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City in process of closing 107-year-old loophole to designate official city seal

Written by Staff Reporters on . Posted in government, News, politics.

“In researching the city charter and code of ordinances, I was unable to locate any documentation or legislation officially designating the official seal for the city of Crestview or safeguarding the use,” said Crestview City Clerk Maryanne Schrader.

At the most recent City Council meeting, Schrader presented a proposed ordinance to the board that would designate the long-used seal as the city’s official seal.

The official city seal is used for authenticating the ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and all the permanent documents that the city issues. Schrader has found old documents using the Crestview seal dating back to the year of city’s incorporation in 1916.

The City of Crestview is going through the process of designating this seal as the official seal of the city, despite it being used as such for the past 107 years.

However, nothing has been found in the city records of any official action taken to designate that seal as the official city seal.

“I even have the old cast iron seal from back in the day that was affixed to a desk,” Schrader said. “But we don’t really have anything official stating that’s our seal.”

The city clerk’s office has found an antique cast iron seal press that used to be bolted onto someone’s desk and used when the seal had to be affixed to an official document. The antique press is still used today when the seal is needed to be placed on a laminated document.

The ordinance designating the current seal as the official seal of Crestview is designed to protect the city from other parties attempting to duplicate it in future. City staff will not have to go back to previous documents to place the official city seal on them again. The ordinance does include penalties for its unauthorized use.

At the March 13 City Council meeting, the board approved the first reading of an ordinance designating the official seal of the city. The first reading was approved 5-0 and the final reading and vote for approval is expected to take place at the next council meeting.

“We’re just 100 years behind,” City Manager Tim Bolduc joked after the meeting.

Once the seal is officially designated, Bolduc said the city will have it trademarked so that it can’t be illegally duplicated. He said the city will likely then go through the same process to officially designate the city’s logo that appears on the city website and throughout City Hall and other city buildings.

Q&A with Councilman Doug Capps

Written by Staff Reporters on . Posted in government, News, politics.

Q: How would you describe Crestview to someone new to the area?

A: Crestview is the perfect place to live, a growing community with a hometown feel. Affordability, safety, and friendliness are characteristics that stand out when thinking about Crestview. Our community is becoming very diverse, in large part due to our military members that come to the area and make it their homes and stay after retirement from the military. Crestview offers great schools and a growing number of services for its citizens. The sunny weather and access to the prettiest beaches in Florida are also a huge plus.  

Q: What was your motivation to join the City Council?

A: I grew up here and have a sense of pride and deep love for our community. After serving our country for 20 years, I always had an interest in serving the community. I got involved by volunteering and sitting on some boards. Once I retired from the private sector, it made sense to start serving our community. 

Q: What do you feel are the biggest issues facing the city this year?

A: Crestview’s rapid growth is creating many challenges. We have infrastructure needs, affordable housing needs, and the need for more career opportunities (not just jobs) in Crestview.

Q: What are your main goals for the city in 2023?

A: Planning for the future and the upcoming capital projects we face, such as a new fire station, new police department, water/sewer improvements, roadway/traffic improvements, and more sidewalks, especially around our schools. Also, continuing to stick to the plan we have, with growing the city through annexations and cleaning it up, through our code enforcement program and blight removal. These things also help make the city more attractive to business and industry. I can’t wait for the construction on Main Street to begin this year, to be able to expand our sidewalks and make downtown more appealing to businesses that are open after 5 p.m. daily, making downtown a destination in the evening. I would also like to see a park on the north side, perhaps around the Community Center and Library.  

Q: What achievement in the city are you most proud of accomplishing in 2022?

A: Two things stand out.

1. The ability of our team to stand up an Animal Control Division in a very short time. This was not in our plans, but we were presented with an over-priced contract in a take-it-or-leave-it situation, and it didn’t feel like the services being provided warranted the increase; our citizens deserved better. This illustrated the ability of our team to pivot on the fly and perform at a high level, all while producing another service for our citizens.

2. Growing our city and annexing more than 800 acres in the last year. Our moratorium on annexation fees allowing property owners to annex and gain access to city services has been tremendous. This helps us close in enclaves as well as expand our borders while having positive future impacts including ad valorem revenue based on future taxable assessed values.

Councilman ‘appalled’ smoking ban not moving forward

Written by Staff Reporters on . Posted in Education, News, politics.

“We should look out for our future generations and remove the exposure of smoking and vaping health risks,” Bullard said.

Ordinance 1917 would prohibit smoking or vaping within city-owned parks. Cities can now make this decision due to Gov. Ron DeSantis updating the Clean Air Act on June 24, 2022. This allows counties and municipalities to restrict smoking within parks they own or within a municipal jurisdiction owned by the county.

Anamaria Penagos, a teacher and the S.W.A.T sponsor, brought four CHS students to present before the council about the economic, social, health, and environmental dangers of smoking and vaping.

Lauren Woodward, S.W.A.T. club president at CHS, spoke about the environmental concerns of the cigarette butts and vape cartridges left in the parks and beaches.

“Tobacco products create 2 million tons of waste per year,” Woodward said. “It’s not just cigarette butts, we also see boxes and cartons.”

Alana Centeno-Sanchez highlighted the costs cities pay to clean up this waste.

“As a nation, we spend $4 billion a year just to clean up cigarette butts and pod cartridges,” Centeno-Sanchez said. “With Crestview being in the tourist area, maintaining our areas is very important.”

Neighboring areas have debated similar ordinances and begun preparing to implement them before peak tourist season.

In December 2022, the Panama City Beach City Council approved a ban on the smoking of cigarettes and vapes on all city-owned beaches and parks. Fort Walton Beach also placed a ban on tobacco products late last year. The City of Destin council passed its ban in January.

S.W.A.T. member Daniela Elliott discussed concerns of social norms with young children witnessing adults smoking and growing up to believe this is a normal habit.

“When I go to Twin Hills Park, I will sometimes see parents smoking around their children,” Elliott said. “Changing social norms so that Florida youth are not exposed to smoking as expected behavior is especially important.”

Fellow S.W.A.T. member Marta Elliott targeted health concerns of smoking including the more recent concerns of Fentanyl.

“There have been multiple cases where vapes have been laced with fentanyl,” Marta Elliott said. “A lethal dose for a child may only be a fraction of what is lethal to an adult.”

The council unanimously applauded and thanked the students form coming to the meeting and presenting on why the ordinance should be implemented in the City of Crestview.

Councilman Ryan Bullard meets with Crestview High School S.W.A.T. members to answer questions and discuss his thoughts on smoking and vaping.

However, the council did not agree with passing the ordinance to a second reading.

Andrew Rencich did not vote in favor of the ordinance at this time. He wished to hear more from the community before deciding, along with collecting more data on how such an ordinance would be enforced.

Douglas Capps shared his heartfelt experience and the loss of his father to lung cancer and voted in favor of passing the ordinance.

Cynthia Brown felt the ordinance would be overreaching on the government’s part.

“I would be in favor of a designated smoking area,” Brown said. “You have taxpayers who are cigarette smokers, and I don’t think they would be getting representation out of this.”

Mayor JB Whitten cautioned about not being able to contain smoke in one area and the fallacies years ago of designated smoking areas on planes and other places.

Bullard voted a firm yes to the ordinance and shared his deep concerns for the safety of children along with countering Brown’s concerns.

“This is a ban on smoking at our parks where children are playing and they’re breathing in smoke,” Bullard said. “I don’t care if somebody pays taxes or not. They don’t have a right to put children at risk.”

The voting resulted in a tie and the ordinance was not passed to a second reading. Bullard said he was appalled by the actions of the council in not passing the ordinance.

Q&A with Councilman Andrew Rencich

Written by Staff Reporters on . Posted in News, politics.

Q: How would you describe Crestview to someone new to the area?

A: Crestview is a rapidly growing and modernizing conservative city. Still small enough to know everyone within multiple circles but large enough to provide opportunity.

Q: What was your motivation to join the City Council?

A: The operations/efficiencies of the government prior to the changing of charter structure and bringing in a City Manager was the catalyst. To this day I still run into developers, contractors, investors, and business owners that refuse to even look at the City of Crestview as an option for commerce.

When my wife and I were trying to expand our business as a novice first-time developer it was very painful and tasking to get through the process. Communications with the required city offices and those that occupied the offices at the time was not efficient or business friendly to say the least and be nice.

Q: What do you feel are the biggest issues facing the city this year?

A: I don’t necessarily believe it’s easy to say there is one issue. We have several that all must move in unison together. Affordable housing is still and for the foreseeable future going to be an issue for the city. We have made leaps and bounds toward partnering with others to aid the development of additional capacity and refurbishment of outdated housing.

We have always been seen as a bedroom community and as we grow, we need to be able to service our citizens needs in the north. Everyone seems to travel south for entertainment and shopping. We are going to continue to roll out the red carpet for commerce bringing jobs and opportunity for work and play in the north.

Q: What are your main goals for the city in 2023?

A: We have many capital infrastructure improvements that need to be ushered along during 2023 to ensure we have the ability to continue growth, gain additional investment and new work/play opportunity in the city. New housing and business growth take capacity resources and forward planning.

Q: What achievement in the city are you most proud of accomplishing in 2022?

A: If I had to pick one of the achievements from 2022 then it would have to be our ability to fulfill our reserves ensuring the city is financially efficient and healthy all while taking our first step toward reducing our millage rate.

We have voluntarily annexed in hundreds of acers of property by those who would have never even given it a thought prior to the city changing its direction.

2022 election results are in

Written by Staff Reporters on . Posted in News, politics.

The general election for 2022 has come to a close and the results are in with 52 of 52 precincts in Okaloosa County reporting.

Republicans were the clear winners in the state races with Gov. Ron DeSantis retaining his office by a wide margin over Democrat Charlie Crist. DeSantis garnered 76.2% of the vote.

By the same margins, his cabinet was elected. Ashley Moody (R) remains Attorney General, Jimmy Patronis (R) is Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Agriculture belongs to Wilton Simpson (R).

Marco Rubio (R) kept his US Senate seat garnering 75.26% of the vote.

State Senator for District 1 Doug Broxson (R) won his re-election with 77.69% of the vote.

State Senator for District 2 was won by Jay Trumbull (R) who defeated Carolynn Zonia (D) with 75.31% of the vote.

Dr. Joel Rudman (R) of Navarre won the State Representative District 3 seat with 97.26% of the vote. The position was held by Jayer Williamson who announced early on he would not seek re-election.

Closer to home, Crestview City Councilman Joe Blocker won his battle for Precinct 1, defeating Shannon Hayes and Thara Larkins for the position.

The North Okaloosa Fire District referendum passed with 63.11% of voters approving of the referendum.

Okaloosa County had a 56.29% voter turnout, with 81,058 ballots cast.

How would the proposed amendments to Florida’s constitution affect voters?

Written by Ken Garner on . Posted in government, News, politics.

The first proposed amendment would authorize the legislature to stop local governments from considering flood-resistance improvements when calculating a property’s assessed value for property tax purposes. The second proposed amendment would abolish the Florida Constitutional Revision Commission, which meets every 20 years to review and propose changes to the document. The third proposed amendment would authorize additional homestead exemptions of up to $50,000 for specified critical front-line public employees.

To help Northwest Florida voters understand the proposed changes to the constitution, Sandpaper Publishing consulted three sources: Florida TaxWatch, the League of Women Voters, and the Miami Herald editorial board.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT 1: Prohibiting property tax on flood-resistance improvements

The proposed text of Amendment 1 would allow the legislature to “prohibit the consideration of any change or improvement made to real property used for residential purposes to improve the property’s resistance to flood damage in determining the assessed value of such property” for local tax purposes; if approved, the state could protect people who make improvements to their homes to guard against flooding from paying higher property taxes. The massive destruction caused by Hurricane Ian has added urgency to this measure.

Florida TaxWatch: YES. According to the 2022 voter’s guide, “climate change poses an existential and generational threat to Florida. The impacts of climate change on every sector of Florida’s economy will be catastrophic unless mitigated. Florida’s continued growth will increase populations and development in flood-prone areas, which will put still more people and property at risk.” The property tax protection will help encourage property owners to make storm-prevention improvements with only a minimal impact on services, TaxWatch claims.

League of Women Voters of Florida: no position. “While the League has a longstanding position that ‘no tax sources or revenue should be specified, limited, exempted, or prohibited in the Constitution’ … Florida has been subject to major destructive storms and flooding across our state in the past; Floridians could be positively impacted by efforts to create more sustainability within our state.’”

Miami Herald: NO. The Herald’s editorial board argues that the proposal is well-intentioned but not well thought-out. The phrase “any change or improvement” is vague, it argues, and could be abused. Besides, it adds, the state already has a program called My Safe Florida Home to help eligible homeowners improve their homes’ vulnerability to storm damage. “Giving tax breaks only shifts the burden of taxation to other homeowners. That is not the best way to address the threat of sea-level rise and climate change to the Sunshine State.”

PROPOSED AMENDMENT 2: Abolishing the Constitution Revision Commission

The Florida Constitution Revision Commission meets every 20 years to review the state constitution and propose changes (In 2017-2018, it offered eight ballot initiatives). The CRC can address issues ignored by the Legislature in front of Florida voters and is the only vehicle, except for citizen petition drives and the Legislature, which can place proposed amendments on the ballot. The commission comprises 37 members, named by the governor, the House speaker, the Senate president and the chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court.

Florida TaxWatch: YES. Abolishing the Constitution Review Commission has wide bipartisan support, according to TaxWatch, because it has “strayed from its original mission and become captive to special interests,” according to the Florida National Organization for Women and “did a poor job following its own procedural rules,” according to AFL-CIO Florida. TaxWatch noted that proposed amendments can be placed on the ballot without the commission.

League of Women Voters of Florida: NO. The Legislature already has “significantly” restricted the citizen initiative for amending the constitution. It noted that the 2017 Constitution Revision Commission “was political and questions put before the votes were ‘bundled’ in ways that made it difficult to separate valid issues,” adding that the commission should be saved, but the Legislature should require bipartisan membership and ensure proposed amendments address a single issue. “Eliminating the Constitution Revision Commission will remove a generational opportunity for citizens to update their constitution. The League opposes any limits on citizens’ abilities to be architects of their own Florida Constitution.”

Miami Herald: NO. Editors agreed that the commission has become overtly political and noted the same failings listed by TaxWatch. But, they said, “Banishing the CRC, a proposal from a Republican legislator, seems like another move by the powers-that-be in Tallahassee to muzzle voters’ voices, so that the Legislature becomes the only voice, which Floridians should deem unacceptable.”

PROPOSED AMENDMENT 3: Homestead exemptions for critical public employees

This amendment would grant additional homestead tax exemptions for non-school levies of up to $50,000 of the assessed value of homestead property owned by “Specified Critical Public Services Workforce”: classroom teachers, law enforcement officers, correctional officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, child welfare services professionals, active-duty members of the United States Armed Forces, and Florida National Guard members. The Legislature already has passed a bill that would implement the exemptions on Jan. 1, 2023, if the proposed amendment passes.

Florida TaxWatch: YES. TaxWatch suggests that the exemption for these workers is “well-deserved.” It notes that other taxpayers will pay more to make up the difference but said the state must address shortages in these critical jobs. “In general, Florida TaxWatch opposes efforts to shift the tax burden from one segment of the population to another. In this instance, however, Florida TaxWatch believes the benefits of Amendment 3 far outweigh the negative consequences of a tax shift.”

League of Women Voters of Florida: NO. This proposal may have merit, but the League has a longstanding position that “no tax sources or revenue should be specified, limited, exempted, or prohibited in the constitution.”

Miami Herald: NO. The editorial board recognizes the intent to encourage more critical workers to choose jobs in Florida, but said the cost is too high – as much as $86 million the first fiscal year; includes too many workers whose “critical workforce” status is questionable; and would be difficult to reverse if included in the state’s constitution. “That means we’re passing on this legacy to Floridian in the future. This permanent tax break pus a permanent burden on taxpayers.”

Mayor calls for Opioid Summit

Written by Staff Reporters on . Posted in News, politics.

Opioids have been around for quite some time, so what has become different over the last few years that makes them such dangerous drugs, pure and simple the addition of fentanyl. This drug has the potential to bring users to a new kind of high, but there is a serious side effect, it may kill you. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration “it is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent as heroin as an analgesic.” 

To demonstrate the impact of fentanyl, according to the founder and CEO of Project Opioid, here in Florida, 60% of overdose cause of death is contributed to fentanyl compared to only 10% for prescription opioids. To better explain this worsening crisis and help cities create plans to combat it, the founder and CEO of Project Opioid, Andrae Bailey, has agreed to come to our region and present what he has labelled “The Overdose Summit.”  I say region because he is inviting the whole public sector from all Northwest Florida to meet in Crestview for this summit. This is a true partnership between the City of Crestview, Project Opioid, the Eglin Federal Credit Union, Florida Power and Light, and the Northwest Florida League of Cities. Mr. Bailey will be the main presenter at the Overdose Summit, on the 30th of September, beginning at 9AM at the Crestview Community Center and ending by 3PM. In addition to his presentation, there will be local vendors throughout the hall with information and brochures related to this national crisis. Even better news is that it is free to everyone and comes with a free coffee/pastry breakfast sponsored by Florida Power and Light and a free lunch sponsored by the Eglin Federal Credit Union. You do, however, have to register ahead of time. This can be done by visiting the City of Crestview website at  https://www.cityofcrestview.org/ and following the instructions.

Crestview Police Department welcomes two new officers

Written by archive on . Posted in government, News, politics.

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Police Department recently swore in two new members of the agency, Officer Sarah Althuisius and Officer Kristy Peters.

Crestview Mayor J.B. Whitten swears in new Crestview Police Department Officer Sarah Althuisius, center, and Officer Kristy Peters Dec. 21 in Crestview.

Althuisius is dual certified as a police officer after recently participating in the Corrections to Law Enforcement Cross-over program through the Florida Panhandle Technical College in Chipley.

Peters was an agency sponsored candidate who recently participated and graduated from the Law Enforcement Academy at George Stone Technical College in Pensacola.

Both officers were sworn in by Crestview Mayor J.B. Whitten Dec. 21 and will be introduced to the Field Training Program during the first week of January. During the 10-week program, both officers will participate in standardized training that covers every aspect of law enforcement, from department policies and procedures to addressing the law enforcement needs of our citizens.

The CPD welcomes both officers to the Crestview Police Department family and looks forward to introducing them to the citizens of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Police Department welcomes two new officers

Crestview Housing Authority to accept Section 8 applications starting Jan. 12

Written by archive on . Posted in government, News, politics.

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Housing Authority Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program will be accepting applications for the waiting list Jan. 12-20.

Applications will be available for download on the Crestview Housing Authority website (www.chafl.com) or picked up 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the office located at 371 W. Hickory Ave., Crestview.

No. 1 in the nation: Crestview-Fort Walton-Destin had more home sales than other small metros

More: Crestview shelter helps provide housing to more than 80 people experiencing homelessness

The staff will begin giving out applications at 7:30 a.m.

The Housing Choice Voucher Program is for the very low income family. 

Crestview Housing Authority/Section 8 does have a local preference. This preference will be for families who live or work in Okaloosa County over families who do not live or work in Okaloosa County. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Housing Authority to accept Section 8 applications starting Jan. 12

Property owners save millions with early tax payments

Written by archive on . Posted in government, News, politics.

SHALIMAR — Over $9.1 million was saved by Okaloosa County property owners who took advantage of the 4 percent early payment discount last month.

“Our office collected $228.5 million during November, with over 66 percent of that total collected using our convenient and secure online services,“ said Tax Collector Ben Anderson. “The best part is that the millions of dollars saved by property owners stayed in the hands of citizens, rather than in the hands of government!”

The Tax Collector reported an all-time high for property taxes collected in November, reaching 83.5 percent of the 2021 tax roll, beating out last year’s record of 82%.

“We are extremely pleased by the record collection numbers accomplished in only 24 working days from the opening of the tax roll,” said Justin Gordon, director of tax services. “We owe this success to both our team and to the over 12,000 property owners who took advantage of our secure online payment option.

“We recorded a 27% increase in property taxes paid online this year versus last year, a huge success,” he added. 

Several payment options are available to property owners needing to pay property taxes. The most convenient is by using your bank account (E-check) at OkaloosaTax.com.

“Paying online with your Bank Account (E-check) is a smart and easy way to make your payment," said Chief of Financial Operations Keri Holguin. "It’s as if you were writing us a check, but only electronically using your routing and account number. It’s convenient, secure, and free.”

Those who paid online with E-Check saved precious time and over $1.1 million in convenience fees this November.

All Tax Collector Offices will be closed on Dec. 23 and 24 in observance of Christmas. Offices will again be closed on Dec. 31 for the New Year’s.

Citizens with questions concerning Tax Collector Services should visit OkaloosaTax.com or call from their mobile device by dialing #TAX (#829).

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Property owners save millions with early tax payments

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