CRESTVIEW — City water customers will see an extra charge on their monthly bills if the City Council implements a proposed fire services assessment fee.

The council recently voted 3-2 to spend $19,500 to hire Tallahassee Government Services Group consultants to determine the assessment's feasibility.

How it works

If the assessment is approved, all water utility users would pay an amount based on their percentage of impact on the fire department, Crestview Fire Chief Joe Traylor has said.

If enacted earlier, the assessment could've generated as much as $1.25 million of the department's current $3.7 million budget, Traylor estimated.

Under its study's first $19,500 phase, GSG will evaluate fire protection services demand and funding over the past three years and look at future needs based on the fire department's five-year plan.

The second phase, which would cost the city $9,500, would involve determining how much to assess water customers.

City Clerk Betsy Roy stated in a council  brief that because GSG has contracts with other Florida cities and counties, Crestview can "piggyback off of these contracts, per our purchasing manual, without going out for competitive bids for the services."

Millage could drop

Traylor, in suggesting the assessment, followed the council's directive, Councilman Tom Gordon said.

"We've challenged the departments to come back and show how they could raise money or lower their budget," he said. "Chief Traylor did that."

"What I like is that it's fair to all the citizens and doesn't put the burden on a few," Council President Shannon Hayes said.

The assessment's supporters say it could reduce the city's millage rate, lowering the burden on the 43 percent of residents who pay property taxes.

But there's no guarantee that would happen, Councilwoman Robyn Helt said, adding, "It was presented as it could, not will, lower the millage."

Traylor has said that because the assessment would be added to water customers' bills, it is not subject to property owners' homestead exemptions.

Helt — who, with Councilman Mickey Rytman voted against Gordon's motion — said she opposed it, in part, because the study would be funded with "non-budgeted money to a company that didn't competitively bid to offer the service."

The city's general fund, bolstered in January to $858,000 by a refund from Gulf Power for overbilled lighting service, would fund the study.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Consultants researching possible fire services fee; Crestview council commissions $19K study

CRESTVIEW — The City Council will discuss revisions to the animal control ordinance during a Monday evening workshop.

Proposed revisions include several changes to accommodate residents' requests.

Among proposed revisions likely to generate further discussion are prohibition of tethering pets to a stationary object, limiting the number of pets an owner may have, and provisions allowing animal control officers unrestricted access to private property.

Click here for a copy of the proposed animal control ordinance>>

Residents have also requested to be allowed to keep pot-belly pigs and chickens within city limits, a provision included in the proposed ordinance.

Councilwoman Robyn Helt has questioned a provision declaring the city a bird sanctuary.

Helt has requested more detail about restrictions the designation could place on homeowners, utility workers or contractors, should a bird build a nest in a dangerous place, like near electrical equipment.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: City Council animal control ordinance workshop

WHEN: 5 p.m. May 12

WHERE: City Council Chamber, City Hall

NOTES: Discussion of revisions to Crestview's current animal control ordinance

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Animal ordinance revisions to be discussed Monday

LAUREL HILL —  Florida officials no longer consider the city in "state of financial emergency," Councilman Larry Hendren said.

City leaders have received a letter from Gov. Rick Scott's office stating that the city is financially operating effectively in accordance with Florida Statute.

Since 2004, the governor's office had considered the city under financial duress, based on results from previous annual audits, Mayor Robby Adams said.

The city is making monthly $700 principal and $2,200.50 interest payments to the First National Bank of Crestview. 

It's encouraging that the city's efforts have been noticed, city leaders said.

"Anytime you can get a negative mark removed from your city that is good thing," Hendren said Thursday.

In other business, city leaders have unanimously approved an ordinance to allow the Gulf Power Company franchise rights to operate within city limits. The ordinance would allow Gulf Power to operate in the city for the next 30 years.  

The city will earn between $1,200 and $1,500 from the franchise fees' monthly revenue, City Clerk Nita Miller said.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: State's passing mark 'a good thing'

CRESTVIEW — Residents and businesses will be able to pay utilities bills and fees online by summer's end, with assurance that the data will be backed up with increased security, city officials said.

A bill-payment conversion project that consultants recommended two years ago will make city records more secure. Departmental computers will back up the information to two secure out-of-town sites.

The conversion process should be complete by June 2, and the system will be able to accept electronic fund transfers after another 30 to 45 days, City Clerk Betsy Roy said.

That's encouraging because the city's current technology is outdated, Councilwoman Robyn Helt said.  

"Our city is behind the times when it comes to accepting and processing payments," she said. "In some cities, citizens can pay using their smart phones."

Security and convenience

Backing up the city's information systems to an offsite secure location, or cloud, will make data more secure, Roy said. Backed-up data currently stored in city hall could be lost if the building caught fire or was damaged in a hurricane.

The company the city has contracted with will store the data domestically in Lake St. Mary and at a second back-up site in Georgia, Roy said.

Council President Shannon Hayes praised Roy and her staff for implementing the back-up plan and accepting online bill payments.

"It's a benefit to our citizens," he said. "I hate to write checks and I don't like to give anybody my credit card information."

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article stated, "Crestview to accept online bill payments," which needed more clarity. 

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 to accept safe, secure online bill payments soon

Okaloosa County Tax Collector Ben Anderson encourages property owners to participate in a tax installment plan.

Plan members can receive a 3.375 percent discount and payments can be divided into four payments over a year.

Taxpayers must complete an application to participate in the plan. The application, due April 30, can be found in the “Form Center” on the tax collector website.

Those who choose the installment method will pay based on an estimated tax equal to the actual taxes for the previous year.

The payment schedule is as follows:

•First installment due June 30

•Second installment, Sept. 30

•Third installment, Dec. 31

•Fourth installment, March 31

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: County tax installment plan application deadline approaches