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

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County students' mock election results generally aligned with registered voters' decisions, according to the Supervisor of Elections website.

In county high school voting, Jeff Miller beat Jim Bryan for U.S. Congress, Rick Scott earned a second term as governor, and Pam Bondi outdistanced other attorney general hopefuls.

However, in the kids' vote, Joe Slusser took a substantial lead over Rodney Walker for Okaloosa County School Board, with 3,222 votes to the incumbent’s 1,613.

In the actual election, unofficial results indicate votes were so close a recount will be necessary.

High school voters overwhelmingly approved the medical marijuana amendment 3,672 to 1,256.

Though official “yes” votes topped “no’s,” it wasn’t by a sufficient margin to pass, proving a point elections officials try to make voters understand.

“Every vote counts every time,” said Bridget Richard Krebs, Supervisor of Elections voter education and public relations coordinator.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Supervisor of Elections: Junior voters', adults' decisions similar

CRESTVIEW — The City Council hasn't renewed the traffic impact fee waiver, which could expire as the year ends.

The fee, charged to developers, was eliminated in January 2013 after Gov. Rick Scott's executive order asked that communities cut it to spur economic growth.

Here are city officials and representatives' views on the issue:

•Council members Robyn Helt, Joe Blocker and Mickey Rytman support extending the waiver.

“I don't think it's coincidental we have seen this spike (in development) over the last couple years,” Helt said. Developers “tell me the traffic impact fee waiver is one of the major considerations in deciding to build their projects.”

•City Planner Eric Davis said the city has lost approximately $394,000 in fee revenue, but traffic impact fees weren't a major factor.

“The developers who come and deal with me, they have never told me that an impact fee has kept them from Crestview,” he said. Rather, "it was the overwhelming proportionate fair share fee."

Proportionate fair share, or “prop share,” was a "pay-as-you-grow" fee that helped fund public services associated with commercial growth. It died in September 2012 after the council amended the city’s comprehensive plan.

“The prop share was the fee that for five years killed any development on (Highway) 85 between 90 and the (Shoal) River,” Davis said.

•City attorney Jerry Miller has advised the council to end the waiver. Periodically extending it could expose the city to litigation if some businesses were exempt from the fee while others paid it, he said.

A decision to extend the waiver should be based on an independent expert's objective study, Miller said.

Atkins Engineering, which becomes the city’s traffic consultant in a month, could conduct such a study, city planner Eric Davis said.

•Councilman Tom Gordon said he would support renewing the fee waiver if a traffic engineering firm's independent study supports it.

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 traffic impact fee waiver may die by year's end