- Final hearing on Crestview’s data center ban
Ordinance 2033, which would ban the development of large load centers from all land use categories in Crestview’s city limits, is up for its second reading, a public hearing and approval at Monday’s meeting.
The ordinance echoes concerns heard from residents in both Crestview City Council and Okaloosa County Commission meetings in past months about the ethics of data centers, the burden they may impose upon local electrical and water resources and community well-being.
It follows the Okaloosa County Commission affirming its decision to implement more permanent legislation governing the development of data centers in the county at its Sept. 15 meeting, voting down a 12-month moratorium backed by Commissioners Paul Mixon and Sherri Cox.
Although no data centers have been proposed in Crestview, Ordinance 2033 would prevent their future development within the city. It would not impact those proposed just outside the city.
- The consent agenda
The consent agenda, which bundles noncontroversial issues for collective approval, includes annual renewals of the library’s interlocal agreement and a mutual aid agreement between the Crestview Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The interlocal agreement allows the Crestview Public Library to share information and materials with other libraries in the county through the Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative. The agreement also allocates over $145,000 in funding to the library for operations, staff salaries and new materials.
The memorandum of agreement between CPD and the DEA underlines a partnership in which CPD has an officer who is also deputized by the DEA. According to Police Chief Stephen McCosker, the program has allocated over $75,000 in seized drug money to CPD’s drug enforcement operations.
- Mayor Whitten proclaims breast cancer awareness week
Mayor JB Whitten will approve a proclamation that the week of Oct. 11 will be “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Week” in Crestview, in recognition of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of the Emerald Coast.
The proclamation also encourages residents to wear pink and participate in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk on Oct. 17 at the Northwest Florida State College Niceville campus.
