CRESTVIEW — Gov. Rick Scott’s campaign bus wheeled into the Lee Buick GMC parking lot Thursday afternoon, a venue conscientiously selected to emphasize his “Let’s keep working” campaign slogan.

“It’s great to be here,” Scott said. “Hopefully everybody’s going to buy a car today.”

Joining Scott were Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, State Attorney Pam Bondi, and State Rep. Doug Broxson.

Crestview Mayor David Cadle, who with City Councilman Tom Gordon welcomed the governor to the Panhandle’s third-biggest city, said Scott’s visit was an acknowledgement of North Okaloosa County’s growth.

“People at state level are starting to see the importance of Crestview and the north county area and recognize our economic diversity and growth up here,” Cadle said.

PATRIOT DAY VISIT

Scott’s visit to Crestview followed a Patriot Day morning ceremony in Fort Walton Beach where he rang the first strike on a bell cast Wednesday for a war veterans memorial.

Bondi expressed gratitude to Crestview Police Chief Tony Taylor and police Lt. Andrew Schneider, who attended the event, for representing law enforcement officers on Patriot Day.

“We thank you for your service,” she said.

Members of the local Democratic Party had planned a protest at Scott’s Crestview stop, but canceled their appearance in recognition of the day of remembrance.

“In respecting a historical day in U.S. history, Okaloosa Democrats cancel the planned protest of Rick Scott's campaign bus stop tour,” Florida Democratic Party state committeeman John Whitley stated in a press release.

As a result, the modest turnout was a mixture of enthusiastic supporters, North Okaloosa Republican Club members, dealership workers and car shoppers.

Riverside Elementary School second-grader Destin Hubbard was among them, and said his classmates will be jealous of him when they learn he got his picture taken with the governor.

“He’s kind of funny,” Destin said. “I liked him.”

Scott, Lopez-Cantera and Bondi’s remarks emphasized the improvements to Florida’s economy and the increase in jobs under Scott’s leadership.

The leaders contrasted the figures with those during the national Recession that occurred during the administration of Scott’s predecessor and campaign opponent, former Gov. Charlie Crist.

Bondi said unemployment fell from a high of 11.1 percent during Crist’s administration to 6.2 percent.

“We care, because it is about our families,” Scott said. “It’s not about Charlie getting a job. It’s about you getting a job. It’s not about Charlie’s kids’ education. It’s about your kids’ education.”

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Governor’s campaign stresses ‘Let’s keep working’ mantra (VIDEO)

Okaloosa County commissioners have approved the current millage rate of 3.4308 for the 2014-15 fiscal year budget.

A final budget hearing is set for 6 p.m.  Sept. 15 at the Water and Sewer building, 1804 Lewis Turner Blvd., Fort Walton Beach.

Millage set at the tentative hearing cannot be increased at the final hearing.

Commissioners increased the Municipal Services Taxing Unit rate from .1800 to .2990 to fund stormwater projects. The increase affects just unincorporated Okaloosa County residents.

“Because of pressing needs in the county’s stormwater management, this budget calls for a very slight increase in the MSTU millage that will be used for stormwater projects," County Administrator Ernie Padgett stated. "The increase will generate an additional $781,000."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa commissioners OK tentative budget

CRESTVIEW — The near-completion of expanding the city’s wastewater treatment facilities necessitated finding a qualified company to operate and maintain the facility.

After hearing presentations by the top two qualified firms that responded to Public Works’ request for proposals, the City Council unanimously chose its current operator, CH2M Hill.

At Monday evening’s council meeting, CH2M Hill and ClearWater Solutions emphasized their environmental records. CH2M Hill and ClearWater are 99.98 percent and 100 percent compliant, respectively, the companies claimed.

Both companies offered the city “value-added” services at company expense, including video inspection of pipes.

Current CH2M Hill project Manager Jayne Swift described planned projects, including student field trips to the plant to teach students how waste water is reclaimed and recycled.

Swift and some of her engineers have also volunteered to help the Crestview Kiwanis Club refurbish the McMahon Environmental Center, providing engineering and planning services.

“I’m very committed to the community,” Swift said. “Crestview is the first city I worked in since I got out of college in 1985 that I also live in. I've become part of your community and I've become involved in some community projects that you’re interested in."

CH2M Hill’s proposal scored 689 points when ranked by a committee of city employees and residents. ClearWater scored 603, with U.S. Water Service Corp. and Veolia Water scoring 598 and 587.5 points, respectively.

Next, the city will negotiate a contract with CH2M Hill, which daily treats more than 1 billion gallons of waste water for clients throughout the country, including 1.9 gallons daily for Crestview.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CH2M Hill chosen to operate new wastewater plant

CRESTVIEW — Passionate debate resulted from the City Council’s final budget workshop as City Clerk Betsy Roy sought consensus on a revised budget, resulting in one member temporarily leaving the chamber.

But by a 3-1 vote, with Councilman Tom Gordon dissenting, the council agreed Thursday to move the budget to the first of two public hearings.

Council members Robyn Helt and Gordon criticized the revised version, saying it arrived after the council already agreed last week on what members thought was the final budget.

Though the $29 million budget's amount remained unchanged, the Fire Department’s budget content was revised after firefighters expressed concern that police officers were receiving a bigger raise than they were.

Instead of blanket 3 percent raises for all city workers, Fire Chief Joe Traylor restructured his budget to provide firefighters a 4 percent raise and dispatchers a 5 percent increase.

UNSUSTAINABLE RAISES

Helt, citing a recent city financial audit, said giving such large raises will have ramifications in future budget years and would be unsustainable.

“Our city is basically operating at a deficit,” she said. “It's a trend that's been going on for a long time.”

“We're working hand-to-mouth,” Gordon said. “We don't have anything in reserves.”

“We have been asking employees to make sacrifices for the last four or five years,” Council President Shannon Hayes said. “But what sacrifices have we asked our citizens to make? We're trying to kill the employees but we haven't asked anything of the citizens.”

Asking homeowners to pay a proposed fire assessment fee would be an equitable solution, Hayes said.

“Some of our citizens have been having a free lunch for years and we refuse to ask them to buy a loaf of bread to go with the meat we've been giving,” he said.

“The government is not here to be served by citizens,” Gordon said.

“Our citizens absolutely have given up things,” Helt said. “Many citizens are doing without a job.”

Then, noticing Hayes had leaned back and closed his eyes, Helt said, “I'll just stop because our president is so bored that he chooses to go to sleep,” and left the chamber.

Upon Helt’s return a few minutes later, Hayes asked for a council consensus. Helt agreed to the revised budget.

“I just caution the department heads that next year, when the city is in a more precarious position than it's in, we need to be prepared to make these difficult decisions that will need to be made,” she said.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: 2014-15 Crestview City Budget Hearing

WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Sept. 9 and 23

WHERE: City Council Chamber, 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: Revised proposed budget now includes higher raises for firefighters

CRESTVIEW — Resident Bill Cox, a familiar face at City Council and other municipal meetings and workshops, has qualified to run for the Group 2 at-large seat on the council.

The seat’s current occupant, Councilman Tom Gordon, qualified earlier this summer to run for mayor.

Cox has been a strong proponent of widening P.J. Adams Parkway and completing the P.J. Adams-Antioch Road corridor to alleviate traffic in the heavily populated southwest section of the city.

City and county officials have expressed admiration for Cox’s grasp of the complexities of municipal government and his quiet, polite yet persistent pursuit of public services improvements.

Most recently city Parks and Recreation workers initiated refurbishments at Countryview Park following Cox’s documentation of problem areas and presentation to the City Council.

Cox and his wife, Debbie, have four children, and are members of the Audubon Society’s Choctawhatchee chapter and the National Wildlife Federation. He is district sales manager for Dietz Supply Company.

Cox is a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve veteran, and majored in industrial management at the University of Cincinnati. He sits on the Crestview Board of Adjustment. Cox’s March 2013 run for the council Precinct 2 seat was unsuccessful.

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

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