system in place." — Robyn Helt, Crestview City Council President

"While I loathe the growth of government, in this instance we are in desperate need of a city administrator, human resources and (a) purchasing agent. Each of these positions would pay for themselves by saving wasted duplication in work being performed repeatedly by non-communicating departments, wasted expenditures and lawsuits from incorrect hiring and firing."  — Thomas Gordon, Crestview City Council

"My desire and goal for the city of Crestview is to be one of the motivational leaders to help in developing, and bring to fruition: enormous growth in retail business, which would produce strong economic developments (and) many additional jobs; a greater tax base with many capital improvement projects, which would move Crestview forward in our economic growth; and to utilize, and fully develop through in-depth planning, our available and abundant resources we have here in the Hub City."  — Joe Blocker, Crestview City Council

"I see no major concerns at the present time, but we must continue to improve our city streets, continue to manage and grow our city and maintain adequate services for our citizens, while utilizing our tax funds wisely to effectively improve our community."                                                                              — Shannon Hayes, Crestview City Council

"I want to work with the council to get better control on our assets and spending. I would like to see a better way to track spending and perform better asset management. Everyone always talks about Crestview having the highest taxes. New businesses and contractors seem to avoid coming to Crestview because of this.

"We need to look at every option available to produce a more effective city government from our revenues, without raising taxes."  — Mickey Rytman, Crestview City Council

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview leaders set sights for 2014

CRESTVIEW — Revising the city charter may again come before voters in 2014.

Council President Robyn Helt said she will bring a draft city charter, including a city administrator position, before the council early next year. A city administrator, or manager, is a council-appointed professional who would oversee the day-to-day operation of the city.

A professional administrator who oversees all departments could address redundancy and potential liabilities, and identify cost-saving, revenue generating measures, Helt said.

Helt raised the matter during a Dec. 16 meeting while city leaders mulled a proposed water rate increase. The council sometimes debates matters it has minimal expertise with, but ignores hired experts' advice, she said.

One example, Helt said, is consultant Tetratech's evaluation of Crestview's water utility billing. The company's final report recommended raising water rates, but in September, the council instead raised property taxes.

"We spent more than $100,000 for a qualified expert to tell us whether or not we should raise water rates, and now we're debating … whether the city should raise water rates," Helt said. "That doesn't make sense to me."

"The point is, because department heads are so focused on doing day-to-day work, how much of our fiscal house is being overlooked?" she said.

Helt has supported a city manager form of government at least since 2009, when she served on a citizens advisory committee that evaluated the current 1960s city charter.

She said she is "willing to concede an elected city clerk instead of an appointed city clerk. Voters resisted a provision for an appointed clerk in a recent proposed charter. Retaining an elected city clerk was also one of the charter review committee's recommendations.

To bring public safety under the city manager's authority, the charter would have to be changed to remove the police and fire departments from the mayor's purview.

Voters have consistently rejected a city manager form of government six times since it was first voted on in 1957.

A November 2012 revised charter ballot item was rendered moot by a clerical error but was discovered too late to remove it from the printed ballot.

Though their vote was non-binding, 72 percent of registered voters — a record turnout for the charter issue — voted on the measure anyway, defeating the proposal 4,319 to 3,795.

Following the defeat, the council suggested presenting the city administrator and clerk provisions — which had generated the most opposition — and the balance of the proposed charter in a "menu" of three components.

Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux said if a new charter is brought before voters, two scheduled opportunities in 2014 include the August primary and the November general election.

"Because of the length of a normal general election ballot, I normally do not recommend any municipality place anything on a November ballot," Lux said.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Charter proposal could contain appointed city manager, elected clerk

CRESTVIEW — A nearly $1 million refund for overpayment of street lighting bills since March 2006 is on hold until city attorney Jerry Miller is consulted to see if Gulf Power owes more money.

An August report in the News Bulletin led to the electric utility working with the city to determine the amount Crestview had been overbilled.

City Public Works Director Wayne Steele reported at the time a discrepancy had been found between the number of street lights for which Gulf Power charged the city and the number of lights a Public Works survey identified.

Steele said the electric utility immediately worked with the city to reconcile the discrepancy. He said Gulf Power determined it overbilled Crestview $961,252.

"In mid-October, a keying error was discovered to have occurred in March 2006," a Dec. 11 letter from Gulf Power Lighting Services supervisor Kenneth Folsom to City Clerk Betsy Roy stated.

Folsom stated in his letter that instead of adding two new "cobra head" fixtures to Crestview's inventory, the total number of fixtures, 1,336, was accidentally entered, doubling the number of street lights for which the city was billed.

At a special meeting of the City Council on Dec. 16, Steele proposed spending slightly less than $150,000 of the refund to relieve city employees of 32 furlough hours per person this fiscal year.

The proposal places $200,000 in the street repair budget, while the $612,424 balance would go to the general fund reserve account.

Steele's proposal was immediately supported by a motion by Councilman Mickey Rytman, seconded by Councilman Joe Blocker.

'Egregious overcharging'

Council President Robyn Helt asked if anyone had consulted with city attorney Jerry Miller regarding the refund for the "egregious overcharging."

"Seven years without the (taxpayers') use of close to a million dollars, have they (Gulf Power) factored in any interest for the fact that they did overcharge?" Helt asked.

Rytman and Blocker then withdrew their motions, while Roy agreed that she would consult with Miller.

Helt also used the opportunity to renew her call for a city manager form of government to provide more oversight of city finances.

"We just raised the taxpayers' millage rate and asked them to give us additional funds, and here's a million dollars we had spent and didn't know," Helt said.

"How can we be assured we're not overpaying for other utilities and other services?"

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Nearly $1M refund on hold while city consults attorney