CRESTVIEW — Reaction to Okaloosa County commissioners' decision to raze Crestview's courthouse and build a new facility on the same site is mixed.

News Bulletin Facebook fans shared these comments after Tuesday's 4-1 vote in favor of the $21 million project.

●"Because remodeling isn't good enough — let's spend $21 million on a courthouse while our community is struggling," Mandy Ducharme said. "Great idea."

●"Well, I guess that means no new road system here — not that we need it anyways. If you need to go to the new courthouse just leave early, right?" Carleen Leatherwood said.

●"They should fix the road problems before wasting money on a court house," Dolan Jones said.

●"Their old courthouse was perfectly fine," Sheena Ratliff said.

Some residents support the decision due to recent discovery of mold.  

●"The courthouse is full of mold and asbestos," Glenda K. Sutton  said. "It is a health hazard to those who have to work there."

●"I hope this (mold) is the reason it's being bulldozed down instead of renovated, because Crestview could use that money on engineering a new road system to alleviate traffic on Ferdon (Boulevard) and other things as well," Courtney Young said.

●"The current courthouse is an eyesore and needs to be dealt with," Corey Winkler  said. "While I agree that there are more pressing issues to tend to, be happy Crestview is at least getting something new from the county."  

County Commissioner Nathan Boyles said the county's seat would receive a "beautiful new, Southern-style downtown courthouse.”

“The goal is to achieve a facility that the citizens up here can be proud of and make sure Crestview will be the home of the county courthouse for the next generation,” he said.

Crestview's Historic Preservation Board members, including president Ann Spann, Graham Fountain, Linda Parker and Cal Zethmayr, stressed the importance of complementing downtown’s historic architecture in the new facility.

“The board gave specific instructions to the design team that we want to take these comments into consideration,” Boyles said.

County Commissioner Trey Goodwin of District 4 voted nay on the new courthouse proposal, questioning the expense.

Boyles said the existing courthouse has served the community well over its more than 60 years, but has outlived its lifespan. Recently discovered mold, a failing heating and cooling system and leaky roof are among challenges that would’ve been faced had the board decided to renovate the building.

Boyles said county facilities currently housed in the courthouse will be vacated within the next two or three months.

While maintaining a temporary court presence in Crestview during demolition and construction is under discussion, judges’ offices will be moved to the Water and Sewer Building in Fort Walton Beach, Boyles said.

Okaloosa County commissioners considered these options before deciding to raze Crestview's courthouse:

●Spend$60,000 to refurbish portions of the courthouse

●Spend $8 million to entirely renovate the courthouse

●Spend $12 or $17 million to totally renovate the courthouse and build an addition

●Spend $21 million to raze the courthouse and build a new facility on the site

EVOLUTION OF COURTHOUSE PLANS

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa residents divided on new courthouse decision

CRESTVIEW — Lifelong resident Doug Faircloth was selected Tuesday night to fill the City Council seat vacated in August by Mickey Rytman.

Faircloth was unanimously voted to the dais following a three-hour special session of the council to interview the nine applicants for the seat. Two of the applicants, Wendell Beattie and Brandon Frost, did not attend the interviews.

During his interview Faircloth, who has served on several city boards and is a retired Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office deputy, spoke against raising taxes and expanding business opportunities in the city.

"We going to have to compete with Fort Walton and Destin," he said. "We need to increase the tax base, not increase taxes."

On another hot-button topic, Faircloth said he could only support changing the charter to a city manager form of government if the manager was chosen by the electorate.

"I don't think it should be selected by the council," Faircloth said. "There's too much room to give the brother-in-law a job or the next-door neighbor. Why would the council want to pick someone to do such an important job that the citizens wouldn't be able to get rid of?"

Other applicants interviewed were former City Council members Bob Allen, Robyn Helt and Bill Kilpatrick; Rodney Salisbury, Joseph Earnhardt and Zachary Beasley.

A motion by Councilman JB Whitten to select Helt failed for lack of a second. Councilman Joe Blocker then moved to select Faircloth.

Faircloth could take his seat as early as Monday's regularly scheduled City Council meeting.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Doug Faircloth appointed to City Council seat

CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners today voted 4-1 to raze the Crestview courthouse and rebuild a new facility on the same site within two years.

Commissioner Trey Goodwin of District 4 voted nay, questioning the expense.

“This is big stuff,” board chairman Nathan Boyles said. “We’re going to demolish the courthouse: bring out our bulldozers, push it away, and spend $21 million on a beautiful new, Southern-style downtown courthouse.”

Boyles said it is important to keep the county’s main courthouse downtown in the county seat.

“The goal is to achieve a facility that the citizens up here can be proud of and make sure Crestview will be the home of the county courthouse for the next generation,” Boyles said.

HISTORIC DESIGN

During discussion at Tuesday’s board meeting, members of the city’s Historic Preservation Board, including President Ann Spann, Graham Fountain, Linda Parker and Cal Zethmayr, stressed the importance of maintaining downtown’s historic architecture in the new facility.

“The board gave specific instructions to the design team that we want to take these comments into consideration,” Boyles said. “We want this to feel like a Southern town square-type of traditional courthouse.”

Boyles said the existing courthouse has served the community well over its more than 60 years, but has outlived its lifespan. Recently discovered mold, a failing heating and cooling system and leaky roof are among challenges that would’ve been faced had the board decided to renovate the building.

“The commission had the will to say, ‘the heck with all that. Let’s push it into a pile.’”

CRESTVIEW PRESENCE

“We can rebuild it just as quickly and have a much more functional, durable and beautiful facility for the citizens of Okaloosa County by starting with a clean slate in the county seat and downtown,” Boyles said.

Boyles said county facilities currently housed in the courthouse will be vacated within the next two or three months.

While maintaining a temporary court presence in Crestview, due to the mold treatment, is under discussion, judges’ offices will be moved to the Water and Sewer Building, known as the “Taj Mahal,” in Fort Walton Beach “because the rent is free,” Boyles said. “The goal is to have some level of presence up here.”

EVOLUTION OF THE COURTHOUSE PLANS

First idea: $60,000 to refurbish portions of the current courthouse

Second idea: $8 million to renovate the courthouse entirely

Third idea: $12 million to totally renovate the courthouse and add an addition

Fourth idea: $17 to totally renovate the courthouse and add an addition after further planning

Latest idea: $21 million to raze the courthouse and build a new facility on the site

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County Commission votes to raze, rebuild Crestview courthouse

LAUREL HILL — It’s about time Okaloosa County’s northernmost municipality joins other cities in having an official website, City Councilman Scott Moneypenny says.

“There’s no denying the internet has changed the way we communicate forever,” Moneypenny said during Thursday’s monthly council meeting. “Most people would rather visit your website then the local city hall.”

Moneypenny said in addition to keeping residents informed about city events and services, “this is an opportunity to get our name out to bigger businesses that might want to put something in our industrial park.”

 “Can that incorporate paying a water bill online?” resident Mike Hanula asked, adding, “not that I don't like coming in and visiting.”

“Absolutely,” Council Chairman Larry Hendren said, eliciting applause from Hanula.

Moneypenny said when contacting potential businesses, the first question he’s asked is, “Do you have a website we can go to?”

Moneypenny has researched other similar-sized municipalities’ websites and cited Freeport and Paxton’s online presences, noting Freeport’s would be worth emulating, but Paxton’s is not regularly updated.

Daily updates are essential, he said, but given City Hall’s small two-person staff, an outside web provider would be needed. He said 30-A Media Group offers can create and maintain a website for about $1,400 a year, which is lower than other companies he researched.

Hendren invited other website developers to contact the city and share their expertise as well.

Moneypenny proposed establishing a basic site, or “shell,” then building it based on resident input.

“Everything about our website should support our community needs, goals and aspirations, which is why it has to be built around our citizens,” Moneypenny said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill considering official website