LAUREL HILL — A City Council nominee says the selection process is racist after city leaders again deadlocked on choosing a vacant seat's replacement.

Mary Bradberry and Daniel Lane were nominated following Clifton Hall’s resignation from the council in November 2013.

At every council meeting since, the council has tied 2-2 when voting for his replacement.

After council members Johnnie James and Willie Mae Toles, both black, again voted for Bradberry, and Council Chairman Larry Hendren and Betty Williamson, both white, voted for Lane, Bradberry said she thought race was a factor.

“This has been going on for quite some time,” she said. “I have come to a conclusion that this is a black or white thing, not about the betterment of Laurel Hill. It doesn't make sense.”

Hendren said qualifications, not race, have factored in the council's indecision. Additionally, "it is who each member feels most comfortable working with,” he said.

Former mayor Joan Smith said the situation was not new for Laurel Hill, which in the recent past went 18 months with a vacant council seat due to monthly vote deadlocks until a municipal election filled the seat.

“I was the one who went through the same situation as this problem,” James said. “I don't know if it was a racial thing or not. Whoever is the best for the job, that's who you put in.”

James encouraged Bradberry to “just hang in there,” as March 2015's municipal elections will allow her to let the voters decide whether she should be seated.

“I have faith in Laurel Hill,” Bradberry said. “I made my home here.”

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 resident claims racism in council selection process

CRESTVIEW — A yet to be selected Main Street Crestview Association and CRA director will be an hourly position based on the budgeted and advertised $41,511 salary, including benefits.

The Community Redevelopment Agency board unanimously approved the measure at its Nov. 10 meeting.

Based on the job requirements, City Clerk Betsy Roy recommended the position be exempt, or salaried, rather than hourly. “They’re going to have to works nights, they’re going to have to work weekends, they’re going to have to work long days, they’re going to have to work short days,” she said.

The city, Roy said, lacks an exempt position pay grade that matches the advertised $31,439 base salary, which, with benefits added, comes to the $41,511 total figure.

That would mean bumping up the advertised salary. The increase would require an additional $6,000 to $8,000 per year from the CRA, which will fund about 20 percent of the position as the city’s Main Street program manager.

CRA board member Robyn Helt moved to hire a director as an hourly employee at the advertised original salary, said, “We had applicants who applied for the position at the advertised salary."

Helt suggested directing Teresa Gaillard, the newly appointed council administrative assistant and Growth Management director, to manage the CRA director efficiently to avoid overtime expenses.

Roy said 20 applications have been received at the advertised salary.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Main Street, CRA director will be hourly position

CRESTVIEW — City employees who got a 3 percent pay raise Oct. 1 also will get a 1 percent raise effective with their December paychecks.

The City Council on Monday voted 3-2 for the raise. Council members Joe Blocker, Shannon Hayes and Mickey Rytman favored the motion; Tom Gordon and Robyn Helt dissented.

Gordon and Helt stressed their support for the city’s workers, but said taxpayer money is under discussion, and that a recent financial audit cautioned the city was operating at a deficit.

The council must stick to its budget to meet its obligations to taxpayers, Helt said. “I’ve always believed in supporting the low man on the totem pole, but these days, the low man on the totem pole is the taxpayer,” she said.

Gordon advocated waiting until next year’s budget planning and implementing a merit-based pay raise system rather than across-the-board raises. “It’s not fair,” he said. “I’m not able to support this.”

City Clerk Betsy Roy said $55,000 needed to cover the raises came from $180,000 in unexpected savings from Gulf Power for budgeted street lighting. In addition to the raises, $75,000 will be added to the $800,000 contingency fund. The remaining $50,000 will stay in the street lighting fund in case of lighting increases.

Public Works Director Wayne Steele, who requested raises, said 20 of his employees make $12 an hour. “What I am asking is help those employees who are making so little to make a little more,” he said.

Councilman Mickey Rytman said he sympathized with city workers when he moved to provide the raises.

Still, Helt said, "Basically we’re floating the city on Gulf Power’s refund. If you were floating your household by going to Dillard’s and returning a dress, that’s a bad position to be in.

"You’ve got to operate within a budget, period.”

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 OKs pay raises for some employees

Okaloosa County Commissioner-elect Carolyn Ketchel and Commissioner-elect Trey Goodwin will be sworn into office 8:30 a.m. Nov. 18 at 1804 Lewis Turner Boulevard in Fort Walton Beach.

The county commission's new chairman will be selected in December and be seated in January.

Current Chairman Kelly Windes discusses his year as chairman on this month's "Okaloosa Today Show," which airs Sundays at 7 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m., and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 6 p.m. on Cox Channel 6.

The show also is available on the Okaloosa County YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/user/CountyOkaloosaTV.   

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: New Okaloosa commissioners to be sworn in next week

DESTIN — The next general monthly meeting of the Okaloosa County Democrat Executive Committee is 6 p.m. Nov. 17 at Democratic Headquarters, 215 Mountain Drive (Suite 105) in Destin.

All Democrats and friends are welcome to attend.

For more on the group visit http://www.okaloosademocrats.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Democrats meeting planned next week

CRESTVIEW — JB Whitten has pre-filed to run for the Crestview City Council's at-large group 1 seat in the 2015 municipal elections.

Whitten, the North Okaloosa Republican Club's former president, said he decided to run for the office after receiving Councilwoman Robyn Helt's assurance that she did not intend to seek re-election.

“I like Robyn and I like what she’s been doing,” Whitten said. “I contacted her and said, ‘Hey, are you going to be running again, because I like what you’re doing and if you (are), I’ll stay out of the race.’”

Helt said she feels Whitten is a fellow fiscal conservative. “I told him it would make me feel better that there is someone else who’s a conservative and was willing to step up to the plate.”

Whitten said three major issues he wants to address are improving roads and transportation while helping Crestview continue to attract business to provide more jobs. “All of these things are tied together,” he said.

Infrastructure improvements should focus on Ferdon Boulevard and P.J. Adams Parkway, he said. “We’ve got to figure out what to do to speed that process up,” Whitten said. “We’ve got to break the code and figure out how to get people interested at state level because these are state roads we’re talking about.”

To avoid a conflict of interest, Whitten has stepped down as NORC's president. In addition, he said he is scaling back volunteer work for the American Red Cross and stepping down as manager of the local Seniors Against Crime office to focus on his campaign.

Whitten served 30 years in the U.S. Air Force and taught high school American government for 12 years.

“That’s kind of what got me motivated about politics,” Whitten said. “You teach American government and it really gets you motivated about the functions of government.”

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Resident qualifies for City Council run

CRESTVIEW — City Councilman Joe Blocker's proposal to require the council to review and sign off on city invoices is "ridiculous," City Councilwoman Robyn Helt said.

Blocker moved during Monday’s council meeting that all of city attorney Jerry Miller's invoices be submitted to the council for approval.

He said many constituents have questioned the city’s legal expenses and those who lack access to computers and smart phones can’t monitor Crestview’s legal expenses.

“That’s ridiculous,” Helt said. “A citizen doesn’t have to have an iPhone or an iPad or a computer to come to the city and get public records at any time.”

City Clerk Betsy Roy said that if the motion — which Councilman Mickey Rytman seconded — passed, “I can tell there’s going to be a lot of late fees.”

Roy said following the city charter, she and Council President Shannon Hayes already co-sign all city vouchers, or checks. Requiring the entire council to review each invoice will delay payments, she said.

City Councilman Tom Gordon said Blocker’s motion singling out Miller’s fees would violate the attorney’s contract with the city and could result in litigation.

“Hopefully he represents us well when he sues us,” Gordon said facetiously.

Faced with that potential and Helt’s accusations of the council wanting to “micromanage” city operations instead of promoting efficiencies, Rytman withdrew his second.

Blocker’s motion failed for lack of another second.

After discussion, Miller said he felt the exchange indicated he didn’t have the full council’s confidence despite two and a half years as city attorney.

“Continuously this has been a scab that has been picked for a while now, but not once have I been asked by a member of the council to explain an item on my bill,” Miller said. “It is disturbing to me. In my view, I expect better than that.”

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Councilwoman: Blocker proposal 'ridiculous' (VIDEO)

LAUREL HILL — The Okaloosa County Teachers Federal Credit Union asked the City Council to consider a comprehensive plan revision to allow a branch office in a neighborhood.

Municipal planner Pat Blackshear’s request to place the matter on next month’s council agenda touched off a robust discussion involving city attorney Dan Campbell, residents and credit union representatives.

Blackshear on Thursday distributed a proposed draft amendment to Laurel Hill’s comprehensive plan, saying, “What this would do is allow the use of this property for a branch credit union and no other use.”

The credit union acquired property on Fourth Street off State Road 85 in a foreclosure. Except for a wheelchair accessible ramp, the house's appearance wouldn’t change, Melanie Fulton, the credit union's representative, said.

Still, resident Mary Bradberry said, “retail doesn’t have to move in your neighborhood. There’s plenty of other areas for retail growth.”

The credit union — which can't afford to build a new branch office — wants to operate from property it already owns, Fulton said. “If we're not able to use that property, the chance of us opening a full-time branch probably wouldn't happen,” she said.

Changing the comprehensive plan requires a “change in circumstances,” such as a highway being rerouted, to change existing zoning, Campbell said. “I don't want the city to go out on a limb on a special exemption and get in trouble with the state of Florida,” he said.

Former mayor Joan Smith reminded credit union representatives that space at reduced rent has been offered in two city locations, including the 1905 Gallery on State Road 85. “It would be a good opportunity to get a start and then grow,” she said.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Residents challenge credit union's rezoning request