CRESTVIEW — Despite last year’s $1.2 million deficit in governmental services, the Hub City faces a more promising financial outlook, according to a report on its annual audit.

The City Council has unanimously approved accepting Carr, Riggs and Ingram’s auditing report.

"We are issuing a clean opinion, and that differs from what we did last year," Alan Jowers, a partner in the firm, said on Monday. A "clean opinion" means there were no serious problems found in the city's revamped accounting systems and procedures.

The city had partially covered a deficit by transferring $500,000 from the utilities fund, which resulted in a $675,000 net loss.

"What that's telling you is that for your fiscal year 2012 … you spent more than you brought in," Jowers said. "I think that's important to look at."

During the year, the city addressed several issues raised in the 2011-12 audit, including accounting and billing problems that once plagued the Utilities Billing Department, Jowers said.

Auditors analyzed two segments of city government: governmental services — such as police and city administration — and "business activities" including water services and other items that generate fee-based revenue.

"The good news is there was no systemic issue like there's been in previous years," Jowers said.

One recommendation the firm made would eliminate the potential to misuse a test check generated during a run of city-issued checks.

Though a test check — which assures the printing system functions correctly — is locked in a safe so it can be accounted for, it should be defaced to ensure it could not be fraudulently completed and cashed, the report recommended.

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: Auditors issue 'clean opinion' for Crestview; utilities lose $675K

CRESTVIEW — City leaders have weighed the benefits of attending the annual Florida League of Cities conference and the costs to taxpayers, and unanimously have voted to send a maximum of three representatives.

Mindful of Crestview’s tight finances, city council members have decided the meeting's networking and education opportunities would pay off.

"If people think education is expensive, lack of education costs a whole lot more," Councilman Tom Gordon said.

"If you run into an idea that saves the city $5,000 or $10,000, you pay for the trip," Councilman Shannon Hayes said. "You can't put a price on knowledge."

The Aug. 15-17 conference in Orlando could have cost taxpayers nearly $1,400 per representative, including mileage reimbursement.

However, Hayes and Councilman Joe Blocker said they would decline reimbursement, saving taxpayers more than $800.

A third representative, if any, has not yet been selected. Gordon and Councilman Mickey Rytman have scheduling conflicts. Council President Robyn Helt was absent from the July 8 meeting at which the matter was discussed.

Council members have thought of carpooling, but Hayes said two or more elected officials sharing a long car ride could raise questions about possible Sunshine Law violations.

"There might be some things come up that you want to discuss," he said. "You can talk about your family and food and the weather for a few hours, but after a while it's going to get boring."

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: 2 Crestview leaders decline mileage reimbursement for meeting

CRESTVIEW — After traveling down what city attorney Jerry Miller has called a "slippery slope" of granting free use of city facilities to non-profit organizations, the City Council finally said "no."

Encouraged by the regular waiver of facilities fees for other non-profits, the Okaloosa County Farm Bureau requested fees be waived for its annual membership meeting and dinner at the Crestview Community Center.

Part of the statewide Florida Farm Bureau, the organization's mission is "to increase the net income of farmers and ranchers, and to improve the quality of rural life," according to its website.

The organization has previously paid as much as $670 to rent the community center for its annual dinner.

In recent months the council has waived fees for organizations including churches, Relay for Life and the NAACP for use of city facilities such as the Old Spanish Trail Park amphitheatre, Warriors Hall and the community center.

Under questioning by Councilman Shannon Hayes, Okaloosa Farm Bureau President Keith Free said the meeting and dinner were not open to the public.

While he said 95 percent of the attendees would be from Okaloosa County, Free could not say how many of the expected 300 attendees were Crestview residents.

"I'm trying to figure out what benefit (of granting free use of the facility) is to the 99 percent of Crestview who won't be attending the dinner," Hayes said.

When Councilman Joe Blocker asked Miller for advice, the attorney said granting fee waivers is done at the discretion of the council, which has set a precedent by granting previous waivers.

"You got yourselves in a quagmire and you can't escape," Miller said. "Until you draw a line in the sand you're going to keep having this problem and I can't fix it for you."

Councilman Tom Gordon, who has previously resisted providing free use of taxpayer-supported city facilities during a period of tight budgets, reiterated his stance.

"There are a lot of good organizations that are 501(c), but I have a hard time supporting something like this," Gordon said.

The council chose to take no action, allowing the Farm Bureau's request to die.

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: Crestview City Council: 'No' to nonprofit's free community center use

CRESTVIEW — The community's fireworks show, rained out on the Fourth of July, will burst over Twin Hills Park on Labor Day, city council members unanimously agreed.

Concerned that daylong holiday rains would wet the fireworks after they were set out, Ashley Pyrotechnics of Tallahassee canceled the planned $11,000 display, Public Works Director Wayne Steele said on Monday.

The fireworks take about four hours to set up, Steele said. Sudden downpours could ruin those already set out.

"I hated to agree with them," Steele said. "I learned a lesson over the years: the weather's a funny thing. It's better to stay on course and wait it out. Sometimes the Lord will bless us."

Steele's suggestion of moving the display to Labor Day, Sept. 2, was well received by the City Council, which unanimously approved the recommendation. (Editor's Note: Keep reading as updates on the display's time become available.)

Steele said all the activities planned for Independence Day, including bounce houses and inflatable slides, would be available at the Labor Day festivities.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Fourth of July fireworks display rescheduled for September

CRESTVIEW — Emphasizing several times that it can be lowered during budget discussions, the City Council has voted to set a tentative millage rate of 5.8466.

The .25 percent increase will give the council leeway to produce a 2013-14 fiscal year budget that maintains services demanded by residents without becoming encumbered by a too-low tentative millage.

During the 3-1 vote Monday evening, Councilman Thomas Gordon voted "nay." Council President Robyn Helt was absent. Vice president Mickey Rytman conducted the meeting.

The increase from the current 5.5966 millage rate would provide an estimated $5,380,692 in revenue, a $218,574 increase over the current fiscal year, according to figures provided by Finance Director Patti Beebe.

By law, once a tentative millage rate is established, it can be reduced. However, it can only be increased after an expensive process of paying the county property appraiser to send out revised Truth in Millage, or TRIM, notices, as state statute requires.

The tentative millage rate discussion followed a report by the city's accountants, Carr, Riggs and Ingram, which stated Crestview's governmental operations had a $1.5 million deficit in the 2012 fiscal year.

The council promised a thorough revue of each department's proposed budget during the budgeting process in hopes of decreasing the tentative millage rate.

"We want to reiterate this is a tentative rate," Rytman said. "It can always go down, but it costs us to go up. We do not want to raise taxes. A lot of the council members want to dig deep in the budget and lower the amount of money we spend."

Gordon explained the situation.

"When you get less money to run your household, you either get a nighttime job or you cut the cable (TV) off," he said. "We need to cut the cable off."

The council unanimously set a public budget hearing for 5 p.m. Sept. 10 with the final meeting at 5 p.m. Sept. 24. By law, the budget must be passed before Oct. 1. Budget workshops will be scheduled at the council's July 22 meeting.

Want to go?

The Crestview City Council will set dates and times for budget workshops at its July 22 meeting at City Hall. The meeting starts at 6 p.m.

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: Crestview City Council OKs tentative tax rise

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County commissioners have selected City Councilman Thomas Gordon to represent the north county in oil spill recovery efforts.

Gordon is one of 11 members of the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities and Revived Economies advisory committee. The RESTORE committee determines how to allocate funding following 2010’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Gordon, one of two Okaloosa League of Cities members selected, represents the county’s north end. Destin Mayor Sam Seevers represents the county’s south end.

The RESTORE Act of 2012 allows Florida shoreline counties — from Escambia to Wakulla — 75 percent of the state’s share from fines levied against BP for its role in the oil spill.      

"The RESTORE Act established a Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund in the U.S. Treasury in which 80 percent of the Clean Water Act penalties from the Deep Horizon Oil Spill will be distributed to impacted areas for recovery," the Okaloosa County website states.

Florida is among five states to receive a portion of 80 percent from the total fines levied.

In an example provided on the Okaloosa County website, if Florida were awarded $10 billion, Okaloosa would receive 15.57 percent of the funds, or $65,394,000. 

The RESTORE Act requires each county to form an advisory committee that represents areas including government, education, tourism, the environment and economic development, according to the U.S. Treasury.

"The intent of the RESTORE Act funds is to put the Gulf Coast back where it was before the oil spill," Gordon said.

As a professional in the heating ventilation and air conditioning industry, he knows firsthand the disaster’s impact.

"I saw several HVAC companies close and some drastically downsized," Gordon said. "In my company, it was the worst few years in our 30 (plus) year history, as it was also compounded by the real estate bubble."

Many area HVAC services depended on condominiums in Destin and other shoreline areas that tourists occupy seasonally. Following the spill, when condos didn't fill up, HVAC services went elsewhere, Gordon said. 

Addressing the widespread need of recovery funding is important, he said.

"The proper and responsible application of the settlement monies is absolutely critical and I look forward to getting started," Gordon said.

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: Crestview councilman represents North Okaloosa for oil spill recovery

CRESTVIEW — The City Council on Monday voted not to pursue a settlement for a downtown alley’s ownership. However, family members who claim the property say a nearly yearlong battle doesn’t end there.

The alley in dispute, behind Florida A&M University’s Pharmacy School, serves Main Street businesses in buildings once owned by the late Purl G. Adams. His daughter-in-law, Barbara, and his grandson, Purl Adams III, claim the alley is part of their property.

“I’m not gonna stop just at their decision,” Purl Adams III said, referring to the city council action. “I’m not saying we’re going to court. I’m saying that there’s other avenues to pursue.”

The city had proposed paying $55,000 to Barbara Adams to ensure the city’s access and official ownership of the alley. Council members changed course after reviewing a Nov. 18 1942 warranty deed during a five-minute recess. Purl G. Adams, his wife Edna and W.R. Taylor deeded the alley to the city for $10 and a promise that the property would remain a public alley. For council members, that was enough evidence to stop the settlement.

"I'm holding an official document on file with the city clerk's office … it says this city owns that property," Council President Robyn Helt said during Monday’s meeting. 

"Based on what I am holding in my hand, I say fight it. If we lose, we lose,” Councilman Shannon Hayes said.

Councilman Thomas Gordon also voted down the settlement. Council members Mickey Rytman and Joe Blocker dissented.

Purl Adams said he didn’t hear about the council’s action and didn’t know city leaders planned to discuss the alley dispute until the afternoon after it happened. After learning a June 21 executive session on the matter was canceled, Fort Walton Beach-based attorney Jill Crew, representing Barbara Adams, emailed city attorney Jerry Miller requesting the next date that the council would mull the matter.

Crew did not receive an answer to the email, Purl said.

The News Bulletin reached out to Miller, who offered no comment. The city’s June 24 meeting agenda, released at least four days beforehand, included the alley item.

 “I am very disappointed in the city of Crestview’s actions,” Purl Adams said in a statement. “I would like to believe that, just maybe, the past and present council members do not or did not know the story concerning the alleyway, or the behind-the-scenes happenings, or just possibly everyone has been kept in the dark about the situation.”

The full story, he said, includes the 1942 provision that the “strip of land shall be, remain and forever used as an alley of, for and in the said town for the free use and benefit to the public and said town, as other alleys are so used.”

The city didn’t use the alley for its intended purpose, so the deed was abandoned under state law, Crew contends.

Then there’s the Adamses’ 1944 deed that includes the alley, which “trumps the 1942 deed,” Purl Adams said.

Then there’s the mortgage that Barbara Adams took out on the property in 1996, and an estimated 70 years of property taxes the family has paid on the alley, as county records show.

Additionally, city engineer Fred Cook referred to the property in an Aug. 2, 2011 memo concerning FAMU’s water service.

“The area along the east (northeast) side of the building is not a publicly owned alley — it is private property,” he said.

Helt and Hayes did not return Thursday afternoon phone calls inquiring about the matter. Gordon offered no comment due to potential litigation. City clerk Betsy Roy did the same.

In past newspaper reports, Miller has said the city knows about such claims "and will heartily defend the city's title.”

Meanwhile, the battle has cost the Adamses an estimated $30,000 in legal fees and has taken its toll on his 75-year-old mother, Purl said.

“When all this first started, all my mom asked for from the architect and FAMU was the payoff for her mortgage so she could deed the alleyway to whoever and make all of this go away. The mortgage was around $25,000,” he said. “The city decided to file a suit, causing mental stress on my mother, an elderly widow … not to mention the added stress of having to retain an attorney…

“I really think that the council should take control, use some common sense, and let’s resolve this issue once and for all. It has been simple all along.”

Tom McLaughlin and Matthew Brown contributed to this report.

Email Crestview News Bulletin Editor Thomas Boni, or tweet him @cnbeditor.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Resident: Alley dispute doesn’t end with council decision

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview City Council indicated it wants to rest discussion on a proposed ordinance that would regulate yard sales.

Council members expressed hesitation for a proposed itinerate vendor ordinance that city planner Eric Davis presented during a work session Monday.

The proposal prohibits residents from opening home-based businesses without certification; requires that the home occupation take no more than 25 percent of the home’s floor space; prohibits storing business materials; and excludes mobile food vending from being considered at home occupations.

Davis drafted the document following complaints of excessive traffic and parking in residential yards that ruined sprinkler systems. Such problems associated with recurring yard sales have increased following the economic downtown, the workshop packet notes.

City officials raised concerns about the proposal.

Several residents sell items on websites like eBay; many of them store merchandise inside their home or in a nearby shed, Crestview Fire Chief Joseph Traylor said, adding he was concerned about inspecting structures annually.

"The enforcement of inspecting annually commercial office space in residential areas is so overwhelming," he said. "We have enough trouble keeping up with existing (businesses)."

Councilman Thomas Gordon said current laws cover the concerns.

"I'm cautious about setting rules that we cannot and should not enforce,"he said. "… If they are conducting a business, we have laws in place for that; if they are blocking traffic we have laws against that.”

Davis presented options for dealing with homeowners who purportedly have ongoing yard sales. Limiting the number of yard sales a resident can have within 30 or 90 days could help, he said.  

"Often it is hard for us to control (yard sales) happening on Saturday and Sunday. Typically we don't have planning or code enforcement staff available on those days,” Davis said.

Council president Robyn Helt favored limiting yard sales between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on three consecutive days.

City officials said they just want to ensure yard sales do not become a public nuisance or create unsafe conditions.

"If you are going to address it at all, I would like for it to be somewhat vague," Helt said. "I certainly do not want to prevent people from conducting yard sales; it’s part of being an American."

 Council members Shannon Hayes, Joe Blocker and Mickey Rytman agreed and suggested resting discussion of such an ordinance until larger problems develop.

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: Crestview City Council mulls options for garage sale regulation