CRESTVIEW — How can Crestview residents help the homeless? That’s what one city council member is asking during a town hall meeting tonight.

Councilman J.B. Whitten will host the meeting, “Homeless in Crestview,” from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 8 at Azteca Restaurant in Northview Plaza.

“Do you take basic essentials for granted?” a flyer for the meeting states, referring to a hot shower, a coat, underwear, socks and shoes, among other things.

Whitten and Ann Sprague of the Crestview Area Shelter for the Homeless will present the discussion. Residents can ask questions, broach ideas and offer recommendations concerning meeting the needs of the homeless.

Those who cannot attend can email ideas to jbwhitten@cityofcrestview.org

The restaurant is located at 789 Ferdon Blvd. N.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview councilman to host town hall meeting on homelessness

CRESTVIEW — Downtown businesses now have the option to serve alcohol outside during special events. City leaders on Monday voted 3-2 to approve the proposal, which allows open containers, on occasion, within the Main Street area.

Numerous residents spoke about the matter during the meeting. Here are some of their comments:

“Grape juice left by itself turns to vinegar,” Pastor Joel McGraw, of Crestview Independent Church, said. “Man must corrupt wine to make it what it is. It will corrupt society as well. Councilmen, the ordinance will corrupt downtown Crestview. Crestview will be sorry if they do this.”

“Guns don’t affect your judgment, but alcohol does. Selling alcohol is all about getting the almighty dollar,” Jim Vail, pastor of First Baptist Church of Baker, said. 

“Keep the alcohol behind closed doors on Main Street,” Crestview resident Willard Wilson said. “You are placed in those seats to protect and serve the citizens of this city in a positive way. Can any of you on council tell me one good thing that alcohol does for a person? … It’s all about the revenue and the dollar.” He then laid a dollar bill on the council dais.

“There are a lot of people that make their living with the almighty dollar,” Johnny C. Alexander, a Crestview businessman, said. “A lot of these people are church-going people. For the sake of the livelihood of these downtown business owners, council should pass this ordinance.”

“My wife and I decided to reinvest in downtown Crestview,” said Bill Toannon, who co-owns Casbah Coffee House. “I prefer to see revitalization downtown. Putting big-box stores on either end of Crestview will not help small businesses downtown.”

“We are looking to bring some events to downtown where alcohol is served,” Paul Lowrey, downtown business owner and president of the Main Street Association said.  Responsible business owners, responsible use, and responsible consumption. We are not looking to do this during family-oriented events like the Crestview Christmas Parade. You will be offering economic opportunity for downtown businesses.”

Councilman Doug Faircloth, who dissented, said many people contacted him about the ordinance.

“I voted against the ordinance the first time and haven’t seen anything to change my mind on this issue,” he said. “I don’t see where alcohol will be the saving grace of downtown.”

Councilman Shannon Hayes, who voted yes, said he asked a downtown business owner what happens downtown after 5 p.m. The response was an emphatic nothing. “I received a lot of opinions on this issue — not facts,” Hayes said. “There are a lot of protections in the ordinance.”

“You’ve elected five people to make a decision on this,” Councilman J.B. Whitten said. “Some will walk out happy, some won’t. I will continue to support this ordinance.”

Councilman Bill Cox offered no comments.

“Regardless of the outcome, I don’t want my great-grandchildren to say one day that my grandfather brought this ordinance to this city,” said Council President Blocker, who also dissented. “I feel the downtown needs to be a family oriented area.”

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Editor's Note: A previous version of this article incorrectly named First Baptist Church of Baker's pastor.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Council: Yes to alcohol

CRESTVIEW — Here is the agenda for the Crestview City Council’s next meeting.

CITY OF CRESTVIEW

OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK

P.O. DRAWER 1209, CRESTVIEW, FLORIDA 32536

Phone # (850) 682-1560 Fax # (850) 682-8077

November 28, 2016

6:00 P.M.

Council Chambers

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA

1. Call to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Open Meeting

4. Public Opportunity on Council Items

5. Items for Discussion/Consideration

a. Approval of Amendment 2 for WWTP Operations Contract – Public Services

b. Discussion concerning Gori Property – Mr. Holley

c. Extension of CRA Office space – Growth Management

6. Resolutions

a. Resolution 17-02 – Out of City Water – Industrial Drive and Richburg Lane

7. Public Hearings:

a. Ordinance 1612 – Rezoning of the Courthouse Parcel – First Reading – Growth Management

b. Ordinance 1611 – Amendment to Code of Ordinances, Chapter 6, Alcoholic Beverages – Second Reading – Growth Management

8. Comments from the Audience

9. 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. All New Business is for staff and elected officials only, and must be submitted for approval no later than the Wednesday prior to the meeting. Those not listed on the regular agenda who wish to address the council should fill out a yellow card. The Card must be submitted to the City Clerk. Speaking time should be three 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. If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Council with respect to any matter considered at such meeting or hearing, he or she will need a record of the proceedings, and that, for such purpose, he or she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. The City Council of the City of Crestview, Florida does not discriminate upon the basis of any individual’s disability status. Anyone requiring reasonable accommodation as provided for in the American With Disabilities Act to insure access to and participation in the meeting should contact the Office of the City Clerk at (850)682-1560 prior to the meeting to make appropriate arrangements.

Any invocation that is offered before the official start of the City Council meeting shall be the voluntary offering of a private person, to and for the benefit of the City Council. The views or beliefs expressed by the invocation speaker have not been previously reviewed or approved by the City Council or the city staff, and the City is not allowed by law to endorse the religious beliefs or views of this, or any other speaker. Persons in attendance at the City Council meeting are invited to stand during the opening invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. However, such invitation shall not be construed as a demand, order, or any other type of command. No person in attendance at the meeting shall be required to participate in any opening invocation that is offered. A person may exit the City Council Chambers and return upon completion of the opening invocation if a person does not wish to participate in or witness the opening invocation.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview City Council special meeting agenda: Nov. 28

LAUREL HILL — The Laurel Hill City Council will meet 6 p.m. Dec. 1 at city hall, 8209 State Road  85 N.

Here is the meeting's agenda.

•Call to Order

•Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

1. Public comments

2. New business

a. Approval of consent agenda

•Consent Agenda

1. Minutes of Nov. 3 meeting

2. Update on internal audit: General and Water Funds (November)

b. Projects update (Dewberry)

c. Paving of New Ebenezer Road

3. Unfinished business (none)

The council's next regular meeting is 6 p.m. Jan. 5 at City Hall.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill City Council agenda: Dec. 1

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County’s Supervisor of Elections office will soon hold Candidate University. Anyone interested in running for public office or just wanting to learn about the candidate process may register.

Two sessions are available: 6-9 p.m. Nov. 29, in the Buddy Brackin Building, 302 Wilson St. N., Suite 102, Crestview, and 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 1, in the Okaloosa County Administration Building, 1250 Eglin Parkway, Suite 103, Shalimar.

Candidate University consists of a curriculum focused on the fundamentals of becoming and being a candidate. Participants will be introduced to each step including pre-filing, collecting petitions and qualifying.

Campaign pitfalls will also be discussed as will audits, recounts and contest of elections.

All participants will receive a certificate upon completion of the program and there is no cost to attend.

The registration deadline is Nov. 28. Contact Katie Wainwright, 689-5600 or kwainwright@co.okaloosa.fl.us, to register.

More information is available at www.GoVote-Okaloosa.com under the ‘Programs’ menu.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Candidate University starts Nov. 29 in Crestview

CRESTVIEW — Some downtown buildings may be past their expiration date, according to city officials.

During the city council meeting on Monday, Councilman Doug Faircloth raised discussion on Main Street’s empty buildings.

First, he suggested directing the city’s code inspector to inspect these buildings for safety.

Next, if buildings are not up to code, he said, the city should send a letter to owners asking them to bring the building up to code. 

Finally, Faircloth said, if owners take no action, the city should move to raze the empty buildings. 

City leaders did not vote on the issue but Councilman Shannon Hayes agreed with Faircloth and stated that the council needs to closely examine Crestview’s growth.

On Monday, the council also:

• Heard from Growth Management Director Teresa Gailliard, who presented the first reading of an alcoholic beverage ordinance revision for the Main Street Commercial District’s special events. Joel McGraw, pastor of Crestview Independent Baptist Church, presented a petition signed by a number of Crestview residents against exemption of the alcohol ordinance in downtown Crestview. There were no other speakers on the issue. The council voted for the proposal to go to a second reading. Councilmen Hayes, JB Whitten and Bill Cox voted in favor; Faircloth and Joe Blocker dissented.
• Addressed the second reading of an ordinance that sets up retirement programs for Crestview’s police and fire departments. The council voted unanimously in favor of this ordinance.
• Discussed the present salary of city council members, whose pay has not increased since 1983, Cox said. Crestview City Council members annually earn $5,040.

In addition:

Mayor David Cadle recognized the Crestview Police Department’s recent accreditation with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Chief Tony Taylor credited the entire department for this achievement that followed two years of work.

Officer Chaise Rawles and Cmdr. Andrew Schneider, the CPD’s accreditation manager, earned commendations from the mayor for their efforts in helping the department achieve accreditation.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Councilman: restore or raze empty buildings

CRESTVIEW — The City Council will meet 6 p.m. Nov. 14 at city hall, 198 Wilson St., N.

Here is the meeting's agenda.

1. Call to order

2. Invocation: the Rev. Michael Precht, First United Methodist Church

Pledge of Allegiance

3. Open policy making and legislative session

4. Special presentations

a. Service awards, Mayor David Cadle

5. Approval of minutes

Approval of the minutes for the  Aug. 4, budget workshop; Aug. 8 council meeting; Aug. 15 special meeting; Sept. 8 tentative hearing; Sept. 26 special meeting, public hearing, and workshop.

6. Public Hearings:

a. Ordinance 1608 – 175/185 Plan

7. Public Opportunity on Council proposition

8. Consent Agenda

a. Approval of invoice from Ben Holley for $3,797.50

b. Approval of invoice from Allen, Norton and Blue for $652.47

c. Approval of one-year contract with PAWS, same amount as current year.

d. Approval of Sensus Advanced Metering Infrastructure agreement

e. Approval of debris removal contract

f. Approval of Amendment 2 for WWTP Operations contract

g. Approval of Utility Services Group Water Tank Maintenance contract

h. Approval of Ard, Shirley and Rudolph invoice for $1,276.

i. Approval of Military Surplus purchase – Chief Taylor

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Here's what the Crestview City Council will meet about Nov. 14

LAUREL HILL — The Laurel Hill City Council will refinance a Water Department loan and has approved a search for a 50-50 grant for its volunteer fire department.

Council member Debra Adams motioned Nov. 3 to refinance the Water Department rural development loan, which passed with a vote of 4-1. Travis Dewrell dissented. If the new refinance rate comes back higher than the current 3.6 percent interest rate, the council will vote on it again.

In other actions, Jimbo Fields, deputy fire chief of the Laurel Hill Volunteer Fire Department, addressed the council about the need to update or replace equipment such as firetruck emergency lights, a generator, radios, bunker gear and the skid unit.

A skid unit is a portable item with a pump and a tank on it that the department would use to fight brush and vehicle fires. Skid units cost about $10,000, and are more cost-effective than adding a new firetruck, which costs about $300,000.The skid would be placed in the back of an F-350 truck being donated to the department. Other equipment replacement costs total to $2,000.

The council approved Fields' request. If the funds are granted, the Division of Forestry would provide 50 percent of the funding, with the city providing the other 50.

The next council meeting is 6 p.m. Dec. 1 at city hall, 8209 U.S. Highway 85 N.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill council approves loan refinancing, 50-50 grant search