CRESTVIEW — The City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to hold a joint public meeting with the Okaloosa County Commission to discuss the Community Redevelopment Agency Comprehensive Master Plan.

The commission objected to portions of the updated plan, which the CRA submitted on Nov. 27 of last year, prompting the county to request a special meeting to discuss those concerns.

After a lengthy discussion of whether to agree to the public forum involving the full city council and county commission or hold a smaller mediation involving representatives and attorneys from each governing body, the council voted to approve the full meeting.

Mayor David Cadle expressed his frustration with the process.

"Some of the criticisms that we’re getting from some commissioners is that that money has been put aside for the downtown area of the CRA district," Cadle said. "The criticism is that we’re not spending the money, and we can’t come to an agreement on much of anything, just like tonight."

Cadle was referencing the earlier CRA board meeting where the council members, who also serve on the board, delayed further discussions on a plan for new gateway signs.

"That is one of the reasons that we’re having to go into this negotiation is that we drag our feet," Cadle said, admonishing members of the council. "Now please forgive me if I’m hurting your feelings, but I’ve watched this for 11 years now and it just drags and drags and drags. Nothing gets done very quickly."

The public meeting will be held 2 p.m. Jan. 17 in the City Council chambers. Council members and commissioners would then convene separately to vote on any agreement that comes out of the meeting.

Also on Monday:

• Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce board member Dino Sinopoli made a special presentation to the council on the Triple B Festival. He asked that the council allow alcohol sales to be added to this year’s event, which is planned to be held at Spanish Trail Park for a second consecutive year.

  Councilman J.B. Whitten raised the issue of insurance and whether the city could be held liable in the event of an alcohol-related incident, but made it clear that he did not object to the idea of alcohol sales at the event. The council then unanimously approved the use of park facilities for the festival without charge.

• Other council business included the approval of a settlement agreement with the Perez family of Crestview, stemming from an incident in 2014 where a retention pond berm failed during a flood. The incident caused a large amount of silt to wash into a lake adjacent to the property, where the family owned a dock.

  The settlement involves the city building a new dock for the family, rather than attempt to remove the silt, which would be a much costlier alternative. The council voted to approve the settlement by a unanimous decision.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'We drag our feet'

CRESTVIEW — New city gateway signs could be in Crestview’s near future. The Community Redevelopment Agency discussed the idea of replacing the signs located around the downtown area.

CRA Director Alisa Burleson’s idea for three new signs includes a monument-style sign located at South Main Street and Highway 85, an archway at North Main Street and Highway 90, and a stone column design in the small triangle at the intersection of Highways 85 and 90.

"Gateway entrances are very beneficial to a district," Burleson said. "If you all will think about when you build a subdivision, one thing that attracts buyers to the subdivision is the pretty entrance."

Burleson estimates the cost of the new signs will be at least $100,000, or half the available funds in the CRA Master Plan budget for parking, land, signage, buildings and security. She also noted that the current signs are beginning to show their age, prompting the need for an upgrade.

"I’d like to say we should move pretty quick on this," board member Ron Gautney said. "We’ve delayed this for so long now; at least we’ll get started on it."

The board agreed that there should be an extended meeting or a special workshop to discuss the issue further.

A proposed partnership with ePropertyPlus was also on the CRA agenda. ePropertyPlus is a northern Virginia-based company that works with governments and land bank trusts to store and manage property data.

"It’s a larger scale of what Zillow does," Burleson said. "The best way I can kind of describe it is like you’ve got several file cabinets, and each file cabinet has different information on a property. This puts all that information in one compiled area that can be on the city’s website."

Many board members were skeptical of the need for the program, and expressed concern that they had not seen enough evidence that it would be beneficial. They requested more information on the project, specifically cases from other localities that have used the program.

Burleson promised to get more data for the board. She also stated that she believes the issue encompasses more than just the CRA, and asked for approval to present the proposed partnership to the city council.

Another item discussed was a recap of the city’s Christmas retail promotional program that raised money for the Crestview Police Department’s Christmas toy fund. The promotion involved the sale of coins redeemable for discounts on eligible items at participating downtown retailers. A total of $271 was raised in sales and donations, according to Burleson.

The city will continue to sell the promotional coins while supplies last; they retail at $5 for large coins and $3 for a smaller version.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CRA board considers new gateway signs

OKALOOSA ISLAND — The Republican Women of Okaloosa Federated will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at the Wyndam Garden Hotel on Okaloosa Island.

Socializing will begin at 11:30 a.m. A buffet lunch will be served at 12 p.m. There will be a "Dine and Dash" table for those who can only stay for a limited time. Non-members and guests are welcome

Installation of the 2018-2020 board of directors will take place with Jean Wingo, vice president of Florida Federation of Republican Women, as the installing officer.

Republicans who are running for office are invited to attend. The hotel is located at 575 Santa Rosa Blvd., on Okaloosa Island. 

To make a reservation, contact Donna Pattison at 651-5416 or donnapattison@cox.net by noon on Saturday, Dec. 30. Cost of the lunch is $18 for members and $20 for guests. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Republican Women of Okaloosa Federated to install officers

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County property owners saved more than $7.1 million by taking advantage of the 4 percent early payment discount last month.

"Our offices collected more than $177.6 million during the month of November," Tax Collector Ben Anderson said. "With Christmas just around the corner, money saved is better spent in the hands of citizens than in the hands of government!"

Anderson encouraged those who missed the November discount to use some of the remaining discounts.

"There is still time to take advantage of additional early payment discounts. Property owners will receive a 3 percent early payment discount if the payment is made by Dec. 31."

Discounts will continue to decrease by one percentage point until March 1, 2018, after which full payment is due.

Several payment options are available for paying property taxes, including online payments such as an electronic check (E-check).

"E-check is a smart and easy way to process your payment," Tax Administrator Justin Gordon said. "It’s like writing a check but only electronically. It’s fast, safe, secure, and most importantly, it’s free!"

You can also pay your property tax bill at one of the county’s six locations (1250 N. Eglin Parkway Suite 101, Shalimar; 310 Van Matre Ave., Building 210, Suite 155, Eglin Air Force Base; 701 E. John Sims Parkway, Niceville; 4012 Commons Drive W, Unit 122, Destin; 302 N. Wilson St. Suite 101, Crestview; and 120 Simpson Ave., Building 90320, Room 111, Hurlburt Field.

Alternatively call 651-7300. See www.OkaloosaTax.com for more information about payment options.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Property owners: last call for 3 percent tax discount

CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa County Commission recently approved an option agreement to buy up to 1,665 acres of Shoal River Ranch land for potential economic development.

The option is for three years, includes the ability to obtain a one-year extension and allows the county to purchase all or any part of the acreage involved.

Shoal River Ranch, just east of Crestview, is owned by the Holland M. Ware Charitable Foundation of Boise, Idaho.

The ranch encompasses about 10,500 acres, with roughly 6,850 acres north of Interstate 10 and about 3,650 acres south of the highway. The parcels are connected by a state-maintained overpass.

About 2,043 acres of the ranch are available for industrial development, according to the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County.

The valuation of all or part of the 1,665 acres that the county could buy would be determined by averaging various appraisals.

"In consideration for the granting of the option, the county would grant to the foundation the timber and pine straw rights on Stand 1 and 2 of property owned by the county for the benefit of the Water and Sewer Department," county officials said in a report for the Dec. 5 commission meeting.

Stand 1 covers about 96 acres and Stand 2 encompasses about 55 acres. The foundation retains the right to grow and harvest timber and pine straw at its sole discretion, but not to replant trees, according to the option agreement.

A one-year extension on the option would be granted provided that the extension of water and sewer lines to Jericho Road is 80 percent completed and the county has received a non-binding letter of intent from an economic development prospect seeking to use the land.

County Attorney Greg Stewart told the commission Dec. 5 that, "We have the ability within this option to assign it. If we have an economic development prospect that becomes available to developing that area, the concept is that we would assign this option to them, and they would be the actual person who would acquire this property, depending on their particular needs."

Nathan Sparks, executive director of the EDC, said he and Stewart began negotiating the option agreement with the foundation several months ago.

"You all know that we’ve had some near misses (or potential development opportunities that fell through) at Shoal River Ranch in the past," Sparks told commissioners. "And one of the big challenges we’ve had, of course, is a lack of infrastructure."

He then praised commissioners for seeking Triumph funding to extend infrastructure, such as water lines, down U.S. Highway 90 to the ranch.

Commissioner Nathan Boyles said the option agreement doesn’t guarantee economic development will occur at the ranch.

"But this positions us as well as we can possibly be positioned for the next three years to go and pursue those opportunities," he said.

"I look forward to that process and working with the EDC to try and actually land some type of good job creator out there for our citizens."

"… This positions us as well as we can possibly be positioned for the next three years to go and pursue [economic development] opportunities."

—County Commissioner Nathan Boyles

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: County secures option to buy more than 1,600 acres

LAUREL HILL — Laurel Hill's city attorney, Dan Campbell, recently decided to end his contract with the small North Okaloosa County community, but he plans to provide services until a new attorney is found.

Campbell has been the city’s attorney for many years, but according to Councilwoman Debra Adams, he is in the process of moving and possibily will retire. Campbell did not attend the city council's most recent meeting, which was Dec. 7. The council discussed hiring a replacement attorney during that session.

Campbell has already closed his private practice, Adams said. The city has issued a request for proposal for the service.

The council initially planned to choose a new attorney during the January City Council meeting; however, Adams suggested pushing the decision to February since the city will likely get few responses before Christmas.

The council agreed to change the deadline for applications to Jan. 25, and open them during the Feb. 1 city council meeting.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill begins search for city attorney

CRESTVIEW — At Monday night’s City Council meeting, Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux explained to the council the options they have regarding a referendum for their recently amended city charter. 

In May 2017, the city council appointed seven members to the Charter Review Committee with the duty of researching and deciding whether the city should keep the same form of government. The committee had 90 days to review the charter, and they presented their findings to the council in September.

"You’re at the crossroads," Lux said. "Your charter review committee has done its work… so I asked my staff to come up with a good-faith estimate, so you basically have the same three options that you always have."

Residents of Crestview who are eligible to vote can vote on the new charter. According to Lux, the city has three options when it comes to administering the referendum: a vote-by-mail election, a stand-alone election or add on to an already scheduled county-wide election.

With a mail-out ballot, every eligible voter in the city is mailed a ballot. This would cost the city approximately $12,439.

A stand-alone election would be similar to the semi-annual city council election. Lux would need to reserve the polling places and staff them with the number of poll workers specified by the law. This option would cost approximately $15,646.

The cost of legal advertising to put in conjunction with another election would be the only cost for an add-on election.

"[An add-on] brings up a lot more questions," Lux said. "If you’re only going to have one referendum about the city charter, then obviously the cost for that legal advertisement is smaller. If you decide to have multiple questions… the cost is going to go up."

Lux told the council to not consider the November 2018 election, as there will be no room for the charter referendum on the ballot.

"There are already two legislative initiatives slated to go on the ballot, there are two citizens' initiatives that are very well poised to make ballot position, and… the constitutional revision commission is meeting, and the last time they met they gave us 11 constitutional amendments to go on the ballot," Lux said. "I’m rapidly running out of room on the ballot already."

According to Lux, the earliest opportunity would be to have the referendum in conjuction with the August 2018 primary election.

The referendum is limited to 75 words in body and 15 in title. According to Lux, the last time Crestview put a referendum on the ballot, they made it a "catch-all" and many citizens voted no due to not agreeing with or not being educated on certain parts of the referendum.

"I would contend that doing it as a big giant catch-all amendment is probably a bad idea, unless [you] budget and plan for a very robust outreach to the voters," Lux said.

There are currently approximately 7,200 households in Crestivew with eligible voters. A not-for-profit bulk mailing to those households with an informational booklet would cost the city approximately $1,000, Lux said.

Councilman Joe Blocker made a motion to have the referendum added to the August 2018 primary election ballot and Councilman Shannon Hayes seconded the motion.

The motion passed with all council members in favor.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: City adds charter vote to August ballot

LAUREL HILL — The City Council Dec. 7 received an update on projects currently being completed in Laurel Hill.

Joe Rector, West Florida regional manager of Dewberry, shared information on nine projects underway.

According to Rector, Sunnyside Avenue work is nearing completion. All that is left to do is road striping, and projected completion — depending on weather — is the beginning of January.

Designs for Millside Road improvements are underway, Rector said. Dewberry is coordinating with Okaloosa County Water Management to start the project.

Gene Clary Park improvements await review of documents by the Department of Environmental Protection.

Rector said an application for a Department of Economic Opportunity grant for additional Millside Road improvements awaits the council's signatures.

Dewberry submitted a Statewide School Zone Implementation Plan application Nov. 6 that states all school zones in Florida will meet new criteria for signing and marking. Local agencies must submit a list of existing deficient school zone locations to districts for inclusion in their implementation plan within one year of the criteria being set (by July 2018). School zones must comply by July 2022, five years after the plan is set.

An application for a Legislative Appropriations Request for Steel Mill Creek Road improvements is being submitted, according to Rector. An application for a grant through Safe Routes to School is also being submitted, and applications are due Jan. 31.

Dewberry will meet with a contractor next week to discuss improvement of a culvert on Chicago Avenue and to get a better cost estimate for the project.

Dewberry is working on a pre-application for Laurel Hill for Triumph Gulf Coast funds. The city submitted a list of projects they would complete using the funds if received. Triumph oversees funds recovered by the Florida attorney general for economic damage resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Triumph must administer distribution of the funds to be used for the recovery, diversification and enhancement of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf, Franklin and Wakulla counties.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill improvement projects in the works

CRESTVIEW — The Yellow River Plantation subdivision's developer eventually could, with state and Okaloosa County approval, build hundreds of single-family homes on adjacent, currently wooded land.

The County Commission on Tuesday took the first major step toward making that possibility a reality by unanimously agreeing to send the developer’s requested large-scale comprehensive plan amendment to state agencies for review.

Coordinated by the state Department of Economic Opportunity, the agencies will consider whether to approve changing the future land-use map of six unincorporated parcels that encompass a total of about 689 acres.

If that and other approvals are granted, the overall property would have the potential of containing more than 900 single-family homes.

The site of possible development is west of State Road 85, east of Welannee Boulevard and south of Bill Lundy Road, and is owned by the U.I.L. Family Limited Partnership of Pace.

According to state records, the partnership’s registered agent is Edwin Henry. He owns the Pace-based Henry Company Homes, which developed Yellow River Plantation.

"We’ve built approximately 20 homes a year (over the past five years) in the Yellow River Plantation," Henry told commissioners, adding that it could take about 40 years to reach build-out status on that ongoing project.

The adjacent, proposed development also would be a long-term project, and each of its lots would be no larger than a half-acre, Henry said.

County Growth Management Director Elliot Kampert said the developer proposes building about 42 homes per year "over time" for the proposed subdivision.

The developer seeks to have the property’s future land-use map designation changed from agriculture to rural residential. If state officials approve that change, the developer would then seek to have the county rezone the property from agriculture to rural residential.

The overall approval process could take many months. Following that process, the county would begin to review more specific details about the proposed project, such as the location of access roads to the potential subdivision.

After subtracting wetlands and areas for roads, parks and other infrastructure, the developable area might total about 458 acres, according to information Henry provided to the county. At a possible density of two homes per acre, the overall site could have a total of 915 homes.

"Based on this data, any future development of this site, reasonably speaking, would be accomplished by a "multi-phase construction/development plan" and could take approximately 20 to 22 years to build out," Henry wrote in a report to the county.

"We don’t have that actual number (of new homes) because we don’t have the actual development (plan) in front of us," Kampert said at Tuesday’s meeting.

Several Welannee Boulevard residents who attended the meeting expressed concerns about the proposed development, such as its effect on State Road 85 as well as neighborhood roads.

Commissioner Nathan Boyles said the future land-use map amendment would, if approved, allow for higher-density development on the roughly 689-acre site, which would mean more vehicles on area roads.

But the county shouldn’t hold up any developer to make them fix S.R. 85, Boyles said. Expanding that highway to accommodate growth is a Crestview, county and Florida Department of Transportation problem, he said.

Boyles also said that while expanding S.R. 85 to six lanes is a top priority of the Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization, that potential project has not been funded, might not get funded and cannot be relied on to satisfy future traffic concerns.

Commission Chairwoman Carolyn Ketchel said perhaps the county should not approve more developments until it’s able to get new roads in place to handle the future growth. But Boyles deemed putting a moratorium on the private use of property "pretty draconian in nature."

Earlier in the meeting, Commission Vice-Chairman Graham Fountain said the commission understands residents’ concerns about the proposed, large-scale housing development, the site for which is in his district.

"Anytime you add homes, there’s a concern," Fountain said. "But we live in a great country, in a country that anybody who owns property has the right to develop the property and make use of the property as long as they meet the requirements. I’ve reviewed all of the supporting documentation and everything appears to be in order, and I feel sure that it will be in order as they move forward with future developments there."

Commissioner Trey Goodwin said while the county has pressing needs for new and larger roads, it also has big needs for more housing.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Area north of Crestview could see housing boom

CRESTVIEW — An ordinance banning medical marijuana will take effect Dec. 1. But even though dispensaries to pick up the prescription medication won't be allowed within city limits, North Okaloosa residents may have another option to secure local access.

According to Growth Management Director Teresa Gaillard, the city would have to regulate medical marijuana treatment centers the same as pharmacies.

A city map highlights commercial areas where pharmacies are allowed. Medical marijuana dispensaries have to be regulated the same as pharmacies; therefore everywhere a pharmacy is allowed, a medical marijuana dispensary would also be allowed.

Gaillard says the new ordinance bans the centers until the state allows for a number or location rule. Okaloosa County also has the option to vote for or against medical marijuana dispensaries in the county.

"The majority of the areas that are around our particular areas … in Okaloosa County are either residential or mixed use," Gaillard said.

If the county allows dispensaries into its mixed-use or business-use properties, it would be able to allow a medical marijuana treatment center within Crestview as long as it’s not within city limits and is in the unincorporated areas, according to City Attorney Ben Holley. 

However, such a facility would have to abide by a 500-foot buffer area for the schools.

"The only thing I have on it, and the only thing I’ve ever had on it, is I want something, either in state law or county ordinance or city ordinance, that says this is not your wholesale ability to legally buy buds of marijuana and walk down the street smoking it," Councilman Doug Faircloth said.

Faircloth said instead of calling it medical marijuana, the city needs to call it "the derivatives of marijuana that are medicinal," as he is in support of people with illnesses using cannabis oil.

Councilman Shannon Hayes said he supports the ban, because there are still too many unknown variables and the state hasn’t given the city direction. Hayes said Crestview "doesn’t want another Colorado on their hands."

A moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries will end Dec. 1. The new ordinance will take effect that same day, banning medical marijuana facilities in Crestview until further notice. 

A number of residents question the City Council's statements and their intentions. 

"How dare these people deny the will of the people who voted for this," Kimberly Mathis said. "Our voice should be heard! This council member should have to go face the people that need this and tell them no their lives and quality of life is not worthy… they need to be voted out of office.

"Looking at Crestview , I know they don't know what's best for us. Is there a way for the people of Crestview to go over these people to the state level?"

"Meanwhile, half of Crestview is strung out on meth, pain pills and heroin," Daniel Foster said. "This is ridiculous, [the] system is ass backwards."

"Let's deny people something that could enhance their quality of life and instead keep building McDonalds on every corner," Leslie Brown said. "We can have multiple liquor stores and a sex toy shop, but not medical marijuana which is proven to help people.

"Not only that, but the people have spoken! We said yes in an overwhelming number."

According to Councilman J.B. Whitten, the council has researched the subject and attended topical workshops and a symposium with the Florida League of Cities.

Whitten said he had many concerns with the legislation, including the need for more police training to be able to better assess DUIs.

"First and foremost, this is not a permanent ban," Whitten said. "This is a ban with a built-in monitoring system to address at a later date, if needed. Monitoring is needed because although many think all the guidelines are in place in the state, right now there is a current bill in the House that would change this to say that smoking would be permitted — right now it’s not."

The bill Whitten references is one filed by Sen. Gary Farmer, D-Fort Lauderdale, on Nov. 2. Farmer filed a proposal that would undo a ban on patients smoking medical marijuana. The bill is filed for consideration during the 2018 legislative session, which starts in January.

However, House Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, an Estero Republican, told the Associated Press the House won’t go along with allowing cannabis to be smoked.

THE ISSUE: An ordinance banning medical marijuana treatment facilities within city limits will take effect Dec. 1.

LOCAL IMPACT: Residents who have prescriptions for medical marijuana will have to look elsewhere for their medication. Crestview leaders won't allow the dispensaries until they receive more direction from the state legislature.

However, area residents could still have local access on one condition: If Okaloosa County does not decide to ban the facilities, a medical marijuana treatment center could open in unincorporated areas of Crestview and throughout the county.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Medical marijuana ban has one loophole