CRESTVIEW — The Crestview City Council will purchase the equipment necessary to bring Crestview Police Department video systems up to speed instead of financing the cost.

The CPD purchased 36 body cameras for deployment in the field, and had eight in-car cameras, along with software and other equipment required to use it, through a mixture of grant and general city funding, according to documents from the Oct. 10 city council meeting.

After issues with the quality of required CPD evidence, the city budget for 2017 includes the purchase of camera systems and compatible hardware and software. The new equipment, a Coban system, "not only meets, but exceeds" CPD requirements, city documents state.

Financing the Coban system would have cost the city $187,643 with interest. The approval to purchase it outright saves the city $14,840 in interest, and the new system will be put into effect much more quickly, a city document stated.

City leaders also approved staff efforts and expense for the following events, some of which are already in the budget:

• The Oct. 14 Spirits of Crestview walk on Main Street
• The Oct. 29 Fall Festival
• The Nov. 11 Veterans Day Parade
• The Dec. 3 "Christmas Through the Decades" Christmas Parade
• The Jan. 14 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Walk.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Police Department gets new cameras system

MILTON — John DiGiacomo is a government-contracting specialist with the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of West Florida College of Business.

He helps small businesses, from Pensacola to Panama City, get local, state and federal government contracts through the Procurement Technical Assistance Center. The SBDC Procurement Center offers one-on-one consulting services along with workshops, classes and a no-cost bid search service that matches contract requirements with a company’s capabilities and 2,500 buying activities across the country.

Most of the services offered at the assistance center are at no cost. On Monday, Oct. 17, DiaGiacomo will host a workshop titled “Basic Government Contracting 101: Just Tell Me What I need to Know” at the Santa Rosa County Economic Development Office in Milton, located at 6491 Caroline St., in Suite 4. Seating is limited; visit http://bit.ly/2dROYfm to register at no cost.

DiGiacomo took the time to answer some questions regarding what small business owners need to know when seeking a government contract.

Are many small businesses in Santa Rosa County capable of getting a government contract?

DiGiacomo: "Yes, there are many businesses that can benefit from a contract. I have looked at the region and, so far, I have worked with manufacturers, individuals that are getting a contract for choir services and everything in between."

Are there misconceptions that small business owners have when attempting to get a government contract?

DiGiacomo: "There are many misconceptions about doing business with the federal government. One is getting paid; the federal government uses electronic payment to pay its contractors. Usually most contractors will be paid within 30 days of receiving their invoice. Another is that the government is this monster that has all these 'regulations' that a business must comply with. Many of those regulations do not apply to small business.  A large business must comply, but the small business is not required by law to have too many burdensome regulations. there are still many things that a small business must comply with but that is what the Procurement Technical Assistance Centers are for: to assist contractors in doing business with the federal government." 

From your experience, what kind of impact can a government contract have on a small business?

DiGiacomo: "There is an old saying, 'The best thing in the world is getting a government contract, it can also be the worst thing that can happen to a business.' If a company is prepared and has all of its ‘ducks in order,’ if they are prepared for it, a federal government contract is something that can make a company profitable and make it so that that business can expand and grow.

“It's a fact that small business is part of the backbone of the federal acquisition process; the feds want to do business with small, minority, woman-owned or veteran-owned businesses. They seek them out, they have goals that they must reach and when they find a business that is good, has the ability to get the job done, make a profit and deliver on time — that makes the procurement people very happy. This leads the government to want to do more business with (the business) and when that happens that business will grow."

What are common mistakes that small business owners make when pursuing and getting a government contract?

DiGiacomo: "Not being prepared, not reading the contract (and) thinking that the ‘bar stories’ they hear are true. The government writes millions of contracts every year; they have a problem with just a small percent of them.

“No one looks at the number of successes that the government and small business have together, they would rather look at the few failures. Can things go wrong? Yes, it happens; but for the most part every day thousands of small businesses are awarded contracts, they perform on them and are paid."

What can small business owners expect when pursuing a government contract?

DiGiacomo: "First off, it's not something that is going to happen in 30 days — it takes time and effort to be successful. They need to have everything ready — the government is not going to give you a contract unless you are ready.

“If you have never had a government contract, you will be inspected to see if you can comply with it. No one has been awarded a contract where they do not have everything ready to fulfill that specific contract. Doing business with the federal government is … a 10-step process that is really quite easy to do, if you're prepared.” 

Here’s that process:

• Step 1 -Think Like The Government
• Step 2 -Identify Your Customers
• Step 3- Get Registered
• Step 4 – Find the bid opportunities
• Step 5 – Get the bid package
• Step 6-  Review the bid package
• Step 7-  Price it out
• Step 8- Write your proposal
• Step 9 – Submit the proposal

For more information on the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of West Florida College of Business, contact John DiGiacomo by email at jdigiacomo@uwf.edu or visit www.sbdc.uwf.edu. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Specialist helps small businesses get government contracts

Editor’s Note: The Santa Rosa Press Gazette will feature Milton City Council candidates running in the Nov. 8 election. We continue this multi-part series with an introduction to Jeff Snow, who is running for seat1 in Ward III against Henry G. Martin.

Tell us a little about yourself.

"I am married to Paula Snow and we have five children. I have lived in Milton, Fla. for the last 20-plus years. I am currently employed with L-3 Communications at NAS Whiting Field for the last 31 years on the TH-57 helicopter flight-training program. I have held numerous positions while employed there.

“I have been a coach/mentor to children all of my adult life through inline speed skating, basketball and softball programs. Our family are members of Pace Assembly of God, where I hold a leadership role in our church's age ministry group."

Why are you running for Milton City Council?

"My decision to run for Milton City Council came with a lot of thought and prayer. I thought of the future that our city's children and my own will face — and I believe we can do a lot better. I want to give them a better Milton and better opportunities. I believe it's time to move Milton into the future." 

What would you like to accomplish in Milton?

"I would start with working with others by giving our citizens a voice and have a receptive ear to their needs and concerns. I will focus on making our city business friendly with a 'How can we make things work' mentality, which will attract new businesses and employment opportunities for our citizens.

“I will also focus heavily on our parks/recreation and children’s programs to offer more opportunities for our children. I will strive to make our city and city council one that the citizens will be proud of. Let's Move Milton Forward!”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Snow wants 'business friendly' Milton with more recreational opportunities

UPCOMING

REVIEW COMMITTEE: 9:30 a.m. Oct. 12, Emergency Operations Center, Northwest Florida State College, 90 College Blvd. E, Niceville. The committee will review and consider submittals for RFQ PS 65-16, EMS medical director.

REVIEW COMMITTEE: 10 a.m. Oct. 14, Public Works, 1759 Ferdon Blvd. S., Crestview. The committee will review and consider submittals for RFQ PW 70-16, Right of Way Acquisition Services for PJ Adams Parkway widening.

PURCHASING DIRECTOR SCREENING COMMITTEE: 8:30 a.m. to noon Oct. 18 and 8:30-11 a.m. Oct. 19, Okaloosa County Administration Building, Board of County Commissioners Administrative Offices, 1250 N. Eglin Parkway, Shalimar. The committee will conduct in-person interviews for the for the Purchasing Director position.

RECURRING

BLACKMAN FIRE DISTRICT BOARD: 7 p.m. first Mondays, 1850 U.S. Highway 2, Baker.

CRESTVIEW CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St., Crestview.

CRESTVIEW HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD: 5:15 p.m. third Mondays, 371 Hickory Ave. W, Crestview. Open to the public.

CRESTVIEW CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St., Crestview.

MILLIGAN WATER SYSTEM BOARD: 6 p.m. second Tuesdays, 5340 U.S. Highway 4.

LAUREL HILL CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. first Thursdays, City Hall.

BAKER FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSION: 7 p.m. first Thursdays, Baker Area Public Safety Building.

DORCAS FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS: 7 p.m. first Thursdays, 5232 Deer Springs Drive, Crestview, off Highway 90.

HOLT FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays, fire station, 490 W. U.S. Highway 90, Holt.

ALMARANTE VOLUNTEER FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS: 7 p.m. second Thursdays, Almarante Fire Station, 3710 Old California Road, Laurel Hill.

OKALOOSA-WALTON TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION: 3 p.m. third Thursdays, Niceville Community Center, 204 N. Partin Drive. Call 1-800-226-8914 ext. 231 to confirm.

NORTH OKALOOSA FIRE DISTRICT: 6 p.m. third Thursdays, fire station 82, 5549 John Givens Road, Crestview.

HOLT FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSION: 6:30 p.m. third Thursdays, 490 W. U.S. Highway 90.

HOLT FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays, fire station.

LAUREL HILL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 p.m., second Fridays, in Laurel Hill City Hall's fire department office.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa County public meetings

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview City Council will meet 6 p.m. Oct. 10 in Council Chambers at City Hall. Here’s the agenda.

1. Call to Order

2. Invocation: Pastor Paul Mixon, Central Baptist Church / Pledge of Allegiance

3. Open Policy making and legislative session

4. Special Presentations

a. Presentations by Mayor Cadle

5. Approval of Minutes

Approval of the minutes from the August 15, 2016 Special Meeting, August 15, 2016 Budget workshop, August 22, 2016 Special meeting August 22, 2016 Workshop, and the September 12, 2016 Council meeting

6. Public Hearings:

a. Ordinance 1609 – 2016 Local Mitigation Strategy

7. Public Opportunity on Council proposition

8. Consent Agenda

a. Approval of invoice from Ben Holley in the amount of $4147.50.

b. Approval of invoice from Allen, Norton and Blue in the amount of $2142.00.

c. Approval of the issuance of the Certificate of Compliance for Alcoholic Beverage Sales for JM of Okaloosa Inc. DBA You Sushi & Hibachi.

d. Approval of Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative Interlocal Agreement.

e. Approval of the Site Construction Plans for the Publix Northcrest Complex.

f. Approval of the Site Construction Plans for the P J Adams Self Storage

9. Resolutions

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview City Council agenda: Oct. 10

MILTON — Santa Rosa County held its final public hearing for the fiscal year 2016-2017 budget on Sept. 20. While attendees’ knowledge on the county budget varied, one person is particularly familiar with it: Santa Rosa County budget director Jayne Bell.

Bell's job includes directing, organizing and producing annual budget documents. She monitors the budget’s monthly execution and analyzes year-end financial position of funds. She also manages multiple staffs.

Here, she talks more about that.

What's next for the budget department?

"I assemble a TrIM package that I send, which is truth in millage, to the department of revenue. Then it's a wrap for this year and we immediately start looking at the following year."

What trends have you seen in our budget over the last several years?

"I think the thing that jumps out at me the most is how much our population is growing, but our revenues are not growing in tandem with our population so we are having to do much more with much less.

“When our budget does grow, it's growing because we have a growing population to service, not because there is any particular waste. To me, it is to actually meet the growing demands of this county."

However, Bell said Santa Rosa’s budget growth isn't matching the population because property values haven't grown proportionately.

"We don't increase our fees much,” she said. “Last year was the first year that we increased our permitting fees and raised our gas tax, but they were a long time coming. We were playing catch-up."

Would it have been possible to maintain a courthouse fund?

"That's hard to say. In 2007, we had approximately $58 million in revenues from ad valorem taxes and we haven't seen that. This year … we have $51 million, so that's nine years and we are still considerably less. It would have been a stretch … Another reason I say it would be a stretch is because of the state mandates.

“For example, our Medicaid — we didn't know that we were going to be popped for an additional million dollars," Bell said.

The Department of Juvenile Justice cost the county more as well.

"I had $100,000 in the budget for that,” Bell said. “Then the state said they needed $850,000. These are unforeseen mandates the state can put on us at any time."

Can citizens speak directly with you about the budget?

"They can call me anytime … I'm always here. I'm always available to answer any questions they have. The more questions they ask me, the better I get — so bring it on.

“It helps me to have the community involved in this.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Santa Rosa 'having to do much more with less'

CRESTVIEW — When the next generation of military weaponry sensors come online in a few years, Bob Sikes Airport aviation experts can know they had a hand in the equipment’s perfection.

Even if they can’t talk much about it, or even reference all of the participants.

For two weeks in May, the skies above and the tarmac below Crestview’s airport were abuzz as pilots, technicians and engineers from defense industry leaders joined local contractors for Eglin Air Force Base’s annual Sensor Week.

That’s the one time of year Eglin opens its ranges to defense contractors for free equipment tests, provided the contractors share their data with the Air Force.

The local general aviation airport was “an ideal place (for the test flights) with this beautiful 8,000-foot runway,” Sunshine Aero Flight Testing owner and pilot Bob Keller said during a recent Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce Airport Committee at Emerald Coast Aviation.

Keller’s company, the charter Crestview Technology Air Park tenant and partner, provided two of its aircraft to test contractors’ sensors, and hosted three other companies’ planes during the test weeks.

“During Sensor Week, we have the facilities to handle confidential equipment,” Keller said.

Because of the program’s popularity in the defense industry, this year’s “week” expanded into two weeks, Keller said. Test flights flew almost constantly, but due to Okaloosa County Airports’ prudent buffer zone management, few residents were aware of the increased activity, he said.

“It was a very busy place,” Keller said. “We flew 24 hours a day. Some flew at night because they had sensors designed for night use.”

Testing had military and civilian aviation applications, Keller said. For example, during one mission, Sunshine Aero’s two-engine King Air plane carried an infrared missile detector pod under its belly.

The equipment could detect terrorist missile launches aimed at commercial airliners, such as the Russian missile investigators determined brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in July 2014.

Testing companies included some of the industry’s biggest names, including Lockheed Martin, Dynetics, KEYW Corp., and some that, for security reasons, couldn’t be divulged, Keller said during his presentation.

Keller has been a Bob Sikes Airport tenant since 1980, when, fresh from a career as an Air Force pilot, he started the airport’s fixed-base operator service, a job he held until 2012.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bob Sikes Airport prime base for equipment test week

LAUREL HILL — The City Council will meet at 6:05 p.m. Oct. 6 at city hall, 8209 U.S. Highway 85 N.

Here is the meeting's agenda.

Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.

1. Public Comments

2. New Business

a. Approval of Consent Agenda: Sept. 1, 15 and 22 minutes, and update on internal audit: General and Water Funds(September)

b. Bob Mearns (Florida Rural Water Association)

c. Ordinance 325 (Fire Public Safety Facilities Fee)

d. Elect chairman and vice-chairman

4. Adjourn

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill City Council agenda: Oct. 6

CRESTVIEW — A group of downtown business owners that first met July 19 has adopted an official name and set tentative goals, including loosening the city’s alcohol sales rules.

Meeting Tuesday evening at Casbah Coffee Company, the Downtown Crestview Merchants and Owners Association said that is one key to revitalizing downtown.

Members understood the Community Redevelopment Agency board’s concerns about downtown venues serving alcohol, particularly at outdoor events where people might carry a beer with them.

Some members, including Main Street attorney Nathan Boyles and business owner April Meier, said one solution might be to consider the restrictions on an event-by-event basis.

But the near-blanket ban not only stifles business and restaurant development, such as craft brewery one potential downtown business owner would like to start, it also virtually assures Main Street looks like a Wild West ghost town after 5 p.m., some merchants said. 

CRA Director Brenda Smith said the merchants’ concerns were noticed by an investors group that in August assessed downtown potential.

When the topic of loosening alcohol regulations for downtown was brought up at a Sept. 20 CRA meeting, Smith said questions arose. Finding solutions requires expert advice.

“The CRA board has some legitimate concerns about alcohol, so we bring the professionals in who can assess the district and say, ‘This will work’ and ‘This will not work,’” Smith said.

Working with marketing consultants from The Petermann Group, Smith said a thorough assessment of downtown’s potential will include surveying businesses, city leaders and customers on multiple issues, including alcohol sales. Fortunately, she said, “This board right now has been the most receptive and progressive board ever.”

Megan Bowersox, one of the association’s organizers, listed some other projects the group could consider, including:

●Implementing a downtown Little Free Library

●Collaborating with the Common Ground Community Garden on an expanded farmers market

●Working with the Main Street Crestview Association on monthly evening street festivals or other events.

“I don’t see anything but good coming from this,” Main Street President Paul Lowrey said. “This is a great time to be a business downtown. I really see a lot of great things happening downtown.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Merchants: loosen alcohol sales restrictions