NICEVILLE — All registered Democrats living in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton or Holmes counties are encouraged to participate in a Democratic Party vote May 7.

The votes are to decide on delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia to represent either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders. Petitions will also be completed for two Democratic District 1 candidates for Congress.

 Show your support for the party's Democratic volunteers, and enjoy refreshments.

The voting session is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 7 at the Niceville City Chamber, 208 N. Partin St.,  Niceville.

For more information, contact John Whitley, 240-7751.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Northwest Florida delegate voting set May 7 for Democratic National Convention

CRESTVIEW — Citing what Councilman Doug Faircloth called "our own Frankenstein," the City Council unanimously agreed to look into how out-of-city utility service requests are handled.

Public Works Director Wayne Steele said there are many county neighborhoods adjacent to Crestview that are served by the city's utilities.

Growth Management Director Teresa Gaillard requested a workshop to address concerns surrounding the procedure.

Currently, county residents whose homes are in neighborhoods served by Crestview water and sewer service who desire to be hooked up to the utilities may petition for the service.

In addition to paying fees to tap into the line and paying a higher usage fee as a non-city resident, county customers must also agree to have their property annexed into the city if their land is contiguous to the city or becomes contiguous in the future.

However, the agreement is only between the resident requesting the service. If the resident sells his land, the buyer is not bound by the agreement with the previous owner, Gaillard said, which has caused problems when the city tries to annex property years after the original service was connected.

Faircloth was incredulous when Gaillard said the city's annexation fee is $5,000.

"Did you just tell us that we're going to ask these people for $5,000 just to collect ad valorem taxes?" he asked.

Gaillard explained annexation involves many expenses, including changing the city's comprehensive plan, consultant fees to change the plan and file a state report, application fees to rezone the land from county to city, and multiple $500 newspaper ads to publicly advertise the changes.

"Well, it looks to me like we have created our own Frankenstein," Faircloth said.

Steele suggested dropping the annexation requirement and just charging out-of-town fees to simplify the matter.

The council unanimously approved any legal fees needed to research the matter and agreed to hold a workshop at an as-yet unannounced date to review the recommendations.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview to consider changes to out-of-city service requirements

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Division of Emergency Management is developing a statewide emergency alert system called AlertFlorida. The initiative is to provide statewide emergency alert and notification services to all Florida residents, businesses and visitors.

AlertFlorida is "a standardized system to communicate critical emergency information to every resident, business and visitor in Florida,” FDEM Director Bryan Koon said.

Services are currently being implemented in several counties during an initial phase, with additional deployment phases continuing throughout 2016.

Each participating jurisdiction will be able to customize the categories of alerts available in their community through a local opt-in portal.  The system also provides automated notifications of flash floods, tornadoes, and other watches and warnings issued by the National Weather Service.

Users will select their preferred language and methods for receiving alerts, including SMS text messaging, e-mail, voice calls, TDD/TTY messaging, and mobile device apps for AndroidTM, Apple, and Windows mobile devices. The system will also post alerts to social media channels and will interface directly with existing broadcast-based alerting systems.

Jaimie Ellertson, CEO of Everbridge, the company creating the system, said, “The state of Florida continues to demonstrate strong leadership in emergency management, and this statewide critical communications program will improve Florida’s overall preparedness and resiliency during severe weather disasters and manmade emergencies.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Florida emergency management division plans statewide emergency alert system

City officials can't do — or know — everything. That's why Crestview's assorted city committees, staffed by generally unpaid volunteer experts, advise the mayor, city clerk, department heads and councilmen.

CRESTVIEW — Before Okaloosa County commissioners settled on an exterior façade for the new courthouse, Crestview’s Historic Preservation Board vetted the designs.

While the board may not make policy or create ordinances, its members’ knowledge in regional historic architecture and community design is respected, and its input is valued.

Crestview’s 11 boards and committees provide city and — occasionally, county — officials with technical expertise in specific subject areas with which city staff may need assistance.

“It’s so important that our citizens get involved, and we’re so appreciative of those who step up to lend their professional experience to the city,” Mayor David Cadle said.

FORMING PARTNERSHIPS

In some instances, cooperative partnerships with citizen or business organizations provide specialized public services without taking resources from hard-pressed city departments and officials.

One example is the city’s ongoing centennial celebration, Cadle said, in which resident and business volunteers, headed by retired Supervisor of Elections Pat Hollarn, are producing a year-long program of events.

“That is a volunteer group, along with the Main Street Association, that is pulling off great events,” Cadle said. “The (April 16) city birthday event was truly impressive. County officials told me later they were impressed with our city’s organizational skills and community involvement.”

Similar partner organizations include the Main Street Crestview Association and the Crestview Area Sister City Program for its educational and cultural events.

ADVISORY CAPACITY

Few of the city’s committees and boards actually make policy or official decisions, City Clerk Betsy Roy said, but all provide expert advice to the mayor, City Council and department heads.

“They’re for specific reasons, so they’re pretty much their own thing,” Roy said. “They’re in an advisory capacity.”

Two of the boards, the Technical Review Committee and the Planning and Zoning Board — also known as the Local Planning Agency — have limited powers to implement decisions, Roy said.

“They can deny applications, and the Technical Review Board, in particular, makes sure plans are in compliance before they come to the council,” she said. “Some things, like small project plans, just go to the LPA. They don’t have to go to the council.”

Technical Review is the only advisory board comprised entirely of city officials, including department heads.

Committees generally comprise mayoral and City Council appointees, whose professional knowledge and experience is vetted before appointment.

“We put people on boards that have expertise in the areas the board covers,” Cadle said.

GLAD TO SERVE

Serving on city committees allows residents to contribute to their community, board members and officials say.

Historic Preservation Board member Cal Zethmayr said the committee members’ rewards are tangible, visible in landmarks such as the new courthouse to be built in two years.

“Just in knowing we’re going to be able walk up Main Street and see that new building in two years, and we were involved in it, is rewarding,” he said.

One of the board’s biggest battles, saving the historic Alatex Building from demolition, has paid dividends for the city as the home of a Florida A&M University satellite pharmacy school, Zethmayr said.

“Our volunteer citizen board and committee members bring more energy and understanding to the governmental process,” Cadle said. “The city couldn’t operate affectively without them.”

“We’re doing things that are good for the community,” Zethmayr said. “And we enjoy doing it.”

City of Crestview boards and committees, mostly comprising citizen volunteers, advise officials in a variety of areas. Current committees and their meeting dates are:

●Board of Adjustment: meets as needed

●Code Enforcement Board: as needed; second Tuesdays

●Crestview Housing Authority: fourth Mondays

●Downtown Development Committee: as needed

●General Employees Retirement Board: quarterly; first Tuesdays

●Historic Preservation Board: quarterly; fourth Thursdays

●Planning and Zoning (Local Planning Agency) Board: third Tuesdays

●Police/Firefighters Retirement Board: quarterly; first Tuesdays

●Recreation Advisory Committee: as needed

●Technical Review Committee: comprises city department heads; first Tuesdays

●Veterans' Affairs Committee: as needed

CITY COMMITTEES

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview citizen committees provide specialized expertise

NICEVILLE — Northwest Florida residents can meet Okaloosa candidates at a Niceville Fair.

The event is 4:30-6:30 p.m. May 10 in the Student Services Building, Northwest Florida State College, 100 College Blvd., Niceville.

It is free and open to the public. Residents can ask candidates about the issues and register to vote as well.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: May 10 Okaloosa candidate fair, voter registration planned

SHALIMAR — The Okaloosa County Department of Public Safety now accepts 9-1-1 texts. T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless customers can now send a text (up to 140 characters) to 9-1-1 in an emergency.

Text to 9-1-1 should only be used in an emergency situation, when placing a voice call is not possible, as follows:

●if the caller is deaf, hard-of-hearing or speech impaired

●when speaking out loud would put the caller in danger. 

"Call if you can, text if you can’t," is the idea.

If there is an emergency and you are unable to make a call, remember these steps:

●Don’t text and drive

●Send the location and type of emergency in the first text message

●Text using simple words. Send a short text message without abbreviations or slang.

●Be prepared to answer questions and follow instructions from the 9-1-1 call taker.

●If you do not receive a text response from 9-1-1, try to contact 9-1-1 via voice phone call. Photos and videos cannot be sent to 9-1-1 at this time.

Text-to-9-1-1 currently cannot accept photos or videos, and cannot include more than one person.  You also cannot send the text to multiple people (no group text messages). Do not send your emergency text to anyone other than the 9-1-1 account.

According to an Okaloosa County media release, the service will have many challenges. A text or data plan is required to send it. As with all text messages, messages to 9-1-1 may take longer to receive, may get out of order, or may not be received at all.

Keep in mind the following information:

●Text to 9-1-1 service is ONLY for emergencies.

●It is a crime to text or call 9-1-1 with a false report.

Text-to-9-1-1 cannot include more than one person. Voice calls are still the best and fastest way to contact 9-1-1.

AT&T and Sprint Wireless Text to 9-1-1 services should be implemented within Okaloosa County soon.

It is not available everywhere in Florida and the United States.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa Public Safety implements 9-1-1 texting

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Okaloosa Republican Club next meeting will provide a school board and superintendent forum.

Visitors are welcome and encouraged to attend.

The event starts with socializing at 6:30 p.m. and includes dinner at 7 p.m. April 28 at American Legion Post 235, 105 S.W. Hollywood Blvd.

Cost is $15 per person, which includes drinks and gratuity. To make a reservation call Vice President Nate Lepper, 376-2287. Menu choices are Cornish hen with garlic mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus or grilled chicken salad.

For information about the Republican Club call President Mark Franks, 240-1279.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa school board, superintendent candidate forum set April 28

MIRAMAR BEACH — John Mills, retired U.S. Navy pilot, is campaigning as a Republican for Florida’s 1st Congressional District, a seat retiring Rep. Jeff Miller is vacating.

“While faithfully serving 26 years in the U.S. Navy, I commanded two Naval Security Force Units, and directed Navy regional and local emergency management operations,” Mills said in a statement. “I learned to handle crisis situations quickly and effectively. I will carry those crisis management skills to Congress, where so many seem to be unaware of the dire situation that surrounds them.”

“America is in crisis!” he said. “I am prepared to face our country’s challenges head on. We face unprecedented and unsustainable debt, our economy is in limbo, our relationships abroad are tense, and our military is strained; meanwhile, Washington bureaucrats continue to squabble. I intend to build on Florida’s 1st Congressional District legacy of strong, conservative values as we reach a turning point and begin to move our great nation forward once again.

“I was honored to receive the Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference Emergency Management of the Year Award in 1998 for innovative thinking. I worked with the Department of Defense, Escambia County Emergency Management, Escambia County School Board, and American Red Cross, making significant accomplishments in sheltering, a common need for all entities involved.”

Mills works in the aerospace defense industry, and lives in Miramar Beach with his wife, Trina, and daughters, Julie and Nancy.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Navy retiree seeks Florida District 1 Congressional seat

GULF BREEZE — State Rep. Doug Broxson announced his candidacy for the Florida Senate.

Since first being elected to the Florida House in 2010, Broxson, a Republican, has been a leader on insurance reform and recovery of funds from BP in the wake of the 2010 oil spill, a campaign media release states.

He seeks the District One seat, currently held by Greg Evers, who is running for the United States House of Representatives.

“I want to thank Senator Greg Evers for his service in the Florida Legislature,” said Broxson. “Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties have a great future, and the next few years will be a critical period.

“As a state representative, I have worked to create jobs by keeping taxes and spending low and by halting the overreach of the federal government. It is my desire to continue that fight in the State Senate.”

In recent years, Broxson led an effort to unite the eight Florida counties most affected by the BP oil spill and spoke out against problems with the Gulf Coast Claims Facility. He organized multiple oil spill claims workshops with state officials and Panhandle residents.

In addition, Broxson has strongly opposed expanding benefits for illegal immigrants and has been an advocate for the protection of the Second Amendment.

He is a lifelong resident of Santa Rosa County, where he and his wife, Mary, raised their four children. They are active members of Brownsville Assembly of God Church and have eight grandchildren.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Broxson joins race for Florida Senate

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: It's official: Mike Hill is running for Florida Senate