TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott has tasked Chief Inspector General Melinda Miguel with conducting a nationwide search for the new citizens inspector general. The appointee will oversee Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the state’s largest insurance company and a taxpayer-backed entity. 

A selection committee comprising the chief inspector general, the inspector general from CFO Jeff Atwater’s Office and the Office of Insurance Regulation’s inspector general will coordinate the search. 

The committee's first meeting — 2-5 p.m. Thursday in Tallahassee — kicks off a series of public meetings for the search.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Florida seeks citizens inspector general applicants

CRESTVIEW — Upcoming negotiations with a planned shopping mall’s developers will require an additional attorney, city officials said.

City attorney Jerry Miller said that representing the city for a quasi-judicial hearing — during which the council will discuss impact fee waivers — legally precludes him from representing city Public Works staff preparing project proposals.

Watkins Retail Group, the mall developer, is expected to request impact fee waivers for the Crestview Crossings Power Center shopping center, which is planned for a 144-acre site northeast of Lowe's home improvement store.

The requests must be handled in different settings, Miller said.

"Ordinance allows public safety impact fee waivers, and water and sewer impact fee credits," Miller said. "Easement issues are not quasi-judicial. It is a complicated matter."

The city awaits Watkins' applications, Public Works assistant director Carlos Jones said.

"Everything is going by plan as far as we know," he said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview needs additional attorney to advise staff for mall project

LAUREL HILL —  The city council has added two more road projects for the West Florida Regional Planning Council.

City officials have suggested resurfacing Earl Campbell Road and adding sidewalks for New Ebenezer and Robbins Road.

The regional planning council has contracted with the Florida Department of Transportation to gather input from rural areas.

Since 2010, regional planner Christie Johnson has met with city officials to take suggestions and give updates on which roads the county and the FDOT have planned for road repairs or additions.

One recent result of FDOT’s rural work program is Laurel Hill's main road, Johnson said during Thursday’s city council meeting.

"State Road 85 was on the list last year with resurfacing," Johnson said. "From what I understand, it’s almost complete."

The project should be complete within two weeks, she said.

According to a handout available at the meeting, four projects that FDOT will work on in five years are as follows:

•Adding a right turn lane on the corner of Galliver Cutoff and State Road 4 in Baker.

•Modifying the U.S. Highway 90-State Road 4 intersection in Milligan.

•Adding turn lanes on State Road 4 for 14th Street in Baker.

•Replacing the Yellow River Bridge crossing U.S. Highway 90.

Projects could move up or down the priority list due to circumstances like paving conditions, Johnson said.

A second map handed out at the meeting featured roads that county officials requested of FDOT. The county may consider applying for a 50-50 grant to cover the cost.

"The County Incentive Grant Program is a possible funding opportunity for the county to fund road projects on state roads or projects that relieve congestion on state roads. There is a 50 percent match requirement," Johnson said in an email.

The handout included two lists featuring county roads’ resurfacing and paving needs. Ludlum Road, Steel Mill Creek Road and New Ebenezer Road were included on both lists. 

Council chairman Larry Hendren suggested the county portion of Earl Campbell Road be considered for resurfacing.

City attorney Dan Campbell suggested that Thomas Road be removed from the "paving needs" list.

"I don't know why people want to pave Thomas Road; nobody lives on it and nobody uses it," he said. "That money should be put on New Ebenezer Road rather than paving a road up to Alabama that nobody uses … that's $404,000."

Councilman Johnny James agreed, asking if it were possible to add sidewalks to New Ebenezer. Johnson said she would bring the matter before county officials.

"Some of the kids walk along New Ebenezer all the time," James said at the meeting.

The suggestions will be brought before county officials, who will perform cost estimates on each, Johnson 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: Laurel Hill council suggests roads for grant-funded repair

CRESTVIEW — Establishing a Tax Increment Financing district is the best way of funding a proposed P.J. Adams Parkway-Antioch Roadbypass corridor, local officials say.

"We could look at taking a portion of future ad valorem revenues coming into the city so we could set them aside for transportation improvements," attorney Mike Chesser said.

Under the plan, proposed TIF districts would encompass Okaloosa County’s northern half at county level, and the entire city of Crestview except for the Community Redevelopment Agency district, which already has a funding source comparable to a TIF.

TIFs would not result in increased taxes, officials said, but would direct any additional taxes raised above an established baseline toward the district.

The Crestview City Council on Monday expressed favor for the concept and unanimously directed city planning staff to continue researching the idea.

A TIF would be a proactive way of locally raising funds and using them to attract matching state or federal funds, officials said during Monday’s city council meeting. As road improvements funded by the TIF attract more development, more ad valorem taxes would flow to the city and expand TIF dollars.

"What this does is put you on a long-term plan to solve a transportation issue," said Dr. Rod Lewis, of the Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development at the University of West Florida.

Crestview’s TIF could generate as much as $33 million over 20 years, Haas said. The county TIF would add $47 million.

The $80 million raised locally would allow the P.J. Adams project to qualify for a $60 million bond at a 5 percent discount rate, Crestview city planner Eric Davis stated in a briefing memo.

Now that State Road 123 expansion has been funded, "The Number 1 priority for the (Transportation Planning Organization) of Okaloosa and Walton Counties is open," Davis said.

To assure the P.J. Adams bypass moves into that slot, the city must demonstrate it has a plan to help support the project, Davis said.

"P.J. Adams is our No. 1 priority in this county," Public Works director John Hofstad said. "It's a $100 million project but our budget in Public Works is approximately $15 million a year. It's going to take a multi-jurisdictional effort."

Council President Robyn Helt cautioned that other funding sources should also be researched, especially considering funding for S.R. 123 "miraculously appeared" after regional legislators pushed for it.

Though the often-discussed bypass project has been inching its way toward the top of the county's projects list, funding is unavailable and construction might not occur for 20 or more years.

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: Financing district could fund P.J. Adams Parkway expansion

CRESTVIEW —  The new Community Redevelopment Agency board unanimously approved forming a citizens and business representatives committee to make recommendations for new facilities within the district.

Meeting for the first time since new members were elected to office, board President Robyn Helt asked her colleagues for thoughts on proposed dog and skate parks, and a pedestrian and bicycle corridor connecting downtown and Twin Hills Park.

"I really want to assess where the current CRA board stands on these issues," Helt said during the Monday meeting.

Helt explained that CRA funds, generated by businesses located in the CRA district, could only be used for improvements within the district. The current balance is about $900,000 she said.

Board member Tom Gordon said he had consulted Economic Development Council interim President Kay Rasmussen about whether the projects could help the community attract businesses.

"She said people are looking for things like the dog park and the skate park," Gordon said. "They're looking for things like the connector. Ms. Rasmussen was very helpful in explaining what the community needs to encourage development."

While the other board members said they have received positive feedback from constituents on the three projects, member Joe Blocker said he talked to about 50 people who were "5 to 1 against the dog park, period."

The board unanimously agreed to form a seven-person committee composed of citizens and business owners, and representatives from the Main Street Crestview Association and the Historic Preservation Board.

At the CRA's July 8 meeting, each board member will nominate one committee member, while the Main Street and Historic Preservation groups would select a member from their respective organizations.

Board member Shannon Hayes stressed it is important "we make the citizens aware that we're not taking taxpayer's money to do this but it's a separate fund."

Want to go?

The Community Redevelopment Agency board will meet prior to the July 8 City Council meeting at City Hall. The meeting is open to the public.

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: New CRA board likes Twin Hills Park, downtown improvement ideas

The Okaloosa County Tax Collector’s Crestview and Fort Walton Beach branches are now another resource where Florida-born residents can purchase birth certificates. "Until now, the Okaloosa County Health Department was the only local option where residents could obtain their Florida birth certificate,” Tax collector Ben Anderson said. The pilot program, through the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics, only allows issuance of most Florida birth certificates by an authorized individual. The cost is $10 per individual plus a $6.25 service fee.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa tax collector's office now issuing birth certificates

CRESTVIEW — Seniors vs. Crime has a message for shady contractors, crooked auto maintenance shops and anyone else who thinks they can defraud a senior citizen:

They're onto you.

However, there's not much the office can do about Internet scams such as Nigerian princes with fortunes to share, Microsoft Lottery winners and phony bank notifications, J.B. Whitten said.

"We just got one on our Seniors vs. Crime email (account) from Regions Bank telling us to confirm our account details," he said. "We don't even bank with Regions Bank."

Whitten, a retired schoolteacher and former Air Force officer, manages Seniors vs. Crime's small Crestview office, which also serves neighboring counties.

The service is a special project of the Florida attorney general. Whitten and his staff of volunteers also work closely with local law enforcement agencies.

Scams vs. fraud

Whitten’s office is effective in dealing with seniors defrauded by shoddy or incomplete home or car repairs, and overpriced or misrepresented services such as home security or cable TV contracts.

"In local situations we can talk to the person and usually negotiate a settlement," he said. "You can't do that with the Jamaican lottery, but a roof job that's not done right — we can work with that contractor."

The "Jamaican lottery" is a prevalent scam targeting seniors who are told they've won the island nation's lottery but must send in a "processing fee" or pay "taxes" to collect their winnings.

Because such scams are "hit and run" crimes, often perpetrated from outside of the United States, there's not much Whitten’s office can do to recover stolen money, Whitten said.

Another prevalent scam is the "grandma scam," in which the scammer poses as the victim's grandchild seeking bail money, Whitten said.

Some frequent telephone scams include "winning" a cruise or a Wal-Mart gift card for a "processing fee,” Seniors vs. Crime volunteer Linda Fagan said.

"The only way you can win a prize is if you enter a contest," she said.

Anytime a caller asks for personal information, including bank account, debit card or credit card numbers, or Social Security numbers, "you have to be strong and say 'no' and hang up,” Whitten said.

Want to go?

Seniors vs. Crime, a project of the Florida Attorney General's office, offers free fraud assistance for senior citizens.

Additionally, manager J.B. Whitten and program volunteers are available to speak to local clubs and organizations about combating fraud and scams.

The office is open 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays at 296 S. Ferdon Blvd. Call 306-3176 or 306-3177 or email okaloosacountysvc@yahoo.com.

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: Seniors vs. Crime office battles fraud aimed at older residents

CRESTVIEW — The next meeting of the Crestview City Council is 6 p.m. June 10, 198 North Wilson Street.

Agenda items are listed below.

1. Approval of Consent Agenda:

a. Approval of the minutes for the May 13 workshop and council meeting, and the May 21 special meeting.

b. Approval of professional services invoice.  Requested by Allen, Norton and Blue, P.A.

c. Accept $1,315 Dollar General grant check the Crestview Public Library received.

d. LPA 13-11: new commercial garage request for Jay Woodbury.

e. LPA 12-09: proposed Tom Thumb B No. 85 Addition and Site Remodel request.

f. Approval of the Back Flow RFQ.

g. Acceptance of the 4th of July Fireworks display bid.

2. *Citizen business:

a. Fee waiver request for the  Old Spanish Trail ball fields use – Family First Network.

b. Special Taxing District discussion – Mike Chesser.

3. New business:

a. Ordinance 1495 – Military Compatibility Provisions Within Comprehensive Plan 2020.

b. Board appointment for the Board of Adjustments – Councilman Rytman.

4. Mayoral report.

5. Business from the floor.

a. Yellow card submissions.

b. Impromptu yellow card discussions.

6. Adjournment.

*Note: "Citizen Business" is business that was submitted by a citizen or group of citizens no later than the Wednesday prior to the meeting to the Clerk's office for approval.  Supporting documents must be submitted at this time to be on the regular agenda.   

"New Business" is for staff and elected officials only, and must be submitted for approval no later than the Friday one week prior to the meeting.  

Those not listed on the regular agenda who wish to address the council should fill out a yellow card, which must be submitted to the City Clerk.

Speaking time is five minutes or less. Large groups may designate a spokesperson.  All remarks should be addressed to the council as a whole and not to individual members.  All meeting procedures are outlined in the Meeting Rules and Procedures brochure available outside the chambers.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: June 10 Crestview City Council meeting agenda released

CRESTVIEW — A major shopping center is closer to becoming a reality following a Tuesday evening workshop in which representatives of the developer and the city outlined ways to move the project forward.

Next, the Watkins Retail Group will make a formal presentation to the Crestview City Council, which will meet in a quasi-judicial hearing to consider the developer's request for impact fee waivers.

Attorney Jon Holloway, representing Watkins, briefed the council on the project planned for property north of the Lowe's home improvement store west of State Road 85.

Holloway mentioned a list of national retailers and restaurants that he said "have expressed interest" in the shopping mall to be called Crestview Crossings Power Center.

Some of the companies he listed include Academy Sports, Hobby Lobby, Michael's, Books-A-Million, Toys-R-Us, Kohl's, TJ Maxx, Marshall's, PetCo, Target and Wal-Mart.

Among eateries on the list are Darden Restaurants, which owns the Olive Garden and Red Lobster chains; Logan's Roadhouse, Buffalo Wild Wings, Outback Steak House and Chili's.

To make the project happen, Holloway said, the city needs to waive some, but not all, impact fees.

Public Works director Wayne Steele said he analyzed impact fees applicable to the project and recommended several that could be waived. Credit on the appraised value of a sewer line easement sought by the city could also be offered, he said.

City attorney Jerry Miller cautioned the council to refrain from comments that might be "prejudicial" toward the project because city leaders must meet in a quasi-judicial hearing to discuss and approve fee waivers.

At the presentation's conclusion, council members heeded Miller's advice, but thanked Holloway, Steele and members of the public for their advice and input.

"I appreciate the information that's been presented," Councilman Shannon Hayes said. "The citizens that I've spoken with have … expressed great interest and hopefully we can work with this and make it happen."

Council President Robyn Helt thanked Watkins executive Bob Peck for traveling to Crestview to attend the workshop.

"We appreciate having you here even though it's just for a visit and hope it will be permanent," Helt said.

Addressing resident comments that have been made regarding the project, Helt reminded the public that the council has no authority to select which companies choose to open in the city.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: City and developer closer to moving mall project forward