CRESTVIEW — City leaders have set a tentative, 7.8466 millage rate for the 2015-2016 fiscal year.

Councilmen Joe Blocker and Bill Cox voted yes, and JB Whitten voted no on the proposal, which raises the tentative millage rate 2 mills. One mill is $1 of tax per thousand dollars of taxable property value.

The rate can be lowered throughout the budgeting process, but it cannot be raised, City Clerk Betsy Roy said.

"It (the rate) can and must come back down, but we are at a point where we have got to act," Blocker said. 

Florida statutes determine the timeline for setting a tentative rate, and city leaders had to give a figure on Monday so the property appraiser could give taxpayers adequate notice of public discussion on the issue.

Before the vote, Roy said the council could select a rate up to 10 mills.

 City leaders scheduled public hearings on Sept. 9 and Sept. 22 — both 5:05 p.m. at city hall — to discuss the tentative millage rate and budget.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview City Council sets tentative millage rate

CRESTVIEW — Groundbreaking on a 102-unit apartment complex for senior citizens is expected within the next 30 days, according to city officials.

The City Council on Monday approved construction plans for Katie Manor, a 6-acre affordable housing development on Brookmeade Drive.

The property — which is southeast of North Okaloosa Medical Center — has been annexed into the city but follows the Okaloosa County Land Development Code's mixed use future land use since Crestview's comprehensive plan amendment hasn't been completed, city officials said.

All present council members — Joe Blocker, JB Whitten and Bill Cox — approved the project under Okaloosa County zoning regulations so development could begin.

Developers are clearing land to prepare the site; a groundbreaking and ribbon cutting ceremony are expected soon, City Clerk Betsy Roy said.

Once the complex is built, the city will receive annual tax revenue, along with water and sewer fees.

After the city's comprehensive plan is completed, the property will be zoned residential, with a future land use of medium density residential or high density residential, depending on the new comprehensive plan's requirements.

The complex will have 125 parking spaces, including six that are handicap accessible, which more than doubles the county's code requirement, city officials said. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview City Council OKs construction plans for senior housing

CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa County Commission will conduct an executive session to discuss ongoing litigation after its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

The session is estimated to begin at approximately 11 a.m. on the first floor of the Crestview Courthouse.

Discussion will center on:

•Okaloosa County's administrative challenges and allocation by the Department of Juvenile Justice for secure juvenile detention

•Sandman v. Okaloosa County

•The Final Agency Decision of the Federal Aviation Administration on Application 15-06-C-00-VPS. 

Commissioners will discuss settlement negotiations or strategy sessions related to litigation expenditures. A certified court reporter will record the approximately 60-minute session.

Afterward, the board will reconvene in open session in the Board Chambers and take action on any of these items, if necessary.

The Crestview Courthouse is located at 101 E. James Lee Blvd., Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County Commission sets executive session

CRESTVIEW— The Crestview City Council will meet at 6 p.m. July 27 at city hall, 198 Wilson St., N.

Here is the meeting's agenda.

REGULAR AGENDA

1. Call to order

2. Invocation: Rev. Michael Precht, Crestview First United Methodist Church; Pledge of Allegiance

3. Open policy making and legislative session

4. Special Presentations

5. Approval of the minutes from the July 6,

2015 workshop.

6. Public Hearings:

a. Ordinance 1587 – rezoning. first reading

7. Public Opportunity on Council propositions

8.Consent Agenda

a. Approval of School Emergency Shelters

b. Approval of Allen, Norton and Blue invoice of $416.50

c. Approval of Citizen of the Year Presentation Monday, August 10, 5:30 pm

d. Approval of Donation of food for Canines

e. Approval of Police Car refurbishment

f. Approval of Server Purchase for Police Department

g. Approval of Refinancing Agreements

9. Resolutions

a. Resolution 15 – 17, Refinancing resolution

b. Resolution 15 – 18 FRDAP Grants

10. Committee Reports

a. Main Street Association – Update and Fall Festival Time Change. Paul Lowery

11. Scheduled presentations from the public

a. Delano Lundy

b. Greg Lundy

c. Tony Vance – Sons of the Confederacy

12. Project reports and comments from mayor and council

13. Staff Reports and Recommendations

a. Ordinance 1586 – Okaloosa Gas, first reading

b. Discussion of temporary employee for library -library director

c. Setting of tentative millage – City Clerk

d. Katie Manor Senior Apartments – Growth Management Department

1. Approval of the construction plans for 102 unit senior apartment complex.

14. Comments from the audience

15. Adjournment

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Here's what the Crestview City Council is meeting about July 27

CRESTVIEW— The Crestview Local Planning Agency will meet at 6 p.m. July 13 at city hall, 198 Wilson St., N.

Here is the meeting's agenda.

1. Convene meeting.

2. Approve June 16, 2014 minutes.

3. Review site development plansfor a Gulf Power Sub Station. The location of the project is a 1.38-acre portion of the 4.77-acre parcel at 301 Cadle Drive. Requested by Ashley Jansen, Gulf Power Company, Inc., Agent for the property owner. LPA 15-13

4. Review Site development plans for HJH Industrial Plaza, a 50,000-square-foot warehouse development consisting of five new 10,000-square-foot buildings. Location of the property is a 6.6± acre parcel at 100 Lloyd Street. Requested by Mark Siner, PE of Choctaw Engineering. LPA 15-16.

5. Review FRDAP Grants for the improvements at Twin Hill Park, Phase I and II. Requested by Brenda Smith, director, Community Redevelopment Agency.

6. Review request for rezoning 196 Pine Avenue West, a 2500 square feet parcel is located in the southwest corner of the undivided Block 50, of Town of Crestview Survey Plat of Section 17, Township 3 North, Range 23 West, Requested by Casbah Coffee Company, LLC, property owner by William Toannon, managing member.

7. Consider other business as necessary. Discuss the special meeting scheduled Aug. 4, 2015 to review the proposed revisions of the Community Redevelopment Plan submitted by the Community Redevelopment Agency.

8. Adjourn.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Here's what Crestview's Local Planning Agency will meet about July 21

CRESTVIEW – Resident and President of the Okaloosa County NAACP Ray Nelson said the organization welcomed the decision to remove the rebel battle flag from the Lundy memorial, but said his members want assurance the move is permanent.

“We request you put it in writing that the flag will not fly over the city of Crestview again,” Nelson said, addressing the City Council at its Monday meeting. “We want your assurance it will be permanently removed.”

Nelson said city leaders’ decision to cancel a July 7 special meeting to discuss the flag was interpreted by his organization as “avoidance.”

“Across the country eyes are being opened and hearts are being filled,” Nelson said. “The Crestview community is too diverse. It's the right time (to remove the flag permanently).”

Nelson emphasized that the Lundy memorial itself “has never been an issue for the NAACP,” which is agreeable to leaving the memorial in place with the American flag flying above it.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: NAACP wants written assurance battle flag won’t fly over Crestview again