LAUREL HILL — The City Council unanimously agreed to seek bids to repair inoperative equipment serving water well no. 3.

With the loss of the well constituting an emergency, city officials brought in Thomason Well Drilling of Fort Walton Beach to initiate repairs because of the company’s familiarity with the Laurel Hill equipment.

Excavations determined the well’s motor had burned out. Thomason also recommended replacing the 30-year-old pump, which could fail soon, Council Chairman Larry Hendren reported.

“We need to get that well back up because if that second well goes down, people aren’t going to have water,” Hendren said. “It is an emergency.”

Thomason said replacing the 25-horsepower motor and check valve would be $6,160. Replacing the pump would bring the repair to $9,830.

“I recommend we go ahead and do both of them while we’re at it,” Councilwoman Willie Mae Toles said.

“The pump might go at any time,” Councilwoman Betty Williamson said. “I agree we might as well do it.”

Both former Mayor Joan Smith and former council candidate Mary Bradberry advised soliciting at least three bids.

Hendren revised his original motion for an emergency repair to instead seek three bids. If Thomason is not the lowest bidder, the company would be paid for work already done, he said.

Hendren said as of Tuesday two bids have been received and a third bid was expected.

Though Toles asserted, “We're looking at people that’s been without water,” Mayor Robbie Adams said at the moment, water customers are being served as usual.

“We have two wells and they both feed to our tank,” Adams said. “We’re just working off one right now.”

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill City Council approves emergency well repair

LAUREL HILL — The City Council barely tabled discussion on filling its vacant seat, with Councilwomen Willie Mae Toles and Betty Williamson voting as they walked out of Thursday’s meeting.

The council has been deadlocked on filling the seat Clifton Hall vacated in November 2013, with Toles and Councilman Johnny James, both black, voting for Mary Bradbury and Williamson and Council Chairman Larry Hendren, both white, voting for Daniel Lane.

Since the November meeting, city attorney Dan Campbell questioned Bradbury’s residency, indicating her home may be outside city limits, which would disqualify her from representing the city.

At Campbell’s recommendation, Bradbury was removed from the candidates list while the residency issue is settled. Bradbury was out of town when the decision was made.

Resident Scott Moneypenny filed an application for the vacant seat. Moneypenny, like Bradbury, regularly attends council meetings.

Bradbury said she was not notified that her residency had been questioned, even when she was visiting city hall on another matter.

“Nobody said nothing,” she said. “I bought property here because I want to be part of this community.”

MOTION TO TABLE

Hendren moved to table discussion of the matter until Jan. 8 to give Campbell, who is recuperating from surgery, time to finish his research.

Then Toles claimed racism was involved.

“I didn’t know (Bradbury's) name was taken off and I’m a city council member,” Toles said, although the revised list of candidates was published before the scheduled Dec. 4 council meeting, which Toles missed.

Toles said she thinks white council members are planning to drive black members from the board.

“You going to get a little white man to take my place?” she asked, claiming she saw Hendren meeting with former mayor Joan Smith at her home.

“They’re gathering around. They got a conspiracy going,” James said.

Mayor Robbie Adams said the motion was to table discussion on the matter until Campbell’s investigation was completed.

The motion carried unanimously; the councilwomen voted while exiting the chamber, after which Hendren gaveled the meeting to a close.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'THEY GOT A CONSPIRACY GOING': City leaders claim racial tension

CRESTVIEW — Jeremiah Hubbard, a North Okaloosa County native, has declared his candidacy for mayor of Crestview.

Work in ministry and as owner of Ideal Marketing Innovations, a business consulting firm, took Hubbard and his wife, Charity; daughter, Lily, 12; and son, Destin, 7, to homes in several southeast states and Oklahoma.

But when he returned to Crestview, he felt the city had barely grown from when the family left in 2000.

“Crestview was considered one of the fastest growing cities in the state,” he said. “When you come back to the city that you grew up in, we’ve seen there’s been some growth, but we haven’t grown to the potential that Crestview has.”

Noting that Crestview also supports neighboring communities, Hubbard said he believes leadership is needed to drive the city’s growth, especially in areas including technology and manufacturing.

“I believe that Crestview needs a mayor who will lead with vision and who will help position our city to be a place of commerce and industry, leading the way for a new economic boom in Northwest Florida,” Hubbard said.

To stimulate growth, the city’s infrastructure, particularly overcrowded highways, must be enhanced, he said.

“A bypass is not the immediate answer,” Hubbard states on his website, CrestviewForward.com. “We must look at ways that can create simplified solutions in a limited amount of time that will produce substantial results.”

“Should I be elected as mayor, I will work to make sure we grow as a community, take care of our first responders, have a strong economy, improve our infrastructure, have a plan for industrial development, and have the technology in place to enable our success,” Hubbard said.

“Crestview will be a place where people come because we create an environment that encourages that success is achievable.”

Hubbard is the fourth person to declare his candidacy for mayor, following City Councilman Tom Gordon, resident Landrum Edwards and incumbent Mayor David Cadle.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Hubbard prequalifies for Crestview mayor’s race

LAUREL HILL — Scott Moneypenny wants to serve as Laurel Hill's next city council member.

His candidacy replaces that of Mary Bradberry, who with Daniel Lane have been considered since November 2013 to fill a seat vacated since Clifton Hall's resignation.

As for Bradberry, “There are some issues about whether she actually lives in the city limits,” Council Chairman Larry Hendren said, adding that city leaders plan to study Bradberry’s permanent residence.

Moneypenny, a retired Marine and Navy sailor, served 26 years in the military. His last duty station was Eglin Air Force Base.

A strong sense of civic duty drives Moneypenny, he said. “It's your civic duty to support your community," he said. "No matter where I've ever been, I've supported my community."

Not enough Laurel Hill City Council members showed up to Thursday's regular meeting to make it valid, so those who did attend — Hendren and Betty Williamson — could not discuss Moneypenny's qualifications.

Thursday’s meeting was rescheduled for Dec. 11 after Hendren gave Johnny James and Willie Mae Toles 15 minutes to show up.

The council had been consistently deadlocked, with James and Toles, both black, voting for Bradberry and Williamson and Hendren, both white, voting for Lane each time the matter was raised.

Hendren has contested Bradberry's contention that the appointment process was racist. He said qualifications, not race, factored into the council's deadlock.

The city charter prevents Mayor Robbie Adams, "a non-voting member," from breaking the deadlock, Hendren said.

“There's no provisions whatsoever (to select the next council member) other than a majority vote of the remaining council members unless the next election rolls around, which happens in March.”

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: Laurel Hill City Council Make-Up Meeting

WHEN: 6 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: City Hall

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at brianh@crestviewbulletin.com, follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: New Laurel Hill council candidate announced

SHALIMAR — The public is welcome to attend and participate in the Okaloosa County state legislative delegation's next public hearing.

The hearing is 5:30-7 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors, 10 Hollywood Blvd. NE, Fort Walton Beach.

Public comments will be heard on proposals for the 2015 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature. The deadline to be placed on the agenda or submit handouts is 5 p.m. Jan. 21. Contact Rep. Matt Gaetz's legislative aide, Amanda Neeld, at 850-833-9328 or Amanda.Neeld@myfloridahouse.gov.

The Okaloosa County legislative delegation consists of Senators Greg Evers and Don Gaetz, and Representatives Doug Broxson and Matt Gaetz.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County legislative delegation set public hearing

DESTIN — The Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization will meet Thursday, Dec. 4 at the Destin City Hall Annex.

The TPO will meet at 3 p.m.; the Citizens' Advisory Committee and Technical Coordinating Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively. The building is at 4100 Indian Bayou Trail.

Agenda items include:

•The Florida Department of Transportation's fiscal year 2016-20 Tentative Work Program

•Appointment  of a TPO member/alternate to serve on the Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council

•Appointment  of a TPO member/alternate to attend the MPOAC Institute

•Consideration of a Citizens' Advisory Committee application

Review items include:

•A draft  of the inter-local agreement for the Okaloosa-Walton TPO

•A draft of the professional services agreement with West Florida Regional Planning Council

•A general planning consultant selection update

•The regional transit authority feasibility study

See www.wfrpc.org for the full agenda.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa-Walton transportation planners to meet Thursday

CRESTVIEW — Mayor David Cadle has announced his bid for a third term in office.

Cadle was first elected in 2007 and was reelected in 2011. In that time, the city has seen unprecedented growth and weathered what Cadle termed, “a crisis of confidence by our citizens in the police department.”

By provision of the city charter, the mayor oversees Crestview’s public safety departments. After allegations against former Crestview Police Department leadership were issued, Cadle replaced former Chief Brian Mitchell with current Chief Tony Taylor and oversaw a cultural restructuring of the department.

Former police Maj. Joseph Floyd was sentenced in 2013 to 12 years in prison on charges of racketeering, while Mitchell faces charges of official misconduct.

“The rigorous standards an officer faces today are vastly different than those under the former police leadership,” Cadle said.

The police department has begun what Cadle termed “the arduous task” of applying for police department accreditation, “which will result in even more scrutiny of our local law enforcement.”

The Crestview Fire Department has acquired advanced communications technology under Cadle’s tenure, including using satellite positioning systems to identify fire locations and track response vehicles.

Among his achievements, Cadle touted in a news release, is “the recruitment of advanced educational institutions” that are attracted to Crestview, including the Florida A&M University pharmacy school. “Our location in the panhandle has caused several schools with professional degree programs along with a four-year university to take a closer look at us,” Cadle stated.

Cadle also cited Crestview’s improving business climate, which has seen the arrival of several national retailers as well as local stores and restaurants open in recent years.

“We will continue those efforts which help diversify and strengthen the local economy,” Cadle said.

Also seeking election as mayor are City Councilman Tom Gordon, who pre-filed in August, and resident Landrum Edwards, who announced his candidacy in September.

Municipal elections will be March 10, 2015. Early voting starts Feb. 23.

EmailNews Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitteror call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Cadle seeks third term as mayor

CRESTVIEW — The City Council unanimously agreed to extend for another year the waiver of traffic impact fees.

At a brief Monday evening meeting, council administrative assistant Theresa Gaillard presented the ordinance for a first reading.

“The main objective is to relieve the burden on our developers and our builders and to allow time for a study of the impact fee,” Gaillard said.

Gaillard said in 2009, a periodic review of the traffic impact fee was mandated by city code. The last study was held in 2008.

Extending the fee 12 months will allow time for a consultant to review the fee, determine its affect on development, and recommend either extending the waiver or implementing the fee again. If the latter course is recommended, the consultant would also suggest how much the fee should be, Gaillard said.

She estimated the study will cost between $25,000 and $55,000.

When Councilman Mickey Rytman suggested studying the impact fee concurrently with planning the city’s 2015-16 budget, city attorney Jerry Miller advised against waiting so long.

“It will not be my guidance that you delay the study of the impact fee with the next budget cycle,” Miller said. “I recommend a very short period of time than the one year.”

Miller has previously counseled the council to allow the fee waiver to sunset at the end of December, because extending it could expose the city to litigation from developers who had to pay the fee before it was waived at the request of Gov. Rick Scott.

“At the completion of the impact study, if you continue to have the impact fee, we expect the waiver period may not last 12 months,” Miller said.

The ordinance extending the waiver will be presented for a second reading and final vote at the council’s Dec. 8 meeting.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: City Council extends traffic impact fee waiver

CRESTVIEW — City and water engineering contractor CH2M Hill officials are planning pipelines that will transport treated wastewater to golf course and developer customers.

In addition, they will boost educational outreach to include school and organization visits to the city’s wastewater treatment plant. That's important because "there’s a lot that happens when someone flushes that toilet,” project manager Jayne Swift said. “We’re the end result.”

Swift, Public Works Director Wayne Steele and city officials are flush with excitement upon last month's completion of the plant’s fourth expansion phase.

Among other improvements, the new phase replaces the treated water disinfection system.

The plant previously used chlorine gas to treat water. Under the new system, the water is cleaned with what Swift called "essentially industrial bleach," which is less hazardous to handle.

Improvements also include the beginnings of infrastructure to distribute and sell treated wastewater, some of which is currently sprayed on a 275-acre spray field, growing grasses for farmers.

City officials are in discussions with Foxwood Country Club officials and housing developers to buy treated water for use on golf courses, landscaping and lawns, Steele said.

“They’re excited because they have a capacity limit” with wells or municipal water supplies, Steele said. “When things go dry, it costs them money.”

The plant — which operates on a $1 million annual budget — daily can process up to 2.75 million gallons of wastewater. It recoups some of its expenses through charging for the service it provides.

“This (program) helps them and it helps the city,” Steele said. “We can charge for that water. It helps cover our costs of operation.”

The new phase called for constructing five rapid infiltration basins, or RIPs, which clean treated sewage through percolation. The RIPs will provide treated water for developers and country clubs.

“You can treat all the sewage you want but if you can’t get rid of it, you’re no better off than when you started,” Steele said.

Crestview’s wastewater treatment plant is both the city’s biggest construction project and its largest asset, representing a $26.450 million investment since it was started in 1994, Steele said.

“Sewer and water (service) is the lifeblood of a developing city,” he said.

“Without this, Crestview isn’t going to grow in any way,” City Council President Shannon Hayes said as Steele showed officials a control monitor of the entire plant. “This right here really is the future of Crestview.”

By positioning the plant to anticipate the city’s growth, “we’re ahead of the game and it’s going to make life easier for everybody,” Swift said. “This city has forethought.”

WANT TO GO?

Schools and community organizations interested in touring Crestview's wastewater treatment plant may contact Jayne Swift, H2M Hill project manager, 682-0829.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview’s wastewater treatment plant grows with city

CRESTVIEW — The City Council next week will discuss a traffic impact fee moratorium that expires Dec. 31.

While council members Mickey Rytman and Robyn Helt support extending the moratorium, city attorney Jerry Miller has said that could place the city in legal jeopardy.

If the city adopted waivers for impact fees, it could even wind up reimbursing developers who previously paid the fee, Miller said.

Helt has said the city should look for a way to maintain the moratorium.

“I am for continuing it if it is feasible,” she said during the council's Nov. 10 meeting. “Let’s do it in a manner that can hold up to litigation.”

Councilman Joe Blocker, heeding Miller’s advice, advocated letting the moratorium expire while the issue is studied.

“By the (council) meeting in January or February, we should know the position we’re in,” he said. “If need be then, we will reinstitute the moratorium.”

Local contractor Jeremy Stewart, the Florida Homebuilders Association's acting secretary, supports extending the moratorium.

“Across the state, the majority of constituencies are extending the moratorium,” he said.

Builder and general contractor Felix Beukenkamp, the Building Industry Association's past president, said builders and city officials must work as partners in development.

“We’re here to help you raise the money that needs to be raised. Without those roads we can’t do business,” he said. “One thing we can’t support is a very narrow tax, which this fee is.”

Bobby Fischer, president of the Building Industry Association of Okaloosa and Walton County, said with material prices rising faster than home sale prices, the moratorium is the only thing making homebuilding profitable in the Crestview area.

Fischer said he has 20 Crestview lots on which he intends to build. If the moratorium expires, he said he might have to flood city planners on Dec. 31 with many sets of building plans for approval, “or, we’re going to pull out of this area.”

WANT TO GO?

The Crestview City Council will discuss extending the traffic impact fee at a special meeting, 6 p.m. Nov. 24 at City Hall

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Traffic impact fee to be discussed at special council meeting