Okaloosa County commissioners have voted to make beach cleaning a permanent in-house service.

Commissioners also authorized Public Works Director John Hofstad to purchase beach sifters and other equipment when the county’s current rentals expire in July.

Hofstad said he’s been pleased with his workers’ performance on the public beaches in Destin and on Okaloosa Island.

Commissioner Nathan Boyles, who had strongly opposed the county providing the service, said the transition has gone “smoothly by all accounts.”

The board’s decision follows a recent judge’s ruling that Okaloosa County does not have to award a long-term beach cleaning contract to Sandman LLC.

Ward, who held the beach cleaning contract for more than 10 years, sued the county in October, accusing it of showing favoritism toward a competing company during the bidding process.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Commission OKs permanent, in-house beach cleaning

Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton county schools received nearly $440 million in total Florida Education Finance Program dollars, with each county’s percentage increase being above the state average.

An additional $30 million was also added to the budget to advance career technical education.

While Gov. Rick Scott vetoed just over $247,000 for the Northwest Florida Ballet Academie in Fort Walton Beach, he approved $250,000 for the Okaloosa County STEMM Middle School in Niceville.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa schools benefit from budget

FEMA's Disaster Recovery Centers, which assist Northwest Florida residents with flood-related claims, have received plenty of activity, according to officials.

There have been 11,016 registrations across Escambia, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties — 857, Okaloosa County and 247, Walton — according to a news release.

FEMA has committed $1.3 million and $363,900 in claims assistance to Okaloosa and Walton, respectively.  

Residents who need help can call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or register at www.disasterassistance.gov or on mobile devices at m.fema.gov.

The Senior Center in Crestview, 205 Stillwell Blvd., is open for claims assistance 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: More than 800 Okaloosa residents register for FEMA aid

From 2009 to 2013, the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice overcharged Okaloosa and dozens of other counties millions for housing prisoners. During that same period, DJJ returned more than $78 million in unused funds to state coffers, Okaloosa County Attorney Greg Stewart said.

 “Counties as a whole were found to be overpaying approximately $40 million a year,” Stewart said during a presentation to Okaloosa County Commissioners. “Now during this same period of time, DJJ was reverting money back to the state.”

Stewart updated the board on the county’s ongoing litigation with DJJ over $3.1 million in overcharges. County officials had hoped the state Legislature would step in and fund a reimbursement of counties, but no compromise was reached during the spring session.

County Commissioner Nathan Boyles said he wants the county to continue pursuing some kind of judgment by the courts on reimbursement of the overcharges. County Administrator Ernie Padgett agreed and said DJJ intentionally “calculated on how they can skew things around and put the undue burden on county governments.”

Padgett and Stewart will attend a June 6 hearing in Tallahassee, during which the DJJ will rewrite its rules to conform to the governor’s new budget, which calls for counties to pay 57 percent of juvenile detention costs and the state to pay 43 percent.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County continues fight with Juvenile Justice dept.

All Okaloosa County Tax Collector offices will be closed Monday to observe the Memorial Day holiday.

However, many transactions can be conducted at www.OkaloosaTax.com. Customers can process property tax payments, vehicle and vessel registration renewals, purchase hunting and fishing licenses and apply for business tax receipts online.

Branch offices will resume regular business hours on Tuesday, May 27.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County tax collector offices closed Monday

The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners seeks applicants to fill an Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council vacancy.

May 30 is the application deadline. 

The selected applicant will serve as the Lodging Industry Owner/Operator or Tourism Related Industry TDC member for the balance of the member term ending October 2015, with potential for appointment to a two-year term ending October 2017.

Residents can download an application here.

Contact TDD Director Ed Schroeder, 651-7131 or eschroeder@co.okaloosa.fl.us, for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council reports vacancy

CRESTVIEW — The Local Planning Agency released the agenda for its next meeting. Here it is:

Regular Meeting at City Hall

May 20, 2014 at 6:00 p.m.

AGENDA

1. CONVENE Meeting.

2. APPROVE Minutes of April 22, 2014.

3. CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT:

a. Amendment 14-1 – reflecting the creation a Downtown Mixed Use District, the purpose of which is to promote commercial and residential development and sustain a viable downtown district. Requested by Admin Services – presented by Dorman and Associates

4 REVIEW Site construction plans and elevations for a 6,000 S.F. new office building and future site for a 7,500 S.F, new restaurant building.  Location of the project is a 3.37 acre parcel at 4100 Ferdon Blvd., South (PIN # 32-3N-23-0000-0057-0000 & 32-3N-23-0000-0057-0030).  Requested by Matt Zinke, PE, of Gustin, Cothern & Tucker, Inc., Agent for the property owner.

5. REVIEW 2014 Rezoning Project for noncompliant properties within the City.

6. REVIEW A Preliminary Plat for Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning for Stillwell South, a Re-plat of Lots 65 through 79, 81 through 160 and 163 through 181 of Stillwell Estates, a Planned Unit Development (PUD) located south of Stillwell Blvd. and east of Long Drive.  Requested by G J Partners, LLC, Property Owner, by Jimmy Henderson, Managing Member.  2014-SUB-0010.

7. CONSIDER Other Business as Necessary.

8. ADJOURN.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Local Planning Agency releases May 20 agenda