FORT WALTON BEACH — Over 75 employers will accept applications and talk to potential employees tomorrow at the Spring 2016 Panhandle Job Fair.

The event is free to attend; part time, seasonal contract and full-time opportunities are available.

The fair is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 21 at St. Mary's Parish Life Center, 110 St. Mary Ave. SW, Fort Walton Beach.

For more information, go to http://panhandlejobfair.com/.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa-Walton Panhandle job fair April 21

MARY ESTHER —Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, announced his campaign’s Fight Washington Bus Tour across the 1st Congressional District.

“Like so many in our community, I am fed up with Washington’s failures. The Obama Presidency has jeopardized the future of our country by burying us in debt, subverting the Constitution, and abandoning our veterans and weakening our 2nd Amendment rights while radical Muslim terrorism is on the rise. Northwest Florida voters are looking for rock-ribbed conservative reform to take our country back. That’s why I am holding the Fight Washington Bus Tour,” Gaetz said.

“I am excited to travel across the 1st Congressional District and talk to voters about this pivotal election. I encourage interested voters to join us at any or all stops on the tour and be part of our growing campaign to fight Washington and restore America,” he said.

The Fight Washington Bus Tour includes stops at the following locations on April 23:

●9 a.m.  – Grand Dunes Condominium, 219 Scenic Gulf Drive, Miramar Beach

●11 a.m. – KC’s Sandbar and Grille, 190 Miracle Strip Parkway, Fort Walton Beach

●2 p.m. – Helen Back Again, 8651 Navarre Parkway, Navarre

●4 p.m. – The Fish House, 600 South Barracks Street, Pensacola

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gaetz schedules April 23 Fight Washington Bus Tour

CRESTVIEW — When Barbara Fein has a weekday morning doctor’s appointment near North Okaloosa Medical Center, her “back way” route involves U.S. Highway 90, Okaloosa Lane and Redstone Avenue.

It’s a bit convoluted, but it has no traffic signals and doesn’t touch ultra-busy State Road 85. And that’s just fine with Fein.

“The lights aren’t very well synched,” she said. “And people are afraid of the 45 (mph) speed limit so you creep along and always catch the red lights.”

See a photo gallery of alternatives to S.R. 85>>

Fein’s S.R. 85 bypass is one of the creative ways locals avoid Crestview’s only north-south artery. But when it comes to conquering Interstate 10, which forms an east-west barrier through town, options are few.

 THE SQUEEZE

Crossing I-10 at its S.R. 85 underpass is often an exercise in patience. Being limited to just two ways of crossing the interstate—the other is the Antioch Road crossover—is frustrating.

For emergency responders, the “85 squeeze” can mean delays.

“Our ambulances all utilize Highway 85,” Okaloosa County Public Safety Director Alvin Henderson said. “Basically it’s lights and sirens usage and having the citizens’ courtesy to let them through.”

Without a light bar and siren to clear the way, the average driver is caught in a traffic morass. A battery of traffic lights half a mile or more on either side of the interstate creates stop-and-go travel at peak periods.

And it’s the northbound evening rush hour that can be most frustrating. For some public safety officials, as well as ordinary citizens, going a little out of their way eliminates stop-and-go stress.

“If it’s 4:30 or 5 in the afternoon, I’ll go through Niceville and come up (State Road) 285 to 90,” Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Capt. Larry Ward, commander of the Crestview station, said. “Once you get to 90, the traffic’s not too bad.”

THE ‘T’

After the I-10 squeeze, the city’s second-worst bottleneck occurs around the intersection of S.R. 85 and U.S. Hwy. 90.

“Basically, the city of Crestview is a big T,” Crestview Police Department Cmdr. Andrew Schneider said. “You’re going to have to go north or south, or east or west, on 85 or 90. Right now there’s really no way of avoiding them.”

“It is what it is,” Henderson said.

When local schools let out in the afternoon, southbound S.R. 85 backups several blocks long begin at U.S. 90.

The congestion then swaps directions as evening rush hour traffic heads north, with cars frequently waiting as far south as the top of the railroad overpass.

The situation is compounded by traffic having to wait for left-turn signals in each direction, “which is why a roundabout would work great there,” Fein said.

GETTING CREATIVE

As long as they don’t have to cross the interstate—which almost inevitably means returning to S.R. 85—savvy drivers get innovative in finding ways around regularly occurring backups.

Mayor David Cadle, for example, has called Industrial Drive, which parallels S.R. 85 from downtown to Airport Road, “Crestview’s best-kept secret.”

Cadle frequently uses Industrial, which follows the old Yellow River Railroad route, to get from downtown to meetings and events in north Crestview.

Ward and his deputies know favorite connectors and neighborhood streets that parallel S.R. 85 to help them bypass congestion when responding to calls.

So does Barbara Fein’s “back way” save any time? She can’t say for sure.

“It feels like it,” she said. “I never timed it. But I don’t care. At least I’m not dealing with 85 traffic.”

—

FAVORITE ‘BACK WAYS’

1. Aplin Rd.-Atwell Rd.-Okaloosa Ln.: Connects S.R. 85 and U.S. 90 E., bypassing central Crestview

2. Aplin Rd.-Pearl St. S: Parallels S.R. 85

3. Arena Rd.-Gordon St.-M.L. King Ave.: A little-traveled diagonal route between downtown and S.R. 85 to Antioch Rd.

4. Duggan/McLelland/Griffith/Lloyd: Bypasses S.R. 85 and U.S. 90 West intersection from the southwest

5. Fairchild Road: Bypasses S.R. 85, connects Airport Road and U.S. 90 E.

6. First Ave.-Lindberg St.: Cuts the corner of S.R. 85 and U.S. 90

7. Industrial Dr.: Parallels S.R. 85 from downtown to Airport Road, bypassing traffic lights, but has intermittent stop signs.

8. John Givens Rd.-Hare St.: Bypasses S.R. 85, connects Airport Road and U.S. 90 E.

9. Live Oak Church Rd.-John King Rd.: Parallels S.R. 85, bypassing P.J. Adams and John King backups. But drivers still have to get under I-10 after returning to S.R. 85

10. Okaloosa Lane-Redstone Ave. East: Connects U.S. 90 East with S.R. 85, bypassing northeast Crestview

11. Old Bethel Road: Makes a bypass around northwest Crestview between S.R. 85 and U.S. 90 West

12. P.J. Adams/Antioch Rd. Corridor: Widening begins this fall on this southwest bypass connecting S.R. 85 and U.S. 90 West

13. Texas Pkwy.-Adams Dr.-Park Ln.: Parallels S.R. 85, bypassing Stillwell Blvd. backups

14. Valley Rd.-Reinke Dr.-Farmer St.: Connects U.S. 90 E. with Airport Rd., paralleling S.R. 85

CONNECTORS

Connector roads remove traffic from S.R. 85 by providing alternative routes around congested areas

1. Brookmeade Drive: Bypasses S.R. 85 hospital and Juke Hill traffic between Wal-Mart to Aplin Rd.

2. Price-Gregory Way: Bypasses S.R. 85 between Lowe’s and Redstone Ave. W., behind Starbucks and the “Four Story” medical center

3. Crestview Corners Cut-through: Will connect Hospital Dr. and Redstone Ave. E. through Big Lots shopping center parking lot

4. Arena Rd.-Rasberry Rd.: Proposed connector parallels I-10 between S.R. 85 and Antioch Rd.

FAVORITE ‘BACK WAYS’

1. Aplin Rd.-Atwell Rd.-Okaloosa Ln.: Connects S.R. 85 and U.S. 90 E., bypassing central Crestview

2. Aplin Rd.-Pearl St. S: Parallels S.R. 85

3. Arena Rd.-Gordon St.-M.L. King Ave.: A little-traveled diagonal route between downtown and S.R. 85 to Antioch Rd.

4. Duggan/McLelland/Griffith/Lloyd: Bypasses S.R. 85 and U.S. 90 West intersection from the southwest

5. Fairchild Road: Bypasses S.R. 85, connects Airport Road and U.S. 90 E.

6. First Ave.-Lindberg St.: Cuts the corner of S.R. 85 and U.S. 90

7. Industrial Dr.: Parallels S.R. 85 from downtown to Airport Road, bypassing traffic lights, but has intermittent stop signs.

8. John Givens Rd.-Hare St.: Bypasses S.R. 85, connects Airport Road and U.S. 90 E.

9. Live Oak Church Rd.-John King Rd.: Parallels S.R. 85, bypassing P.J. Adams and John King backups. But drivers still have to get under I-10 after returning to S.R. 85

10. Okaloosa Lane-Redstone Ave. East: Connects U.S. 90 East with S.R. 85, bypassing northeast Crestview

11. Old Bethel Road: Makes a bypass around northwest Crestview between S.R. 85 and U.S. 90 West

12. P.J. Adams/Antioch Rd. Corridor: Widening begins this fall on this southwest bypass connecting S.R. 85 and U.S. 90 West

13. Texas Pkwy.-Adams Dr.-Park Ln.: Parallels S.R. 85, bypassing Stillwell Blvd. backups

14. Valley Rd.-Reinke Dr.-Farmer St.: Connects U.S. 90 E. with Airport Rd., paralleling S.R. 85

CONNECTORS

Connector roads remove traffic from S.R. 85 by providing alternative routes around congested areas

1. Brookmeade Drive: Bypasses S.R. 85 hospital and Juke Hill traffic between Wal-Mart to Aplin Rd.

2. Price-Gregory Way: Bypasses S.R. 85 between Lowe’s and Redstone Ave. W., behind Starbucks and the “Four Story” medical center

3. Crestview Corners Cut-through: Will connect Hospital Dr. and Redstone Ave. E. through Big Lots shopping center parking lot

4. Arena Rd.-Rasberry Rd.: Proposed connector parallels I-10 between S.R. 85 and Antioch Rd.

FAVORITE 'BACK WAYS' & CONNECTORS

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Locals, public safety officials share tips to avoid Crestview S.R. 85 (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa County Commission recently approved the acquisition of a parcel of land that sits adjacent to the Brackin Building and within a block of the former Okaloosa Courthouse in downtown Crestview.

The Brackin Building houses county Supervisor of Elections, Tax Collector and Property Appraiser offices, along with several others.

It does not have adequate parking, Commissioner Nathan Boyles says in his latest newsletter. The parcel to be acquired is currently home to a vacant, dilapidated building that once housed the city's third Piggly Wiggly Supermarket.

The building will be demolished and a suitable parking lot will be constructed, Boyles said. As the Tax Collector's office in Crestview is already at capacity and plagued with the longest wait times in the county, the parcel could also allow for the future development of an additional building.

The contract price was $195,900, 6.5 percent below the appraised value,  Boyles said. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa commission authorizes Crestview Piggly Wiggly purchase

CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa County Commission recently voted unanimously to award the construction contract for a Crestview road.

The bid went to Anderson Columbia – the lowest priced responsible bidder – for the paving of 1.82 miles of Fairchild Road, which services several business on the east side of Bob Sikes Airport and connects US Highway 90 to Airport Road,  Commissioner Nathan Boyles says in his latest newsletter. 

The contract price is just shy of $1.7 million dollars. That roughly equates to $1 million a mile to convert from an existing dirt road to a fully engineered two-lane asphalt roadway, Boyles said. 

For perspective, that is more money than will be collected in a full year from the three-cent local option gas tax levied two years ago. That's 1.8 miles down, 200 miles (give or take a few) to go, Boyles said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: retired version – Okaloosa County Commission awards bid for Crestview road paving

CRESTVIEW — Two additional candidates prefiled for the Okaloosa County Commission District 1 position being vacated by Wayne Harris, who is running for a state House seat.

Graham Fountain of Crestview prefiled on March 9, 2015. He was joined this month by Thomas Cannon, who prefiled April 11, and James Walker, who prefiled April 12. Cannon and Walker are also Republicans.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview residents prefile for Okaloosa commission District 1 seat

LAUREL HILL — The City Council will hold a workshop April 14 to discuss how to proceed with soliciting bids for repairs to City Hall’s roof.

By phoning various roofing contractors, the city received four bids. Councilman Scott Moneypenny expressed concern that the bidding process was so informal that the bids have different specifications and different warranties.

“There are too many discrepancies in the bids received to make an informed decision,” Moneypenny said at the council’s April 7 meeting.

The first three bids were $24,950, $26,330 and $27,160 and also included the cost to reroof the city’s maintenance shop. A fourth bid, solicited by Councilman Travis Dewrell, was about $6,000 higher.

By passing an ordinance at the April 7 meeting establishing a formal purchasing and procurement city procedure, the council is now bound by its new policy and is required to follow Florida statutes for bids over $20,000.

Moneypenny said before a request for proposals can be issued, the city needs to prepare a statement of work it expects the bidders to follow.

Councilman Daniel Lane offered to ask the Okaloosa County building inspector to evaluate the roof to help prepare the bid specifications.

The council also agreed the City Hall and maintenance shop roof repairs should be separate projects.

The city received a $1,325 settlement from its insurance company to repair interior damage from the leaking City Hall roof, but will hold off on repairs until the roof is repaired.

The Laurel Hill City Council will hold a public workshop at 6 p.m. April 14 to discuss how to bid for City Hall roof repairs. The 2016-17 budget and whether to cancel researching dissolution will also be on the agenda. The workshop will be at the City Hall council chamber.

WANT TO GO?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill City Hall roof repairs needed, but new protocol must be followed (VIDEO)

CRESTVIEW — If ordinances approved Monday night receive final approval upon second readings on May 9, city water, sewer and trash customers will see small increases in their monthly bills, and new home builders will see water tap fees nearly double.

The City Council first unanimously approved Waste Pro's request to pass increased tipping fees on to their customers. Residential customers will see a monthly increase from $17.25 to $18.16. Commercial rates will increase 72 cents to $23.72.

Slight increases in water and sewer rates, which haven't increased in decades, were also approved to fund needed city infrastructure improvements.

The city would receive an additional projected revenue of $115,200 based on the proposed 2 percent increase, bringing in an estimated $2,356,200 in the 2015-16 budget year.

FEW-CENT RAISE

If approved on second reading, the minimum water rate for the first 2,000 gallons consumed will increase 15 cents to $9.15. The charge for 3,000 to 5,000 gallons would increase from $1.85 to $1.90 per 1,000 gallons used.

The minimum sewer usage fee would rise 30 cents to $16.80 for the first 2,000 gallons of water used.

Residential Water and Sewer rates will have an additional increase each year for four years beginning on October 1, 2017. A provision in the ordinance requires the City Council to review the rates each year and lower or increase the fees as needed by ordinance.

Council members discussed the necessity of raising the rates to cover infrastructure needs.

Referencing a complaint "that stated because the rates haven't increased in so long that's no reason to do it now," Councilman Doug Faircloth commented, "Apparently people can still write letters to the editor when they haven't been to meetings to understand the need."

"We must do something about our capital improvement program," Councilman JB Whitten said. "The issue is not because we haven't raised it, but because we need to do it."

Councilman Shannon Hayes said inaction on consultant-recommended rate increases by previous councils has pushed the current council to have to take unpopular measures.

"The non-action by some previous officials puts us in a position where we have to do something," Hayes said. "Nobody was stepping up to the plate, trying to save a nickel. At some point, how long do you wait until you take action? How long do you wait until the house starts falling down on you?"

WATER TAP FEES

The biggest increases, however, will come to residents building new homes and having to hook into the city's water supply. Water tap fees will double, though still remain among the lowest in the region, Public Works Director Wayne Steele said.

Like water and sewer, water tap fees have not increased in decades, and now are as much as half the city's actual cost. Currently the city charges $450 to tap into the city water system.

But Public Works crews face $425 just for materials, and $448 for equipment use, plus administrative and labor expenses, which are about $200, Steele said.

"I don't like to bring these types of cost increases to the council but I have to do my job," Steele said. "This one here is a long time overdue."

The council unanimously approved increasing the fees. The fee for a standard 3/4-inch line would increase from $450 to $800. A 1-inch line tap would increase from $570 to $1,000.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview water, sewer, trash rates to increase

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview City Council will meet 6 p.m. April 11 at city hall, 198 Wilson St., N.

Here is the meeting's agenda.

1. Call to Order

2. Invocation / Pledge of Allegiance

Pastor George Katzman, Woodlawn Baptist Church

3. Open Policy making and legislative session

4. Special Presentations

5. Approval of Minutes

Approval of the minutes of the March 14, 2016 council meeting

6. Public Hearings:

7. Public Opportunity on Council propositions

8. Consent Agenda

a. Approval of invoice from Ben Holley for $3797.50

b. Approval of Brackin street Repair for $13,030

c. Approval of Donation of Exercise equipment for Police Department

d. Approval of Donation of Ab Equipment for Police Department

e. Approval of Donation of Canine to the Police Department

f. Approval of compensation change for Dispatcher

9. Resolutions

10. Committee Reports

11. Scheduled Presentations from the Public

a. Legal Shield update

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview City Council agenda: April 11

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Community Redevelopment Agency will meet 5 p.m. April 11 at city hall, 198 Wilson St., N.

Here is the meeting's agenda.

1. Call to Order.

2. Pledge of Allegiance.

3. Open Policy making and legislative session.

4. Public Opportunity on Board propositions.

5. Approval of Minutes

Approval of the minutes of the March 17, 2016 CRA meeting.

6. CRA Legal Counsel Services – Approval of Contract

7. CRA Accounting Services – Approval of Contract

8. Approval of dates for Quarterly meetings for 2016.

Thursday, June 23; Thursday, September 22; and Thursday, December 8, 2016

9. RFQ for Services to provide Comprehensive Administrative/ Program Operations Management Services to the CRA

10. Comments from the Audience.

11. Adjournment.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Community Redevelopment Agency agenda: April 11