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COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: --26th
meeting of the Okaloosa County

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Board of County Commissioners.

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We welcome you
here this morning.

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We have a full house, so
we're glad to see that.

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As always, we're going to
open with an invocation.

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We'll follow that with
a pledge of Allegiance

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that will be led by the
Crestview High School Junior

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ROTC.

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But invocation first,
and I believe we

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have a chaplain with us today.

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Yes, sir.

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If you would open us up, we
would really appreciate it.

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SPEAKER 1: Forward march.

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Colors halt. Left face.

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CHAPLAIN: Father, we
come to you today,

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and I am thankful
that I live in a place

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where I'm invited to come and
pray before these meetings.

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Father, we call upon your name.

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We acknowledge you today.

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We acknowledge we
need your help.

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We humble ourselves before you.

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And, Father, I pray that you
would give these men and women

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wisdom as they lead and
guide us as citizens as well

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as themselves.

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Father, I pray for
their families,

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that you would bless
them, protect them

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as they are in the public eye.

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Lord, today we pray
for wisdom and we

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know that only true
wisdom comes from you.

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So I pray that you would impart
that wisdom to them today.

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Father, under the sound of my
voice, each and every individual

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here today, Lord, we need you.

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Our town needs you.

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Our city needs you.

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Our country needs you.

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I pray for our
president today, Lord,

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as he's making decisions
with leaders that's

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affecting the entire world.

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And we know that you can
help and you can guide us.

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So, Father, we love you today.

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We thank you today.

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I pray for those who may not
know you today personally.

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Lord, I've not come
here to offend anyone.

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I've come here to speak
the name of Jesus.

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And I pray, Lord, you
draw them close to you.

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For those of us who do know
you, Father, we give you praise,

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we give you glory,
we give you honor.

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May this meeting be done for
your praise and your glory

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and honor.

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For all that we do today.

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Father, we praise you and
thank you in Jesus' name.

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Amen.

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AUDIENCE: Amen.

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SPEAKER 1: Present arms.

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SPEAKER 2: Please
join us in the Pledge.

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ALL: I pledge
allegiance to the flag

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of the United States of
America and to the Republic

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for which it stands.

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One nation under
God, indivisible,

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with liberty and
justice for all.

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SPEAKER 1: Forward arms.

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Right face.

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Forward March.

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COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All
right, you may be seated.

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Thank you.

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I'm always impressed
with our students

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here in Okaloosa County,
how professional they are.

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And we see the success
in our ROTC programs

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and see the future
leaders, not just

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our future leaders, the
people who are going

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to protect us in the future.

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And it's really
encouraging to see that.

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So we really thank
them for being here.

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Mr. Hofstad.

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The county
administrator's update.

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JOHN HOFSTAD: Thank you,
Mr. Chairman Commissioners.

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I just have a couple
updates for you.

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First, I want to remind the
board that our next meeting is

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a three-week gap.

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We're going to take off
what was the spring break

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week this month.

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So our next meeting will be
the 24th of March in Shalimar.

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I just want to remind the board
of the jetBlue inaugural flight

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this Thursday.

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So I hope all of
you can make that.

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And then lastly,
I would request,

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Mr. Chairman, that
we pull item 2.

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We need to do some additional--

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item 2 on consent
agenda, excuse me.

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We need to do an additional
staff analysis on that.

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So we'll bring that item back.

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And that's all I have, sir.

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COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

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Very good.

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Ms. Hoshihara, county
attorney's update.

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MS. HOSHIHARA: Thank
you, Mr. Chairman.

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I have no updates this morning.

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COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

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Clerk of court, Mr. Embry.

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BRAD EMBRY: Nothing
from the clerk's office.

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Thank you very much.

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COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

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Thank you.

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All right, that brings
us to public comments.

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Now, as always, we've
got three minutes

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reserved for each speaker.

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And that is in-- that's going
to be enforced because we're

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trying to get
through each speaker

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and have everyone have an
opportunity to be heard.

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But there is a
second opportunity

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at the end of the meeting
to be heard as well.

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So if you don't speak
during the first session,

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you can speak at the end.

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If you speak at
the first session,

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you can also speak
again at the end.

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That's perfectly OK.

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If you are here on a
public hearing item,

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and we only have one,
which is the surtax,

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you won't be called
during this session.

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You'll be called during the
public hearing for that item.

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Otherwise, as we go through
items along the agenda,

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you've got to make your
comments either at the beginning

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or the end.

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So I think I've got the surtax
public hearing cards properly

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flagged.

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But if I call your name and
you're here for that one,

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just let me know and
we'll defer your time.

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Also, if you're here and
you're actually only wanting

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to speak at the end but
you've turned in a card,

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just let me know that, we'll
also defer you to the end.

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Be happy to do that.

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All right.

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Our first speaker
is Mayor Mark Franks

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from the town of Shalimar.

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MARK FRANKS: Can you hear me?

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COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: You're on.

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MARK FRANKS: All right.

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Good morning, Chairman
and County commissioners.

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I want to thank you for the
opportunity to speak today.

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As mayor of the
town of Shalimar,

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I am here in strong support
of the purchase and sale

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agreement for the
acquisition of the 1.7 acre

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Waterfront property in Shalimar.

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This is more than
a land acquisition.

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It is a once in a
generation opportunity

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to preserve open
space and ensure

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that this property is accessible
to the public for decades

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to come.

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Waterfront land is finite.

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Once it is developed
privately, we rarely

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get a chance to reclaim
it for community use.

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By partnering together,
we share the cost.

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The funding for this
acquisition and park development

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would come from the County,
the town of Shalimar

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and state legislative
appropriations.

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An interlocal agreement
following the purchase

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would reflect fiscal prudence,
collaboration, and a shared

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vision for smart growth.

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We can create a
thoughtfully designed park

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that supports recreation,
environmental stewardship,

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and economic vitality.

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Parks increase property values.

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They attract visitors and
improve quality of life.

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They provide safe
spaces for families,

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outdoor learning
opportunities for children,

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and natural buffers that
strengthen our resilience

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against storms and flooding.

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Most importantly, this is an
investment in our residents.

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It sends a message that we share
balanced growth, public access

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to our waterfront and
leaving something better

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for the next generation.

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I respectfully ask for your
support of this purchase

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and sale agreement,
so that together, we

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can secure this property
and transform it

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into a lasting community asset.

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I thank you for your time.

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COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Thank you, mayor.

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Our next speaker is
John William Scott.

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JOHN SCOTT: Chairman
commissioners.

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I'm John Scott.

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Nice to see you guys again.

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I wanted to provide an
update on all my stuff.

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So over the last
several years, I've

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been dealing with some
issues in the County.

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Initially, of course,
was the wrongful arrest

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where I was denied medical
attention at the County jail,

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then the cover up by the
Board of County Commissioners,

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then the third address in which
Nolan Weeks was investigated

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and then resigned as a
result of that investigation.

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So I've now been able
to establish that

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under Sheriff Charlie Nix,
Captain Robert Wagner, Captain

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Todd Watkins, Captain John
merchant, Captain Michael

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Rader, Deputy Harold Dewitt,
and Sergeant Robert Wagner--

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I'm sorry.

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Sergeant-- Sergeant-- oh, my
God, there's just so many.

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All took part in a federal
criminal conspiracy.

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And what I mean is
they violated-- they

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committed federal felonies.

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COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And, sir, pause--

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JOHN SCOTT: Please
don't cut me off.

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I've got limited time.

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COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: No, no.

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Pause it, Nick.

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I'm going to keep your time.

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Pause it.

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Put it back to two
minutes, please.

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I just want to--

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I'll defer to the
County attorney,

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but I want to make
clear that you

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don't have a misconception about
what the Sunshine Law provides

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because I want to make sure
our citizens understand

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to protect you, OK?

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I don't think the Sunshine
Law is a privileged exemption

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to potential defamation claims.

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That's my understanding.

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JOHN SCOTT: Oh,
it's not defamation.

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COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
So I just want to--

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I don't want you to think
that we're providing--

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JOHN SCOTT: I have
body cam footage.

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I have--

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COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Hang on.

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Hang on.

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JOHN SCOTT: --your on
records established.

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COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Hang on, hang on.

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Don't overtalk me or I
might have to cut you off.

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I haven't cut you off before,
and I've listened to you.

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JOHN SCOTT: It's not defamation.

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COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Stop, please.

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JOHN SCOTT: I haven't--

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I've been posting it.

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It's not defamation, sir.

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COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
I'm going to give you

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your full two minutes because
I'm not going to take your time.

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I was saying that
simply because I

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don't want any
member of the public

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to think that we are giving the
appearance of a platform that

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provides a free
opportunity to say anything

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you want without potential
civil consequences outside

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of this arena.

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That's all.

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You're free to say what you like
as long as non-threatening, all

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the standard rules, which
you've never threatened anybody.

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And I understand that,
and I'm not saying that.

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I just want to make sure that
you didn't think that we were--

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JOHN SCOTT: Oh, no.

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COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
--portraying this.

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JOHN SCOTT: I've been
building evidence

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so I can make these
forums legally

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and without facing consequence.

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COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

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Hang on.

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Hang on.

253
00:16:59,870 --> 00:17:01,510
I'm going to give
you your two minutes.

254
00:17:01,710 --> 00:17:03,435
But usually what I've found,
because I've stood down

255
00:17:03,635 --> 00:17:06,750
there a lot, not in this
room, but some other rooms

256
00:17:06,950 --> 00:17:09,390
in this building, and when
they're talking up at the dais,

257
00:17:09,590 --> 00:17:12,650
the best thing down
there is to stop talking.

258
00:17:12,850 --> 00:17:14,930
That's what's kept me in
business for 20 years.

259
00:17:15,130 --> 00:17:16,370
So just wait.

260
00:17:16,570 --> 00:17:19,105
I'm going to give it
to you, but I just

261
00:17:19,305 --> 00:17:20,730
want to confirm that because
you said some things that

262
00:17:20,930 --> 00:17:23,710
made me concerned that you
were believing that this

263
00:17:23,910 --> 00:17:25,550
was a free for all forum.

264
00:17:25,750 --> 00:17:27,590
You can say what you
want, but don't--

265
00:17:27,790 --> 00:17:30,430
I just don't want there to be
any misconception by the public

266
00:17:30,630 --> 00:17:32,910
that this provides some sort
of an immunity forum for that.

267
00:17:33,110 --> 00:17:34,449
That's all.

268
00:17:34,649 --> 00:17:38,750
So you have your two minutes.

269
00:17:38,950 --> 00:17:38,750
[INAUDIBLE]

270
00:17:38,950 --> 00:17:42,450
JOHN SCOTT: So my
issue is that I've

271
00:17:42,650 --> 00:17:44,250
brought this to the
county's attention in 2022

272
00:17:44,450 --> 00:17:46,240
and is now 2026.

273
00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:49,100
I've asked for relief
from the county attorney.

274
00:17:49,300 --> 00:17:50,860
I brought it to the
county's attention.

275
00:17:51,060 --> 00:17:53,940
The county has done nothing to
address the medical and neglect,

276
00:17:54,140 --> 00:17:57,060
the criminal operations of
the county jail, the cover up

277
00:17:57,260 --> 00:17:59,980
of the medical neglect
of the County jail.

278
00:18:00,180 --> 00:18:02,560
That's criminal operations
of a county organization.

279
00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:06,420
That would be a RICO
violation from 2022 to 2023,

280
00:18:06,620 --> 00:18:10,220
just from the evidence
that I've gathered.

281
00:18:10,420 --> 00:18:12,380
So I'm not committing
slander, defamation.

282
00:18:12,580 --> 00:18:16,845
This is just the evidence
that I've gathered.

283
00:18:17,045 --> 00:18:18,420
I have body cam
footage that confirms

284
00:18:18,620 --> 00:18:20,440
that these officers committed
federal felonies, falsified

285
00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:23,440
arrest reports.

286
00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:26,760
And then I have letters from the
sheriffs department supporting

287
00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:27,285
their actions.

288
00:18:27,485 --> 00:18:30,380
And then I have state
attorneys that I've

289
00:18:30,580 --> 00:18:33,300
submitted the evidence to that
said that no criminal activity

290
00:18:33,500 --> 00:18:33,620
occurred.

291
00:18:33,820 --> 00:18:37,300
So there's an established
precedent in this county

292
00:18:37,500 --> 00:18:39,700
where the law
enforcement are allowed

293
00:18:39,900 --> 00:18:43,440
to commit criminal activity, and
then the county jail follows up

294
00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:46,150
on criminal activity.

295
00:18:46,350 --> 00:18:49,050
And then when it's brought
to the county's attention,

296
00:18:49,250 --> 00:18:50,430
they take no action.

297
00:18:50,630 --> 00:18:55,290
Now, I've brought it to the
county's attention over and over

298
00:18:55,490 --> 00:18:57,850
again, that I was denied medical
attention at the county jail,

299
00:18:58,050 --> 00:18:59,610
and I was almost killed.

300
00:18:59,810 --> 00:19:02,670
And then I was told,
the first time,

301
00:19:02,870 --> 00:19:03,910
that it would be addressed.

302
00:19:04,110 --> 00:19:04,830
And if I needed--

303
00:19:05,030 --> 00:19:06,990
and if I expected any
relief, that I would

304
00:19:07,190 --> 00:19:08,170
need to file a federal lawsuit.

305
00:19:08,370 --> 00:19:10,290
The second time
where I almost died,

306
00:19:10,490 --> 00:19:12,890
I was laughed at
by Nathan Boyles,

307
00:19:13,090 --> 00:19:17,030
and then I had to address
the board three times for you

308
00:19:17,230 --> 00:19:17,790
to investigate
Nolan Weeks and then

309
00:19:17,990 --> 00:19:22,830
he resigned after he stated
that the standard practice was

310
00:19:23,030 --> 00:19:25,190
to incarcerate people
that were innocent.

311
00:19:25,390 --> 00:19:29,330
He said that at this
podium in this room.

312
00:19:29,530 --> 00:19:32,870
So there's an obvious level
of corruption operating

313
00:19:33,070 --> 00:19:36,730
in this county, and I would
like it to be addressed.

314
00:19:36,930 --> 00:19:37,490
Thank you.

315
00:19:37,690 --> 00:19:43,257
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

316
00:19:43,457 --> 00:19:44,890
Our next speaker is
Michelle Hampster.

317
00:19:49,290 --> 00:19:57,390
If I said it wrong, I apologize.

318
00:19:57,590 --> 00:19:58,710
I don't have my glasses on.

319
00:19:58,910 --> 00:19:59,432
MICHELLE HARPSTER: Good
morning, commissioners.

320
00:19:59,632 --> 00:20:01,990
Michelle Harpster, 1801
Harpster lane Baker, Florida.

321
00:20:02,190 --> 00:20:05,730
In late November,
a stop work order

322
00:20:05,930 --> 00:20:07,030
was issued at the
Buttonbush site

323
00:20:07,230 --> 00:20:08,730
for clearing the road
and retention pond

324
00:20:08,930 --> 00:20:10,990
areas before a development
order had been issued.

325
00:20:11,190 --> 00:20:14,510
In February, during mediation
for that same development,

326
00:20:14,710 --> 00:20:16,552
I heard the statement
that land can

327
00:20:16,752 --> 00:20:19,210
be cleared as long as it
is done prior to applying

328
00:20:19,410 --> 00:20:19,310
for development order.

329
00:20:19,510 --> 00:20:23,090
Now we are being asked to
memorialize that interpretation

330
00:20:23,290 --> 00:20:26,130
in a resolution, Today.

331
00:20:26,330 --> 00:20:28,290
The development
order process exists

332
00:20:28,490 --> 00:20:31,130
to ensure impacts are evaluated
before land is permanently

333
00:20:31,330 --> 00:20:31,990
altered.

334
00:20:32,190 --> 00:20:34,870
If clearing tied to
subdivision infrastructure

335
00:20:35,070 --> 00:20:37,970
can occur before a DO
is even applied for,

336
00:20:38,170 --> 00:20:40,250
the review process becomes
reactive rather than preventive.

337
00:20:40,450 --> 00:20:43,980
If this resolution
moves forward,

338
00:20:44,180 --> 00:20:47,700
I ask that the language at least
be tightened to clearly state

339
00:20:47,900 --> 00:20:48,860
that subdivision related
clearing cannot occur prior

340
00:20:49,060 --> 00:20:50,860
to development order approval.

341
00:20:51,060 --> 00:20:56,080
Clarity protects everyone,
both property owners

342
00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:58,460
and the integrity of
the development process.

343
00:20:58,660 --> 00:21:01,100
And if subdivision related
clearing occur prematurely,

344
00:21:01,300 --> 00:21:05,020
there must be
meaningful consequences.

345
00:21:05,220 --> 00:21:08,740
Penalties that function merely
as a cost of doing business

346
00:21:08,940 --> 00:21:09,840
are not deterrents.

347
00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:12,480
For clarity, how will
staff distinguish

348
00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:14,060
between routine
clearing and clearing

349
00:21:14,260 --> 00:21:16,980
that is functionally the first
phase of subdivision development

350
00:21:17,180 --> 00:21:19,920
when DO applications
have yet to be submitted?

351
00:21:20,120 --> 00:21:24,880
The process matters.

352
00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:25,980
The sequencing matters.

353
00:21:26,180 --> 00:21:28,180
Please make sure the language
reflects that clearly.

354
00:21:28,380 --> 00:21:30,900
Thank you.

355
00:21:31,100 --> 00:21:32,598
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Ma'am, and I'll

356
00:21:32,798 --> 00:21:34,440
use Chairman's prerogative
as an opportunity

357
00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:36,480
to address this with you.

358
00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:39,020
First, staff has
pulled it, I think,

359
00:21:39,220 --> 00:21:42,177
to take another look at
tightening some of the language.

360
00:21:42,377 --> 00:21:42,710
MICHELLE HARPSTER: Perfect.

361
00:21:42,910 --> 00:21:43,350
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
You're not wrong.

362
00:21:43,550 --> 00:21:46,175
Clarity is the key to organized
land development, right?

363
00:21:46,375 --> 00:21:47,567
MICHELLE HARPSTER: Mm-hmm.

364
00:21:47,767 --> 00:21:49,550
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: So
removal of ambiguity, I

365
00:21:49,750 --> 00:21:53,010
think that's what this is
designed to try and do.

366
00:21:53,210 --> 00:21:56,550
But I think staff has recognized
with some of the comments

367
00:21:56,750 --> 00:21:59,390
that maybe there's even a more
tightening that could be done.

368
00:21:59,590 --> 00:22:02,110
I think what you're saying-- and
I'm only speaking for myself,

369
00:22:02,310 --> 00:22:04,270
as how I interpreted it.

370
00:22:04,470 --> 00:22:06,230
I think the risk
you're talking about,

371
00:22:06,430 --> 00:22:08,710
of clearing for subdivisions
without a permit

372
00:22:08,910 --> 00:22:13,150
is not what this was intended to
do, at least in my perspective.

373
00:22:13,350 --> 00:22:16,930
I think it was intended to
deal with lots that are not

374
00:22:17,130 --> 00:22:17,890
going to be further subdivided.

375
00:22:18,090 --> 00:22:20,510
And I think that's
a big distinction.

376
00:22:20,710 --> 00:22:21,452
MICHELLE HARPSTER:
And I understand

377
00:22:21,652 --> 00:22:23,210
that that could
be the intentions,

378
00:22:23,410 --> 00:22:25,530
but I think we all
are aware that there's

379
00:22:25,730 --> 00:22:28,170
a lot of manipulating and
loopholes in interpreting--

380
00:22:28,370 --> 00:22:29,963
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
You're 100% right.

381
00:22:30,163 --> 00:22:33,730
I mean, I've heard from North
end, I've heard from South end,

382
00:22:33,930 --> 00:22:36,090
we all have, we don't
want. you know, clear

383
00:22:36,290 --> 00:22:38,120
cutting for new subdivisions.

384
00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:42,760
And I think what you're talking
about makes a lot of sense.

385
00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:45,270
And this will give staff the
opportunity to look at it

386
00:22:45,470 --> 00:22:46,320
and say, well,
then maybe we say,

387
00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:48,560
there's some sort
of a time period.

388
00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:51,380
If you're clearing it with--

389
00:22:51,580 --> 00:22:53,820
you can't subdivide for
18 months, or something

390
00:22:54,020 --> 00:22:58,900
to make sure it's not
form over function.

391
00:22:59,100 --> 00:23:03,500
But I think the idea is it's
a big distinction if you've

392
00:23:03,700 --> 00:23:05,180
got lot 12, block B and the--

393
00:23:05,380 --> 00:23:12,560
a subdivision that was recorded
in 1955, and all you want to do

394
00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:14,440
is put a house on it.

395
00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:15,960
It's been in the
record for 50 years.

396
00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:17,692
I think that's different
than what you're

397
00:23:17,892 --> 00:23:20,000
talking about, where somebody's
coming in and saying, hey,

398
00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:21,600
I want to create a
new subdivision that's

399
00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:22,108
never existed before.

400
00:23:22,308 --> 00:23:23,340
MICHELLE HARPSTER: Yes.

401
00:23:23,540 --> 00:23:25,680
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: So I
just want to make sure at least

402
00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:26,400
I'm telling you what
my perspective is.

403
00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:27,560
I hear you.

404
00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:28,263
MICHELLE HARPSTER: OK.

405
00:23:28,463 --> 00:23:30,080
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And I feel like staff

406
00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:33,372
can help us get to a common
goal that does both things.

407
00:23:33,572 --> 00:23:34,940
Doesn't overly restrict
something that is already a lot,

408
00:23:35,140 --> 00:23:39,020
but also prevents that
process from being abused.

409
00:23:39,220 --> 00:23:42,545
And I think, if
I hear you right,

410
00:23:42,745 --> 00:23:43,320
that sounds like
what you're asking.

411
00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:44,440
MICHELLE HARPSTER:
Yeah, I appreciate that.

412
00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:47,432
And a stiff penalty if
it's found-- if they try

413
00:23:47,632 --> 00:23:50,133
to work their way around it.

414
00:23:50,333 --> 00:23:51,000
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Well, I mean, I

415
00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:51,440
know what other
jurisdictions do.

416
00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:54,015
Refusal to accept permits
for a period of time,

417
00:23:54,215 --> 00:23:55,220
which stalls out projects.

418
00:23:55,420 --> 00:23:57,740
You can bake in different
things within the law.

419
00:23:57,940 --> 00:24:01,940
And we'll turn to our
attorney about how to do that.

420
00:24:02,140 --> 00:24:03,020
Obviously, it's
a balancing test.

421
00:24:03,220 --> 00:24:04,420
Everything's a balancing test.

422
00:24:04,620 --> 00:24:07,780
But yes, I think your
points are well taken,

423
00:24:07,980 --> 00:24:12,160
and I understand you speak for
the sentiment of a lot of folks

424
00:24:12,360 --> 00:24:15,880
both on the North end and
the South end about managed

425
00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:19,360
development if you're re
subdividing and creating

426
00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:21,560
new communities
that didn't exist.

427
00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:25,332
And I think this is designed
to deal with communities

428
00:24:25,532 --> 00:24:25,740
that already exist.

429
00:24:25,940 --> 00:24:29,400
Some of which are more
like an infill development.

430
00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:32,117
And I don't think that's
what's going on in Baker.

431
00:24:32,317 --> 00:24:33,000
I think that's a
different thing.

432
00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:34,700
So thanks for coming
down here today.

433
00:24:34,900 --> 00:24:38,350
Sorry, I didn't mean to jump in.

434
00:24:38,550 --> 00:24:38,870
MICHELLE HARPSTER: It's OK.

435
00:24:39,070 --> 00:24:38,474
Thank you.

436
00:24:38,674 --> 00:24:39,210
COMMISSIONER
GOODWIN: But I wanted

437
00:24:39,410 --> 00:24:40,270
to clarify that
because I thought

438
00:24:40,470 --> 00:24:41,870
you made some excellent
points, and I wanted

439
00:24:42,070 --> 00:24:44,270
to make sure we got on
the record, at least

440
00:24:44,470 --> 00:24:45,170
where I was
thinking, we might be

441
00:24:45,370 --> 00:24:47,210
going when we bring this back.

442
00:24:47,410 --> 00:24:47,810
MICHELLE HARPSTER: OK.

443
00:24:48,010 --> 00:24:47,770
Appreciate it.

444
00:24:47,970 --> 00:24:48,950
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.

445
00:24:49,150 --> 00:24:53,370
All right.

446
00:24:53,570 --> 00:24:54,890
Next speaker, Narissa Jenkins.

447
00:24:55,090 --> 00:25:00,340
NARISSA JENKINS: Good morning.

448
00:25:00,540 --> 00:25:02,490
Chairman and Commissioners,
my name is Narissa Jenkins.

449
00:25:02,690 --> 00:25:04,990
I'm a North County resident
up here in Crestview,

450
00:25:05,190 --> 00:25:07,710
and I'm also the CEO and
founder of Healing Hoof Steps.

451
00:25:07,910 --> 00:25:10,690
For the last year and a half,
myself and seven surrounding

452
00:25:10,890 --> 00:25:12,750
property owners have been
terrorized by an individual's

453
00:25:12,950 --> 00:25:16,170
refusal to contain their roaming
nuisance animals and livestock.

454
00:25:16,370 --> 00:25:19,310
According to their
owner, the dog

455
00:25:19,510 --> 00:25:21,330
is a Belgian
Malinois wolf mix who

456
00:25:21,530 --> 00:25:24,350
hunts with a German
shepherd and a Catahoula.

457
00:25:24,550 --> 00:25:27,990
In addition to these large dogs,
there's also a 1,300 pounds pig

458
00:25:28,190 --> 00:25:30,570
that escapes in roams
onto private property.

459
00:25:30,770 --> 00:25:34,210
I've been chased by the
dogs while on horseback

460
00:25:34,410 --> 00:25:36,040
on my own private
property, and have

461
00:25:36,240 --> 00:25:38,600
had to resort to pushing
the pig with a UTV

462
00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:42,000
to stop it from entering the
Healing Hoof Steps property

463
00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:43,220
and disrupting client sessions.

464
00:25:43,420 --> 00:25:46,980
My personal 25 acres sits
between the roaming animals

465
00:25:47,180 --> 00:25:50,020
property and Healing Hoof
Steps, and in recent weeks,

466
00:25:50,220 --> 00:25:51,500
they've been coming
increasingly closer,

467
00:25:51,700 --> 00:25:53,320
causing disruptions
to business operations

468
00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:57,060
and the safety of the sensitive
populations we've served.

469
00:25:57,260 --> 00:26:00,340
I've filed numerous affidavits
and notified as many people

470
00:26:00,540 --> 00:26:01,560
as I can.

471
00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:04,400
The dogs were roaming as
recent as 4:00 AM this morning.

472
00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:07,640
All of our surrounding
property owners

473
00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:10,140
have sent numerous photos
and videos to animal control.

474
00:26:10,340 --> 00:26:12,160
But on our third
animal control officer,

475
00:26:12,360 --> 00:26:14,160
who, despite his best
efforts, is still

476
00:26:14,360 --> 00:26:16,160
struggling to enforce anything
beyond the numerous citations,

477
00:26:16,360 --> 00:26:20,160
the owners even said they'd
rip up any citations.

478
00:26:20,360 --> 00:26:22,040
They told the animal
control officer

479
00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:24,220
that we'll just rip them up.

480
00:26:24,420 --> 00:26:25,600
So this shows a
blatant disregard

481
00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:28,420
for the enforcement of laws to
protect community residents.

482
00:26:28,620 --> 00:26:30,720
It also shows that
habitual offenders

483
00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:33,700
are aware that their
penalties are minimal at best.

484
00:26:33,900 --> 00:26:37,500
A large dog trap was provided
to me by animal control

485
00:26:37,700 --> 00:26:38,840
where I actually
trapped the dog.

486
00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:41,800
However, the owners proceeded
to send their daughter

487
00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:44,980
over the fence to trespass and
release the dog before Animal

488
00:26:45,180 --> 00:26:46,340
Control could impound it.

489
00:26:46,540 --> 00:26:48,060
Healing Hoof Steps
has experienced

490
00:26:48,260 --> 00:26:49,920
defamation, defamation per
se, tortious interference

491
00:26:50,120 --> 00:26:52,920
with business relationships,
civil conspiracy, trespass,

492
00:26:53,120 --> 00:26:56,000
nuisance, negligence, and
intentional infliction

493
00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:58,440
of emotional distress
from our attempts

494
00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:00,980
to contain these animals.

495
00:27:01,180 --> 00:27:03,472
Their civil ceasefire
and desist has been

496
00:27:03,672 --> 00:27:04,880
served by our board attorney.

497
00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:06,900
So what I've learned
throughout this process,

498
00:27:07,100 --> 00:27:09,220
animal control only
has one large dog trap

499
00:27:09,420 --> 00:27:10,460
for the whole County.

500
00:27:10,660 --> 00:27:11,980
They have limited
enforcement tools.

501
00:27:12,180 --> 00:27:14,397
When you call the
Sheriff, the Sheriff

502
00:27:14,597 --> 00:27:15,980
says, we to call animal control.

503
00:27:16,180 --> 00:27:17,680
This is not an isolated problem.

504
00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:20,692
So many people reached out
to me after the news story

505
00:27:20,892 --> 00:27:20,800
that we did.

506
00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:24,080
One family with 40 affidavits
in the last five years, and it's

507
00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:25,180
still happening.

508
00:27:25,380 --> 00:27:28,180
Many of these
older owners do not

509
00:27:28,380 --> 00:27:30,000
have the resources or
the desire to engage

510
00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:32,040
with these habitual offenders
for fear of retaliation,

511
00:27:32,240 --> 00:27:34,692
like I and Healing Hosts
Steps have experienced

512
00:27:34,892 --> 00:27:35,450
from these individuals.

513
00:27:35,650 --> 00:27:38,690
There's new laws in place
like the Pam Rock law,

514
00:27:38,890 --> 00:27:40,570
but where do we go from here?

515
00:27:40,770 --> 00:27:42,450
I'd like to propose an
amendment to the ordinance,

516
00:27:42,650 --> 00:27:45,997
because as each of you
know, a dog and a pig

517
00:27:46,197 --> 00:27:46,330
can't build their own pen.

518
00:27:46,530 --> 00:27:48,425
And animals get out, right?

519
00:27:48,625 --> 00:27:48,650
That happens.

520
00:27:48,850 --> 00:27:51,070
But maybe there's like
a three-strike rule

521
00:27:51,270 --> 00:27:53,190
that we can do with
animal control,

522
00:27:53,390 --> 00:27:54,890
and after that, that
becomes a trespass

523
00:27:55,090 --> 00:27:56,250
where somebody
that's responsible

524
00:27:56,450 --> 00:28:00,670
has to be held accountable and
responsible within a 12 month

525
00:28:00,870 --> 00:28:01,690
period.

526
00:28:01,890 --> 00:28:04,682
And, Ms. Jenkins, I
know your time is up.

527
00:28:04,882 --> 00:28:05,790
I think the board hears you.

528
00:28:05,990 --> 00:28:09,215
I think we've heard a lot of
complaints along these lines

529
00:28:09,415 --> 00:28:09,190
over time.

530
00:28:09,390 --> 00:28:11,550
Mr. Maddox, will
you raise your hand?

531
00:28:11,750 --> 00:28:16,630
This is the captain of the
animal control SWAT team.

532
00:28:16,830 --> 00:28:18,010
So--

533
00:28:18,210 --> 00:28:18,870
[LAUGHTER]

534
00:28:19,070 --> 00:28:21,550
NARISSA JENKINS: I ought
to be after all this.

535
00:28:21,750 --> 00:28:22,190
Let me just tell you.

536
00:28:22,390 --> 00:28:23,210
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
So I know you've

537
00:28:23,410 --> 00:28:24,793
been connected with Mr. Maddox.

538
00:28:24,993 --> 00:28:26,070
I suspect that there--

539
00:28:26,270 --> 00:28:28,590
is there a consensus
of the board

540
00:28:28,790 --> 00:28:30,930
asking that Ms. Jenkins and
Mr. Maddox work on this,

541
00:28:31,130 --> 00:28:32,540
bring us something back?

542
00:28:32,740 --> 00:28:34,080
Anybody object to that?

543
00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:37,700
So I think-- he knows the
technical way more than we do.

544
00:28:37,900 --> 00:28:41,320
NARISSA JENKINS: Got it.

545
00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:43,220
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: And he
knows the enforcement side.

546
00:28:43,420 --> 00:28:45,853
And all the ACOs ultimately
fall under his authority

547
00:28:46,053 --> 00:28:49,520
as the public safety-- the
chief public safety officer

548
00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:50,580
in Okaloosa County.

549
00:28:50,780 --> 00:28:51,387
NARISSA JENKINS: OK.

550
00:28:51,587 --> 00:28:53,120
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
So, yeah, we hear you.

551
00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:54,460
We're here to help.

552
00:28:54,660 --> 00:28:56,680
All we can do is vote.

553
00:28:56,880 --> 00:28:58,820
He can do a whole lot more.

554
00:28:59,020 --> 00:28:59,760
So I'd start with Mr. Maddox.

555
00:28:59,960 --> 00:29:01,120
If that makes sense.

556
00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:02,860
NARISSA JENKINS: I've
learned a lot in this.

557
00:29:03,060 --> 00:29:04,993
And if we can help
everyone in the County

558
00:29:05,193 --> 00:29:07,562
solve this a little better, it
would be best for everybody.

559
00:29:07,762 --> 00:29:09,120
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Oh,
yes, improvements can be made.

560
00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:10,000
COMMISSIONER
KETCHEL: I know we're

561
00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:10,920
trying to get
through a big crowd,

562
00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:12,337
but may I say something here?

563
00:29:12,537 --> 00:29:15,660
I wish we had a picture of
the wolfhound and the pig.

564
00:29:15,860 --> 00:29:17,340
She showed it to me--

565
00:29:17,540 --> 00:29:18,320
NARISSA JENKINS:
Oh, I have plenty.

566
00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:19,980
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: No,
I wish we could put it up.

567
00:29:20,180 --> 00:29:19,480
NARISSA JENKINS: Oh.

568
00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:20,440
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
It is jaw dropping.

569
00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:23,100
I've never-- I didn't know
pigs could get that big,

570
00:29:23,300 --> 00:29:24,925
and I grew up in a farming area.

571
00:29:25,125 --> 00:29:25,960
It's the biggest-- 1,300
pounds maybe, maybe bigger.

572
00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:29,500
I've never seen
anything like it.

573
00:29:29,700 --> 00:29:31,215
It would scare me to death.

574
00:29:31,415 --> 00:29:32,640
And the wolfhound is
a very scary thing.

575
00:29:32,840 --> 00:29:34,280
You've done a great job.

576
00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:35,280
Thanks for articulating
this so well.

577
00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:37,920
We've got an issue
and we know it.

578
00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:38,800
NARISSA JENKINS: Thank you.

579
00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:39,260
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Thank you.

580
00:29:39,460 --> 00:29:39,960
NARISSA JENKINS: Thank you.

581
00:29:40,683 --> 00:29:47,583
COMMISSIONER
GOODWIN: Steve Perry.

582
00:30:01,672 --> 00:30:08,872
STEVE PERRY: Good
morning, Commissioners.

583
00:30:09,072 --> 00:30:11,180
Glad to see you here again.

584
00:30:11,380 --> 00:30:14,340
This is my 15th time now
speaking in front of the Board

585
00:30:14,540 --> 00:30:14,960
and the Tourism
Development Council.

586
00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:18,828
I'm going to go back
over a couple of items

587
00:30:19,028 --> 00:30:19,720
that were discussed
back on September 2,

588
00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:23,280
when we were lucky enough to
have a little bit of engagement

589
00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:24,300
with this board
during public comment.

590
00:30:24,500 --> 00:30:26,860
During that public comment,
my colleague, Mr. Ruby,

591
00:30:27,060 --> 00:30:30,230
was able to have a rather long
engagement, and Commissioners

592
00:30:30,430 --> 00:30:33,290
Goodwin, Commissioner Cox
and Commissioner Ketchel

593
00:30:33,490 --> 00:30:36,510
all brought up the
issue of zinc chromate

594
00:30:36,710 --> 00:30:39,970
that I've been talking about for
over a year now to this board.

595
00:30:40,170 --> 00:30:42,210
And during that lucky
enough, fortunate dialogue,

596
00:30:42,410 --> 00:30:50,330
you guys all raised issues and
said, we need to look at this.

597
00:30:50,530 --> 00:30:51,410
And basically it's been
radio silence since that

598
00:30:51,610 --> 00:30:52,510
from the board.

599
00:30:52,710 --> 00:30:55,610
No, comment back except for
when we come and speak to you.

600
00:30:55,810 --> 00:30:57,450
No reply, no nothing about that.

601
00:30:57,650 --> 00:31:00,230
Now, you may have done
something behind the scenes

602
00:31:00,430 --> 00:31:01,750
and discussed amongst
yourself about this.

603
00:31:01,950 --> 00:31:04,935
Commissioner Goodwin, you
said, can't we do some testing?

604
00:31:05,135 --> 00:31:07,310
I think, Commissioner Cox, you
mentioned this and everything,

605
00:31:07,510 --> 00:31:10,452
but six months now, and complete
radio silence on this issue.

606
00:31:10,652 --> 00:31:13,250
During that meeting, also,
Chairman Mixon specifically

607
00:31:13,450 --> 00:31:18,190
made comment three times to
make this an agenda item.

608
00:31:18,390 --> 00:31:21,770
We sent a request in
January, eight weeks ago

609
00:31:21,970 --> 00:31:24,970
to submit a video and
request an agenda item.

610
00:31:25,170 --> 00:31:27,960
To this date, we have received
no response, no reply,

611
00:31:28,160 --> 00:31:30,100
no acknowledgment of our
communications to this board.

612
00:31:30,300 --> 00:31:31,700
Complete radio silence.

613
00:31:31,900 --> 00:31:34,940
With that said,
again, we would like

614
00:31:35,140 --> 00:31:37,460
to request possible dialogue.

615
00:31:37,660 --> 00:31:42,320
I would love to be able to
speak and sit down with you.

616
00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:43,960
I even have the specifications
book, The Shift, 700 pages

617
00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:46,900
and I'm going to read
some passages from it.

618
00:31:47,100 --> 00:31:48,480
It talks about zinc
chromate to you.

619
00:31:48,680 --> 00:31:51,660
But we need to have some
dialogue because it seems like

620
00:31:51,860 --> 00:31:54,280
and I apologize if it sounds
like I'm being accusatory.

621
00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:56,960
It seems like you're
ignoring this issue,

622
00:31:57,160 --> 00:32:00,180
and you've gone on public record
saying, we should address this,

623
00:32:00,380 --> 00:32:01,382
we should look into it.

624
00:32:01,582 --> 00:32:02,040
But again, radio silence.

625
00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:04,920
As you guys all
know, with the fact

626
00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:07,880
that we wanted to submit Mr.
Todd Osborne's video, who

627
00:32:08,080 --> 00:32:11,140
is a professor with
a PhD, we have not

628
00:32:11,340 --> 00:32:14,760
submitted it to you for
the reason of no response

629
00:32:14,960 --> 00:32:15,920
from this board.

630
00:32:16,120 --> 00:32:19,520
As a result, we've gone public
with it to media and everything.

631
00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:20,785
So it's out in
the public domain.

632
00:32:20,985 --> 00:32:21,560
You can see it.

633
00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:25,400
I would still like to send it to
you if the board or the County

634
00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:27,160
commissioners chair would--
or the people who would

635
00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:29,680
like to address that issue.

636
00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:32,420
So with that said, you all
know Ms. Erin Brockovich

637
00:32:32,620 --> 00:32:34,660
has posted a Facebook
page about this

638
00:32:34,860 --> 00:32:36,780
and raised the issue
of zinc chromate,

639
00:32:36,980 --> 00:32:37,520
and especially
hexavalent chromium.

640
00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:41,840
We all know who she is and
what she was able to achieve

641
00:32:42,040 --> 00:32:43,660
to prevent and solve a problem
that existed out in California

642
00:32:43,860 --> 00:32:46,780
back in the 1990s.

643
00:32:46,980 --> 00:32:48,653
And at that time, that was--

644
00:32:48,853 --> 00:32:49,820
it resulted in the
largest class action

645
00:32:50,020 --> 00:32:52,060
lawsuit in the United States,
and an awarded judgment

646
00:32:52,260 --> 00:32:53,040
of $333 million.

647
00:32:53,240 --> 00:32:57,020
With that all said,
in the specification,

648
00:32:57,220 --> 00:33:00,245
and I'm going to
run out of time,

649
00:33:00,445 --> 00:33:02,820
so I'll have to save it
to the end of the thing,

650
00:33:03,020 --> 00:33:04,020
but I've got two other
points I'd like to make

651
00:33:04,220 --> 00:33:06,837
and everything, so I will see
you at the end of the meeting.

652
00:33:07,037 --> 00:33:07,340
Thank you for your time.

653
00:33:07,540 --> 00:33:08,200
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.

654
00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:11,780
All right.

655
00:33:11,980 --> 00:33:12,860
Rob Valiton.

656
00:33:13,060 --> 00:33:18,417
ROB VALITON: Good morning.

657
00:33:18,617 --> 00:33:19,800
Thank you for your time.

658
00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:23,300
My name is Rob Valiton, I'm a
member of the board of directors

659
00:33:23,500 --> 00:33:24,490
of the Holiday Isle Improvement
Association in Destin,

660
00:33:24,690 --> 00:33:26,590
representing 1,900
properties in that residence.

661
00:33:26,790 --> 00:33:31,770
An email and letter was sent to
Mr. Hofstad and Ms. Hoshihara

662
00:33:31,970 --> 00:33:31,970
yesterday.

663
00:33:32,170 --> 00:33:33,750
I'm sorry for
mispronouncing that.

664
00:33:33,950 --> 00:33:37,510
From Leslie Sheakley of Hand
Arendall Harrison and Sale,

665
00:33:37,710 --> 00:33:39,910
an attorney for the association.

666
00:33:40,110 --> 00:33:42,565
I want to read a
portion of that letter

667
00:33:42,765 --> 00:33:45,390
here, as time will not allow
me to read it in its entirety,

668
00:33:45,590 --> 00:33:47,230
and I will provide a full
copy for your records,

669
00:33:47,430 --> 00:33:47,730
for your reading pleasure.

670
00:33:47,930 --> 00:33:51,450
It goes on to say, I write
to address a comment made

671
00:33:51,650 --> 00:33:54,170
by Mr. Palmer at the end of the
most recent County commission

672
00:33:54,370 --> 00:33:56,190
meeting, at which there were
numerous resident comments made

673
00:33:56,390 --> 00:33:57,630
against the proposed
conservation management

674
00:33:57,830 --> 00:34:01,730
plan for commercial activities
on the newly acquired state land

675
00:34:01,930 --> 00:34:05,610
Mr. Palmer attempted to justify
the county's proposed plan by,

676
00:34:05,810 --> 00:34:08,970
among other things, stating
that Holiday Isle was already

677
00:34:09,170 --> 00:34:11,430
engaging in commercial activity
with short-term rental of homes

678
00:34:11,630 --> 00:34:13,490
and condominium units.

679
00:34:13,690 --> 00:34:16,393
It's important to understand
that Mr. Palmer's assumptions

680
00:34:16,593 --> 00:34:18,510
and assertions in that
regard are incorrect

681
00:34:18,710 --> 00:34:20,089
under established
Florida case law,

682
00:34:20,289 --> 00:34:22,540
Santa Monica Beach
POA versus accord.

683
00:34:22,740 --> 00:34:26,039
In the Santa Monica
case, the court

684
00:34:26,239 --> 00:34:27,819
held that the rental
of homes does not

685
00:34:28,019 --> 00:34:29,240
transform the home's
use from residential to

686
00:34:29,440 --> 00:34:31,080
either business or commercial.

687
00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:33,500
Thus, covenants, and
restrictions which prohibit

688
00:34:33,700 --> 00:34:36,559
business operations such as
those of the Holiday Isle

689
00:34:36,759 --> 00:34:39,480
Association cannot be used
to prevent rentals of homes.

690
00:34:39,680 --> 00:34:43,339
There has been no waiver by
the Holiday Isle Association

691
00:34:43,539 --> 00:34:45,620
of its right to enforce
the business operation

692
00:34:45,820 --> 00:34:47,100
provisions of the
PCNRs by reason

693
00:34:47,300 --> 00:34:49,120
of the short-term rentals.

694
00:34:49,320 --> 00:34:52,447
On the contrary, as one
resident speaking at the meeting

695
00:34:52,647 --> 00:34:53,880
last week noted,
Holiday Isle home owners

696
00:34:54,080 --> 00:34:56,800
are not permitted to have
commercial or charitable use

697
00:34:57,000 --> 00:34:58,540
of their docks,
nor is exemplified

698
00:34:58,740 --> 00:35:00,920
by a ceasefire and
desist letter sent

699
00:35:01,120 --> 00:35:03,647
to a certain homeowner operating
a car leasing and sales

700
00:35:03,847 --> 00:35:04,780
operation at their
Holiday Isle home.

701
00:35:04,980 --> 00:35:07,300
Can residents engage in
commercial activities?

702
00:35:07,500 --> 00:35:10,700
The commercial activity
described in the county's draft

703
00:35:10,900 --> 00:35:12,280
conservation management
plan would not

704
00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:14,340
receive the same
treatment for exclusion

705
00:35:14,540 --> 00:35:15,420
from business
activity prohibitions

706
00:35:15,620 --> 00:35:18,800
in covenants and restrictions.

707
00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:22,280
They clearly lack the requisite
nexus to residential use,

708
00:35:22,480 --> 00:35:25,360
forming the basis for the
rationale of the court

709
00:35:25,560 --> 00:35:26,900
and decisions like
Santa Monica Beach.

710
00:35:27,100 --> 00:35:29,300
Accordingly, as noted
in prior correspondence,

711
00:35:29,500 --> 00:35:33,220
business operations on the state
land including but not limited

712
00:35:33,420 --> 00:35:37,540
to the rental of boat slips as a
business or commercial activity,

713
00:35:37,740 --> 00:35:39,960
are prohibited under
the holiday Isle PCNRs.

714
00:35:40,160 --> 00:35:43,800
Read on at your
convenience as it

715
00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:44,900
goes on with other
details supporting

716
00:35:45,100 --> 00:35:47,560
that conveyance of the
property to the previous owner.

717
00:35:47,760 --> 00:35:51,020
Point Resort LLC was expressly
made subject to the Holiday Isle

718
00:35:51,220 --> 00:35:52,560
PCNRs.

719
00:35:52,760 --> 00:35:55,520
We understand that
the city and county

720
00:35:55,720 --> 00:35:57,720
are working to enter into an
interlocal agreement, which

721
00:35:57,920 --> 00:35:59,400
we support.

722
00:35:59,600 --> 00:36:01,840
The Holiday Isle
is a third party

723
00:36:02,040 --> 00:36:03,740
with a strong vested
interest and legal standing

724
00:36:03,940 --> 00:36:04,980
in this property.

725
00:36:05,180 --> 00:36:08,440
Don't get us wrong, we welcome
all residents of Okaloosa County

726
00:36:08,640 --> 00:36:10,360
and its visitors
to come and enjoy

727
00:36:10,560 --> 00:36:12,360
the beauty of this
property, but we

728
00:36:12,560 --> 00:36:14,600
will continue to oppose
any agreement that

729
00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:16,700
includes commercial
development of the property.

730
00:36:16,900 --> 00:36:20,030
Thank you for your time.

731
00:36:20,230 --> 00:36:22,880
If you have a letter--

732
00:36:23,080 --> 00:36:24,737
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: You can
provide that to the clerk,

733
00:36:24,937 --> 00:36:27,670
if you would, and that will
make it into the record.

734
00:36:27,870 --> 00:36:27,737
Thank you, sir.

735
00:36:27,937 --> 00:36:28,690
Molly Moore.

736
00:36:34,650 --> 00:36:41,850
MOLLY MOORE: Good morning.

737
00:36:42,050 --> 00:36:44,290
First time speakers, so
thank you for your patience.

738
00:36:44,490 --> 00:36:47,630
I have ties to Destin
in Holiday Isle since I

739
00:36:47,830 --> 00:36:49,850
was three years old, back
here even Okaloosa County,

740
00:36:50,050 --> 00:36:53,650
going to lums, and going
to the water slides that

741
00:36:53,850 --> 00:36:55,970
were full cement, if
you recall any of those

742
00:36:56,170 --> 00:36:57,350
if you were children
here as well.

743
00:36:57,550 --> 00:37:00,890
I hope you'll each have or will
take the time to come personally

744
00:37:01,090 --> 00:37:02,790
see the area at the
end of Holiday Isle

745
00:37:02,990 --> 00:37:03,670
and stand up for conservation.

746
00:37:03,870 --> 00:37:06,650
In addition to conservation,
though, residents also

747
00:37:06,850 --> 00:37:08,250
have concerns with
safety, security,

748
00:37:08,450 --> 00:37:11,630
and Destin's reputation, if
this plan all goes South.

749
00:37:11,830 --> 00:37:15,757
As you may know, the residential
area of Gulf Shaw Drive

750
00:37:15,957 --> 00:37:16,890
is a serene, well
maintained two-lane road,

751
00:37:17,090 --> 00:37:19,180
sided with residential
and HIIA landscaping.

752
00:37:19,380 --> 00:37:23,080
There's an active sidewalk
with runners and walkers

753
00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:25,360
and bikers and dog walkers.

754
00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:28,340
There is limited area on
each side for clearing

755
00:37:28,540 --> 00:37:30,120
a lane for emergency vehicles.

756
00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:32,960
We've always had visitors
and the occasional need

757
00:37:33,160 --> 00:37:36,300
for fire trucks, the sheriffs,
et cetera, but in the future,

758
00:37:36,500 --> 00:37:37,420
there will be a difference.

759
00:37:37,620 --> 00:37:39,445
The current traffic is primarily
residents and Holiday Isle

760
00:37:39,645 --> 00:37:41,980
guests that have somewhere
specific to go into park.

761
00:37:42,180 --> 00:37:46,360
Not day visitors who may be less
likely to know how effectively

762
00:37:46,560 --> 00:37:48,400
to clear the road
safely or think they

763
00:37:48,600 --> 00:37:51,380
can take their chances
parking on a side road

764
00:37:51,580 --> 00:37:52,220
or in a neighborhood.

765
00:37:52,420 --> 00:37:54,440
We now typically don't
have much night traffic,

766
00:37:54,640 --> 00:37:57,320
but with the future plan of
overnight camping boaters,

767
00:37:57,520 --> 00:38:01,060
people are not going
to stay on their boats.

768
00:38:01,260 --> 00:38:02,180
Automobile traffic
on Holiday Isle

769
00:38:02,380 --> 00:38:05,400
may increase due to a greater
need for rideshare companies.

770
00:38:05,600 --> 00:38:07,540
The amount of pedestrians
will increase.

771
00:38:07,740 --> 00:38:10,760
There may be impatience and
people speeding or running

772
00:38:10,960 --> 00:38:12,620
the limited stop signs.

773
00:38:12,820 --> 00:38:16,520
We have been told that one
non-negotiable is free parking

774
00:38:16,720 --> 00:38:17,780
for Okaloosa County residents.

775
00:38:17,980 --> 00:38:21,200
The reality is that it will
be tourist visitors who

776
00:38:21,400 --> 00:38:23,340
have driven in,
staying at Highway 98

777
00:38:23,540 --> 00:38:25,660
or Harbor Boulevard, the
off-beach properties, who

778
00:38:25,860 --> 00:38:29,600
will be securing the parking
spaces early in the day.

779
00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:32,560
With limited parking spaces
at the end of the point,

780
00:38:32,760 --> 00:38:33,980
drive-in visitors
will not have a way

781
00:38:34,180 --> 00:38:35,580
to know that the
parking is full.

782
00:38:35,780 --> 00:38:37,920
That will keep a steady
stream of traffic,

783
00:38:38,120 --> 00:38:40,040
potentially through the
day and the evening.

784
00:38:40,240 --> 00:38:42,280
Our Destin tourist
population is heavily

785
00:38:42,480 --> 00:38:44,640
drive-in from neighboring
states and counties.

786
00:38:44,840 --> 00:38:47,840
I hope you will
think about the need

787
00:38:48,040 --> 00:38:49,900
and funding for a future of
scheduled public transit,

788
00:38:50,100 --> 00:38:52,940
off-site or satellite
parking, or also

789
00:38:53,140 --> 00:38:56,260
working with off-site hotels
and motels, the non-holiday Isle

790
00:38:56,460 --> 00:39:00,120
properties to offer shuttles to
minimize private cars on Holiday

791
00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:02,840
Isle.

792
00:39:03,040 --> 00:39:04,960
Also Emerald Coast
Transit express shuttles

793
00:39:05,160 --> 00:39:08,440
from the Destin public
parking lots, for example.

794
00:39:08,640 --> 00:39:12,300
Finally, I have safety
concerns of people and families

795
00:39:12,500 --> 00:39:16,440
who think they are going to be
swimming in the Gulf who are not

796
00:39:16,640 --> 00:39:16,790
understanding that
they're actually swimming

797
00:39:16,990 --> 00:39:18,970
in a strong, active channel.

798
00:39:19,170 --> 00:39:22,430
I also have concerns with
the additional harbor traffic

799
00:39:22,630 --> 00:39:25,290
of less experienced boaters or
those unfamiliar to our harbor's

800
00:39:25,490 --> 00:39:27,650
fishing and water
sport industries that

801
00:39:27,850 --> 00:39:30,950
will back up to this Rental
Marina Boat campground.

802
00:39:31,150 --> 00:39:34,190
There may be more
traffic in Destin

803
00:39:34,390 --> 00:39:36,550
than ever before and
businesses, but let's not ruin

804
00:39:36,750 --> 00:39:39,770
the vision or our reputation
as the world's luckiest fishing

805
00:39:39,970 --> 00:39:41,170
village.

806
00:39:41,370 --> 00:39:43,150
Thank you for your time.

807
00:39:43,350 --> 00:39:44,717
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.

808
00:39:44,917 --> 00:39:45,150
[APPLAUSE]

809
00:39:45,350 --> 00:39:45,950
All right.

810
00:39:46,150 --> 00:39:48,670
Destin City Attorney,
Kimberly Kopp.

811
00:39:48,870 --> 00:39:52,162
KIMBERLY KOPP: May I wait
till the end, Mr. Chairman?

812
00:39:52,362 --> 00:39:52,270
COMMISSIONER
GOODWIN: Absolutely.

813
00:39:52,470 --> 00:39:53,510
KIMBERLY KOPP: Thank you.

814
00:39:53,710 --> 00:39:54,552
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

815
00:39:54,752 --> 00:39:56,210
Councilman Dewey Destin.

816
00:39:56,410 --> 00:40:02,873
COMMISSIONER
KETCHEL: Chairman, we

817
00:40:03,073 --> 00:40:05,190
have to wish him
a happy birthday.

818
00:40:05,390 --> 00:40:06,090
It's his birthday today.

819
00:40:06,290 --> 00:40:07,730
Sorry, I had to say that.

820
00:40:07,930 --> 00:40:07,510
[CHUCKLING]

821
00:40:07,710 --> 00:40:08,610
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Wow.

822
00:40:08,810 --> 00:40:09,393
[CHEERS, APPLAUSE]

823
00:40:09,593 --> 00:40:11,353
DEWEY DESTIN: Thank
you very much.

824
00:40:11,553 --> 00:40:13,370
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Hang on,
I think Commissioner Ketchel

825
00:40:13,570 --> 00:40:13,710
is going to sing.

826
00:40:13,910 --> 00:40:15,760
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
Would you like me too?

827
00:40:15,960 --> 00:40:17,320
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Go ahead, councilman?

828
00:40:17,520 --> 00:40:18,380
DEWEY DESTIN: All right.

829
00:40:18,580 --> 00:40:20,580
I appreciate the opportunity
to be before you today.

830
00:40:20,780 --> 00:40:24,720
And I want to celebrate
the cooperation

831
00:40:24,920 --> 00:40:27,452
that we've been able to
accomplish over the last five

832
00:40:27,652 --> 00:40:27,860
or six years.

833
00:40:28,060 --> 00:40:30,120
Together, we expanded
the fed tax districts.

834
00:40:30,320 --> 00:40:33,880
Not an easy task,
but we got it done.

835
00:40:34,080 --> 00:40:35,360
And I think everybody's
happy with the outcome.

836
00:40:35,560 --> 00:40:37,240
We've purchased several
beautiful pieces

837
00:40:37,440 --> 00:40:39,260
of beachfront property.

838
00:40:39,460 --> 00:40:43,500
We have had a pretty good
run of working together.

839
00:40:43,700 --> 00:40:46,560
And that's what I
urge the commission

840
00:40:46,760 --> 00:40:48,920
to do on this issue of
the interlocal agreement.

841
00:40:49,120 --> 00:40:54,360
For an interlocal
agreement to be effective,

842
00:40:54,560 --> 00:40:57,900
it has to be equal partners.

843
00:40:58,100 --> 00:41:00,660
We've sent you a draft.

844
00:41:00,860 --> 00:41:02,680
We've got no reply on that.

845
00:41:02,880 --> 00:41:03,680
I understand you
have another draft,

846
00:41:03,880 --> 00:41:07,200
but we need to get
together and figure out

847
00:41:07,400 --> 00:41:09,120
how we can work as partners.

848
00:41:09,320 --> 00:41:11,988
There are a lot of issues here.

849
00:41:12,188 --> 00:41:12,980
I've met with Mr.
Palmer several times.

850
00:41:13,180 --> 00:41:18,260
And it appears the thrust from
your side, at least so far,

851
00:41:18,460 --> 00:41:20,400
has been much more commercial
activity than the city thinks

852
00:41:20,600 --> 00:41:22,640
is acceptable.

853
00:41:22,840 --> 00:41:26,700
We would like to tap it down and
keep it conservation oriented

854
00:41:26,900 --> 00:41:30,380
and work toward that end.

855
00:41:30,580 --> 00:41:32,083
And the only way
we're going to be

856
00:41:32,283 --> 00:41:33,200
able to do that
in partnership is

857
00:41:33,400 --> 00:41:36,740
to have a interlocal in
which we are equal partners.

858
00:41:36,940 --> 00:41:41,560
And I would urge you to move
forward with that so that we

859
00:41:41,760 --> 00:41:43,940
can continue the cooperation
we've had over the last five

860
00:41:44,140 --> 00:41:47,150
or six years and accomplish
a lot of really good things.

861
00:41:47,350 --> 00:41:48,360
Thank you.

862
00:41:48,560 --> 00:41:48,720
[APPLAUSE]

863
00:41:48,920 --> 00:41:50,600
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.

864
00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:54,040
All right.

865
00:41:54,240 --> 00:41:55,460
Councilman Jim Bagby.

866
00:41:55,660 --> 00:41:58,320
JIM BAGBY: Can Sandy go?

867
00:41:58,520 --> 00:41:59,100
She's got an appointment--

868
00:41:59,300 --> 00:42:00,080
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Sure.

869
00:42:00,280 --> 00:42:00,905
Councilwoman Trammell.

870
00:42:01,105 --> 00:42:03,157
SANDY TRAMMELL: Thank you.

871
00:42:03,357 --> 00:42:03,940
JIM BAGBY: Sure.

872
00:42:04,140 --> 00:42:05,285
COMMISSIONER
GOODWIN: [INAUDIBLE]

873
00:42:05,485 --> 00:42:06,960
SANDY TRAMMELL: [INAUDIBLE]

874
00:42:07,160 --> 00:42:11,045
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Actually,
if you'll give it to the clerk.

875
00:42:11,245 --> 00:42:11,870
SANDY TRAMMELL: OK.

876
00:42:12,070 --> 00:42:12,930
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.

877
00:42:13,130 --> 00:42:14,650
SANDY TRAMMELL: Could
you just pass it down

878
00:42:14,850 --> 00:42:15,542
to the council [INAUDIBLE].

879
00:42:15,742 --> 00:42:17,130
Thank you.

880
00:42:17,330 --> 00:42:21,663
Good morning, commissioners.

881
00:42:21,863 --> 00:42:23,730
I'm Sandy Trammell,
currently Destin City Council

882
00:42:23,930 --> 00:42:27,410
and a 65-plus-year resident
of Okaloosa County.

883
00:42:27,610 --> 00:42:31,097
And now that Dewey's
had his birthday today,

884
00:42:31,297 --> 00:42:32,330
where both the same age.

885
00:42:32,530 --> 00:42:32,330
[CHUCKLING]

886
00:42:32,530 --> 00:42:35,230
SANDY TRAMMELL: So we've
been around for a long time.

887
00:42:35,430 --> 00:42:38,990
My husband and he played around
Destin their whole lives.

888
00:42:39,190 --> 00:42:42,870
I'm here to share
some thoughts with you

889
00:42:43,070 --> 00:42:45,250
on why the county and
the city of Destin

890
00:42:45,450 --> 00:42:47,230
need an interlocal agreement,
and why it's imperative

891
00:42:47,430 --> 00:42:50,250
that the city of Destin
be included in that.

892
00:42:50,450 --> 00:42:52,370
I met with Commissioner
Palmer last week,

893
00:42:52,570 --> 00:42:55,590
and he laid out his plan for
the state's parcel, located

894
00:42:55,790 --> 00:42:56,870
adjacent to Noriega
point in Destin.

895
00:42:57,070 --> 00:42:59,810
Although premature in the
process of development,

896
00:43:00,010 --> 00:43:01,990
I appreciated the meeting.

897
00:43:02,190 --> 00:43:06,030
I've given you a drawing
illustrating the 100-plus

898
00:43:06,230 --> 00:43:09,310
parking spaces outlined
to me by Mr. Palmer,

899
00:43:09,510 --> 00:43:12,460
and he did ask for
some suggestions,

900
00:43:12,660 --> 00:43:15,340
so I'm going to
give you some today.

901
00:43:15,540 --> 00:43:19,155
First of all, I'd like you
to make note of the fact

902
00:43:19,355 --> 00:43:19,780
that this particular
map that I gave

903
00:43:19,980 --> 00:43:24,300
you was done by the owner of the
property prior to the state's

904
00:43:24,500 --> 00:43:27,200
acquisition.

905
00:43:27,400 --> 00:43:30,700
So what he gave me
was what the owner

906
00:43:30,900 --> 00:43:32,800
actually wanted on this
particular property.

907
00:43:33,000 --> 00:43:38,640
As you can see, the parking
illustrated in this drawing

908
00:43:38,840 --> 00:43:39,260
is massive.

909
00:43:39,460 --> 00:43:42,060
Do we need that much parking?

910
00:43:42,260 --> 00:43:45,560
It appears that the idea is
to allow the public on city

911
00:43:45,760 --> 00:43:47,940
owned parcel as well.

912
00:43:48,140 --> 00:43:51,500
Clearly this illustrates a need
for an interlocal agreement

913
00:43:51,700 --> 00:43:54,880
with the County and
the city of Destin.

914
00:43:55,080 --> 00:43:56,660
Sustainability for
both parcels has

915
00:43:56,860 --> 00:43:59,520
to be addressed
within the interlocal.

916
00:43:59,720 --> 00:44:03,120
I encourage you to accept
the version of the interlocal

917
00:44:03,320 --> 00:44:05,980
supplied by Destin, as we
are the owner of the larger

918
00:44:06,180 --> 00:44:07,880
parcel partial affected.

919
00:44:08,080 --> 00:44:11,400
And that's illustrated in the
second picture that I gave you.

920
00:44:11,600 --> 00:44:15,840
The note on the front
was from Mr. Coffey, who

921
00:44:16,040 --> 00:44:18,120
stated that the
partial was smaller,

922
00:44:18,320 --> 00:44:22,740
and obviously, that's
water under the bridge.

923
00:44:22,940 --> 00:44:27,420
It was explained to me that
the number of parking spaces

924
00:44:27,620 --> 00:44:29,180
was also needed for overnight
parking for the docks.

925
00:44:29,380 --> 00:44:30,980
By overnighting
vessels, you will

926
00:44:31,180 --> 00:44:34,080
need to have a pump out
station with holding facilities

927
00:44:34,280 --> 00:44:35,820
for sewage and regular
sewage truck visits

928
00:44:36,020 --> 00:44:38,380
to remove it from
the holding tank.

929
00:44:38,580 --> 00:44:41,100
Destined Water Users does not
take the concentrated sewage

930
00:44:41,300 --> 00:44:42,880
from holding tanks.

931
00:44:43,080 --> 00:44:45,260
DWU is Destin's water
and sewer company

932
00:44:45,460 --> 00:44:48,420
and is independent of the city.

933
00:44:48,620 --> 00:44:52,520
Also, the parks close at dusk,
and all of the overnight vessels

934
00:44:52,720 --> 00:44:56,780
would be unable to access
the parking or the park area.

935
00:44:56,980 --> 00:45:00,980
I don't think this is going to
be a draw for overnight vessels.

936
00:45:01,180 --> 00:45:04,120
If overnight vessels is the plan
for the county to garner revenue

937
00:45:04,320 --> 00:45:06,640
to sustain this park,
I will refer you

938
00:45:06,840 --> 00:45:08,910
to the overnight
parking for the vessels

939
00:45:09,110 --> 00:45:11,710
adjacent to the old Elks
Lodge on Okaloosa Island.

940
00:45:11,910 --> 00:45:14,730
This property was
developed by the same owner

941
00:45:14,930 --> 00:45:18,910
that has developed this
new state property.

942
00:45:19,110 --> 00:45:21,810
No one's parking yachts there.

943
00:45:22,010 --> 00:45:25,890
The harbor study already
completed for Destin harbor

944
00:45:26,090 --> 00:45:28,590
stated that the overcrowding
in the Destin harbor

945
00:45:28,790 --> 00:45:29,750
exists without
these active docks.

946
00:45:29,950 --> 00:45:33,150
So I would encourage you to--

947
00:45:33,350 --> 00:45:35,690
I'm sorry. --encourage you
to take into consideration

948
00:45:35,890 --> 00:45:40,230
the interlocal agreement and
to pass it today, if you will.

949
00:45:40,430 --> 00:45:42,590
Thank you.

950
00:45:42,790 --> 00:45:43,990
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Ms. Tramell, thank you.

951
00:45:44,190 --> 00:45:45,630
COMMISSIONER PALMER:
I know this is unusual

952
00:45:45,830 --> 00:45:48,022
and I normally would not
respond in public comment,

953
00:45:48,222 --> 00:45:49,950
but I wanted to be very clear.

954
00:45:50,150 --> 00:45:52,850
The drawing that I gave you
is exactly-- you're correct,

955
00:45:53,050 --> 00:45:54,530
it's the developer's
previous drawing.

956
00:45:54,730 --> 00:45:58,950
What I had asked was that
you guys-- and I handed

957
00:45:59,150 --> 00:46:02,490
that same drawing to the
others that met with me,

958
00:46:02,690 --> 00:46:06,550
and what I ask is that is
that you overlay that drawing.

959
00:46:06,750 --> 00:46:08,780
And just so that we know that
what was previously approved,

960
00:46:08,980 --> 00:46:11,300
that's why we used that drawing
versus just a blank sheet.

961
00:46:11,500 --> 00:46:15,760
What I had asked was that you
guys overlay what you thought

962
00:46:15,960 --> 00:46:17,260
would be acceptable to
your council on that,

963
00:46:17,460 --> 00:46:23,060
just so that we can see the
difference between the two

964
00:46:23,260 --> 00:46:23,920
as we overlay them.

965
00:46:24,120 --> 00:46:26,880
So this parking
was not what we had

966
00:46:27,080 --> 00:46:29,020
or what I would suggest at all.

967
00:46:29,220 --> 00:46:30,880
I think it's way--
it's far too much.

968
00:46:31,080 --> 00:46:32,928
What we're looking for
is about 100 spaces.

969
00:46:33,128 --> 00:46:34,720
I think there's about
200, maybe 250 here.

970
00:46:34,920 --> 00:46:38,400
But so anyways, I just want
to be clear about that.

971
00:46:38,600 --> 00:46:40,540
And yeah, I think
that's all I had.

972
00:46:40,740 --> 00:46:41,220
Thank you.

973
00:46:41,420 --> 00:46:43,000
SANDY TRAMMELL: You
told me one [INAUDIBLE],

974
00:46:43,200 --> 00:46:43,740
so that's why I was--

975
00:46:43,940 --> 00:46:44,860
COMMISSIONER PALMER:
We had other drawings.

976
00:46:45,060 --> 00:46:46,760
Yeah, we had other drawings
that were submitted.

977
00:46:46,960 --> 00:46:46,860
SANDY TRAMMELL: Yeah.

978
00:46:47,060 --> 00:46:47,320
COMMISSIONER PALMER: Thank you.

979
00:46:47,520 --> 00:46:48,535
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Councilman Bagby.

980
00:46:51,640 --> 00:46:59,440
JIM BAGBY: Thank you, Mr.
Chairman, Commissioners.

981
00:46:59,640 --> 00:47:01,740
I appreciate the
opportunity to be here,

982
00:47:01,940 --> 00:47:04,700
and I want to thank you
for listening to us again

983
00:47:04,900 --> 00:47:06,880
and probably again
and again and again.

984
00:47:07,080 --> 00:47:10,200
This is a conflict none
of us really wants.

985
00:47:10,400 --> 00:47:13,960
I don't want it.

986
00:47:14,160 --> 00:47:14,780
You don't want it.

987
00:47:14,980 --> 00:47:16,780
The state doesn't even
want us to have it.

988
00:47:16,980 --> 00:47:18,840
I want to thank Commissioner
Palmer for meeting with us.

989
00:47:19,040 --> 00:47:21,900
I've met with him three
or four or five times.

990
00:47:22,100 --> 00:47:23,500
I can't even remember how many.

991
00:47:23,700 --> 00:47:26,900
And in our last meeting, he
gave me his two red lines,

992
00:47:27,100 --> 00:47:28,660
and I want to address those.

993
00:47:28,860 --> 00:47:30,280
He wants free parking
for County residents.

994
00:47:30,480 --> 00:47:33,000
He talked about license
plate reader installation.

995
00:47:33,200 --> 00:47:38,040
He talked about a sign
out by Highway 98 that

996
00:47:38,240 --> 00:47:42,020
would tell people it's full,
so people don't go down

997
00:47:42,220 --> 00:47:42,620
through the neighborhood.

998
00:47:42,820 --> 00:47:44,120
Completely agree
with that approach.

999
00:47:44,320 --> 00:47:47,360
He talked about
what in the military

1000
00:47:47,560 --> 00:47:48,900
would call unity of command.

1001
00:47:49,100 --> 00:47:51,400
He wanted one entity in charge.

1002
00:47:51,600 --> 00:47:56,940
I don't have a problem with that
as long as that one entity is

1003
00:47:57,140 --> 00:47:57,880
the city of Destin.

1004
00:47:58,080 --> 00:48:01,280
But I think you all would
have a problem with that,

1005
00:48:01,480 --> 00:48:02,120
and I understand.

1006
00:48:02,320 --> 00:48:04,650
He said he wanted that because--

1007
00:48:04,850 --> 00:48:08,090
and the example he gave was
the Crystal Beach Park, --well,

1008
00:48:08,290 --> 00:48:12,650
you all came in, quite
honestly, at the latter stages

1009
00:48:12,850 --> 00:48:14,590
of the Crystal Beach Park.

1010
00:48:14,790 --> 00:48:17,910
It was already a park
when you all came in

1011
00:48:18,110 --> 00:48:19,990
and we collaborated together
to work together on that park.

1012
00:48:20,190 --> 00:48:22,470
We had unfortunately,
some restrictions

1013
00:48:22,670 --> 00:48:27,470
that were placed upon us by the
people that helped us purchase

1014
00:48:27,670 --> 00:48:28,910
the park originally.

1015
00:48:29,110 --> 00:48:32,070
I think a better
example would be Tarpon,

1016
00:48:32,270 --> 00:48:34,770
because I know many
of you were there

1017
00:48:34,970 --> 00:48:38,450
less than three years ago when
we tore down Dieter's hotel.

1018
00:48:38,650 --> 00:48:41,830
And many of you were there too,
include Commissioner Palmer,

1019
00:48:42,030 --> 00:48:47,650
less than a year and a half ago
when we actually broke ground.

1020
00:48:47,850 --> 00:48:49,848
And if you go out
there today, you'll

1021
00:48:50,048 --> 00:48:50,490
see we're well
under construction.

1022
00:48:50,690 --> 00:48:53,410
He wanted unity of
command because he

1023
00:48:53,610 --> 00:48:55,930
was afraid it would take
forever-- at least what

1024
00:48:56,130 --> 00:48:57,850
he told me, --it
would take forever

1025
00:48:58,050 --> 00:48:59,350
to get this project completed.

1026
00:48:59,550 --> 00:49:03,810
I would just say to you, we
have proven, as Mr. Destin said,

1027
00:49:04,010 --> 00:49:07,440
that we can work
together, that we can be

1028
00:49:07,640 --> 00:49:08,400
good partners with the county.

1029
00:49:08,600 --> 00:49:11,600
And I would ask that we
be good partners again.

1030
00:49:11,800 --> 00:49:14,060
Ross Perot said, when
someone offers you a deal,

1031
00:49:14,260 --> 00:49:19,060
offer them the same deal and see
if they take it or they like it.

1032
00:49:19,260 --> 00:49:22,860
if you offered us
or if we offered you

1033
00:49:23,060 --> 00:49:27,700
the version of the interlocal
that you're offering us,

1034
00:49:27,900 --> 00:49:30,120
we would reject it immediately.

1035
00:49:30,320 --> 00:49:33,100
And rightly so,
you would reject it

1036
00:49:33,300 --> 00:49:37,480
if we offered it to you, because
that would just put us in charge

1037
00:49:37,680 --> 00:49:39,540
and you wouldn't have a vote.

1038
00:49:39,740 --> 00:49:41,060
And I know you
would reject that.

1039
00:49:41,260 --> 00:49:44,100
If you offered us the
deal we've offered you,

1040
00:49:44,300 --> 00:49:45,960
we would accept it immediately.

1041
00:49:46,160 --> 00:49:47,020
Why?

1042
00:49:47,220 --> 00:49:48,420
Because it's a
collaborative partnership.

1043
00:49:48,620 --> 00:49:51,720
I think we've been here
today working humbly

1044
00:49:51,920 --> 00:49:54,100
and want to work
collaboratively.

1045
00:49:54,300 --> 00:49:57,020
This is going to take forever.

1046
00:49:57,220 --> 00:49:59,260
If you want to get
this park built,

1047
00:49:59,460 --> 00:50:01,920
you need to do it with
us, not against us.

1048
00:50:02,120 --> 00:50:02,980
Thank you.

1049
00:50:03,180 --> 00:50:03,340
[APPLAUSE]

1050
00:50:03,540 --> 00:50:07,635
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Did
you want to say anything?

1051
00:50:07,835 --> 00:50:10,660
I'll just take-- and I
know we've got a few more

1052
00:50:10,860 --> 00:50:11,460
Destin speakers and
everybody will be recognized,

1053
00:50:11,660 --> 00:50:15,140
but I just want to reiterate,
I think what we're seeing now

1054
00:50:15,340 --> 00:50:18,340
is actually the evolution of
what councilman Braden said

1055
00:50:18,540 --> 00:50:22,400
the last time.

1056
00:50:22,600 --> 00:50:25,220
He said, it's probably
going to be the cities

1057
00:50:25,420 --> 00:50:27,980
version, the counties
version, negotiation, and you

1058
00:50:28,180 --> 00:50:31,000
land somewhere in the middle.

1059
00:50:31,200 --> 00:50:33,028
I think that's kind of
what he articulated,

1060
00:50:33,228 --> 00:50:34,520
and that's usually
how most deals go.

1061
00:50:34,720 --> 00:50:37,860
As a practical matter, I'm
happy to debate in this forum,

1062
00:50:38,060 --> 00:50:41,500
as much as anybody wants
to, but it's probably

1063
00:50:41,700 --> 00:50:44,500
the least efficient
way to get some

1064
00:50:44,700 --> 00:50:46,260
of the nuts and bolts resolved.

1065
00:50:46,460 --> 00:50:48,540
We can hit major
policy things here,

1066
00:50:48,740 --> 00:50:52,140
but it's hard to
wordsmith from up here.

1067
00:50:52,340 --> 00:50:55,360
The good Lord knows I've
tried a number of times,

1068
00:50:55,560 --> 00:50:56,680
and I've probably
just about lost favor

1069
00:50:56,880 --> 00:51:00,280
with all of my fellow council
members when I start doing that.

1070
00:51:00,480 --> 00:51:02,090
So my suggestion would be--

1071
00:51:02,290 --> 00:51:05,650
and I'm just kind
of taking a cue

1072
00:51:05,850 --> 00:51:10,870
from what the board's already
done at the administrator's

1073
00:51:11,070 --> 00:51:13,090
suggestion,
appointing a liaison,

1074
00:51:13,290 --> 00:51:16,630
which you guys at
the city of Destin

1075
00:51:16,830 --> 00:51:18,730
have been able to meet
with Commissioner Palmer

1076
00:51:18,930 --> 00:51:22,170
and talk through some of the
logistics about the park.

1077
00:51:22,370 --> 00:51:25,930
I would suggest it might
not be a bad idea--

1078
00:51:26,130 --> 00:51:29,908
and the board's subject to say,
no, we don't want to do that,

1079
00:51:30,108 --> 00:51:32,450
but maybe you as the city have a
lead person with your attorney,

1080
00:51:32,650 --> 00:51:38,550
meet with our lead
person with our attorney,

1081
00:51:38,750 --> 00:51:41,550
and you all get into
a conference room

1082
00:51:41,750 --> 00:51:43,697
and work through some
of the nuts and bolts,

1083
00:51:43,897 --> 00:51:45,830
because I think this is probably
the least effective forum

1084
00:51:46,030 --> 00:51:47,647
to work through those detailed,
granular language terms.

1085
00:51:47,847 --> 00:51:51,990
But we can talk about broad
policy, because I suspect--

1086
00:51:52,190 --> 00:51:54,450
well, I heard it at
the last meeting.

1087
00:51:54,650 --> 00:51:56,910
I heard what everybody at
the city of Destin said,

1088
00:51:57,110 --> 00:51:58,670
I heard what the
board said, and I

1089
00:51:58,870 --> 00:52:00,400
don't think anybody
said, hey, we don't

1090
00:52:00,600 --> 00:52:02,200
want to work with our partner.

1091
00:52:02,400 --> 00:52:04,280
It's just, what is
this relationship going

1092
00:52:04,480 --> 00:52:05,680
to actually look like?

1093
00:52:05,880 --> 00:52:08,740
And that's the granular
level we need to get to next.

1094
00:52:08,940 --> 00:52:10,340
And I think if we could--

1095
00:52:10,540 --> 00:52:12,322
that's the way I
would approach it.

1096
00:52:12,522 --> 00:52:14,680
I don't know how the
rest of this board feels,

1097
00:52:14,880 --> 00:52:15,300
but I'd love to see
Commissioner Palmer,

1098
00:52:15,500 --> 00:52:17,543
I'd love to see
the city say, hey,

1099
00:52:17,743 --> 00:52:18,660
we're going to send a delegate.

1100
00:52:18,860 --> 00:52:22,120
Let's send a send a lawyer on
each side and go work it out.

1101
00:52:22,320 --> 00:52:24,200
I mean, that's what we
do in business every day.

1102
00:52:24,400 --> 00:52:24,900
Just a thought.

1103
00:52:25,100 --> 00:52:30,720
Next speaker, Mayor Wagner.

1104
00:52:30,920 --> 00:52:36,020
BOBBY WAGNER: All right.

1105
00:52:36,220 --> 00:52:36,720
Good evening board.

1106
00:52:36,920 --> 00:52:39,520
If the county receives any
interest in this property,

1107
00:52:39,720 --> 00:52:41,200
we are eager to collaborate.

1108
00:52:41,400 --> 00:52:42,660
We deeply value the
board's partnership,

1109
00:52:42,860 --> 00:52:44,260
and we put forward--

1110
00:52:44,460 --> 00:52:45,977
and because of that,
we've put forward

1111
00:52:46,177 --> 00:52:47,260
a city of Destin
interlocal agreement

1112
00:52:47,460 --> 00:52:49,300
as a solid starting point.

1113
00:52:49,500 --> 00:52:52,140
To your position, Chairman, that
signed and voted on document

1114
00:52:52,340 --> 00:52:56,100
is our position.

1115
00:52:56,300 --> 00:52:58,780
As a collective body
of City of Destin,

1116
00:52:58,980 --> 00:53:00,660
there is our
starting point, there

1117
00:53:00,860 --> 00:53:02,340
is our clear defining point.

1118
00:53:02,540 --> 00:53:04,800
And with that, we
keep continuing

1119
00:53:05,000 --> 00:53:07,140
to ask for redlines
repeatedly since January 22,

1120
00:53:07,340 --> 00:53:10,600
without any revisions
until now, we

1121
00:53:10,800 --> 00:53:13,100
have this other alternate
draft that has completely

1122
00:53:13,300 --> 00:53:18,500
opposite language, that
holds no substance at all,

1123
00:53:18,700 --> 00:53:23,160
and, really, doesn't even
create a starting point, just

1124
00:53:23,360 --> 00:53:24,620
an alternative narrative.

1125
00:53:24,820 --> 00:53:28,520
Either way, we're ready to sign.

1126
00:53:28,720 --> 00:53:32,360
If you guys are either ready
to sign in or need a red line

1127
00:53:32,560 --> 00:53:32,720
to edit our
interlocal agreement,

1128
00:53:32,920 --> 00:53:34,600
we welcome that
because that matter--

1129
00:53:34,800 --> 00:53:37,360
that what matters most
is that we leave here

1130
00:53:37,560 --> 00:53:38,940
with a clear direction
and a real path

1131
00:53:39,140 --> 00:53:40,620
forward for how
we work together.

1132
00:53:40,820 --> 00:53:42,900
I'd like to address
the two comments

1133
00:53:43,100 --> 00:53:45,600
that Commissioner Palmer made at
the last meeting after we left.

1134
00:53:45,800 --> 00:53:48,960
First, the will of the people
is the heart of good governance.

1135
00:53:49,160 --> 00:53:52,200
The citizens who
came to speak did

1136
00:53:52,400 --> 00:53:54,220
so because they care deeply
about their community

1137
00:53:54,420 --> 00:53:56,650
and what happens at this park.

1138
00:53:56,850 --> 00:53:59,110
I did not inflame or
fabricate that concern.

1139
00:53:59,310 --> 00:54:01,790
I simply helped
organize it and provide

1140
00:54:01,990 --> 00:54:04,870
a clear, appropriate platform
for our residents to be heard.

1141
00:54:05,070 --> 00:54:08,010
Their frustration and
their questions are real,

1142
00:54:08,210 --> 00:54:11,570
and we will be behind
them and beside them

1143
00:54:11,770 --> 00:54:15,070
every step of the way to
make sure that their voice is

1144
00:54:15,270 --> 00:54:15,330
heard through this discussion.

1145
00:54:15,530 --> 00:54:17,350
Secondly, I
respectfully disagree

1146
00:54:17,550 --> 00:54:20,170
that our interlocal agreement
process was unusual.

1147
00:54:20,370 --> 00:54:23,930
The city has a clear
process for outward facing

1148
00:54:24,130 --> 00:54:25,190
partnerships and agreements.

1149
00:54:25,390 --> 00:54:27,410
Just like you
addressed, we wanted

1150
00:54:27,610 --> 00:54:31,210
to make sure that the will of
the Council and what we believe,

1151
00:54:31,410 --> 00:54:32,790
the will of the people,
reflected in that deal.

1152
00:54:32,990 --> 00:54:34,430
So instead of a
delegate and hearsay,

1153
00:54:34,630 --> 00:54:37,670
we wanted to make sure that
we brought to you something

1154
00:54:37,870 --> 00:54:40,430
that this council could agree on
and start on knowing that there

1155
00:54:40,630 --> 00:54:42,430
would be edits coming forward.

1156
00:54:42,630 --> 00:54:44,710
We seek a council
approval first,

1157
00:54:44,910 --> 00:54:48,150
so that we will see the
will of our elected body

1158
00:54:48,350 --> 00:54:51,190
is clear in writing that, and
that the subject of-- so there's

1159
00:54:51,390 --> 00:54:53,690
no confusion back and forth
or hearsay through staff

1160
00:54:53,890 --> 00:54:56,080
or an elected body official.

1161
00:54:56,280 --> 00:54:58,740
That is exactly
why, on January 22,

1162
00:54:58,940 --> 00:55:00,720
we sent the city council's
interlocal agreement

1163
00:55:00,920 --> 00:55:02,760
to the county with
full expectations

1164
00:55:02,960 --> 00:55:05,160
that you would have edits,
redlines and suggestions.

1165
00:55:05,360 --> 00:55:08,260
We intended it to be a
fundamental document,

1166
00:55:08,460 --> 00:55:11,880
a clear starting point that
reflects the true council

1167
00:55:12,080 --> 00:55:14,000
intent so the collaboration
can start with concrete

1168
00:55:14,200 --> 00:55:17,440
and transparency at its heart.

1169
00:55:17,640 --> 00:55:20,280
Since then, we have asked
multiple times for--

1170
00:55:20,480 --> 00:55:23,940
just as the city council
files clear public process,

1171
00:55:24,140 --> 00:55:26,180
we trust the county values
that same transparency.

1172
00:55:26,380 --> 00:55:29,200
In that spirit, we have
one sincere question

1173
00:55:29,400 --> 00:55:31,080
for the full board,
because clarity

1174
00:55:31,280 --> 00:55:34,480
matters when we are talking
about a major public commitment

1175
00:55:34,680 --> 00:55:35,660
and investment.

1176
00:55:35,860 --> 00:55:37,527
At the previous meeting,
Commissioner Palmer

1177
00:55:37,727 --> 00:55:40,560
held up a letter that
appeared to commit $5 million

1178
00:55:40,760 --> 00:55:41,600
towards this project.

1179
00:55:41,800 --> 00:55:43,920
Did the board fully
intend and know

1180
00:55:44,120 --> 00:55:46,900
of the level of
commitment that were

1181
00:55:47,100 --> 00:55:49,480
being created in that letter?

1182
00:55:49,680 --> 00:55:53,420
We are simply asking for clarity
so that everyone, the city,

1183
00:55:53,620 --> 00:55:55,260
the county and the
public understand

1184
00:55:55,460 --> 00:55:59,160
what has been authorized and
what has not been authorized

1185
00:55:59,360 --> 00:56:00,660
by the county commissioners.

1186
00:56:00,860 --> 00:56:02,640
We are ready to collaborate.

1187
00:56:02,840 --> 00:56:03,920
We welcome the
redline direction.

1188
00:56:04,120 --> 00:56:06,780
If the commitment to
transparency is real

1189
00:56:06,980 --> 00:56:09,420
and the step-by-step
process aimed

1190
00:56:09,620 --> 00:56:13,340
is for truly a partnership,
we can move forward

1191
00:56:13,540 --> 00:56:16,160
in a way that reflects
this body's eagerness

1192
00:56:16,360 --> 00:56:20,980
to work together and the will
of the people that we all serve.

1193
00:56:21,180 --> 00:56:21,860
Thank you for your time.

1194
00:56:22,060 --> 00:56:21,780
[APPLAUSE]

1195
00:56:21,980 --> 00:56:23,380
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.

1196
00:56:23,580 --> 00:56:30,765
COMMISSIONER PALMER:
Mr. Chairman, I'm sorry,

1197
00:56:30,965 --> 00:56:33,840
I do just need to say
one thing very quickly.

1198
00:56:34,040 --> 00:56:35,870
Again, I know this is unusual.

1199
00:56:36,070 --> 00:56:37,120
I don't normally respond
in public comment,

1200
00:56:37,320 --> 00:56:40,660
but as an elected official, I
think I owe you that courtesy

1201
00:56:40,860 --> 00:56:43,080
to be correct about that.

1202
00:56:43,280 --> 00:56:46,640
So as far as the-- and I
actually just need clarity

1203
00:56:46,840 --> 00:56:49,360
here a little bit
because the mayor just

1204
00:56:49,560 --> 00:56:52,720
said that they sent us
the interlocal agreement

1205
00:56:52,920 --> 00:56:57,710
with the intent of
having redlines back.

1206
00:56:57,910 --> 00:57:00,790
However, when I saw
the city council

1207
00:57:00,990 --> 00:57:03,890
meeting in which
that was introduced,

1208
00:57:04,090 --> 00:57:07,290
it was followed immediately
by a good cop, bad cop,

1209
00:57:07,490 --> 00:57:10,010
I think is what was said.

1210
00:57:10,210 --> 00:57:11,910
And it was followed
immediately by a commitment

1211
00:57:12,110 --> 00:57:14,750
to approve a resolution
that would then,

1212
00:57:14,950 --> 00:57:18,630
if it wasn't
approved by us, then

1213
00:57:18,830 --> 00:57:21,190
you guys, your city
council, would then

1214
00:57:21,390 --> 00:57:23,543
approve a resolution that
would then go and petition

1215
00:57:23,743 --> 00:57:25,110
the state for control
of the property.

1216
00:57:25,310 --> 00:57:27,750
So to me, I felt
like it wasn't--

1217
00:57:27,950 --> 00:57:30,550
the redline was not
what was requested.

1218
00:57:30,750 --> 00:57:34,050
However, I could be
completely wrong about that.

1219
00:57:34,250 --> 00:57:35,930
That's the understanding
that I came away

1220
00:57:36,130 --> 00:57:38,042
with when I saw the
city council meeting,

1221
00:57:38,242 --> 00:57:39,450
and then we read the
interlocal agreement.

1222
00:57:39,650 --> 00:57:40,850
BOBBY WAGNER: Last
night's [INAUDIBLE].

1223
00:57:41,050 --> 00:57:41,010
COMMISSIONER PALMER: No, no.

1224
00:57:41,210 --> 00:57:41,970
This is when it was
originally introduced.

1225
00:57:42,170 --> 00:57:44,970
I didn't see the one last
night, but I look forward

1226
00:57:45,170 --> 00:57:45,470
to seeing you later.

1227
00:57:45,670 --> 00:57:49,670
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: And
Mayor, did the city council vote

1228
00:57:49,870 --> 00:57:52,920
last night to submit a
resolution to the state?

1229
00:57:53,120 --> 00:57:53,512
BOBBY WAGNER: No.

1230
00:57:53,712 --> 00:57:54,220
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: No.

1231
00:57:54,420 --> 00:57:54,662
OK.

1232
00:57:54,862 --> 00:57:56,700
I hate to do this.

1233
00:57:56,900 --> 00:57:57,780
And I think, like
Commissioner Palmer says,

1234
00:57:57,980 --> 00:58:00,172
we're reluctant to speak during
public comment and respond,

1235
00:58:00,372 --> 00:58:04,000
but when there's an opportunity
to maybe clear an issue,

1236
00:58:04,200 --> 00:58:06,020
sometimes it makes
sense to do so.

1237
00:58:06,220 --> 00:58:08,343
And I think that's exactly
what the commissioner is doing.

1238
00:58:08,543 --> 00:58:10,460
That's what I was doing
earlier with some speakers.

1239
00:58:10,660 --> 00:58:12,380
Commissioner Ketchel as well,
because it was an opportunity

1240
00:58:12,580 --> 00:58:12,480
to speak.

1241
00:58:12,680 --> 00:58:14,780
And I see she wants
to speak right now,

1242
00:58:14,980 --> 00:58:16,820
so I'll let her do that
before I do anything.

1243
00:58:17,020 --> 00:58:18,400
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: I think,
blessed are the peacemakers.

1244
00:58:18,600 --> 00:58:21,380
We want to try a path forward.

1245
00:58:21,580 --> 00:58:23,920
I don't think any of us
enjoy what's happening here.

1246
00:58:24,120 --> 00:58:28,660
What I'd like to say is, I
really agree with the chairman

1247
00:58:28,860 --> 00:58:31,020
that it would be great
to get Commissioner

1248
00:58:31,220 --> 00:58:33,820
Palmer, a representative of your
choice that you all respect,

1249
00:58:34,020 --> 00:58:37,960
somebody you respect, and
your attorney's in a room

1250
00:58:38,160 --> 00:58:40,340
and see if you can
work something out

1251
00:58:40,540 --> 00:58:41,680
that we could all live with.

1252
00:58:41,880 --> 00:58:43,220
However, we got
here, we got here.

1253
00:58:43,420 --> 00:58:45,500
There's enough fingers
pointing, blame going around.

1254
00:58:45,700 --> 00:58:48,420
This is not what-- this
is not our community.

1255
00:58:48,620 --> 00:58:50,200
Our community has
always gotten along,

1256
00:58:50,400 --> 00:58:54,420
and I want to see that continue.

1257
00:58:54,620 --> 00:58:55,500
This is a beautiful
piece of property.

1258
00:58:55,700 --> 00:58:58,880
Somebody suggested, I think
it was Sandy, that I go out.

1259
00:58:59,080 --> 00:59:00,920
I went out with and I visited.

1260
00:59:01,120 --> 00:59:02,320
Oh, it's jaw droppingly,
it's beautiful.

1261
00:59:02,520 --> 00:59:04,520
And I agree with
you, the channel

1262
00:59:04,720 --> 00:59:05,520
frightens me for children.

1263
00:59:05,720 --> 00:59:07,980
And I think of the little
children out there.

1264
00:59:08,180 --> 00:59:09,860
We need to do the
right thing here.

1265
00:59:10,060 --> 00:59:10,820
We've got an opportunity.

1266
00:59:11,020 --> 00:59:13,735
We should look at it
as an opportunity,

1267
00:59:13,935 --> 00:59:15,660
not as let's fight each
other and see who's

1268
00:59:15,860 --> 00:59:17,560
going to get the money, OK?

1269
00:59:17,760 --> 00:59:18,780
Let's make this a
conservation easement.

1270
00:59:18,980 --> 00:59:20,785
Let's make it
something beautiful

1271
00:59:20,985 --> 00:59:22,760
that we can all love, OK?

1272
00:59:22,960 --> 00:59:25,422
That's where I'd
like to see it go.

1273
00:59:25,622 --> 00:59:26,880
Chairman, thank you for
bringing that idea up.

1274
00:59:27,080 --> 00:59:28,680
I think we should go
forward with that.

1275
00:59:28,880 --> 00:59:29,980
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Do we have a consensus

1276
00:59:30,180 --> 00:59:31,513
to authorize sending
Commissioner Palmer, Ms.

1277
00:59:31,713 --> 00:59:35,380
Hoshihara or Ms.
Parsons and perhaps

1278
00:59:35,580 --> 00:59:40,440
if he wants a member of
the administrative team

1279
00:59:40,640 --> 00:59:43,080
as well to go and
negotiate with the city?

1280
00:59:43,280 --> 00:59:45,820
Do we have a consensus for that?

1281
00:59:46,020 --> 00:59:46,060
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
No objections.

1282
00:59:46,260 --> 00:59:47,840
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And no objection to that?

1283
00:59:48,040 --> 00:59:49,310
OK, so that will go forward.

1284
00:59:49,510 --> 00:59:49,577
JIM BAGBY: [INAUDIBLE]

1285
00:59:49,777 --> 00:59:51,295
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Hang on, Commissioner--

1286
00:59:51,495 --> 00:59:54,070
Councilman, I'll-- When
Mr. Jones has time left,

1287
00:59:54,270 --> 00:59:58,810
he may defer if somebody
else wants to use it.

1288
00:59:59,010 --> 01:00:01,350
But I just wanted
to say, Mayor, I

1289
01:00:01,550 --> 01:00:04,570
understand your city
voted to send that,

1290
01:00:04,770 --> 01:00:07,770
but I also understand
how negotiations work,

1291
01:00:07,970 --> 01:00:10,850
and so it certainly with
me, it didn't offend me.

1292
01:00:11,050 --> 01:00:14,090
I mean, if I'm making an
offer on a piece of property

1293
01:00:14,290 --> 01:00:15,308
for a client or
something, we'll send

1294
01:00:15,508 --> 01:00:16,850
a signed deal expecting
that it's going

1295
01:00:17,050 --> 01:00:18,730
to come back with some change.

1296
01:00:18,930 --> 01:00:20,530
But you start by
firing something real,

1297
01:00:20,730 --> 01:00:23,850
and that's what y'all did.

1298
01:00:24,050 --> 01:00:26,370
I think, Mayor, you accomplished
exactly what your city

1299
01:00:26,570 --> 01:00:28,270
council asked you to do.

1300
01:00:28,470 --> 01:00:29,990
You got a genuine,
substantive dialogue

1301
01:00:30,190 --> 01:00:34,770
started with the county about an
interlocal that was not actively

1302
01:00:34,970 --> 01:00:36,930
in discussion
happening and likely

1303
01:00:37,130 --> 01:00:41,030
to ultimately probably come
back to both boards for approval

1304
01:00:41,230 --> 01:00:42,330
of a joint document.

1305
01:00:42,530 --> 01:00:44,990
So at the end of
the day, I think

1306
01:00:45,190 --> 01:00:47,850
you did exactly what
you were asked to do.

1307
01:00:48,050 --> 01:00:50,560
And the way that you
all approached it

1308
01:00:50,760 --> 01:00:52,960
doesn't offend me at all.

1309
01:00:53,160 --> 01:00:56,200
We need to have a discussion,
and we're having it.

1310
01:00:56,400 --> 01:00:59,140
And now we've got a format
and a plan and we'll see,

1311
01:00:59,340 --> 01:01:02,180
but your city may
agree to that format

1312
01:01:02,380 --> 01:01:05,340
and decide a representative,
trust your attorney to go

1313
01:01:05,540 --> 01:01:08,300
and negotiate on
your behalf as well,

1314
01:01:08,500 --> 01:01:10,900
and I think we're
going to get somewhere.

1315
01:01:11,100 --> 01:01:14,040
But anyway, I'm probably way
off of Robert's Rules by now

1316
01:01:14,240 --> 01:01:16,300
by a long shot.

1317
01:01:16,500 --> 01:01:18,580
So I'll stop now.

1318
01:01:18,780 --> 01:01:21,000
But I just wanted
to say I think you

1319
01:01:21,200 --> 01:01:23,600
did a good job for your city.

1320
01:01:23,800 --> 01:01:24,980
We've still got some
more work to do.

1321
01:01:25,180 --> 01:01:25,922
We'll get there, I think.

1322
01:01:26,122 --> 01:01:28,860
So, Mr. Jones, did you
want to defer to Mr. Bagby?

1323
01:01:29,060 --> 01:01:34,500
MR. JONES: [INAUDIBLE]
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

1324
01:01:34,920 --> 01:01:41,220
Yes.

1325
01:01:41,420 --> 01:01:43,002
JIM BAGBY: Thank
you, Mr. Chairman.

1326
01:01:43,202 --> 01:01:43,860
Three quick points.

1327
01:01:44,060 --> 01:01:45,800
Number one, we've already
appointed Mr. Destin

1328
01:01:46,000 --> 01:01:47,930
as our representative.

1329
01:01:48,130 --> 01:01:50,610
Number 2, we already
offered to meet.

1330
01:01:50,810 --> 01:01:54,190
The difference was we
wanted it in the sunshine

1331
01:01:54,390 --> 01:01:55,810
and the county did not.

1332
01:01:56,010 --> 01:01:57,670
We still want it
in the sunshine.

1333
01:01:57,870 --> 01:01:59,778
It ought to be in the sunshine.

1334
01:01:59,978 --> 01:02:01,370
When we're talking about
this parcel and the impact

1335
01:02:01,570 --> 01:02:03,330
that it has on the
citizens of Destin

1336
01:02:03,530 --> 01:02:06,770
and the citizens of this county,
it should be in the sunshine.

1337
01:02:06,970 --> 01:02:10,430
It shouldn't be two, four
people in some dark room,

1338
01:02:10,630 --> 01:02:14,050
back room, cigar smoke,
maybe a scotch or something,

1339
01:02:14,250 --> 01:02:16,550
negotiating a--

1340
01:02:16,750 --> 01:02:20,850
no, I'm sorry Mr. Destin is
our representative, not me.

1341
01:02:21,050 --> 01:02:21,050
Sorry.

1342
01:02:21,250 --> 01:02:23,050
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
I was going to say--

1343
01:02:23,250 --> 01:02:22,990
JIM BAGBY: Yeah.

1344
01:02:23,190 --> 01:02:23,590
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
You'll be good.

1345
01:02:23,790 --> 01:02:24,110
You're sending Dewey Destin.

1346
01:02:24,310 --> 01:02:25,710
It will be above board.

1347
01:02:25,910 --> 01:02:27,430
JIM BAGBY: Yeah, I
know, it will be.

1348
01:02:27,630 --> 01:02:29,550
So we asked that it
be in the sunshine.

1349
01:02:29,750 --> 01:02:31,430
And we agree with you.

1350
01:02:31,630 --> 01:02:32,630
This is a perfect
collaborative thing.

1351
01:02:32,830 --> 01:02:37,430
We want to do it, but we
ask that it be in sunshine.

1352
01:02:37,630 --> 01:02:38,250
Thank you.

1353
01:02:38,450 --> 01:02:39,450
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And everything

1354
01:02:39,650 --> 01:02:41,430
will be in the sunshine,
because any documents approved

1355
01:02:41,630 --> 01:02:43,550
has to go before
both boards, which

1356
01:02:43,750 --> 01:02:45,830
require two public meetings
with public comment.

1357
01:02:46,030 --> 01:02:48,370
But just like with
anything else,

1358
01:02:48,570 --> 01:02:51,230
whether you're redoing
a land development code

1359
01:02:51,430 --> 01:02:54,630
or drafting a 40
page contract, you

1360
01:02:54,830 --> 01:02:57,110
can't possibly work out
the arbitration clause

1361
01:02:57,310 --> 01:02:58,910
sitting at this dais.

1362
01:02:59,110 --> 01:03:02,870
And is it going to be 150
or 148 parking spaces?

1363
01:03:03,070 --> 01:03:06,310
That sort of thing,
I think is where--

1364
01:03:06,510 --> 01:03:08,590
that's the granular
level I'm talking about.

1365
01:03:08,790 --> 01:03:11,770
Not by any means suggesting
that this board or your council

1366
01:03:11,970 --> 01:03:15,810
would ever try to agree to
things that the public would not

1367
01:03:16,010 --> 01:03:18,910
be fully aware of and have
the opportunity to speak on

1368
01:03:19,110 --> 01:03:19,610
before it's adopted.

1369
01:03:19,810 --> 01:03:21,655
JIM BAGBY: [INAUDIBLE]
talk about that later.

1370
01:03:21,855 --> 01:03:22,630
I apologize [INAUDIBLE].

1371
01:03:22,830 --> 01:03:24,050
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Sorry.

1372
01:03:24,250 --> 01:03:26,717
JIM BAGBY: --Mr. Palmer's
comment about something I said.

1373
01:03:26,917 --> 01:03:28,670
COMMISSIONER PALMER:
Welcome to my struggles.

1374
01:03:28,870 --> 01:03:29,945
JIM BAGBY: Yes.

1375
01:03:30,145 --> 01:03:32,350
I was the one that
said, hopefully

1376
01:03:32,550 --> 01:03:34,650
they will accept this
interlocal agreement.

1377
01:03:34,850 --> 01:03:37,370
Seems fair to me.

1378
01:03:37,570 --> 01:03:40,890
If they don't, then our other
option is to go to the state

1379
01:03:41,090 --> 01:03:42,130
and ask that the state
appoint point us.

1380
01:03:42,330 --> 01:03:43,100
I think that's fair.

1381
01:03:43,300 --> 01:03:45,140
I don't even think we
voted on that night.

1382
01:03:45,340 --> 01:03:47,000
I said, but that's
one of our options.

1383
01:03:47,200 --> 01:03:48,740
That is always one
of our options,

1384
01:03:48,940 --> 01:03:51,000
is to go to the state, our
legislative delegation,

1385
01:03:51,200 --> 01:03:53,540
and ask either the
cabinet or the legislature

1386
01:03:53,740 --> 01:03:57,580
or DEP or somebody to reassign
the manager because we

1387
01:03:57,780 --> 01:04:00,840
don't even have a lease.

1388
01:04:01,040 --> 01:04:01,840
There has been no
manager assigned.

1389
01:04:02,040 --> 01:04:03,980
So that's one of our options.

1390
01:04:04,180 --> 01:04:05,160
I stand by my statement.

1391
01:04:05,360 --> 01:04:07,320
It'll be one of our
options until we

1392
01:04:07,520 --> 01:04:08,780
get something that works out.

1393
01:04:08,980 --> 01:04:09,920
Thank you.

1394
01:04:10,120 --> 01:04:12,720
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

1395
01:04:12,920 --> 01:04:15,160
Mr. Fuller, you've
waited patiently.

1396
01:04:15,360 --> 01:04:17,011
KENNETH FULLER: Oh, yeah.

1397
01:04:19,240 --> 01:04:28,840
My name is Kenneth Fuller, and I
want to act like I'm important,

1398
01:04:29,040 --> 01:04:36,520
talk about Destin stuff just
for a tiny bit, then Mr. Palmer.

1399
01:04:36,720 --> 01:04:40,580
There are two main ways
the city power can be

1400
01:04:40,780 --> 01:04:41,730
bypassed by state preemption.

1401
01:04:41,930 --> 01:04:44,930
Is if the state of
Florida, not the county,

1402
01:04:45,130 --> 01:04:47,130
decides their project is
a matter of state concern,

1403
01:04:47,330 --> 01:04:48,930
it can sometimes
override local zoning

1404
01:04:49,130 --> 01:04:51,350
to where the state
currently requires

1405
01:04:51,550 --> 01:04:54,350
collaboration between the county
and the city for Holiday Isle

1406
01:04:54,550 --> 01:04:55,870
project.

1407
01:04:56,070 --> 01:04:59,850
The state preemption
is a legal doctrine

1408
01:05:00,050 --> 01:05:03,510
that allowed the Florida
legislature to override, limit,

1409
01:05:03,710 --> 01:05:07,290
or completely eliminate the
power of local government

1410
01:05:07,490 --> 01:05:11,290
like the city of Destin or
Okaloosa county, to pass laws,

1411
01:05:11,490 --> 01:05:12,570
specify issues.

1412
01:05:12,770 --> 01:05:15,843
So I don't have nothing
to do with that.

1413
01:05:16,043 --> 01:05:16,910
I just want to feel important.

1414
01:05:17,110 --> 01:05:18,390
Now, Mr. Palmer--

1415
01:05:18,590 --> 01:05:26,290
Oh, yeah Mr. Palmer, do you
know Dewey Park at Destin

1416
01:05:26,490 --> 01:05:31,150
and a restaurant guy
who gave you $1,000?

1417
01:05:31,350 --> 01:05:36,450
And you come off--

1418
01:05:36,650 --> 01:05:40,270
I'm not going to cuss, but
you come off as full of feces.

1419
01:05:40,470 --> 01:05:45,330
Also, this is what your
other job you are a liaison.

1420
01:05:45,530 --> 01:05:50,330
I'm not good at
this, but it means

1421
01:05:50,530 --> 01:05:53,810
that while the board members are
not paid a salary for the time,

1422
01:05:54,010 --> 01:05:57,870
the county ensures they
are not out of pocket

1423
01:05:58,070 --> 01:06:01,290
for the cost of requirement
to do their job.

1424
01:06:01,490 --> 01:06:04,830
I was thinking I was
talking about the TCD

1425
01:06:05,030 --> 01:06:07,530
or whatever, you and a lady
were talking the other time.

1426
01:06:07,730 --> 01:06:10,470
And also your wife's
birthday today.

1427
01:06:10,670 --> 01:06:14,650
She was born March the 3, 1979.

1428
01:06:14,850 --> 01:06:18,930
We are-- we did recon on
you, that's why I know.

1429
01:06:19,130 --> 01:06:21,490
I'm not-- I don't know her.

1430
01:06:21,690 --> 01:06:23,510
I ain't never talked
to her or even you.

1431
01:06:23,710 --> 01:06:26,410
Also, I'm fixing to talk
about us poor people

1432
01:06:26,610 --> 01:06:27,810
stuff about the buses again.

1433
01:06:28,010 --> 01:06:31,030
Well, I don't want the
buses to be stopped running,

1434
01:06:31,230 --> 01:06:34,270
and that $850,000, y'all need
to pay it back because the guy

1435
01:06:34,470 --> 01:06:39,310
y'all hired, y'all gave him a
salary of 100 and some thousand

1436
01:06:39,510 --> 01:06:42,040
dollars a year annually,
and he resigned.

1437
01:06:42,240 --> 01:06:46,367
And I don't know why
he would want to resign

1438
01:06:46,567 --> 01:06:46,700
making that much money.

1439
01:06:46,900 --> 01:06:50,420
And so even though y'all put
it in the airport department,

1440
01:06:50,620 --> 01:06:55,820
but it seemed like y'all trying
to just get rid of it when

1441
01:06:56,020 --> 01:07:00,440
grants are given to y'all
by the government and stuff.

1442
01:07:00,640 --> 01:07:05,360
So it was y'all responsibility
to make sure, really,

1443
01:07:05,560 --> 01:07:07,860
the person committed fraud.

1444
01:07:08,060 --> 01:07:12,680
But I guess it might be a friend
of y'all, but he committed fraud

1445
01:07:12,880 --> 01:07:15,860
when he got all that money.

1446
01:07:16,060 --> 01:07:17,240
He knew what he was doing.

1447
01:07:17,440 --> 01:07:19,120
He was in that bus
stuff for 26 years.

1448
01:07:19,320 --> 01:07:19,860
But that's it.

1449
01:07:20,060 --> 01:07:22,040
That's all I had to say.

1450
01:07:22,240 --> 01:07:23,540
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.

1451
01:07:23,740 --> 01:07:27,360
I have no other speaker cards
other than for a public hearing.

1452
01:07:27,560 --> 01:07:31,480
So if you're still wanting to
speak on something, make sure

1453
01:07:31,680 --> 01:07:35,220
you turn a card into to
Nick at the back desk,

1454
01:07:35,420 --> 01:07:36,580
and we'll have
another opportunity,

1455
01:07:36,780 --> 01:07:40,890
both at the public hearing
item for the public hearing

1456
01:07:41,090 --> 01:07:42,790
and then general
comments at the end.

1457
01:07:42,990 --> 01:07:43,990
All right.

1458
01:07:44,190 --> 01:07:45,730
That closes our first
public comment opportunity

1459
01:07:45,930 --> 01:07:48,090
of the meeting.

1460
01:07:48,290 --> 01:07:50,770
And so we'll turn to
the consent agenda

1461
01:07:50,970 --> 01:07:51,670
pursuant to the
administrator's request.

1462
01:07:51,870 --> 01:07:56,390
Item 2 is going to be taken
off and reworked with staff

1463
01:07:56,590 --> 01:08:00,350
based on some of the
comments received.

1464
01:08:00,550 --> 01:08:02,690
So we've got the consent
agenda less Item 2.

1465
01:08:02,890 --> 01:08:04,787
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
I think the motion

1466
01:08:04,987 --> 01:08:06,670
for approval minus 2 and 15.

1467
01:08:06,870 --> 01:08:08,510
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: And 15.

1468
01:08:08,710 --> 01:08:11,630
Well, do we need--

1469
01:08:11,830 --> 01:08:12,393
COMMISSIONER COX: So--

1470
01:08:12,593 --> 01:08:16,605
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Yeah.

1471
01:08:16,805 --> 01:08:19,530
COMMISSIONER COX: I think
we're also going to pull 21.

1472
01:08:19,730 --> 01:08:20,280
Yes, for previous consensus.

1473
01:08:20,480 --> 01:08:21,610
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
So Commissioner Mixon,

1474
01:08:21,810 --> 01:08:24,043
is that less 250
and 21 acceptable?

1475
01:08:24,243 --> 01:08:26,090
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
If that's what--

1476
01:08:26,290 --> 01:08:27,890
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
If it's your motion,

1477
01:08:28,090 --> 01:08:29,640
I just want to clarify.

1478
01:08:29,840 --> 01:08:30,590
COMMISSIONER MIXON: That's fine.

1479
01:08:30,790 --> 01:08:30,870
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: OK.

1480
01:08:31,070 --> 01:08:32,812
So less 21, 2 and 15.

1481
01:08:33,012 --> 01:08:38,270
Do we have a second?

1482
01:08:38,470 --> 01:08:38,804
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
I'll second that.

1483
01:08:39,004 --> 01:08:40,729
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
We have a second.

1484
01:08:40,929 --> 01:08:40,810
Further discussion.

1485
01:08:41,010 --> 01:08:41,750
Right.

1486
01:08:41,950 --> 01:08:44,289
Those in favor, please
signal by saying aye.

1487
01:08:44,489 --> 01:08:45,030
SPEAKER 4: Aye.

1488
01:08:45,230 --> 01:08:45,290
SPEAKER 5: Aye.

1489
01:08:45,490 --> 01:08:45,610
SPEAKER 6: Aye.

1490
01:08:45,810 --> 01:08:46,190
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And those opposed?

1491
01:08:46,390 --> 01:08:47,857
All right, that
passes unanimously.

1492
01:08:48,057 --> 01:08:50,710
2 is not up for
discussion at this time.

1493
01:08:50,910 --> 01:08:52,350
15 Commissioner Mixon?

1494
01:08:52,550 --> 01:08:54,641
COMMISSIONER MIXON: Yes, sir.

1495
01:08:57,484 --> 01:09:04,984
COMMISSIONER PALMER:
15 is the approval

1496
01:09:05,184 --> 01:09:06,609
to reimburse public
safety expenditures funded

1497
01:09:06,809 --> 01:09:07,926
by Tourism Development.

1498
01:09:08,126 --> 01:09:14,249
We had taken the issue
before and held--

1499
01:09:14,449 --> 01:09:18,289
due to some questions,
I got some answers,

1500
01:09:18,489 --> 01:09:22,910
I just don't believe that the
answers fall into relevancy

1501
01:09:23,110 --> 01:09:25,810
of what should be spent.

1502
01:09:26,010 --> 01:09:27,670
Just to remind
you, commissioners,

1503
01:09:27,870 --> 01:09:32,390
and I'm sure you've looked at
this on page 94 in our packet.

1504
01:09:32,590 --> 01:09:34,870
But beach safety,
which is on the island.

1505
01:09:35,070 --> 01:09:38,279
Salaries and wages
400 and-- well,

1506
01:09:38,479 --> 01:09:41,140
let me give you the overall.
$937,152 for lifeguards

1507
01:09:41,340 --> 01:09:44,860
on the island.

1508
01:09:45,060 --> 01:09:48,160
$1,447,647 for Destin, and
then we reimbursed the Sheriff

1509
01:09:48,360 --> 01:09:51,699
$856,680.

1510
01:09:51,899 --> 01:09:57,659
When you get into page 94, which
gives a little better breakdown,

1511
01:09:57,859 --> 01:10:00,280
you'll see that the
salaries in 24, $472.000.

1512
01:10:00,480 --> 01:10:07,440
For beach safety, Destin
Fire, just over a million.

1513
01:10:07,640 --> 01:10:09,560
And the Sheriff, $236,000.

1514
01:10:09,760 --> 01:10:12,960
As you move through
that, some of the changes

1515
01:10:13,160 --> 01:10:16,580
lead me to further
questions, and so I

1516
01:10:16,780 --> 01:10:19,600
thought this was the
only fitting time that we

1517
01:10:19,800 --> 01:10:22,260
have to be able to discuss it.

1518
01:10:22,460 --> 01:10:25,160
When you look at--

1519
01:10:25,360 --> 01:10:28,420
and I'm sure you
looked at this already,

1520
01:10:28,620 --> 01:10:30,860
but I'll show you what
caught my eye starting

1521
01:10:31,060 --> 01:10:33,060
from the dues and fees.

1522
01:10:33,260 --> 01:10:38,250
The only one to pay that that
we're reimbursing is Destin.

1523
01:10:38,450 --> 01:10:40,810
The salaries, the
difference is very large.

1524
01:10:41,010 --> 01:10:44,610
The training education
experience is a difference.

1525
01:10:44,810 --> 01:10:49,010
There's several there
that are much higher.

1526
01:10:49,210 --> 01:10:53,750
One that's very concerning to me
is H-2B visa fees and housing.

1527
01:10:53,950 --> 01:10:58,970
After asking some
questions, Destin

1528
01:10:59,170 --> 01:11:02,050
hires mostly foreign
workers for the beach

1529
01:11:02,250 --> 01:11:05,150
and they pay Visa fees.

1530
01:11:05,350 --> 01:11:07,870
They pay salaries,
and they pay housing.

1531
01:11:08,070 --> 01:11:13,150
The Sheriff and the County for
Lifeguards hire local people.

1532
01:11:13,350 --> 01:11:19,630
We don't pay them housing,
we do pay a salary,

1533
01:11:19,830 --> 01:11:23,130
and we don't pay Visa fees.

1534
01:11:23,330 --> 01:11:25,670
I think there are some
major concerns there

1535
01:11:25,870 --> 01:11:28,830
with the fiscal
stewardship in how

1536
01:11:29,030 --> 01:11:31,890
we're approaching beach safety.

1537
01:11:32,090 --> 01:11:36,750
I don't know if the problem
is that we cannot hire local

1538
01:11:36,950 --> 01:11:41,070
lifeguards, that we could not go
and train and equip more people,

1539
01:11:41,270 --> 01:11:45,890
which I see that as a failed
excuse if that is the excuse,

1540
01:11:46,090 --> 01:11:48,990
because I know we are training
for job categories and fields

1541
01:11:49,190 --> 01:11:52,590
where we want to see
people grow into.

1542
01:11:52,790 --> 01:11:58,230
My concern is I think this needs
to have a better look into how

1543
01:11:58,430 --> 01:12:03,010
we're spending this money.

1544
01:12:03,210 --> 01:12:04,910
I understand now
it's a reimbursement,

1545
01:12:05,110 --> 01:12:08,430
and I'm sorry that this
comes up as a reimbursement

1546
01:12:08,630 --> 01:12:09,550
because that's after the fact.

1547
01:12:09,750 --> 01:12:12,510
But I don't think
we're too far in

1548
01:12:12,710 --> 01:12:15,310
to look at even
communication difference.

1549
01:12:15,510 --> 01:12:18,610
3,000 on both sides, the
Sheriff and the County,

1550
01:12:18,810 --> 01:12:20,950
and then they're
almost at 20,000.

1551
01:12:21,150 --> 01:12:23,870
There's a lot of
differences that come out.

1552
01:12:24,070 --> 01:12:25,670
Liability insurance, anyway.

1553
01:12:25,870 --> 01:12:29,670
I believe we need to
task staff with giving us

1554
01:12:29,870 --> 01:12:32,180
a better idea of this,
really, to see why

1555
01:12:32,380 --> 01:12:35,680
the differences are so extreme.

1556
01:12:35,880 --> 01:12:38,780
I'm very concerned about the
overwhelming expenses of hiring

1557
01:12:38,980 --> 01:12:43,360
foreign workers, and the
thought that we have people that

1558
01:12:43,560 --> 01:12:46,600
potentially could
fit into those molds

1559
01:12:46,800 --> 01:12:49,240
and be seasonal or
year-round employees.

1560
01:12:49,440 --> 01:12:53,100
There's several
concerns in front.

1561
01:12:53,300 --> 01:12:57,835
I thought it would
be good to pull that

1562
01:12:58,035 --> 01:12:59,760
so that we could have
a moment to discuss it,

1563
01:12:59,960 --> 01:13:00,580
because it's extremely
alarming to me.

1564
01:13:00,780 --> 01:13:03,342
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Commissioner,

1565
01:13:03,542 --> 01:13:06,300
do you have any action
or suggested direction

1566
01:13:06,500 --> 01:13:13,452
to staff that you want to
bring forward for the board

1567
01:13:13,652 --> 01:13:13,260
to consider?

1568
01:13:13,460 --> 01:13:17,320
COMMISSIONER MIXON: The only
action I could grab hold of

1569
01:13:17,520 --> 01:13:20,100
is that we tasked Mr.
Maddox with telling us

1570
01:13:20,300 --> 01:13:24,560
how much it would cost to
operate that side of the beach

1571
01:13:24,760 --> 01:13:26,420
if we were to
extend our services,

1572
01:13:26,620 --> 01:13:28,040
because there's a
large breakdown there.

1573
01:13:28,240 --> 01:13:33,027
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Would that
be in lieu of approving this,

1574
01:13:33,227 --> 01:13:34,410
or is a separate instruction?

1575
01:13:34,610 --> 01:13:36,622
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
So in approving this,

1576
01:13:36,822 --> 01:13:38,630
it's money that they
have operated with.

1577
01:13:38,830 --> 01:13:42,330
I would love to hear
some of the differences

1578
01:13:42,530 --> 01:13:43,930
that I've voiced as
to why those become

1579
01:13:44,130 --> 01:13:46,150
critical to the operations
within the contract

1580
01:13:46,350 --> 01:13:47,530
that we have.

1581
01:13:47,730 --> 01:13:51,490
We did not, that I know
of, invite anyone here

1582
01:13:51,690 --> 01:13:54,205
to speak to that
today, and I would not

1583
01:13:54,405 --> 01:13:55,530
want to blindside
any of them with it.

1584
01:13:55,730 --> 01:13:57,790
And so I'm definitely
here at the will

1585
01:13:57,990 --> 01:14:01,170
of my colleagues to see
how we best move forward.

1586
01:14:01,370 --> 01:14:04,730
I just wanted to be sure that
we saw the differences here

1587
01:14:04,930 --> 01:14:05,390
because they're very extreme.

1588
01:14:05,590 --> 01:14:09,988
I think for the future, to be
able to address it and see cost

1589
01:14:10,188 --> 01:14:10,130
effectively, what
it would take, I

1590
01:14:10,330 --> 01:14:12,690
think to be able to
talk to CareerSource

1591
01:14:12,890 --> 01:14:15,130
and talk to some of
our retiring military,

1592
01:14:15,330 --> 01:14:18,190
some of our high schools to
see how the job field looks

1593
01:14:18,390 --> 01:14:19,590
with the overwhelming
employment opportunities,

1594
01:14:19,790 --> 01:14:24,410
I think some of those
avenues are worth exploring

1595
01:14:24,610 --> 01:14:25,730
to reimburse them.

1596
01:14:25,930 --> 01:14:29,710
If it's money they've spent
already within our contract,

1597
01:14:29,910 --> 01:14:32,350
we have an obligation
to do that.

1598
01:14:32,550 --> 01:14:34,512
But we don't have an
obligation to move forward

1599
01:14:34,712 --> 01:14:35,270
in poor stewardship again.

1600
01:14:35,470 --> 01:14:40,010
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
From a timing perspective,

1601
01:14:40,210 --> 01:14:44,350
if more information is
needed-- and I'm asking staff,

1602
01:14:44,550 --> 01:14:47,650
if more information is needed
to answer the questions that

1603
01:14:47,850 --> 01:14:52,910
Commissioner Mixon is asking, do
we have time under the current

1604
01:14:53,110 --> 01:14:56,610
circumstances--

1605
01:14:56,810 --> 01:14:59,530
In other words, is
there a bill due that

1606
01:14:59,730 --> 01:15:02,397
we agreed to pay that if we
defer it to the March meeting

1607
01:15:02,597 --> 01:15:02,230
we are late?

1608
01:15:02,430 --> 01:15:03,613
COMMISSIONER MIXON: Yeah,
we're under contract

1609
01:15:03,813 --> 01:15:05,530
with service for this year.

1610
01:15:05,730 --> 01:15:09,210
So these bills are part of an
approved budget, an approved

1611
01:15:09,410 --> 01:15:09,770
contract.

1612
01:15:09,970 --> 01:15:13,330
So we are basically obligated,
I believe, to pay these things.

1613
01:15:13,530 --> 01:15:17,112
Now if you want to make
a change going forward,

1614
01:15:17,312 --> 01:15:19,070
I think it's more than
appropriate to look at this.

1615
01:15:19,270 --> 01:15:20,810
I think it's worth
considering these options,

1616
01:15:21,010 --> 01:15:24,530
but I don't know that it's
behooves us to withhold payment

1617
01:15:24,730 --> 01:15:27,780
based on our current contract.

1618
01:15:27,980 --> 01:15:28,780
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And again, I'm

1619
01:15:28,980 --> 01:15:31,180
not suggesting what the
outcome of this activity

1620
01:15:31,380 --> 01:15:34,363
is right this second,
but just so I understand

1621
01:15:34,563 --> 01:15:35,080
what the framework is.

1622
01:15:35,280 --> 01:15:38,020
So there is a world where we
would potentially approve this

1623
01:15:38,220 --> 01:15:41,180
because it's already
occurred and obligated,

1624
01:15:41,380 --> 01:15:45,460
but also instruct staff to
unpack this issue to the level

1625
01:15:45,660 --> 01:15:48,140
that Commissioner Mixon is
describing and have staff.

1626
01:15:48,340 --> 01:15:51,660
And with the invitation
of Destin Fire,

1627
01:15:51,860 --> 01:15:55,060
if they'd like, come and present
this in a comprehensive manner

1628
01:15:55,260 --> 01:15:58,300
so that the board can
really understand it.

1629
01:15:58,500 --> 01:16:00,160
Is that a reasonable
outcome that could happen?

1630
01:16:00,360 --> 01:16:01,985
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Yeah, I think

1631
01:16:02,185 --> 01:16:04,260
that would be more than
fair and appropriate.

1632
01:16:04,460 --> 01:16:07,480
And I mean, obviously, we've
met with them many years

1633
01:16:07,680 --> 01:16:08,760
over this particular issue.

1634
01:16:08,960 --> 01:16:11,760
And I think they can
try and address it,

1635
01:16:11,960 --> 01:16:13,880
and you guys can go from there.

1636
01:16:14,080 --> 01:16:14,787
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.

1637
01:16:14,987 --> 01:16:17,320
Sorry, Commissioner Mixon,
I wasn't trying to jump in.

1638
01:16:17,520 --> 01:16:19,200
You've got the microphone
first, and then

1639
01:16:19,400 --> 01:16:21,220
if you don't make action,
obviously, we'll defer,

1640
01:16:21,420 --> 01:16:24,160
but I just need to understand
the framework we had.

1641
01:16:24,360 --> 01:16:26,722
COMMISSIONER COX:
[INAUDIBLE] permission.

1642
01:16:26,922 --> 01:16:27,830
OK.

1643
01:16:28,030 --> 01:16:30,650
So I understand
us to be resolving

1644
01:16:30,850 --> 01:16:35,330
to conditionally approve the
expenditure for the funds that

1645
01:16:35,530 --> 01:16:39,950
have already been spent per
the B budget request, which

1646
01:16:40,150 --> 01:16:44,910
was approved for last year,
but for this, for revisions

1647
01:16:45,110 --> 01:16:47,670
or to revisit this particular
item during the budget process

1648
01:16:47,870 --> 01:16:52,090
before approval moving forward.

1649
01:16:52,290 --> 01:16:53,890
Is that correct?

1650
01:16:54,090 --> 01:16:54,770
I mean--

1651
01:16:54,970 --> 01:16:57,530
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: I don't
think we have a motion yet,

1652
01:16:57,730 --> 01:16:57,730
but I think that was--

1653
01:16:57,930 --> 01:17:00,750
I think that is getting towards
the heart of what the discussion

1654
01:17:00,950 --> 01:17:01,430
is developing into.

1655
01:17:01,630 --> 01:17:02,870
COMMISSIONER MIXON: It is.

1656
01:17:03,070 --> 01:17:05,153
Mr. Chair, if I would
have made a motion,

1657
01:17:05,353 --> 01:17:06,890
this would not have
been part of the item.

1658
01:17:07,090 --> 01:17:08,490
We would have moved
past it, and I

1659
01:17:08,690 --> 01:17:10,230
would have had to try
to walk on an item

1660
01:17:10,430 --> 01:17:10,470
due to the inconsistencies.

1661
01:17:10,670 --> 01:17:13,170
I think the item that
we have can show us

1662
01:17:13,370 --> 01:17:16,170
the inconsistencies, or
at least the view of them

1663
01:17:16,370 --> 01:17:17,810
to be very, very--

1664
01:17:18,010 --> 01:17:20,990
scroll up just a touch
Mr. Tomecek, if you would.

1665
01:17:21,190 --> 01:17:24,110
When you get to the bottom
line, that includes the new boat

1666
01:17:24,310 --> 01:17:29,010
that we bought for
the Sheriff's Office.

1667
01:17:29,210 --> 01:17:31,270
So there's just a
huge difference there,

1668
01:17:31,470 --> 01:17:34,410
and I want to see what
it is comparing services.

1669
01:17:34,610 --> 01:17:37,210
Which could be seen as a
totally separate issue,

1670
01:17:37,410 --> 01:17:39,910
but this issue
brings it to light.

1671
01:17:40,110 --> 01:17:43,210
So with that, I will make the
motion for the reimbursement

1672
01:17:43,410 --> 01:17:45,510
as long as we have some
consensus, potentially,

1673
01:17:45,710 --> 01:17:48,590
to at least explore
this in the future.

1674
01:17:48,790 --> 01:17:50,430
COMMISSIONER COX:
I'll second that.

1675
01:17:50,630 --> 01:17:52,350
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
Chairman, if I may,

1676
01:17:52,550 --> 01:17:54,810
Mr. Maddox, can you give
us any insight or do you

1677
01:17:55,010 --> 01:17:57,070
feel like you need to have
thought to go forward.

1678
01:17:57,270 --> 01:18:00,337
PATRICK MADDOX: I try
not to think too much,

1679
01:18:00,537 --> 01:18:02,170
but I am familiar with
this budget pretty well.

1680
01:18:02,370 --> 01:18:04,690
And part of those
differences are, obviously,

1681
01:18:04,890 --> 01:18:09,448
the fact that we have 3 and 1/2
miles of beach and Destin has

1682
01:18:09,648 --> 01:18:08,990
over 6 miles.

1683
01:18:09,190 --> 01:18:11,890
Some of that comes with
more territory, more people,

1684
01:18:12,090 --> 01:18:14,150
more assets, more resources.

1685
01:18:14,350 --> 01:18:17,730
Some of that is not visible
to us, such as the H-2B

1686
01:18:17,930 --> 01:18:20,230
portions of that and
what portions of that

1687
01:18:20,430 --> 01:18:22,830
go towards funding the
visas, which we can see there

1688
01:18:23,030 --> 01:18:25,240
and where that money
for housing comes out

1689
01:18:25,440 --> 01:18:28,435
of whether it's a co-mingling of
those dollars and fire dollars

1690
01:18:28,635 --> 01:18:29,560
are all from the fireside.

1691
01:18:29,760 --> 01:18:31,763
We have asked for a
further breakdown of that.

1692
01:18:31,963 --> 01:18:32,780
We have not received it.

1693
01:18:32,980 --> 01:18:36,640
So that being said, I think it
will take a little bit of time

1694
01:18:36,840 --> 01:18:37,000
to dive into that further.

1695
01:18:37,200 --> 01:18:39,280
But that is the information
we get from them

1696
01:18:39,480 --> 01:18:40,660
in their annual report, which
they're required to provide

1697
01:18:40,860 --> 01:18:42,135
to us in the contract.

1698
01:18:42,335 --> 01:18:44,745
So we can definitely dig down
to the commissioner's level

1699
01:18:44,945 --> 01:18:46,820
of detail and find exactly
what he's looking for.

1700
01:18:47,020 --> 01:18:49,120
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
Thank you, Chief.

1701
01:18:49,320 --> 01:18:50,745
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

1702
01:18:50,945 --> 01:18:53,278
So we have a motion to
approve the reimbursements,

1703
01:18:53,478 --> 01:18:54,660
coupled with a
direction to staff

1704
01:18:54,860 --> 01:18:58,140
to bring back a detailed
analysis of this funding.

1705
01:18:58,340 --> 01:19:01,580
And, Commissioner
Mixon, is there a time

1706
01:19:01,780 --> 01:19:05,640
that you were thinking that
this would come back within?

1707
01:19:05,840 --> 01:19:08,640
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Prior to the renewal.

1708
01:19:08,840 --> 01:19:11,000
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And that's the second.

1709
01:19:11,200 --> 01:19:13,040
All right, further discussion.

1710
01:19:13,240 --> 01:19:15,840
Mr. Hofstad, did you have
something you want to add?

1711
01:19:16,040 --> 01:19:17,452
JOHN HOFSTAD: I was
just saying thank you

1712
01:19:17,652 --> 01:19:17,960
for that clarification.

1713
01:19:18,160 --> 01:19:20,720
That gives us time to
work through this process.

1714
01:19:20,920 --> 01:19:23,590
We've got a budget policy
workshop coming up next month,

1715
01:19:23,790 --> 01:19:26,870
so hopefully, we can have some
additional detail by then.

1716
01:19:27,070 --> 01:19:27,828
PATRICK MADDOX: Yes, sir.

1717
01:19:28,028 --> 01:19:28,870
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Very good.

1718
01:19:29,070 --> 01:19:31,030
All right, those in favor,
please signal by saying Aye.

1719
01:19:31,230 --> 01:19:31,470
ALL: Aye.

1720
01:19:31,670 --> 01:19:32,590
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And those opposed.

1721
01:19:32,790 --> 01:19:34,257
All right, that
passes unanimously.

1722
01:19:34,457 --> 01:19:37,510
I look forward to seeing
that report back, Mr. Maddox.

1723
01:19:37,710 --> 01:19:40,390
Item 21.

1724
01:19:40,590 --> 01:19:42,395
Do we need to
address that board,

1725
01:19:42,595 --> 01:19:44,670
or is that just pulled subject
to our earlier consensus?

1726
01:19:44,870 --> 01:19:47,870
All right.

1727
01:19:48,070 --> 01:19:49,950
We can move on beyond
the consent agenda.

1728
01:19:50,150 --> 01:19:51,550
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Mr. Chairman, I

1729
01:19:51,750 --> 01:19:54,310
think I've misunderstood you.

1730
01:19:54,510 --> 01:19:58,210
I'm a touch confused, if I may.

1731
01:19:58,410 --> 01:20:02,110
We're not the
tenants at this time.

1732
01:20:02,310 --> 01:20:06,550
I was pleased to hear Mr.
Bagby say that because I

1733
01:20:06,750 --> 01:20:13,390
think we've lost focus of that.

1734
01:20:13,590 --> 01:20:16,816
Right now, we're in
discussion of how

1735
01:20:17,016 --> 01:20:20,570
do we pick a roommate
on a house that we

1736
01:20:20,770 --> 01:20:22,110
might be able to rent together.

1737
01:20:22,310 --> 01:20:24,070
That's a little odd.

1738
01:20:24,270 --> 01:20:26,470
I think that the
conversations have started,

1739
01:20:26,670 --> 01:20:31,650
but here's my concern
on the commission side.

1740
01:20:31,850 --> 01:20:34,610
And I didn't have this
until the discussion

1741
01:20:34,810 --> 01:20:36,470
today during public comment.

1742
01:20:36,670 --> 01:20:40,790
Destin has approved
an interlocal

1743
01:20:40,990 --> 01:20:46,190
which we have not taken up.

1744
01:20:46,390 --> 01:20:50,930
We have put forth an interlocal
which now, it appears,

1745
01:20:51,130 --> 01:20:52,990
we're deciding not to look into.

1746
01:20:53,190 --> 01:20:57,190
But we're talking about
coming to a negotiation where

1747
01:20:57,390 --> 01:20:58,970
we meet in the middle.

1748
01:20:59,170 --> 01:21:01,250
In the middle of what?

1749
01:21:01,450 --> 01:21:04,507
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Are
you looking for feedback

1750
01:21:04,707 --> 01:21:05,990
or is that rhetorical?

1751
01:21:06,190 --> 01:21:07,870
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: No,
I'm looking for feedback.

1752
01:21:08,070 --> 01:21:08,430
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: OK.

1753
01:21:08,630 --> 01:21:10,450
I'll tell you my
viewpoint on it.

1754
01:21:10,650 --> 01:21:12,730
I think we had an offer
and a counteroffer.

1755
01:21:12,930 --> 01:21:15,990
That's what I-- I think those
are the bookends right now.

1756
01:21:16,190 --> 01:21:16,670
Our version, their version.

1757
01:21:16,870 --> 01:21:20,190
And logic tells me the answer
is somewhere in between them.

1758
01:21:20,390 --> 01:21:22,162
COMMISSIONER MIXON: OK.

1759
01:21:22,362 --> 01:21:24,620
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: That's my
simplistic way of viewing it.

1760
01:21:24,820 --> 01:21:24,820
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
--bookend, do

1761
01:21:25,020 --> 01:21:27,095
we need to prove
consensually that we

1762
01:21:27,295 --> 01:21:31,860
agree with that being a bookend
or do we start with nothing?

1763
01:21:32,060 --> 01:21:35,960
Because if we merely pull it,
we have nothing to start with.

1764
01:21:36,160 --> 01:21:38,200
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And I apologize.

1765
01:21:38,400 --> 01:21:40,980
I thought when we had
consensus earlier,

1766
01:21:41,180 --> 01:21:43,360
maybe it was probably
me in my mind

1767
01:21:43,560 --> 01:21:45,400
saying this and not
actually articulating it,

1768
01:21:45,600 --> 01:21:46,480
and I apologize.

1769
01:21:46,680 --> 01:21:48,420
I was thinking we
were saying consensus,

1770
01:21:48,620 --> 01:21:50,040
this is our starting position.

1771
01:21:50,240 --> 01:21:51,560
We know their starting position.

1772
01:21:51,760 --> 01:21:53,460
Please send our
delegates and our lawyers

1773
01:21:53,660 --> 01:21:55,320
and let's get this figured out.

1774
01:21:55,520 --> 01:21:57,280
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
That's what I thought too.

1775
01:21:57,480 --> 01:21:58,300
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
That's what I thought.

1776
01:21:58,500 --> 01:21:59,140
COMMISSIONER MIXON: Was
their starting position

1777
01:21:59,340 --> 01:22:02,598
broad as an agenda item
and voted on as a council?

1778
01:22:02,798 --> 01:22:03,992
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: It was.

1779
01:22:04,192 --> 01:22:04,900
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
So potentially,

1780
01:22:05,100 --> 01:22:06,958
our starting
position should be 2.

1781
01:22:07,158 --> 01:22:08,220
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Any objection

1782
01:22:08,420 --> 01:22:11,778
to item 21 as presented by
staff being our formal position

1783
01:22:11,978 --> 01:22:15,120
for beginning of negotiation?

1784
01:22:15,320 --> 01:22:16,920
COMMISSIONER PALMER:
I don't think

1785
01:22:17,120 --> 01:22:18,937
I have an objection to that.

1786
01:22:19,137 --> 01:22:20,870
The reason I appreciate
the construct

1787
01:22:21,070 --> 01:22:25,610
that we are at now where
we will have the county

1788
01:22:25,810 --> 01:22:28,950
attorney and the city attorney
as part of those discussions,

1789
01:22:29,150 --> 01:22:33,550
I think that although we are
using many of the same words,

1790
01:22:33,750 --> 01:22:36,030
we have different
definitions for those words.

1791
01:22:36,230 --> 01:22:40,370
And I think that's part of what
has caused us to be at impasse.

1792
01:22:40,570 --> 01:22:41,530
I also believe--
and I say impasse,

1793
01:22:41,730 --> 01:22:44,670
it's because our two interlocal
agreements are so vastly

1794
01:22:44,870 --> 01:22:47,690
different, they don't
agree with one another

1795
01:22:47,890 --> 01:22:52,030
whatsoever, except that we
intend to work with the city

1796
01:22:52,230 --> 01:22:55,150
and the cities is
kind of us agreeing

1797
01:22:55,350 --> 01:23:00,050
that we're responsible
for this and they're

1798
01:23:00,250 --> 01:23:03,150
in charge of our
decisions or at least

1799
01:23:03,350 --> 01:23:06,310
the approval of our decisions.

1800
01:23:06,510 --> 01:23:09,610
So I think that the direction
going forward with the attorneys

1801
01:23:09,810 --> 01:23:14,830
present, I think we can at
least start at some of those.

1802
01:23:15,030 --> 01:23:17,030
When I discussed with the
council members and the mayor--

1803
01:23:17,230 --> 01:23:20,173
thank you all for
meeting with me.

1804
01:23:20,373 --> 01:23:21,290
I do appreciate that time.

1805
01:23:21,490 --> 01:23:23,670
I enjoyed coloring with you,
Mr. Mayor, specifically.

1806
01:23:23,870 --> 01:23:28,750
Anyways, I think we've had
some productive discussions.

1807
01:23:28,950 --> 01:23:33,170
I think that when we
start-- and the attorneys

1808
01:23:33,370 --> 01:23:37,410
will help us to this out.

1809
01:23:37,610 --> 01:23:38,770
When we start with
one side wanting

1810
01:23:38,970 --> 01:23:41,650
to remove the Marina and
the other side saying,

1811
01:23:41,850 --> 01:23:44,672
no, I think we've
got to keep that.

1812
01:23:44,872 --> 01:23:47,630
We got to figure out how to
use that as per the State's

1813
01:23:47,830 --> 01:23:49,390
cabinet's direction or at least
their approved statements,

1814
01:23:49,590 --> 01:23:57,550
there's not much further
for us to go beyond that.

1815
01:23:57,750 --> 01:24:00,370
And so that's one of the things.

1816
01:24:00,570 --> 01:24:01,310
And then the other
non-negotiable

1817
01:24:01,510 --> 01:24:05,050
that I opened with-- and
this is my non-negotiable,

1818
01:24:05,250 --> 01:24:08,270
and of course, I'm
one of five, but mine

1819
01:24:08,470 --> 01:24:11,050
is that I do want free and
sufficient parking for County

1820
01:24:11,250 --> 01:24:11,750
residents.

1821
01:24:11,950 --> 01:24:14,232
There has been some
discussion that possibly we

1822
01:24:14,432 --> 01:24:16,490
could open up all city
parking to County residents.

1823
01:24:16,690 --> 01:24:17,880
That would be amazing.

1824
01:24:18,080 --> 01:24:20,080
I think that would
be a win, and that

1825
01:24:20,280 --> 01:24:21,922
would be something that we
could add to this negotiation.

1826
01:24:22,122 --> 01:24:24,480
I think that would be
an excellent outcome.

1827
01:24:24,680 --> 01:24:26,700
However, I think that the
current direction that we

1828
01:24:26,900 --> 01:24:29,980
have from this board
to have myself,

1829
01:24:30,180 --> 01:24:33,040
Ms. Hoshihara and
the city appointee,

1830
01:24:33,240 --> 01:24:37,340
I believe that's Mr.
Destin and Ms. Kopp,

1831
01:24:37,540 --> 01:24:40,960
I believe that we're
at a good point

1832
01:24:41,160 --> 01:24:42,700
where we can actually
start those negotiations.

1833
01:24:42,900 --> 01:24:45,940
Whether this is our beginning
or we have no beginning,

1834
01:24:46,140 --> 01:24:47,860
I think we start
in the same place

1835
01:24:48,060 --> 01:24:49,280
because theirs is so
vastly different than ours.

1836
01:24:49,480 --> 01:24:51,020
Thank you.

1837
01:24:51,220 --> 01:24:54,560
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Commissioner Cox.

1838
01:24:54,760 --> 01:24:59,187
COMMISSIONER COX: I have a
little bit to say about this.

1839
01:24:59,387 --> 01:25:00,320
I will say just, I
mean, unilaterally,

1840
01:25:00,520 --> 01:25:03,860
after having spoken to a
couple of city councilmen

1841
01:25:04,060 --> 01:25:06,040
from Destin and
our county attorney

1842
01:25:06,240 --> 01:25:10,820
and Mr. Hofstad about this,
in a deeper dive about what

1843
01:25:11,020 --> 01:25:15,340
our position, our
collective position

1844
01:25:15,540 --> 01:25:18,710
was in our own version of
the interlocal agreement.

1845
01:25:18,910 --> 01:25:21,590
Because frankly, I had not
visited it before this.

1846
01:25:21,790 --> 01:25:26,110
It was a little bit of a
surprise, I think, to some of us

1847
01:25:26,310 --> 01:25:27,530
that the county's
position was as, I guess,

1848
01:25:27,730 --> 01:25:33,230
maybe one sided as
it appeared to be.

1849
01:25:33,430 --> 01:25:35,890
That is not--

1850
01:25:36,090 --> 01:25:39,870
I mean, item number 21,
to request consideration

1851
01:25:40,070 --> 01:25:44,230
of the interlocal agreement that
we have as it occurs currently,

1852
01:25:44,430 --> 01:25:48,670
I mean, those
aren't my thoughts.

1853
01:25:48,870 --> 01:25:50,710
That's not my position on this.

1854
01:25:50,910 --> 01:25:52,910
I mean, I won't vote
to support adopting

1855
01:25:53,110 --> 01:25:56,450
that in the consent agenda
as it is written currently.

1856
01:25:56,650 --> 01:26:00,150
I expressly need more time
to wrap my hands around it

1857
01:26:00,350 --> 01:26:03,630
and work with or
hear the concerns,

1858
01:26:03,830 --> 01:26:06,555
at least from the citizens
that are affected.

1859
01:26:06,755 --> 01:26:08,130
And not just the Destin
Citizens affected.

1860
01:26:08,330 --> 01:26:09,810
I want to be candid.

1861
01:26:10,010 --> 01:26:12,230
I spoke with Larry Jones,
their city manager, last week

1862
01:26:12,430 --> 01:26:16,610
and discussed at
length that not--

1863
01:26:16,810 --> 01:26:20,690
I do recognize that the city of
Destin residents are comprised

1864
01:26:20,890 --> 01:26:22,790
14,000 citizens of
140,000 or so affected.

1865
01:26:22,990 --> 01:26:28,850
And really, that's even
a smaller footprint

1866
01:26:29,050 --> 01:26:30,850
than what really
is true, because we

1867
01:26:31,050 --> 01:26:33,550
have so many visitors that
will be affected by this too.

1868
01:26:33,750 --> 01:26:35,790
I'm not sure that just
one of our representatives

1869
01:26:35,990 --> 01:26:39,030
and an attorney and one of your
representatives and attorney

1870
01:26:39,230 --> 01:26:42,130
is an adequate picture of who's
going to be affected by this.

1871
01:26:42,330 --> 01:26:45,330
I have to say that those 14,000
would be represented by fewer,

1872
01:26:45,530 --> 01:26:48,510
probably, than the collective
consortium that I would put

1873
01:26:48,710 --> 01:26:51,770
together to have a workshop
and workshop this out just

1874
01:26:51,970 --> 01:26:55,570
because there are so many
more affected than just those.

1875
01:26:55,770 --> 01:26:58,910
But without having--
as having mulled this

1876
01:26:59,110 --> 01:27:03,450
over for the amount of time
that, frankly, the city

1877
01:27:03,650 --> 01:27:05,390
of Destin has been
given to look it over,

1878
01:27:05,590 --> 01:27:08,950
the county's version that is,
of an interlocal agreement,

1879
01:27:09,150 --> 01:27:13,190
I would not be comfortable
passing it at this juncture

1880
01:27:13,390 --> 01:27:16,100
as it stands.

1881
01:27:16,300 --> 01:27:18,305
I wouldn't even be comfortable
saying that's our position

1882
01:27:18,505 --> 01:27:19,780
because that's not my position.

1883
01:27:19,980 --> 01:27:22,700
I haven't wrapped my hands
around it enough to say, yes,

1884
01:27:22,900 --> 01:27:25,320
this is where I stand on that.

1885
01:27:25,520 --> 01:27:27,460
So that's the reason I
requested that we pulled it.

1886
01:27:27,660 --> 01:27:29,420
And I thought that we
had sort of collectively

1887
01:27:29,620 --> 01:27:32,000
gotten a consensus for working
together before we agreed

1888
01:27:32,200 --> 01:27:35,620
that we had a position on this.

1889
01:27:35,820 --> 01:27:37,040
That's why I pulled it.

1890
01:27:37,240 --> 01:27:38,900
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: And
I'm glad you clarified that.

1891
01:27:39,100 --> 01:27:42,350
So we do not have consensus
that that is our starting point.

1892
01:27:42,550 --> 01:27:43,520
I think, as Commissioner
Palmer mentioned,

1893
01:27:43,720 --> 01:27:47,420
it feels like he can still
meet, as we discussed,

1894
01:27:47,620 --> 01:27:50,600
with or without a
bookend on our side,

1895
01:27:50,800 --> 01:27:53,840
but we can talk through that.

1896
01:27:54,040 --> 01:27:54,780
Commissioner Ketchel
has some comments,

1897
01:27:54,980 --> 01:27:58,220
I think, to add to this as well.

1898
01:27:58,420 --> 01:27:58,600
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: I do.

1899
01:27:58,800 --> 01:28:00,820
This is really the
first time we've really

1900
01:28:01,020 --> 01:28:02,780
talked about all of this.

1901
01:28:02,980 --> 01:28:04,120
And I agree with
Commissioner Cox,

1902
01:28:04,320 --> 01:28:07,280
this is not my starting point.

1903
01:28:07,480 --> 01:28:08,360
These were not my words.

1904
01:28:08,560 --> 01:28:09,820
I would not have
written this document.

1905
01:28:10,020 --> 01:28:12,020
So I have gone
out and viewed it.

1906
01:28:12,220 --> 01:28:13,770
It's a beautiful
piece of property.

1907
01:28:13,970 --> 01:28:16,690
It's also something that might
disappear in a hurricane.

1908
01:28:16,890 --> 01:28:19,330
It's a lot of dredge sand.

1909
01:28:19,530 --> 01:28:21,970
So let's go forward
without the interlocal

1910
01:28:22,170 --> 01:28:26,610
and see what Mr. Palmer and
Mr. Destin can get together.

1911
01:28:26,810 --> 01:28:28,170
Commissioner Palmer
and Councilman

1912
01:28:28,370 --> 01:28:32,090
Destin and their attorneys,
and see where we go from there.

1913
01:28:32,290 --> 01:28:33,610
So certainly, like
I said, really

1914
01:28:33,810 --> 01:28:38,490
happy to hear that you feel the
same way because we haven't had

1915
01:28:38,690 --> 01:28:39,650
a chance to speak about that.

1916
01:28:39,850 --> 01:28:40,890
COMMISSIONER PALMER: Mr.
Chairman, I would like--

1917
01:28:41,090 --> 01:28:44,110
so given that we don't
have a lot of opportunity

1918
01:28:44,310 --> 01:28:45,430
to discuss these
things openly, I

1919
01:28:45,630 --> 01:28:48,110
would like some opinions from
the members of this board

1920
01:28:48,310 --> 01:28:53,870
on one of the hanging
points, I think,

1921
01:28:54,070 --> 01:28:56,890
with Holiday Isle, the city.

1922
01:28:57,090 --> 01:29:00,230
And when I talk
about definitions

1923
01:29:00,430 --> 01:29:04,750
of things, commercial activity,
if I'm to give my opinion,

1924
01:29:04,950 --> 01:29:12,290
I think that we need
to figure out some way

1925
01:29:12,490 --> 01:29:13,970
to generate some funds
from this property

1926
01:29:14,170 --> 01:29:15,810
in order to help
with the maintenance

1927
01:29:16,010 --> 01:29:17,970
and the upkeep of
the property itself.

1928
01:29:18,170 --> 01:29:21,370
And I would not have signed
on to the previous letter

1929
01:29:21,570 --> 01:29:25,450
agreeing with the state to
manage this property if they did

1930
01:29:25,650 --> 01:29:28,350
the acquisition and
committing $5 million to that,

1931
01:29:28,550 --> 01:29:31,890
I would not have voted
for that if I had thought

1932
01:29:32,090 --> 01:29:32,390
that was just a complete--

1933
01:29:32,590 --> 01:29:35,730
just a donation to this
property and there would be no--

1934
01:29:35,930 --> 01:29:39,590
and then we would have
a continued donation

1935
01:29:39,790 --> 01:29:41,930
to this property, to upkeep
this property over time

1936
01:29:42,130 --> 01:29:43,750
without generating
any funds from it.

1937
01:29:43,950 --> 01:29:47,590
I think that we have the ability
to do that with this Marina,

1938
01:29:47,790 --> 01:29:49,610
but I would like some
opinions from this board

1939
01:29:49,810 --> 01:29:51,910
as to the Marina operation.

1940
01:29:52,110 --> 01:29:55,450
Do you guys contemplate,
do you envision

1941
01:29:55,650 --> 01:29:57,150
seeing these slips as rentals?

1942
01:29:57,350 --> 01:30:00,870
And if that's the
case, then I think

1943
01:30:01,070 --> 01:30:03,290
that helps us to at least
define where I can start.

1944
01:30:03,490 --> 01:30:09,050
Because when I'm talking with
whether it be the city or some

1945
01:30:09,250 --> 01:30:10,440
of the residents
of Holiday Isle,

1946
01:30:10,640 --> 01:30:14,165
that would be
commercial activity

1947
01:30:14,365 --> 01:30:16,140
that would be prohibited
by their rules.

1948
01:30:16,340 --> 01:30:20,040
I think that when I talk to
other people in the county

1949
01:30:20,240 --> 01:30:21,480
and even other
residents in Destin,

1950
01:30:21,680 --> 01:30:23,660
I think they think
that's a great idea.

1951
01:30:23,860 --> 01:30:27,500
So I think that I would like the
opinion of this board on that as

1952
01:30:27,700 --> 01:30:29,600
to whether number 1, do we
define that as commercial?

1953
01:30:29,800 --> 01:30:32,160
Number 2, is that
something that this board

1954
01:30:32,360 --> 01:30:35,980
would like me to pursue as
at least a starting point?

1955
01:30:36,180 --> 01:30:39,800
And I don't know that we
can get to that right now,

1956
01:30:40,000 --> 01:30:42,380
but that's one of my questions.

1957
01:30:42,580 --> 01:30:45,560
And then, Yeah, we can't
give away all control

1958
01:30:45,760 --> 01:30:52,440
to another body.

1959
01:30:52,640 --> 01:30:57,412
I don't know that
either of our attorneys

1960
01:30:57,612 --> 01:30:59,420
would advise us to
do that, if we were

1961
01:30:59,620 --> 01:31:00,780
responsible for
something and just

1962
01:31:00,980 --> 01:31:03,105
giving over that authority
to the other body,

1963
01:31:03,305 --> 01:31:04,080
I don't think
that's appropriate.

1964
01:31:04,280 --> 01:31:06,220
And so anyways, I would
like some opinions

1965
01:31:06,420 --> 01:31:07,420
from this board at this time.

1966
01:31:07,620 --> 01:31:07,428
Ms. Hoshihara.

1967
01:31:07,628 --> 01:31:08,670
LYNN HOSHIHARA: Thank you.

1968
01:31:08,870 --> 01:31:11,530
If I may, as a point
of clarification,

1969
01:31:11,730 --> 01:31:14,430
so the interlocal agreement
that was presented by the city

1970
01:31:14,630 --> 01:31:18,450
focused more on the process of
how the two parties would work

1971
01:31:18,650 --> 01:31:21,470
together to come up
with an agreed upon plan

1972
01:31:21,670 --> 01:31:24,730
for future development
of that park,

1973
01:31:24,930 --> 01:31:29,170
but it doesn't get into any of
the nuts and bolts of what's

1974
01:31:29,370 --> 01:31:29,790
going to be allowed.

1975
01:31:29,990 --> 01:31:31,610
The county's
version did the same

1976
01:31:31,810 --> 01:31:34,050
to say, yes, the parties
will work together.

1977
01:31:34,250 --> 01:31:36,350
Here's how-- here's
what the County is

1978
01:31:36,550 --> 01:31:38,410
willing to commit to do.

1979
01:31:38,610 --> 01:31:40,990
Are we still talking about
an interlocal just about

1980
01:31:41,190 --> 01:31:44,850
the process, or are we talking
about an interlocal that

1981
01:31:45,050 --> 01:31:48,430
drills into the actual details
of the development of the park?

1982
01:31:48,630 --> 01:31:50,253
COMMISSIONER PALMER:
I don't know.

1983
01:31:50,453 --> 01:31:52,570
I don't think it's
up to this board.

1984
01:31:52,770 --> 01:31:55,070
I don't think that we're talking
about developing the interlocal

1985
01:31:55,270 --> 01:31:58,910
with those things, but I need to
know as I'm speaking with them.

1986
01:31:59,110 --> 01:32:00,710
I have to know.

1987
01:32:00,910 --> 01:32:03,230
So if I'm saying, OK,
yes, we will make sure

1988
01:32:03,430 --> 01:32:04,290
that everything
that we send forward

1989
01:32:04,490 --> 01:32:07,270
has also the
approval of the city.

1990
01:32:07,470 --> 01:32:10,970
I also know that they define
conservation differently

1991
01:32:11,170 --> 01:32:13,430
than what the state defines it.

1992
01:32:13,630 --> 01:32:16,030
I don't think those two
things can work together

1993
01:32:16,230 --> 01:32:18,410
if we agree with that
process, and then

1994
01:32:18,610 --> 01:32:21,810
we've tied ourselves
to their approval,

1995
01:32:22,010 --> 01:32:24,890
and yet when we're
saying conservation,

1996
01:32:25,090 --> 01:32:27,650
we also mean outdoor-based
recreation versus just

1997
01:32:27,850 --> 01:32:33,810
leave it alone, I think those
are two separate things.

1998
01:32:34,010 --> 01:32:36,470
And so I need some
direction from this board

1999
01:32:36,670 --> 01:32:40,830
as we go forward so that
I can speak with them

2000
01:32:41,030 --> 01:32:42,590
and negotiate in good faith,
because at this point,

2001
01:32:42,790 --> 01:32:46,010
we're saying the same words and
we're meaning different things.

2002
01:32:46,210 --> 01:32:47,510
And I'm saying we--

2003
01:32:47,710 --> 01:32:50,770
I'm saying when I meet with
city council member or the mayor

2004
01:32:50,970 --> 01:32:51,190
on this.

2005
01:32:51,390 --> 01:32:54,463
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: So I think
what the commissioner is saying

2006
01:32:54,663 --> 01:32:57,130
is he feels like that we're
starting to have conversations

2007
01:32:57,330 --> 01:32:58,450
where we're talking
past each other,

2008
01:32:58,650 --> 01:33:04,410
and I think he'd
like to get past that

2009
01:33:04,610 --> 01:33:06,330
so that we can actually
talk towards a center point.

2010
01:33:06,530 --> 01:33:07,740
So he's right.

2011
01:33:07,940 --> 01:33:11,900
We can't go meet at
Starbucks or some other place

2012
01:33:12,100 --> 01:33:14,120
and talk to him about this.

2013
01:33:14,320 --> 01:33:16,120
So a little out of
the ordinary usual.

2014
01:33:16,320 --> 01:33:21,620
This isn't a workshop, but it
is on the agenda as an item,

2015
01:33:21,820 --> 01:33:22,840
so it's definitely germane
to what's been published.

2016
01:33:23,040 --> 01:33:26,380
I would say this is probably
the best time, if any,

2017
01:33:26,580 --> 01:33:29,860
while the topic is hot to
tell Commissioner Palmer what

2018
01:33:30,060 --> 01:33:30,930
your thoughts are.

2019
01:33:31,130 --> 01:33:33,180
I think Commissioner Cox
started that process pretty well

2020
01:33:33,380 --> 01:33:35,720
and may have a few
more clarifications.

2021
01:33:35,920 --> 01:33:37,280
I see your lights on

2022
01:33:37,480 --> 01:33:38,140
COMMISSIONER COX: So--

2023
01:33:38,340 --> 01:33:38,860
Sure.

2024
01:33:39,060 --> 01:33:42,540
So I too am concerned about
how we would fund or reclaim

2025
01:33:42,740 --> 01:33:46,720
the $5 million that was
committed to this property.

2026
01:33:46,920 --> 01:33:51,200
And I am not fully aware
of how the $5 million

2027
01:33:51,400 --> 01:33:54,540
was committed to
the property, to be

2028
01:33:54,740 --> 01:33:55,440
completely honest with you.

2029
01:33:55,640 --> 01:33:57,340
But beyond that,

2030
01:33:57,540 --> 01:34:02,180
I think that the
crux of the issue,

2031
01:34:02,380 --> 01:34:07,050
trying to remediate or
to earn back the $5,000--

2032
01:34:07,250 --> 01:34:12,390
the $5 million is, while
that's really important,

2033
01:34:12,590 --> 01:34:17,910
I don't know that--
without presenting

2034
01:34:18,110 --> 01:34:19,950
several options
within collaboration

2035
01:34:20,150 --> 01:34:25,470
with the city of Destin as part
of the process of give and take

2036
01:34:25,670 --> 01:34:29,830
and what the citizens want
versus what our appetite is

2037
01:34:30,030 --> 01:34:32,730
for recapturing those
funds, I'm not sure

2038
01:34:32,930 --> 01:34:36,070
that that decision should
be made solely by this dais

2039
01:34:36,270 --> 01:34:39,450
today without working on it any
further and workshopping it out.

2040
01:34:39,650 --> 01:34:42,850
I think that it's
probably better for us

2041
01:34:43,050 --> 01:34:45,350
to say this version, number
21, does not work today.

2042
01:34:45,550 --> 01:34:51,370
Some version of that
may work down the road,

2043
01:34:51,570 --> 01:34:54,010
but that it needs more time.

2044
01:34:54,210 --> 01:34:56,670
I know as a commissioner, I
mean, with very little exposure,

2045
01:34:56,870 --> 01:34:59,350
little time to wrap my arms
around this particular version

2046
01:34:59,550 --> 01:35:02,410
of this, I'm not comfortable
passing any version of number 21

2047
01:35:02,610 --> 01:35:03,990
today.

2048
01:35:04,190 --> 01:35:06,290
COMMISSIONER PALMER: I agree.

2049
01:35:06,490 --> 01:35:08,790
I think that we already
agree on, at least,

2050
01:35:08,990 --> 01:35:10,810
that portion of it.

2051
01:35:11,010 --> 01:35:14,270
I think this, I'm fine without
number 21 being a part of what

2052
01:35:14,470 --> 01:35:16,347
we're talking about today.

2053
01:35:16,547 --> 01:35:17,730
What I'm looking for
specifically is--

2054
01:35:17,930 --> 01:35:21,050
and it's not just
the $5 million,

2055
01:35:21,250 --> 01:35:22,790
it's the going forward
upkeep and maintenance

2056
01:35:22,990 --> 01:35:24,550
of this property.

2057
01:35:24,750 --> 01:35:27,220
There's going to be costs
that's associated with that,

2058
01:35:27,420 --> 01:35:30,370
and we need to make sure
that we handle that in order

2059
01:35:30,570 --> 01:35:32,150
to be good stewards of--

2060
01:35:32,350 --> 01:35:34,790
And I think you know,
you agree, I'm not

2061
01:35:34,990 --> 01:35:36,412
saying that you're saying
anything differently,

2062
01:35:36,612 --> 01:35:38,370
I'm just saying
for clarity, that's

2063
01:35:38,570 --> 01:35:41,770
my concern is, how do we--
are you guys in agreement

2064
01:35:41,970 --> 01:35:44,850
that, no, we don't
rent these slips?

2065
01:35:45,050 --> 01:35:47,890
If that's the case,
then I don't know

2066
01:35:48,090 --> 01:35:51,830
other means other than maybe
parking or something like that.

2067
01:35:52,030 --> 01:35:55,090
But are we in agreement
that there's no--

2068
01:35:55,290 --> 01:35:58,330
that we're contemplating no
commercial activity whatsoever

2069
01:35:58,530 --> 01:36:00,030
on this park?

2070
01:36:00,230 --> 01:36:03,160
I don't know that that's
the will of this board.

2071
01:36:03,360 --> 01:36:07,780
And then the other thing is
there's really two main things

2072
01:36:07,980 --> 01:36:10,120
that we have different
definitions on.

2073
01:36:10,320 --> 01:36:13,680
One is the definition of
conservation as per the state's

2074
01:36:13,880 --> 01:36:15,840
definition, it does
include outdoor recreation,

2075
01:36:16,040 --> 01:36:19,300
which the boating that--
anything that supports

2076
01:36:19,500 --> 01:36:23,340
that would be allowed
within that definition.

2077
01:36:23,540 --> 01:36:27,980
However, again, the city's
definition is vastly different.

2078
01:36:28,180 --> 01:36:30,940
And then the definition
of commercial activity,

2079
01:36:31,140 --> 01:36:34,720
when I'm looking at
slips in a Marina,

2080
01:36:34,920 --> 01:36:38,200
if I'm defining
commercial slips, that's

2081
01:36:38,400 --> 01:36:41,780
slips that support fishing
livery vessels, charters,

2082
01:36:41,980 --> 01:36:47,920
dolphin cruises,
that type of thing

2083
01:36:48,120 --> 01:36:50,560
where what we're contemplating--
and somebody brought it

2084
01:36:50,760 --> 01:36:54,960
up earlier about
the weekly rentals

2085
01:36:55,160 --> 01:36:56,820
are not commercial activity.

2086
01:36:57,020 --> 01:36:57,700
I understand that.

2087
01:36:57,900 --> 01:36:59,650
That's the point
that I was making, is

2088
01:36:59,850 --> 01:37:01,950
that this, as weekly rental
slips for overnight stays,

2089
01:37:02,150 --> 01:37:05,290
would be in a similar
manner as that.

2090
01:37:05,490 --> 01:37:07,550
And maybe it's prohibited
already in your covenants.

2091
01:37:07,750 --> 01:37:08,750
I don't know.

2092
01:37:08,950 --> 01:37:10,492
But again, those are
the types of things

2093
01:37:10,692 --> 01:37:11,570
that I'm thinking about.

2094
01:37:11,770 --> 01:37:14,370
And so as I'm looking at
this, since we don't have

2095
01:37:14,570 --> 01:37:14,610
another opportunity,
I'm absolutely

2096
01:37:14,810 --> 01:37:17,590
willing to put together
a workshop in the future,

2097
01:37:17,790 --> 01:37:21,430
but I'd like to get some
steps along the way.

2098
01:37:21,630 --> 01:37:24,090
I'd like to start on third
base rather than starting

2099
01:37:24,290 --> 01:37:25,430
and building the lineup.

2100
01:37:25,630 --> 01:37:28,230
And so that's what
I would like to do.

2101
01:37:28,430 --> 01:37:30,132
COMMISSIONER COX: And it's
interesting that you position it

2102
01:37:30,332 --> 01:37:31,990
that way, as starting
on third base,

2103
01:37:32,190 --> 01:37:33,830
because that's how
I feel about it too.

2104
01:37:34,030 --> 01:37:35,570
I feel like they're
asking us to--

2105
01:37:35,770 --> 01:37:39,050
as five commissioners who
represent a large body of people

2106
01:37:39,250 --> 01:37:42,870
and not nearly as many people as
will be affected by this parcel

2107
01:37:43,070 --> 01:37:45,330
as a state purchase,
asking us our five opinions

2108
01:37:45,530 --> 01:37:49,570
of this so early in this game.

2109
01:37:49,770 --> 01:37:51,490
We don't even have
ownership of it yet, right?

2110
01:37:51,690 --> 01:37:55,490
Asking our position to make
a decision on the boat slips,

2111
01:37:55,690 --> 01:37:59,110
the not boat slips, the
commercial activity, the not

2112
01:37:59,310 --> 01:38:00,750
commercial activity without
having had any opportunity

2113
01:38:00,950 --> 01:38:03,610
whatsoever to canvas those
affected in our districts

2114
01:38:03,810 --> 01:38:07,150
and outside of them,
is too much for me.

2115
01:38:07,350 --> 01:38:08,750
I'm a no to that.

2116
01:38:08,950 --> 01:38:11,150
COMMISSIONER PALMER: That's a
strong and a very fair point.

2117
01:38:11,350 --> 01:38:15,610
And I think that the way that
we got here was early on,

2118
01:38:15,810 --> 01:38:17,790
engaging with the city on
some of these discussions

2119
01:38:17,990 --> 01:38:22,030
and then silence because we
have nothing to take action on.

2120
01:38:22,230 --> 01:38:24,050
We've taken no action.

2121
01:38:24,250 --> 01:38:27,350
The management plan that was
being drafted by staff and just

2122
01:38:27,550 --> 01:38:29,990
through brainstorming
and even meetings

2123
01:38:30,190 --> 01:38:34,870
with the city,
some of those ideas

2124
01:38:35,070 --> 01:38:37,090
were captured in
the management plan,

2125
01:38:37,290 --> 01:38:40,510
but it wasn't ready
for prime time,

2126
01:38:40,710 --> 01:38:42,610
but it was public record
requested and then posted

2127
01:38:42,810 --> 01:38:45,130
publicly, and then discussed
publicly in a town hall meeting.

2128
01:38:45,330 --> 01:38:48,510
And so I agree
with you, we're way

2129
01:38:48,710 --> 01:38:50,110
premature on really
all of this stuff.

2130
01:38:50,310 --> 01:38:53,210
We have no legal standing
on this property as of yet.

2131
01:38:53,410 --> 01:38:55,110
We have the direction
that we are anticipating,

2132
01:38:55,310 --> 01:38:59,110
and I think that every
action that we have taken up

2133
01:38:59,310 --> 01:39:00,040
to this point has
been in anticipation

2134
01:39:00,240 --> 01:39:02,920
of that language that's in the
Florida Cabinets documents.

2135
01:39:03,120 --> 01:39:07,420
And I think with good
intent and goodwill.

2136
01:39:07,620 --> 01:39:10,280
And I think somehow
we got sideways

2137
01:39:10,480 --> 01:39:11,980
because there's a
thought that there's

2138
01:39:12,180 --> 01:39:14,620
backrooms, cigar smoke filled
rooms that are meetings

2139
01:39:14,820 --> 01:39:17,460
that are happening.

2140
01:39:17,660 --> 01:39:18,880
And there just are not.

2141
01:39:19,080 --> 01:39:21,360
We are very early
in this process.

2142
01:39:21,560 --> 01:39:25,860
But again, going forward,
what I need from this board

2143
01:39:26,060 --> 01:39:28,520
is, are we using the state's
definition of conservation?

2144
01:39:28,720 --> 01:39:33,440
I think the answer
on state land is yes.

2145
01:39:33,640 --> 01:39:36,720
And so we've got to talk
with the city of Destin

2146
01:39:36,920 --> 01:39:38,800
about what that means and what
that means to our property.

2147
01:39:39,000 --> 01:39:39,980
Are we contemplating
approaching the state

2148
01:39:40,180 --> 01:39:43,260
and asking them to
tear down the Marina?

2149
01:39:43,460 --> 01:39:45,160
I think my answer is no.

2150
01:39:45,360 --> 01:39:46,660
I would not support that.

2151
01:39:46,860 --> 01:39:49,040
And given that, if we're
to operate the Marina

2152
01:39:49,240 --> 01:39:51,400
as a public recreational
Marina, what does that mean?

2153
01:39:51,600 --> 01:39:54,740
What are the bounds
within which we can work?

2154
01:39:54,940 --> 01:39:57,140
And then how do I then
negotiate with the city

2155
01:39:57,340 --> 01:39:59,910
a positive outcome with that?

2156
01:40:00,110 --> 01:40:03,370
Because I think right now I'm
being asked to have these talks

2157
01:40:03,570 --> 01:40:05,190
and have these
negotiations, and I

2158
01:40:05,390 --> 01:40:07,990
have no tools with which
to do that because I

2159
01:40:08,190 --> 01:40:07,765
don't understand--

2160
01:40:07,965 --> 01:40:10,090
I don't know the
opinion of this board,

2161
01:40:10,290 --> 01:40:14,850
and I'm one of five
votes, and I can bring you

2162
01:40:15,050 --> 01:40:16,147
something that suggests a
disaster because I'm not

2163
01:40:16,347 --> 01:40:17,030
considering your opinions.

2164
01:40:17,230 --> 01:40:21,190
And this is the only time that I
have to collect those opinions.

2165
01:40:21,390 --> 01:40:22,710
Unless you guys want to have
10-hour-long public workshop

2166
01:40:22,910 --> 01:40:26,790
as an opening.

2167
01:40:26,990 --> 01:40:28,590
I would rather--
again, I would rather

2168
01:40:28,790 --> 01:40:30,773
have a pretty solid plan
together to say, hey,

2169
01:40:30,973 --> 01:40:32,645
I think this is acceptable.

2170
01:40:32,845 --> 01:40:34,670
I think this is the
will of the board,

2171
01:40:34,870 --> 01:40:36,530
and I think this is
in keeping with that,

2172
01:40:36,730 --> 01:40:38,152
and we have worked
with the public,

2173
01:40:38,352 --> 01:40:39,610
and we have worked
with the city,

2174
01:40:39,810 --> 01:40:41,585
and we think we have a
fairly mature product.

2175
01:40:41,785 --> 01:40:44,380
We're on third base and we're
ready to take this home.

2176
01:40:44,580 --> 01:40:45,130
Let's have a public workshop.

2177
01:40:45,330 --> 01:40:48,170
Let's get everybody's input, and
then we can come one more time

2178
01:40:48,370 --> 01:40:50,790
or however many more times
it takes with this board

2179
01:40:50,990 --> 01:40:52,290
and say, hey, here's our plan.

2180
01:40:52,490 --> 01:40:54,198
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Chairman.

2181
01:40:54,398 --> 01:40:55,790
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

2182
01:40:55,990 --> 01:40:57,423
Commissioner Ketchel then--
well, Commissioner Cox,

2183
01:40:57,623 --> 01:40:59,610
were you complete?

2184
01:40:59,810 --> 01:41:01,110
I know that was--

2185
01:41:01,310 --> 01:41:01,865
COMMISSIONER COX: I'm good.

2186
01:41:02,065 --> 01:41:02,690
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: OK.

2187
01:41:02,890 --> 01:41:04,632
Commissioner Ketchel and
Commissioner Mixon, and I'll

2188
01:41:04,832 --> 01:41:08,250
defer my input to
the end, obviously.

2189
01:41:08,450 --> 01:41:11,952
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
The good news

2190
01:41:12,152 --> 01:41:14,310
is we don't need any
clearcutting out there.

2191
01:41:14,510 --> 01:41:15,543
There's one lone
little pine tree.

2192
01:41:15,743 --> 01:41:16,210
[LAUGHTER]

2193
01:41:16,410 --> 01:41:19,073
COMMISSIONER
KETCHEL: I did notice

2194
01:41:19,273 --> 01:41:21,090
that when I walked out there.

2195
01:41:21,290 --> 01:41:24,690
I don't really know how we got
here, to be honest with you.

2196
01:41:24,890 --> 01:41:25,590
There was a letter
that went out.

2197
01:41:25,790 --> 01:41:28,130
We voted to possibly oversee
this, with a $5 million

2198
01:41:28,330 --> 01:41:31,490
mention in it, which
I found appalling.

2199
01:41:31,690 --> 01:41:36,330
I'm just going to say that, I
didn't vote on that $5 million.

2200
01:41:36,530 --> 01:41:39,070
But what I'd like to see
is this land conserved.

2201
01:41:39,270 --> 01:41:42,750
It's beautiful and it's
not going to last anyway.

2202
01:41:42,950 --> 01:41:44,470
I'm sorry.

2203
01:41:44,670 --> 01:41:47,550
The big hurricane that comes
will take this piece of land

2204
01:41:47,750 --> 01:41:47,910
out.

2205
01:41:48,110 --> 01:41:51,130
So from my point of
view, less is better,

2206
01:41:51,330 --> 01:41:53,570
and I've talked with
staff about that.

2207
01:41:53,770 --> 01:41:57,260
I can see another set
of bathrooms there.

2208
01:41:57,460 --> 01:41:59,820
I'm not so excited about
commercial undertaking.

2209
01:42:00,020 --> 01:42:02,665
You brought up a
very good point,

2210
01:42:02,865 --> 01:42:05,240
the same guy that got us
into this mess got the--

2211
01:42:05,440 --> 01:42:07,940
has already got a
Marina out there

2212
01:42:08,140 --> 01:42:12,940
and there's no boats
in it, on the sound.

2213
01:42:13,140 --> 01:42:15,740
So I'd like to see less.

2214
01:42:15,940 --> 01:42:17,680
If we do have
commercial activity,

2215
01:42:17,880 --> 01:42:20,880
perhaps a good place
to put it would be

2216
01:42:21,080 --> 01:42:22,080
to split anything with Destin.

2217
01:42:22,280 --> 01:42:23,680
I'm just saying.

2218
01:42:23,880 --> 01:42:26,500
I mean, why do we
have to have it all?

2219
01:42:26,700 --> 01:42:29,000
And maybe we don't
need to manage this.

2220
01:42:29,200 --> 01:42:30,880
Just have a beautiful
park where people

2221
01:42:31,080 --> 01:42:32,760
can go visit with bathrooms.

2222
01:42:32,960 --> 01:42:35,700
It doesn't have to be parking.

2223
01:42:35,900 --> 01:42:37,230
Yeah, a little bit of parking.

2224
01:42:37,430 --> 01:42:38,180
Not a lot of parking.

2225
01:42:38,380 --> 01:42:40,400
For me, 100 or less is fine.

2226
01:42:40,600 --> 01:42:43,035
There were some excellent
points brought up earlier

2227
01:42:43,235 --> 01:42:45,460
by some of the folks
that live out there.

2228
01:42:45,660 --> 01:42:47,260
I can see why they
feel that way.

2229
01:42:47,460 --> 01:42:49,780
So those are my thoughts,
but it's such a--

2230
01:42:49,980 --> 01:42:55,430
I said this early on, we
developed Women's Veterans Park.

2231
01:42:55,630 --> 01:42:58,770
We don't need a concrete
everything in our area.

2232
01:42:58,970 --> 01:43:00,710
Old Florida is disappearing.

2233
01:43:00,910 --> 01:43:03,250
Just those are my thoughts.

2234
01:43:03,450 --> 01:43:03,590
So--

2235
01:43:03,790 --> 01:43:04,390
[APPLAUSE]

2236
01:43:04,590 --> 01:43:10,281
COMMISSIONER
GOODWIN: Mr. Hofstad?

2237
01:43:10,481 --> 01:43:11,730
COMMISSIONER MIXON: Sure.

2238
01:43:11,930 --> 01:43:13,372
So, Mr. Palmer, I agree.

2239
01:43:13,572 --> 01:43:15,243
Commercial activity
needs to be defined.

2240
01:43:15,443 --> 01:43:16,910
Sounds like there's
a big difference.

2241
01:43:17,110 --> 01:43:20,950
I'm not familiar with the idea
of tearing out the Marina.

2242
01:43:21,150 --> 01:43:21,590
That sounds very extreme.

2243
01:43:21,790 --> 01:43:23,830
OK, good.

2244
01:43:24,030 --> 01:43:27,130
So I'd love to hear how
that goes, where that goes,

2245
01:43:27,330 --> 01:43:31,170
why in the world you
would tear it out.

2246
01:43:31,370 --> 01:43:35,490
The $5 million was listed in
the letter that we all approved.

2247
01:43:35,690 --> 01:43:38,150
and it was unanimous when
we took consensus for that.

2248
01:43:38,350 --> 01:43:40,890
It did not define
where money would go.

2249
01:43:41,090 --> 01:43:45,810
It gave a no more than idea, if
I recall right from the letter.

2250
01:43:46,010 --> 01:43:49,970
I don't have it before me.

2251
01:43:50,170 --> 01:43:52,000
But it was each
one of us, but it

2252
01:43:52,200 --> 01:43:53,660
did not-- of course,
that would come back

2253
01:43:53,860 --> 01:43:56,220
many more times for approval
before any dollar was spent.

2254
01:43:56,420 --> 01:43:59,760
That was just in
showing interest to say,

2255
01:43:59,960 --> 01:44:02,760
here's how we could partner.

2256
01:44:02,960 --> 01:44:07,000
The management plan-- has
there been a management plan

2257
01:44:07,200 --> 01:44:08,240
submitted to the state?

2258
01:44:08,440 --> 01:44:10,876
COMMISSIONER COX: [INAUDIBLE]

2259
01:44:11,076 --> 01:44:13,240
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Is that the next step?

2260
01:44:13,440 --> 01:44:16,280
Mr. Coffey?

2261
01:44:16,480 --> 01:44:18,820
CRAIG COFFEY: The
first step is a lease,

2262
01:44:19,020 --> 01:44:20,295
and then that's
followed by management.

2263
01:44:20,495 --> 01:44:21,320
COMMISSIONER MIXON: OK.

2264
01:44:21,520 --> 01:44:21,920
CRAIG COFFEY: Several
leases actually.

2265
01:44:22,120 --> 01:44:24,420
You got a submerged land
lease and a regular lease

2266
01:44:24,620 --> 01:44:24,980
of the property.

2267
01:44:25,180 --> 01:44:25,765
Two different leases.

2268
01:44:25,965 --> 01:44:28,140
COMMISSIONER MIXON: So that's
the phase we're in now?

2269
01:44:28,340 --> 01:44:28,848
CRAIG COFFEY: Yeah.

2270
01:44:29,048 --> 01:44:31,660
We would wait on a
lease from the state.

2271
01:44:31,860 --> 01:44:36,915
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: You said
something about that $5 million.

2272
01:44:37,115 --> 01:44:39,240
We did not vote on that figure.

2273
01:44:39,440 --> 01:44:40,768
We did not vote on that figure.

2274
01:44:40,968 --> 01:44:41,160
We voted on managing.

2275
01:44:41,360 --> 01:44:43,260
COMMISSIONER MIXON: That figure
was written into the letter.

2276
01:44:43,460 --> 01:44:45,760
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: But
did we vote on that letter?

2277
01:44:45,960 --> 01:44:45,580
Did we?

2278
01:44:45,780 --> 01:44:46,680
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: We did.

2279
01:44:46,880 --> 01:44:47,588
We all spoke--

2280
01:44:47,788 --> 01:44:49,740
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Lynn,
did we vote on the letter?

2281
01:44:49,940 --> 01:44:51,760
On that January letter.

2282
01:44:51,960 --> 01:44:53,200
We voted on management.

2283
01:44:53,400 --> 01:44:53,820
Anyway.

2284
01:44:54,020 --> 01:45:00,560
COMMISSIONER MIXON: We did.

2285
01:45:00,760 --> 01:45:02,920
So we're in the stage of--

2286
01:45:03,120 --> 01:45:06,160
at least from the state-- and
then what's the next step?

2287
01:45:06,360 --> 01:45:10,100
CRAIG COFFEY: Following
a lease with the state,

2288
01:45:10,300 --> 01:45:12,220
you would then enter
into-- you would then

2289
01:45:12,420 --> 01:45:13,680
develop a property
management plan that you

2290
01:45:13,880 --> 01:45:15,960
submit to the state.

2291
01:45:16,160 --> 01:45:18,180
This is a four
acre site, which is

2292
01:45:18,380 --> 01:45:19,180
kind of an abbreviated process.

2293
01:45:19,380 --> 01:45:21,560
You have to have
a public hearing.

2294
01:45:21,760 --> 01:45:23,620
You go through a process
there and there's

2295
01:45:23,820 --> 01:45:26,240
plenty of input in
that process as you go.

2296
01:45:26,440 --> 01:45:26,660
COMMISSIONER MIXON: Yes.

2297
01:45:26,860 --> 01:45:31,480
And just prior to
this, the property

2298
01:45:31,680 --> 01:45:36,440
was slated to be 100%
taken up with development.

2299
01:45:36,640 --> 01:45:42,540
So now, I agree
with you on parking.

2300
01:45:42,740 --> 01:45:43,560
Parking is important.

2301
01:45:43,760 --> 01:45:46,220
I didn't know until
this week that it's

2302
01:45:46,420 --> 01:45:51,130
$20 for four hours to park.

2303
01:45:51,330 --> 01:45:55,090
So if I were to give a
parameter, I would say,

2304
01:45:55,290 --> 01:45:56,230
yes, citizens of Okaloosa
County definitely

2305
01:45:56,430 --> 01:46:00,310
should be able to park
somewhere without having

2306
01:46:00,510 --> 01:46:04,070
a exuberant, or at least a
fee that matches someone's

2307
01:46:04,270 --> 01:46:09,870
if there has to be a fee, but
I'd rather there be no fee.

2308
01:46:10,070 --> 01:46:11,490
I don't want to see this
touch general revenue

2309
01:46:11,690 --> 01:46:14,990
dollars by any means, so tourism
would have to be the route,

2310
01:46:15,190 --> 01:46:18,148
but the preference
would be that this

2311
01:46:18,348 --> 01:46:20,590
didn't become a yearly burden
on the tourism fund either.

2312
01:46:20,790 --> 01:46:24,910
So it's got to produce its
own income to some extent.

2313
01:46:25,110 --> 01:46:27,830
How can it do that?

2314
01:46:28,030 --> 01:46:28,590
It has a Marina.

2315
01:46:28,790 --> 01:46:31,370
If there's ways to be able
to do something, sure.

2316
01:46:31,570 --> 01:46:34,490
To turn that into a
new side of the harbor

2317
01:46:34,690 --> 01:46:37,810
would be interesting as
far as the enterprise set.

2318
01:46:38,010 --> 01:46:43,090
So there's much more studying
that has to go into this.

2319
01:46:43,290 --> 01:46:44,545
In my opinion, none
of the government's

2320
01:46:44,745 --> 01:46:45,270
terrible about
studying everything,

2321
01:46:45,470 --> 01:46:48,828
but in something like this,
we want to see the impacts.

2322
01:46:49,028 --> 01:46:49,960
We want to see--

2323
01:46:50,160 --> 01:46:51,980
we know what it
was intended for,

2324
01:46:52,180 --> 01:46:53,820
at least when it was developed.

2325
01:46:54,020 --> 01:46:56,500
So now how do we best
use that to move forward?

2326
01:46:56,700 --> 01:47:00,320
The site is beautiful and
it helps the site next to it

2327
01:47:00,520 --> 01:47:01,740
for preservation.

2328
01:47:01,940 --> 01:47:05,460
I enjoy that, but what I
noticed at the site next

2329
01:47:05,660 --> 01:47:08,620
to it is the trails and the
opportunities that it has,

2330
01:47:08,820 --> 01:47:12,640
you can't pull your boat
up anymore, so that's fun.

2331
01:47:12,840 --> 01:47:13,980
But the trails and
the opportunities

2332
01:47:14,180 --> 01:47:16,400
that it has, to
be able to enhance

2333
01:47:16,600 --> 01:47:19,540
that, sure, to be able to have
some more bathrooms, sure.

2334
01:47:19,740 --> 01:47:23,460
To build Dollar General at the
end, I think is a terrible idea.

2335
01:47:23,660 --> 01:47:23,020
[CHUCKLING]

2336
01:47:23,220 --> 01:47:25,320
COMMISSIONER MIXON: So,
I mean, I agree, we're

2337
01:47:25,520 --> 01:47:27,920
sending you to a meeting
giving you nothing,

2338
01:47:28,120 --> 01:47:30,300
but hopefully from this,
you can pull some kind

2339
01:47:30,500 --> 01:47:33,600
of negotiating points.

2340
01:47:33,800 --> 01:47:34,620
I'm not sure--

2341
01:47:34,820 --> 01:47:39,640
I don't know, like, I'm not
sure why we're in a negotiation

2342
01:47:39,840 --> 01:47:40,260
at all.

2343
01:47:40,460 --> 01:47:42,080
A collaborative
meeting would be great.

2344
01:47:42,280 --> 01:47:45,700
Coming up with ideas of
saying, tear out already,

2345
01:47:45,900 --> 01:47:49,740
that's frightening to me.

2346
01:47:49,940 --> 01:47:53,640
I wasn't up to date on that.

2347
01:47:53,840 --> 01:47:54,163
COMMISSIONER PALMER:
Just quickly,

2348
01:47:54,363 --> 01:47:57,080
as I understand the
negotiation that I'm to have,

2349
01:47:57,280 --> 01:47:57,998
because you're right,
just otherwise,

2350
01:47:58,198 --> 01:47:59,540
we're just floating ideas.

2351
01:47:59,740 --> 01:48:02,820
What my understanding is, how
do we get to an interlocal?

2352
01:48:03,020 --> 01:48:04,900
What is something that's
acceptable to both bodies?

2353
01:48:05,100 --> 01:48:08,820
That's my understanding of the
direction of this board to me.

2354
01:48:09,020 --> 01:48:11,740
And Ms. Hoshihara is
to try to develop that.

2355
01:48:11,940 --> 01:48:13,360
Am I understanding
that correctly?

2356
01:48:13,560 --> 01:48:16,660
If that's the case, then as
we're talking about interlocal,

2357
01:48:16,860 --> 01:48:21,360
I need to know what this board's
definitions-- whose definitions

2358
01:48:21,560 --> 01:48:25,140
this board wants me to use.

2359
01:48:25,340 --> 01:48:27,300
Do they want me to use
the state's definition,

2360
01:48:27,500 --> 01:48:30,480
or do they want me to
use the city's definition

2361
01:48:30,680 --> 01:48:31,060
of conservation and commercial?

2362
01:48:31,260 --> 01:48:32,800
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Outside of the--

2363
01:48:33,000 --> 01:48:34,300
May I continue, sir?

2364
01:48:34,500 --> 01:48:36,780
Outside of the state's purchase,
not the county's-- thankfully,

2365
01:48:36,980 --> 01:48:41,420
we're not buyer and seller,
outside of the state's purchase,

2366
01:48:41,620 --> 01:48:45,620
is there a conceptual plan
outside of that the state has

2367
01:48:45,820 --> 01:48:46,590
provided or that we've--

2368
01:48:46,790 --> 01:48:49,652
COMMISSIONER PALMER:
The only thing

2369
01:48:49,852 --> 01:48:52,010
is that we are to
operate the Marina

2370
01:48:52,210 --> 01:48:52,910
as a public recreational Marina.

2371
01:48:53,110 --> 01:48:53,750
COMMISSIONER MIXON: OK.

2372
01:48:53,950 --> 01:48:55,070
OK, so we have--

2373
01:48:55,270 --> 01:48:55,790
COMMISSIONER PALMER:
Which in our definition,

2374
01:48:55,990 --> 01:48:58,870
in the definition of what a
public recreational Marina is,

2375
01:48:59,070 --> 01:49:01,670
does include the ability to
do short-term rentals that

2376
01:49:01,870 --> 01:49:04,730
are open to the public.

2377
01:49:04,930 --> 01:49:06,690
We can't do any rentals
for slip rentals

2378
01:49:06,890 --> 01:49:08,790
beyond 12 months that are
automatically renewable.

2379
01:49:08,990 --> 01:49:13,933
So it would have to be
every time it comes up.

2380
01:49:14,133 --> 01:49:14,950
And I'm not contemplating
us doing long-term rentals,

2381
01:49:15,150 --> 01:49:17,517
I'm just saying those
are some of the things

2382
01:49:17,717 --> 01:49:17,850
that-- the requirements.

2383
01:49:18,050 --> 01:49:20,027
COMMISSIONER MIXON: Some
of the definitions given.

2384
01:49:20,227 --> 01:49:20,610
OK.

2385
01:49:20,810 --> 01:49:26,630
Should we concern ourselves more
with getting to a lease first?

2386
01:49:26,830 --> 01:49:34,190
I think those are the
elementary steps, that we

2387
01:49:34,390 --> 01:49:36,410
try to get to at least first.

2388
01:49:36,610 --> 01:49:38,370
With the city in
partnership, how do we--

2389
01:49:38,570 --> 01:49:39,775
COMMISSIONER
PALMER: And Ms. Cox,

2390
01:49:39,975 --> 01:49:41,750
I don't mean to
keep skipping you,

2391
01:49:41,950 --> 01:49:44,710
I completely agree with you that
that's-- but where we are is

2392
01:49:44,910 --> 01:49:49,480
that, we have an engaged public,
we have an engaged city that I

2393
01:49:49,680 --> 01:49:53,640
think that we owe at least
some communication with,

2394
01:49:53,840 --> 01:49:56,920
and that's what I've
been trying to do.

2395
01:49:57,120 --> 01:49:58,620
It's just I think
that we feel like--

2396
01:49:58,820 --> 01:50:02,240
I feel like, that we
don't-- right now,

2397
01:50:02,440 --> 01:50:08,780
we don't have any ability to
satisfy some of the concerns

2398
01:50:08,980 --> 01:50:12,800
because I don't what
definition are we going to--

2399
01:50:13,000 --> 01:50:16,458
Because I'm coming into these
meetings with the understanding

2400
01:50:16,658 --> 01:50:19,300
that it's a terrible idea
to tear down the Marina.

2401
01:50:19,500 --> 01:50:22,300
That was something that was
floated by some residents in, I

2402
01:50:22,500 --> 01:50:23,020
believe, the city.

2403
01:50:23,220 --> 01:50:25,972
I don't know if there
was a vote on that,

2404
01:50:26,172 --> 01:50:27,680
but I think that was what
the city had contemplated,

2405
01:50:27,880 --> 01:50:30,180
was tearing down the Marina.

2406
01:50:30,380 --> 01:50:33,460
So I think that's-- so I'm going
into these meetings with two

2407
01:50:33,660 --> 01:50:35,160
understandings, is that I want
free and sufficient parking

2408
01:50:35,360 --> 01:50:38,500
for county residents, because
this is not a neighborhood park.

2409
01:50:38,700 --> 01:50:42,820
This is a state park that's
being managed by the county,

2410
01:50:43,020 --> 01:50:45,552
and so I want free
and sufficient parking

2411
01:50:45,752 --> 01:50:46,660
for county residents,
and the Marina

2412
01:50:46,860 --> 01:50:52,160
must stay and must be operated
as a public recreational Marina.

2413
01:50:52,360 --> 01:50:55,140
If we operate it free of
charge, the Marina itself,

2414
01:50:55,340 --> 01:50:58,620
then that's a continuing
and significant cost.

2415
01:50:58,820 --> 01:51:00,660
I agree with you.

2416
01:51:00,860 --> 01:51:02,260
I don't want to
engage general funds.

2417
01:51:02,460 --> 01:51:06,660
I don't want it to become
a burden to TD dollars.

2418
01:51:06,860 --> 01:51:10,520
We need this to feed itself.

2419
01:51:10,720 --> 01:51:15,120
So those are the two things
that I'm coming into these talks

2420
01:51:15,320 --> 01:51:17,320
with, is that Marina is saying,
we're going to operate it

2421
01:51:17,520 --> 01:51:19,500
as a public recreational Marina,
as per the Florida cabinet,

2422
01:51:19,700 --> 01:51:22,860
and we need sufficient and free
parking for county residents.

2423
01:51:23,060 --> 01:51:24,260
Beyond that, I'm open.

2424
01:51:24,460 --> 01:51:25,425
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Mr. Chairman,

2425
01:51:25,625 --> 01:51:28,300
in the pursuit of a
lease, which I guess

2426
01:51:28,500 --> 01:51:32,700
that's the best way to say where
we are, the pursuit of a lease,

2427
01:51:32,900 --> 01:51:34,360
could we come up with
a soft conceptual

2428
01:51:34,560 --> 01:51:36,620
so we can see to scale
what it would look

2429
01:51:36,820 --> 01:51:37,480
like to have parking on there?

2430
01:51:37,680 --> 01:51:40,460
The map that was passed out
by the Councilwoman, boy,

2431
01:51:40,660 --> 01:51:41,250
that's huge.

2432
01:51:41,450 --> 01:51:44,030
If we could do something
just that simple

2433
01:51:44,230 --> 01:51:46,970
to see what that might for our
simple minds and conservation

2434
01:51:47,170 --> 01:51:49,450
to see what it gives us.

2435
01:51:49,650 --> 01:51:50,670
But then, Commissioner
Palmer, I think

2436
01:51:50,870 --> 01:51:55,870
to be able to enhance the
remainder of the point

2437
01:51:56,070 --> 01:51:59,170
there that the County
gave the city years ago,

2438
01:51:59,370 --> 01:52:01,990
that the city is just wrapping
up the development of,

2439
01:52:02,190 --> 01:52:03,970
I think that would
be tremendous to see

2440
01:52:04,170 --> 01:52:06,370
how we can best enhance that.

2441
01:52:06,570 --> 01:52:08,850
And then as we
have our discussion

2442
01:52:09,050 --> 01:52:10,567
about guarded beaches,
we'll know more

2443
01:52:10,767 --> 01:52:12,450
about having folks
swim on that side.

2444
01:52:12,650 --> 01:52:14,650
It's dangerous.

2445
01:52:14,850 --> 01:52:17,992
COMMISSIONER PALMER: And
we have-- to be clear,

2446
01:52:18,192 --> 01:52:20,850
you guys know this, but we have
engaged no professional services

2447
01:52:21,050 --> 01:52:21,117
with this.

2448
01:52:21,317 --> 01:52:23,470
So all the drawings were
us with our crayons.

2449
01:52:23,670 --> 01:52:27,950
The thing that was handed
out by the Councilwoman, that

2450
01:52:28,150 --> 01:52:30,350
was the developers.

2451
01:52:30,550 --> 01:52:32,950
That was what was already
approved by the city.

2452
01:52:33,150 --> 01:52:36,130
So that was the
developer's own drawings.

2453
01:52:36,330 --> 01:52:38,910
And the intent of handing
that to the city council

2454
01:52:39,110 --> 01:52:41,480
members and Mayor
as they visited,

2455
01:52:41,680 --> 01:52:45,000
although the mayor brought
his own much larger drawings,

2456
01:52:45,200 --> 01:52:48,600
but the intent of having
them work on those

2457
01:52:48,800 --> 01:52:53,300
was specifically to understand
how different what you're doing,

2458
01:52:53,500 --> 01:52:57,745
what you're putting
on that paper

2459
01:52:57,945 --> 01:52:59,120
is from what was
already approved,

2460
01:52:59,320 --> 01:53:01,840
which is a much reduced
encumbrance of that property

2461
01:53:02,040 --> 01:53:04,340
from a development standpoint.

2462
01:53:04,540 --> 01:53:07,260
And so we've got a
couple of drawings

2463
01:53:07,460 --> 01:53:11,500
that we've worked on that have
been scanned into public records

2464
01:53:11,700 --> 01:53:16,460
that you guys could take a
look at and understand some

2465
01:53:16,660 --> 01:53:19,580
of the things that
we're talking about,

2466
01:53:19,780 --> 01:53:21,860
but it's nothing, nothing--
nowhere close to what

2467
01:53:22,060 --> 01:53:23,620
the Councilwoman handed out.

2468
01:53:23,820 --> 01:53:25,860
And that was my fault.
There was clearly

2469
01:53:26,060 --> 01:53:28,960
a misunderstanding when I was
speaking with her about that.

2470
01:53:29,160 --> 01:53:29,860
Thank you.

2471
01:53:30,060 --> 01:53:31,180
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

2472
01:53:31,380 --> 01:53:33,100
COMMISSIONER COX:
So, Mr. Tomecek,

2473
01:53:33,300 --> 01:53:37,480
I would be interested in
pursuing a public opinion poll

2474
01:53:37,680 --> 01:53:43,920
from our citizens about--
all of our citizens,

2475
01:53:44,120 --> 01:53:47,420
about what the most beneficial
use of this property,

2476
01:53:47,620 --> 01:53:53,180
how they see this shaping--

2477
01:53:53,380 --> 01:53:56,280
taking shape to best serve
Okaloosa County citizens

2478
01:53:56,480 --> 01:53:59,320
needs and the potential
tourists affected.

2479
01:53:59,520 --> 01:54:04,428
I mean, most of us have
family members that

2480
01:54:04,628 --> 01:54:05,620
come to visit from other areas.

2481
01:54:05,820 --> 01:54:09,740
I think that would give at least
a little bit of a sampling that

2482
01:54:09,940 --> 01:54:10,480
would be beneficial.

2483
01:54:10,680 --> 01:54:15,640
I mean, I know that Commissioner
Mixon, Commissioner Ketchel, I

2484
01:54:15,840 --> 01:54:19,800
myself have people
who come to this area

2485
01:54:20,000 --> 01:54:22,520
to visit that specific stretch.

2486
01:54:22,720 --> 01:54:27,460
And so although we cannot
canvas all of Kentucky,

2487
01:54:27,660 --> 01:54:28,880
we can't canvas
Illinois visitors,

2488
01:54:29,080 --> 01:54:32,220
we can't canvas the Eastern
seaboard visitors and what have

2489
01:54:32,420 --> 01:54:34,780
you, I would feel more
comfortable making a decision

2490
01:54:34,980 --> 01:54:39,790
from behind this dais that
affects our citizens as a whole,

2491
01:54:39,990 --> 01:54:41,370
elected at large.

2492
01:54:41,570 --> 01:54:44,390
I mean, our citizens are
at large in this room.

2493
01:54:44,590 --> 01:54:46,990
There's not one particular
district represented more than

2494
01:54:47,190 --> 01:54:50,390
the other, other than
about this parcel.

2495
01:54:50,590 --> 01:54:56,570
I would be interested, if we can
get consensus on it to have you

2496
01:54:56,770 --> 01:55:02,270
and your team
conduct a study that

2497
01:55:02,470 --> 01:55:06,950
asks for that opinion
from the public.

2498
01:55:07,150 --> 01:55:10,610
Is that something
that we can agree on?

2499
01:55:10,810 --> 01:55:10,910
[APPLAUSE]

2500
01:55:11,110 --> 01:55:15,530
COMMISSIONER PALMER:
I agree with that.

2501
01:55:15,730 --> 01:55:18,810
I think it's great to hear
an opinion of the public.

2502
01:55:19,010 --> 01:55:20,730
I would like it to
be a scientific poll,

2503
01:55:20,930 --> 01:55:24,710
an online poll can obviously
be, who's most concerned

2504
01:55:24,910 --> 01:55:28,747
or who shares it the most?

2505
01:55:28,947 --> 01:55:31,030
Where I'd like it to be
whether it be a telephone,

2506
01:55:31,230 --> 01:55:32,670
like an actual poll of
the county residents,

2507
01:55:32,870 --> 01:55:36,090
I think that would be a
fantastic thing to do.

2508
01:55:36,290 --> 01:55:38,740
COMMISSIONER MIXON: And Mr.
Chair, can we just give that

2509
01:55:38,940 --> 01:55:41,440
to our liaison for this
and let he and Mr. Tomecek

2510
01:55:41,640 --> 01:55:44,140
work out the parameters?

2511
01:55:44,340 --> 01:55:46,040
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: I
was just going to say,

2512
01:55:46,240 --> 01:55:48,040
from experience, polling
like that is expensive.

2513
01:55:48,240 --> 01:55:52,060
So that seems to me that
would be a TDD expense.

2514
01:55:52,260 --> 01:55:56,300
It's not coming out of
general fund with my vote.

2515
01:55:56,500 --> 01:55:56,000
[CHUCKLING]

2516
01:55:56,200 --> 01:55:58,000
SPEAKER 7: Yeah,
I was just going

2517
01:55:58,200 --> 01:56:01,440
to say that we had already
set up an email account

2518
01:56:01,640 --> 01:56:06,060
and we've received a lot
of input from those folks,

2519
01:56:06,260 --> 01:56:09,360
mostly from the folks on there.

2520
01:56:09,560 --> 01:56:12,080
Directing it towards an
audience outside of our area

2521
01:56:12,280 --> 01:56:14,438
would be a little
bit more difficult,

2522
01:56:14,638 --> 01:56:17,180
and I believe it would
take some money to do that.

2523
01:56:17,380 --> 01:56:18,840
COMMISSIONER COX: Well,
for clarification,

2524
01:56:19,040 --> 01:56:21,260
I just want our citizens polled.

2525
01:56:21,460 --> 01:56:24,120
I mean, I'm confident that our
visitors, like our citizens

2526
01:56:24,320 --> 01:56:26,900
visitors, will give feedback
if needed or if asked,

2527
01:56:27,100 --> 01:56:29,700
I mean, by our county residents.

2528
01:56:29,900 --> 01:56:29,600
But.

2529
01:56:29,800 --> 01:56:32,060
to be clear, for a
point of clarification,

2530
01:56:32,260 --> 01:56:34,280
I just want our citizens
polled for this.

2531
01:56:34,480 --> 01:56:36,148
SPEAKER 7: Yeah, I
mean, we could certainly

2532
01:56:36,348 --> 01:56:37,640
work up an additional
poll in addition

2533
01:56:37,840 --> 01:56:39,823
to what we've already
done and all the input,

2534
01:56:40,023 --> 01:56:43,120
if that's the will of the board.

2535
01:56:43,320 --> 01:56:44,360
COMMISSIONER
KETCHEL: You can also

2536
01:56:44,560 --> 01:56:45,700
put it out through the
Chamber of Commerce.

2537
01:56:45,900 --> 01:56:46,660
All four of them.

2538
01:56:46,860 --> 01:56:48,660
That's a good way to
get some input too.

2539
01:56:48,860 --> 01:56:50,600
SPEAKER 7: Yeah, cool.

2540
01:56:50,800 --> 01:56:52,380
I can work with
Commissioner Palmer.

2541
01:56:52,580 --> 01:56:54,180
We can come up with something.

2542
01:56:54,380 --> 01:56:54,780
COMMISSIONER PALMER: [INAUDIBLE]

2543
01:56:54,980 --> 01:56:55,513
[LAUGHTER]

2544
01:56:55,713 --> 01:56:58,560
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

2545
01:56:58,760 --> 01:57:00,040
Other input for
Commissioner Palmer

2546
01:57:00,240 --> 01:57:03,300
before I take a
stab at my thoughts?

2547
01:57:03,500 --> 01:57:06,380
All right, so a lot
of good discussion,

2548
01:57:06,580 --> 01:57:09,460
a lot of good sunshine.

2549
01:57:09,660 --> 01:57:10,060
It's warm.

2550
01:57:10,260 --> 01:57:12,740
Might be getting a tan up here.

2551
01:57:12,940 --> 01:57:14,580
I don't want to get
a sunburn though.

2552
01:57:14,780 --> 01:57:15,600
[CHUCKLES] So I'll
just tell you,

2553
01:57:15,800 --> 01:57:20,920
and certainly, I understand
the request about a poll.

2554
01:57:21,120 --> 01:57:22,580
Nothing wrong with that.

2555
01:57:22,780 --> 01:57:23,920
Public input is good.

2556
01:57:24,120 --> 01:57:26,600
I'll tell you, I've done
polling the old fashioned way.

2557
01:57:26,800 --> 01:57:29,840
I've walked and knocked doors
in different neighborhoods,

2558
01:57:30,040 --> 01:57:33,122
and I can get a pretty
good sense of what

2559
01:57:33,322 --> 01:57:33,630
people think by doing that.

2560
01:57:33,830 --> 01:57:36,630
And I can get a
pretty good sense

2561
01:57:36,830 --> 01:57:38,210
by the communications
I hear from people,

2562
01:57:38,410 --> 01:57:42,310
by the communications I hear
from the local residents, most

2563
01:57:42,510 --> 01:57:45,550
local representatives,
for instance,

2564
01:57:45,750 --> 01:57:48,610
from cities and city
council members.

2565
01:57:48,810 --> 01:57:53,150
And I think I know
where I am on it.

2566
01:57:53,350 --> 01:57:56,350
And a little bit of
this, we're starting

2567
01:57:56,550 --> 01:57:59,310
to get into the granular
and some of the questions

2568
01:57:59,510 --> 01:58:00,530
about how do we define things.

2569
01:58:00,730 --> 01:58:03,230
That's probably, to
some extent, going

2570
01:58:03,430 --> 01:58:07,650
to need to be a Lynn Hoshihara
and Kim Kopp question and less

2571
01:58:07,850 --> 01:58:09,870
about a policy decision,
because now all of a sudden,

2572
01:58:10,070 --> 01:58:11,330
you're starting to
lawyer the thing.

2573
01:58:11,530 --> 01:58:14,430
And I can see another lawyer
in the room, Mr. Deitch,

2574
01:58:14,630 --> 01:58:15,290
over here, shaking his head.

2575
01:58:15,490 --> 01:58:17,650
He knows exactly what
I'm talking about.

2576
01:58:17,850 --> 01:58:21,510
And that can get-- it can get--
it would almost be impossible.

2577
01:58:21,710 --> 01:58:24,013
We could end up being
paralyzed in the process

2578
01:58:24,213 --> 01:58:25,930
if we tried to do it up here.

2579
01:58:26,130 --> 01:58:28,950
But we can certainly lay out
vision and policy from up here.

2580
01:58:29,150 --> 01:58:31,910
And I'll tell you
what I would say.

2581
01:58:32,110 --> 01:58:33,940
I'll start with the first thing.

2582
01:58:34,140 --> 01:58:38,400
My position is, what this
can never be is a land based

2583
01:58:38,600 --> 01:58:40,180
Crab Island.

2584
01:58:40,380 --> 01:58:43,120
If there are blow
ups and bounce houses

2585
01:58:43,320 --> 01:58:46,160
and rental skis running
over people and all

2586
01:58:46,360 --> 01:58:49,760
of that absolute
nonsense, I will fight it

2587
01:58:49,960 --> 01:58:52,300
with everything I've got.

2588
01:58:52,500 --> 01:58:56,760
But I don't think that means a
park can never generate income.

2589
01:58:56,960 --> 01:59:00,740
I don't think those have
to be mutually exclusive.

2590
01:59:00,940 --> 01:59:05,000
I think what it means is, if you
generate income from your park,

2591
01:59:05,200 --> 01:59:07,560
or even if you don't, if you
want a successful project,

2592
01:59:07,760 --> 01:59:11,080
you need to have tight
controls and tight enforcement.

2593
01:59:11,280 --> 01:59:14,660
And so that's where I start.

2594
01:59:14,860 --> 01:59:17,820
I feel that way
about all our parks.

2595
01:59:18,020 --> 01:59:19,740
I want them fenced, I
want them monitored,

2596
01:59:19,940 --> 01:59:22,000
and I want enforcement when
people break the rules,

2597
01:59:22,200 --> 01:59:24,220
because the people that
aren't breaking the rules

2598
01:59:24,420 --> 01:59:25,962
deserve to go
there and enjoy it.

2599
01:59:26,162 --> 01:59:28,860
But I don't mind
charging for something

2600
01:59:29,060 --> 01:59:31,460
that somebody is
willing to pay for.

2601
01:59:31,660 --> 01:59:33,460
In fact, when it
comes to the parking,

2602
01:59:33,660 --> 01:59:35,520
I'm not even at
the position that I

2603
01:59:35,720 --> 01:59:37,280
have to have free parking
for county residents.

2604
01:59:37,480 --> 01:59:41,260
I want county residents to be
in parity with city residents.

2605
01:59:41,460 --> 01:59:45,160
If city residents are free, I
want County residents for free.

2606
01:59:45,360 --> 01:59:46,740
If city residents
get a discount,

2607
01:59:46,940 --> 01:59:48,500
give county residents
the same discount.

2608
01:59:48,700 --> 01:59:52,300
If we don't want to give
anybody a discount, that's fine.

2609
01:59:52,500 --> 01:59:53,660
Have parity.

2610
01:59:53,860 --> 01:59:57,880
As far as the Marina
goes, I won't--

2611
01:59:58,080 --> 02:00:01,460
I say won't, I don't
foresee myself ever voting

2612
02:00:01,660 --> 02:00:06,880
to tear down the Marina because
I view that as economic waste.

2613
02:00:07,080 --> 02:00:09,600
So I won't do that.

2614
02:00:09,800 --> 02:00:10,680
But I've envisioned this.

2615
02:00:10,880 --> 02:00:14,680
When I think of
it, I think of it

2616
02:00:14,880 --> 02:00:16,400
as, those are nothing
more than RV pad

2617
02:00:16,600 --> 02:00:21,220
spots at Topsail on the water.

2618
02:00:21,420 --> 02:00:24,960
Topsail manages it with the
state of Florida just fine.

2619
02:00:25,160 --> 02:00:26,880
People pay, people go.

2620
02:00:27,080 --> 02:00:29,410
Some people bring
a $10,000 camper.

2621
02:00:29,610 --> 02:00:32,510
Some people bring
$1 million Prevost.

2622
02:00:32,710 --> 02:00:36,430
Everybody can have a good
time and enjoy the beauty

2623
02:00:36,630 --> 02:00:39,690
that the good Lord has provided
for us here in Okaloosa County

2624
02:00:39,890 --> 02:00:42,930
and across the Emerald Coast.

2625
02:00:43,130 --> 02:00:45,410
I think the idea of--

2626
02:00:45,610 --> 02:00:47,270
that you have to
have strict controls.

2627
02:00:47,470 --> 02:00:50,210
You cannot have somebody
parking out there for 12 months.

2628
02:00:50,410 --> 02:00:54,470
You can't have somebody
parking out there for 30 days.

2629
02:00:54,670 --> 02:00:57,670
The last thing you want is
what Fort Walton went through,

2630
02:00:57,870 --> 02:01:00,010
and had all those junk
sailboats with two stroke

2631
02:01:00,210 --> 02:01:02,128
generators sitting
on the front of it

2632
02:01:02,328 --> 02:01:04,570
that they got at Harbor
Freight, and they're out there

2633
02:01:04,770 --> 02:01:07,050
drinking beer on the bow,
yelling at people all day

2634
02:01:07,250 --> 02:01:09,750
as they try to go to the park.

2635
02:01:09,950 --> 02:01:09,970
We're not doing that.

2636
02:01:10,170 --> 02:01:11,790
I will fight that
with everything I've

2637
02:01:11,990 --> 02:01:14,530
got, because that's a
ridiculous waste of resources.

2638
02:01:14,730 --> 02:01:17,990
But I don't actually think that
there isn't something inherently

2639
02:01:18,190 --> 02:01:23,190
bad about a family that wants
to bring their cabin cruise

2640
02:01:23,390 --> 02:01:27,330
chaparral and park over
there for a weekend.

2641
02:01:27,530 --> 02:01:29,260
I don't think then--

2642
02:01:29,460 --> 02:01:30,460
I don't think that's
necessarily bad.

2643
02:01:30,660 --> 02:01:34,560
I don't think they're
a per se bad element.

2644
02:01:34,760 --> 02:01:38,440
So I'm not trying to
exclude those kind of folks.

2645
02:01:38,640 --> 02:01:41,020
But we make people-- we
charge for it because it

2646
02:01:41,220 --> 02:01:42,980
has to generate some income.

2647
02:01:43,180 --> 02:01:46,760
I don't think it's a place to
have fuel sales, personally.

2648
02:01:46,960 --> 02:01:50,180
I don't want to get into
the fuel sales stuff,

2649
02:01:50,380 --> 02:01:50,340
because guess what?

2650
02:01:50,540 --> 02:01:54,320
We have a problem, now all of
a sudden the state looks at us.

2651
02:01:54,520 --> 02:01:57,460
You had a leak, now you got DEP,
you got EPA, and the state says,

2652
02:01:57,660 --> 02:01:58,100
well, you're the tenant.

2653
02:01:58,300 --> 02:01:58,980
You did it.

2654
02:01:59,180 --> 02:01:59,480
You fixed it.

2655
02:01:59,680 --> 02:02:00,340
You pay for it.

2656
02:02:00,540 --> 02:02:01,865
I don't want to get into it.

2657
02:02:02,065 --> 02:02:02,220
Go somewhere else.

2658
02:02:02,420 --> 02:02:04,320
There's plenty of other
places that'll sell fuel.

2659
02:02:04,520 --> 02:02:06,062
We don't need to sell fuel.

2660
02:02:06,262 --> 02:02:08,440
We don't necessarily
need a pump out.

2661
02:02:08,640 --> 02:02:10,920
I don't know if Destin's
got a pump out boat,

2662
02:02:11,120 --> 02:02:12,300
but a lot of places
do, and people can

2663
02:02:12,500 --> 02:02:13,660
pay for that if they want it.

2664
02:02:13,860 --> 02:02:14,580
I think reasonable
things is kind

2665
02:02:14,780 --> 02:02:16,820
of like you do on a campsite.

2666
02:02:17,020 --> 02:02:18,240
You need power, you need water.

2667
02:02:18,440 --> 02:02:20,720
You need rules, you
need trash collection.

2668
02:02:20,920 --> 02:02:23,872
You need trash
collection, whether people

2669
02:02:24,072 --> 02:02:27,080
stay at the Marina or not,
so that just makes sense.

2670
02:02:27,280 --> 02:02:28,580
You're going to
need some parking.

2671
02:02:28,780 --> 02:02:30,580
It'd be ridiculous
not to have parking.

2672
02:02:30,780 --> 02:02:32,900
It would be ridiculous not
to have sufficient parking.

2673
02:02:33,100 --> 02:02:35,240
But how much is the
right amount of parking?

2674
02:02:35,440 --> 02:02:36,340
I don't know.

2675
02:02:36,540 --> 02:02:37,560
That's not for us.

2676
02:02:37,760 --> 02:02:39,740
It's certainly not for me.

2677
02:02:39,940 --> 02:02:41,160
There's plenty of
civil engineers

2678
02:02:41,360 --> 02:02:44,140
out there that can
give us great guidance

2679
02:02:44,340 --> 02:02:47,700
on the correct balance of the
number of parking spots we need,

2680
02:02:47,900 --> 02:02:49,700
how to design them,
and how to map it

2681
02:02:49,900 --> 02:02:50,860
out so that it's
not oversaturated,

2682
02:02:51,060 --> 02:02:54,180
and it's not underserved.

2683
02:02:54,380 --> 02:02:57,878
It's not a decision I need to
make sitting here, or tell you,

2684
02:02:58,078 --> 02:02:58,020
hey, I want 148--

2685
02:02:58,220 --> 02:02:59,540
I'll need 148 parking spots.

2686
02:02:59,740 --> 02:03:01,680
That's a waste of time.

2687
02:03:01,880 --> 02:03:02,660
It could be wrong.

2688
02:03:02,860 --> 02:03:05,900
It could be too many, it could
be too little, I don't know.

2689
02:03:06,100 --> 02:03:09,000
So those are some of the
basics where I start from.

2690
02:03:09,200 --> 02:03:10,240
Do I think there's
anything wrong

2691
02:03:10,440 --> 02:03:12,420
with having some type
of retail sales there

2692
02:03:12,620 --> 02:03:18,580
and even some food sales?

2693
02:03:18,780 --> 02:03:19,240
No.

2694
02:03:19,440 --> 02:03:21,460
No, they do it at--

2695
02:03:21,660 --> 02:03:24,620
they do it at state
parks all over the place.

2696
02:03:24,820 --> 02:03:25,870
Federal parks.

2697
02:03:26,070 --> 02:03:29,230
But does that mean we have food
trucks and carnival concessions?

2698
02:03:29,430 --> 02:03:37,430
No, but I mean, you can have
a sundries store that's small,

2699
02:03:37,630 --> 02:03:39,970
run by camp Rangers.

2700
02:03:40,170 --> 02:03:44,210
I mean, I've been to many,
many parks where they have it.

2701
02:03:44,410 --> 02:03:44,450
They're not offensive.

2702
02:03:44,650 --> 02:03:46,470
In fact, people enjoy it.

2703
02:03:46,670 --> 02:03:50,250
It's not a t-shirt shop with
offensive things hanging

2704
02:03:50,450 --> 02:03:52,110
in the window.

2705
02:03:52,310 --> 02:03:53,090
It's reasonable.

2706
02:03:53,290 --> 02:03:56,270
And in fact, you can
put things in there

2707
02:03:56,470 --> 02:03:56,770
that are location specific.

2708
02:03:56,970 --> 02:03:59,070
Stickers that say, I
visited Destin, Florida.

2709
02:03:59,270 --> 02:04:02,650
People like that kind of stuff.

2710
02:04:02,850 --> 02:04:05,490
They'll stick it on their boat,
go back wherever they came from

2711
02:04:05,690 --> 02:04:06,950
and say, I can't wait
to go back to Destin,

2712
02:04:07,150 --> 02:04:08,730
because they had a good
time with their kids

2713
02:04:08,930 --> 02:04:10,010
and their family,
and nobody got hurt.

2714
02:04:10,210 --> 02:04:12,330
Nobody was acting crazy.

2715
02:04:12,530 --> 02:04:16,533
Because we're going
to have rules,

2716
02:04:16,733 --> 02:04:18,550
I foresee, in place
that won't allow it.

2717
02:04:18,750 --> 02:04:22,350
We're not going to allow people
to sit out there and blast music

2718
02:04:22,550 --> 02:04:26,675
to the middle of the night,
or even during the day.

2719
02:04:26,875 --> 02:04:28,200
We can crack down on
that kind of stuff

2720
02:04:28,400 --> 02:04:30,840
because it will be
things that we control.

2721
02:04:31,040 --> 02:04:33,040
That's how I foresee it.

2722
02:04:33,240 --> 02:04:34,560
But exactly what the--

2723
02:04:34,760 --> 02:04:38,730
I can't sit right here
and articulate for you

2724
02:04:38,930 --> 02:04:40,980
what that rule book
is going to look like,

2725
02:04:41,180 --> 02:04:43,732
but I can tell you what I
want to accomplish with it,

2726
02:04:43,932 --> 02:04:46,240
and I know there are people
that are a lot smarter than me

2727
02:04:46,440 --> 02:04:47,457
that can help figure out
what those rules are.

2728
02:04:47,657 --> 02:04:48,380
But I think it's--

2729
02:04:48,580 --> 02:04:51,460
so, I guess, really from
a basic starting point,

2730
02:04:51,660 --> 02:04:54,032
no, I don't want to
tear down the Marina,

2731
02:04:54,232 --> 02:04:55,740
and no, I don't want
people living out there.

2732
02:04:55,940 --> 02:04:56,060
Absolutely not.

2733
02:04:56,260 --> 02:04:58,700
And do I think that
there should be

2734
02:04:58,900 --> 02:05:01,320
some reserve slips that are
day, kind of transient use?

2735
02:05:01,520 --> 02:05:05,000
Yeah, the city of Destin
has some transient slips.

2736
02:05:05,200 --> 02:05:06,100
And guess what?

2737
02:05:06,300 --> 02:05:07,760
They are very nice to have.

2738
02:05:07,960 --> 02:05:13,260
When I say transient,
that's day use,

2739
02:05:13,460 --> 02:05:15,240
I don't mean homeless
people living there.

2740
02:05:15,440 --> 02:05:19,300
But the Marina's there.

2741
02:05:19,500 --> 02:05:23,260
It'd be-- I'm just too much of a
conservative mind to go in there

2742
02:05:23,460 --> 02:05:24,720
and rip the thing out.

2743
02:05:24,920 --> 02:05:27,280
But I think if we
manage it correctly,

2744
02:05:27,480 --> 02:05:28,680
it won't be an offensive thing.

2745
02:05:28,880 --> 02:05:32,760
As far as trying to have
this treated as conservation,

2746
02:05:32,960 --> 02:05:36,740
whether we use a city
definition, the state

2747
02:05:36,940 --> 02:05:38,800
definition, I say we use
a practical definition.

2748
02:05:39,000 --> 02:05:43,280
No, we don't want the
whole thing paved.

2749
02:05:43,480 --> 02:05:45,480
No, we don't want a saturation
of vertical development.

2750
02:05:45,680 --> 02:05:50,580
Does there need to be, probably,
some landscaping and some ADA

2751
02:05:50,780 --> 02:05:52,060
accommodations and
things like that?

2752
02:05:52,260 --> 02:05:53,140
Absolutely.

2753
02:05:53,340 --> 02:05:56,740
Like I said, there's going
to have to be some parking,

2754
02:05:56,940 --> 02:06:00,560
but can you conserve
or try to, actually,

2755
02:06:00,760 --> 02:06:05,500
restore to some extent, some
of the natural elements?

2756
02:06:05,700 --> 02:06:09,340
Sure, I'd love to
see that baked in.

2757
02:06:09,540 --> 02:06:12,200
I don't think people
are going to come

2758
02:06:12,400 --> 02:06:13,540
to that facility for
an entertainment venue.

2759
02:06:13,740 --> 02:06:17,645
It's going to be like
when they go to Alabama

2760
02:06:17,845 --> 02:06:18,920
and want to go to
Gulf State Park.

2761
02:06:19,120 --> 02:06:20,460
They're enjoying the
beauty of what's there.

2762
02:06:20,660 --> 02:06:22,590
That's my vision of it.

2763
02:06:22,790 --> 02:06:24,655
Is there are people that
don't agree with me?

2764
02:06:24,855 --> 02:06:24,430
Absolutely.

2765
02:06:24,630 --> 02:06:27,843
I talk to people that don't
agree with me every day.

2766
02:06:28,043 --> 02:06:30,310
It starts when I first get
out of bed in the morning.

2767
02:06:30,510 --> 02:06:32,250
But that's kind
of my take on it.

2768
02:06:32,450 --> 02:06:35,540
I can't really go have coffee
with Commissioner Palmer

2769
02:06:35,740 --> 02:06:36,590
and tell him that.

2770
02:06:36,790 --> 02:06:40,070
That's the level of
input I think he needs.

2771
02:06:40,270 --> 02:06:43,630
I don't think he needs me
to tell him, well, take out

2772
02:06:43,830 --> 02:06:44,430
pier one, but leave pier three.

2773
02:06:44,630 --> 02:06:45,590
That's not for today.

2774
02:06:45,790 --> 02:06:48,730
That's just where I am.

2775
02:06:48,930 --> 02:06:50,230
Don't get into the fuel.

2776
02:06:50,430 --> 02:06:54,390
Let's use pump out boats,
don't run sewer lines

2777
02:06:54,590 --> 02:06:57,870
because then they breach
and then there's a spill

2778
02:06:58,070 --> 02:07:00,410
and then it's all this
stuff that's bad from it.

2779
02:07:00,610 --> 02:07:03,570
You want to come, you
need your boat pumped out,

2780
02:07:03,770 --> 02:07:05,530
pay somebody to pump it out.

2781
02:07:05,730 --> 02:07:05,570
That's fine.

2782
02:07:05,770 --> 02:07:07,630
We'll give you water,
we'll give you electricity,

2783
02:07:07,830 --> 02:07:10,390
so you don't have a dead
battery, because we definitely

2784
02:07:10,590 --> 02:07:12,310
don't want boats sitting there
that can't start and get out

2785
02:07:12,510 --> 02:07:12,770
when they're supposed to go.

2786
02:07:12,970 --> 02:07:14,350
We're going to
need a park ranger.

2787
02:07:14,550 --> 02:07:16,730
I think there needs
to be a guard shack.

2788
02:07:16,930 --> 02:07:20,530
I think there needs
to be a guy or a gal

2789
02:07:20,730 --> 02:07:23,360
out there with a uniform on that
lets them know, I'm your park

2790
02:07:23,560 --> 02:07:23,340
liaison, park ranger.

2791
02:07:23,540 --> 02:07:25,600
It needs to be monitored.

2792
02:07:25,800 --> 02:07:26,760
It needs to have security.

2793
02:07:26,960 --> 02:07:27,660
It needs cameras.

2794
02:07:27,860 --> 02:07:30,300
It is going to have
to have some lighting.

2795
02:07:30,500 --> 02:07:32,260
Obviously, it's got to be
turtle friendly and respectful

2796
02:07:32,460 --> 02:07:34,293
of the neighbors, but
you've got to have

2797
02:07:34,493 --> 02:07:36,260
some lighting for security
because there will be times

2798
02:07:36,460 --> 02:07:37,960
that people are out
there after dark,

2799
02:07:38,160 --> 02:07:39,540
especially if there's Marinas.

2800
02:07:39,740 --> 02:07:41,420
But you're going to have rules.

2801
02:07:41,620 --> 02:07:42,380
You're going to
have rules in place.

2802
02:07:42,580 --> 02:07:43,880
People break it, they're
gone, they're banned.

2803
02:07:44,080 --> 02:07:45,573
You got to have enforcement.

2804
02:07:45,773 --> 02:07:47,940
Anyway, I don't know if that's
helpful at all, Commissioner,

2805
02:07:48,140 --> 02:07:48,980
but that's my perspective.

2806
02:07:49,180 --> 02:07:51,365
COMMISSIONER PALMER:
Yes, sir, I think it is.

2807
02:07:51,565 --> 02:07:52,640
And I appreciate your input.

2808
02:07:52,840 --> 02:07:56,700
And if anybody else has input,
I would be excited to hear it.

2809
02:07:56,900 --> 02:07:59,320
I think you're starting
where I am starting.

2810
02:07:59,520 --> 02:08:02,840
You didn't say anything
that is like, oh, wow.

2811
02:08:03,040 --> 02:08:04,840
I think we're kind on
the same page here.

2812
02:08:05,040 --> 02:08:09,080
And I think that's where we need
to start with our discussions

2813
02:08:09,280 --> 02:08:09,820
with the city.

2814
02:08:10,020 --> 02:08:11,100
When we're talking
about interlocal.

2815
02:08:11,300 --> 02:08:14,700
Like, these are the things that
we as a board are contemplating.

2816
02:08:14,900 --> 02:08:15,762
I think you're
absolutely right, we

2817
02:08:15,962 --> 02:08:17,820
don't want it to
be a crab Island.

2818
02:08:18,020 --> 02:08:20,980
We don't want it to be, bounce
houses and that sort of thing

2819
02:08:21,180 --> 02:08:22,640
out there, but
it's going to be--

2820
02:08:22,840 --> 02:08:26,320
I just want a nice place for
families to have a nice time.

2821
02:08:26,520 --> 02:08:30,060
And I think you and I
may disagree a little bit

2822
02:08:30,260 --> 02:08:30,620
on the parking.

2823
02:08:30,820 --> 02:08:34,640
I do like the idea of Crestview
residents or Baker residents

2824
02:08:34,840 --> 02:08:38,860
being able to come down
there and park for free.

2825
02:08:39,060 --> 02:08:40,260
I think that's important
when we're spending money

2826
02:08:40,460 --> 02:08:42,740
on behalf of the county.

2827
02:08:42,940 --> 02:08:44,620
That's one thing that I--

2828
02:08:44,820 --> 02:08:47,880
but I do, I appreciate your
parity is a minimum, right?

2829
02:08:48,080 --> 02:08:49,420
Parity is a minimum.

2830
02:08:49,620 --> 02:08:51,340
But I do appreciate that input.

2831
02:08:51,540 --> 02:08:55,383
And I think it gives us a place
to start, where, at least,

2832
02:08:55,583 --> 02:08:56,900
now the city understands where
the board is coming from.

2833
02:08:57,100 --> 02:09:00,640
And I think that
helps our discussions.

2834
02:09:00,840 --> 02:09:04,900
COMMISSIONER COX: I have just
a point of clarity, if I may.

2835
02:09:05,100 --> 02:09:06,043
And I know this
is highly unusual,

2836
02:09:06,243 --> 02:09:08,360
but if Councilman Bagby,
can you answer this for me?

2837
02:09:08,560 --> 02:09:14,300
Because I think I'm off of page
or missing a page on the Marina.

2838
02:09:14,500 --> 02:09:18,590
It sounds very much like the
majority of your citizens

2839
02:09:18,790 --> 02:09:22,690
do not want the Marina in
place as it currently exists.

2840
02:09:22,890 --> 02:09:26,990
However, the city
of Destin is who

2841
02:09:27,190 --> 02:09:30,130
approved the plans and the
construction of the Marina

2842
02:09:30,330 --> 02:09:31,610
as it currently exists.

2843
02:09:31,810 --> 02:09:32,970
Is that correct?

2844
02:09:33,170 --> 02:09:33,945
JIM BAGBY: Yes.

2845
02:09:34,145 --> 02:09:34,570
COMMISSIONER COX: OK.

2846
02:09:34,770 --> 02:09:37,910
So that's really already
been approved and addressed.

2847
02:09:38,110 --> 02:09:41,690
And that really shouldn't
even be an issue for us,

2848
02:09:41,890 --> 02:09:43,745
because we're--

2849
02:09:43,945 --> 02:09:46,470
I mean, first of all,
we don't have a lease,

2850
02:09:46,670 --> 02:09:47,090
and secondly, we're not
the landowners, right?

2851
02:09:47,290 --> 02:09:50,010
The state owns the land,
and they have not also

2852
02:09:50,210 --> 02:09:52,190
suggested the removal
of the Marina.

2853
02:09:52,390 --> 02:09:54,273
JIM BAGBY: Yes, ma'am.

2854
02:09:54,473 --> 02:09:56,390
And I like getting in
trouble with the lawyer.

2855
02:09:56,590 --> 02:09:58,307
So I'm going to preempt
her, and then she's

2856
02:09:58,507 --> 02:09:59,870
going to clean up my mess here.

2857
02:10:00,070 --> 02:10:02,150
The docks were approved as part
of the residential condominium

2858
02:10:02,350 --> 02:10:05,270
approval.

2859
02:10:05,470 --> 02:10:07,970
Without the docks-- or
without the condominium,

2860
02:10:08,170 --> 02:10:10,730
the docks would not exist.

2861
02:10:10,930 --> 02:10:14,490
And they were tied to that as
part of their development order

2862
02:10:14,690 --> 02:10:17,720
so that when the docs
are there-- and we did

2863
02:10:17,920 --> 02:10:20,400
have a council member mentioned
who's our representative.

2864
02:10:20,600 --> 02:10:23,740
Well, we could just
remove the docs

2865
02:10:23,940 --> 02:10:26,880
and somebody would probably
take the materials and do that.

2866
02:10:27,080 --> 02:10:28,940
Council didn't vote on that.

2867
02:10:29,140 --> 02:10:29,940
COMMISSIONER COX: OK.

2868
02:10:30,140 --> 02:10:30,160
JIM BAGBY: OK.

2869
02:10:30,360 --> 02:10:31,943
So this is kind of
little red herring

2870
02:10:32,143 --> 02:10:33,300
that keeps getting
bounced around up here

2871
02:10:33,500 --> 02:10:36,040
is, oh, Destin wants
to remove the docs.

2872
02:10:36,240 --> 02:10:39,440
No, but what we do realize,
being a fishing community,

2873
02:10:39,640 --> 02:10:41,860
is that the docs, as
currently constructed,

2874
02:10:42,060 --> 02:10:44,660
were built for 75
foot and larger boats

2875
02:10:44,860 --> 02:10:48,383
because those were
the people that

2876
02:10:48,583 --> 02:10:50,100
were going to buy the
multi-million dollar

2877
02:10:50,300 --> 02:10:50,480
condominiums.

2878
02:10:50,680 --> 02:10:54,800
Those docs will not fit the
chaparral or the little 23 foot

2879
02:10:55,000 --> 02:11:00,160
center console fishing boat
that somebody brings over

2880
02:11:00,360 --> 02:11:02,940
from Niceville or Poquito
Bayou or whatever.

2881
02:11:03,140 --> 02:11:06,640
And even your own
staff has admitted,

2882
02:11:06,840 --> 02:11:09,240
well, we'll just pay
to retrofit those.

2883
02:11:09,440 --> 02:11:12,160
OK, well, that's a cost
that nobody's anticipated.

2884
02:11:12,360 --> 02:11:14,780
Certainly, the state
didn't anticipate that.

2885
02:11:14,980 --> 02:11:17,020
But you're absolutely
right, those docs

2886
02:11:17,220 --> 02:11:19,960
were approved as part
of the development order

2887
02:11:20,160 --> 02:11:21,900
because they are
allowed to be tied

2888
02:11:22,100 --> 02:11:25,540
to the residential units that
were in those condominiums.

2889
02:11:25,740 --> 02:11:28,920
OK, you can get
me out of trouble.

2890
02:11:29,120 --> 02:11:29,820
COMMISSIONER COX:
And that's correct--

2891
02:11:30,020 --> 02:11:30,760
KIMBERLY KOPP:
Thank you very much.

2892
02:11:30,960 --> 02:11:31,780
Great job, council member Bagby.

2893
02:11:31,980 --> 02:11:35,318
But I want to give you
all just a little bit more

2894
02:11:35,518 --> 02:11:36,160
of the legal background
on the development orders

2895
02:11:36,360 --> 02:11:38,540
and the city's position
on that based on what

2896
02:11:38,740 --> 02:11:40,000
I've heard from the council.

2897
02:11:40,200 --> 02:11:44,480
First of all, the docs are
a separate development order

2898
02:11:44,680 --> 02:11:47,720
from the condo.

2899
02:11:47,920 --> 02:11:49,780
And the condo was
approved decades ago.

2900
02:11:49,980 --> 02:11:53,980
I don't remember the
exact year offhand.

2901
02:11:54,180 --> 02:11:55,420
I want to say 2009.

2902
02:11:55,620 --> 02:11:57,040
OK, decades ago.

2903
02:11:57,240 --> 02:12:01,640
In that development order,
docs were not contemplated.

2904
02:12:01,840 --> 02:12:05,880
So when the prior property
owner came in and applied

2905
02:12:06,080 --> 02:12:09,780
for the second
development order,

2906
02:12:09,980 --> 02:12:13,580
the city was very clear about
why that would be approved

2907
02:12:13,780 --> 02:12:17,370
and what the limitations
were going to be.

2908
02:12:17,570 --> 02:12:19,900
And like I mentioned
at a council meeting,

2909
02:12:20,100 --> 02:12:22,250
that you may not have
seen a lot of those

2910
02:12:22,450 --> 02:12:24,350
conditions were not just
in there, but bold caps.

2911
02:12:24,550 --> 02:12:26,770
It was a main purpose
of the city council

2912
02:12:26,970 --> 02:12:28,710
to restrict the
use of the docks.

2913
02:12:28,910 --> 02:12:32,330
Keep in mind, the
condo had the parking.

2914
02:12:32,530 --> 02:12:37,430
The city owns in fee simple the
right of way into Noriega point,

2915
02:12:37,630 --> 02:12:41,890
and that was also going
to serve the condominium.

2916
02:12:42,090 --> 02:12:44,610
So we added public
parking there.

2917
02:12:44,810 --> 02:12:47,730
And I've not heard from
anyone on this council

2918
02:12:47,930 --> 02:12:51,310
that we would not want to treat
the North and South with parity.

2919
02:12:51,510 --> 02:12:53,910
So I don't think you're going
to have a problem with that.

2920
02:12:54,110 --> 02:12:55,210
I think if Destin
residents are not

2921
02:12:55,410 --> 02:12:57,490
charged for parking,
what I've heard

2922
02:12:57,690 --> 02:12:59,450
from my client in
public meetings,

2923
02:12:59,650 --> 02:13:02,810
is they're happy to have
the North also not pay.

2924
02:13:03,010 --> 02:13:07,930
But the development order also
specifically says not only does

2925
02:13:08,130 --> 02:13:11,130
it say no commercial use.

2926
02:13:11,330 --> 02:13:12,720
That's not all it says.

2927
02:13:12,920 --> 02:13:13,680
It says, no non-residential use.

2928
02:13:13,880 --> 02:13:15,560
No non-residential
use, no renting

2929
02:13:15,760 --> 02:13:18,280
of the slips, no
intensity and frequency

2930
02:13:18,480 --> 02:13:20,980
of boats coming and going.

2931
02:13:21,180 --> 02:13:23,380
That is not typical for a
residential neighborhood.

2932
02:13:23,580 --> 02:13:26,240
So I understand
that it might not

2933
02:13:26,440 --> 02:13:29,840
be feasible to take
down the docks.

2934
02:13:30,040 --> 02:13:33,080
And I think that was a little
bit of an extreme example

2935
02:13:33,280 --> 02:13:35,640
coming, because I know that
we did have conversations

2936
02:13:35,840 --> 02:13:38,960
with Commissioner Palmer where
we talked about other options,

2937
02:13:39,160 --> 02:13:42,540
such as public transient
use of one of those docks,

2938
02:13:42,740 --> 02:13:45,740
fishing off of one
of those docks,

2939
02:13:45,940 --> 02:13:47,880
and there are other
ways to use them.

2940
02:13:48,080 --> 02:13:50,540
So I don't want the
city to be portrayed,

2941
02:13:50,740 --> 02:13:52,618
and I'm not saying that was your
intent, Commissioner Palmer,

2942
02:13:52,818 --> 02:13:55,760
but I don't want the city to
be portrayed as an extremist.

2943
02:13:55,960 --> 02:13:57,820
Like, nothing can be
done here and the docks

2944
02:13:58,020 --> 02:13:59,980
must be torn down, because
that's not the city's position.

2945
02:14:00,180 --> 02:14:01,500
This interlocal that
we are requesting--

2946
02:14:01,700 --> 02:14:06,618
and thank you for the
time, I'm going to wrap up,

2947
02:14:06,818 --> 02:14:08,660
but this interlocal we are
requesting would just be to say,

2948
02:14:08,860 --> 02:14:12,300
we are all going to
talk to each other.

2949
02:14:12,500 --> 02:14:14,280
I think it's too
early for the county

2950
02:14:14,480 --> 02:14:16,180
to opine on the uses
on the property,

2951
02:14:16,380 --> 02:14:20,020
because we've never talked about
it with the public, with you,

2952
02:14:20,220 --> 02:14:21,253
with each other.

2953
02:14:21,453 --> 02:14:23,720
I mean, I agreed with you,
Commissioner Cox, on that.

2954
02:14:23,920 --> 02:14:26,060
That was a really good point.

2955
02:14:26,260 --> 02:14:27,420
So just getting back
to the interlocal,

2956
02:14:27,620 --> 02:14:32,120
ours just recognized, hey, the
county doesn't have a lease yet,

2957
02:14:32,320 --> 02:14:34,640
but when you do, we'd
like to talk to you.

2958
02:14:34,840 --> 02:14:36,620
And based on my conversations
with the county attorney,

2959
02:14:36,820 --> 02:14:40,100
I understand the sticking point
to be that our version said

2960
02:14:40,300 --> 02:14:44,300
both the city council
in the BCC have

2961
02:14:44,500 --> 02:14:48,120
to approve a management plan
before it goes to the state.

2962
02:14:48,320 --> 02:14:50,500
And I think the
county's concern is

2963
02:14:50,700 --> 02:14:52,760
that if the city never
agrees to a plan,

2964
02:14:52,960 --> 02:14:54,200
we're going to stop everything.

2965
02:14:54,400 --> 02:14:56,260
But I believe that
there is language

2966
02:14:56,460 --> 02:14:59,520
that Lynn and I could work
out to address that concern,

2967
02:14:59,720 --> 02:15:02,080
whether we put time limits
on it, a termination clause,

2968
02:15:02,280 --> 02:15:03,600
we can work that out.

2969
02:15:03,800 --> 02:15:07,220
So please, if we could just
stick to the step that we're at

2970
02:15:07,420 --> 02:15:09,650
and not go forward.

2971
02:15:09,850 --> 02:15:10,530
And last comment.

2972
02:15:10,730 --> 02:15:13,390
Just when we talk about
all these other state parks

2973
02:15:13,590 --> 02:15:16,430
and what's allowed in them
and what's reasonable in them,

2974
02:15:16,630 --> 02:15:19,430
keep in mind that this one
is in a residential area

2975
02:15:19,630 --> 02:15:23,070
next to a conservation park,
and there's one road in and out,

2976
02:15:23,270 --> 02:15:25,730
and all these
people are affected.

2977
02:15:25,930 --> 02:15:27,703
So, thank you for your time.

2978
02:15:27,903 --> 02:15:27,970
Thank you, Councilor.

2979
02:15:28,170 --> 02:15:28,245
[APPLAUSE]

2980
02:15:28,445 --> 02:15:29,988
COMMISSIONER PALMER: Kim?

2981
02:15:30,188 --> 02:15:30,730
Ms. Kopp?

2982
02:15:30,930 --> 02:15:33,370
Ms Kopp?

2983
02:15:33,570 --> 02:15:34,610
Ms. Kopp?

2984
02:15:34,810 --> 02:15:37,530
Can I ask you, yeah,
just a quick question,

2985
02:15:37,730 --> 02:15:38,970
because you mentioned that
non-residential use is

2986
02:15:39,170 --> 02:15:41,350
what was prohibited.

2987
02:15:41,550 --> 02:15:43,090
Are Airbnbs considered
residential use,

2988
02:15:43,290 --> 02:15:46,470
as per the city's Definitions?

2989
02:15:46,670 --> 02:15:49,290
KIMBERLY KOPP: Airbnbs are
considered residential.

2990
02:15:49,490 --> 02:15:51,830
However, the development
order for the condominium

2991
02:15:52,030 --> 02:15:56,330
was predating the statute
on short-term rentals,

2992
02:15:56,530 --> 02:15:59,610
so it was able to prohibit that.

2993
02:15:59,810 --> 02:16:00,230
COMMISSIONER PALMER:
And again, I'm

2994
02:16:00,430 --> 02:16:01,370
just working with what I have.

2995
02:16:01,570 --> 02:16:01,790
KIMBERLY KOPP: Absolutely.

2996
02:16:01,990 --> 02:16:03,430
COMMISSIONER PALMER: When
I look at the definitions

2997
02:16:03,630 --> 02:16:04,955
of these things, weekly
short-term rentals

2998
02:16:05,155 --> 02:16:07,810
are considered residential
use, not commercial use.

2999
02:16:08,010 --> 02:16:10,270
KIMBERLY KOPP: That's correct.

3000
02:16:10,470 --> 02:16:11,820
COMMISSIONER PALMER:
And so I'm just

3001
02:16:12,020 --> 02:16:14,340
trying to understand where
we're going to start.

3002
02:16:14,540 --> 02:16:15,140
KIMBERLY KOPP: Agreed.

3003
02:16:15,340 --> 02:16:17,893
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: I think we
probably neared the point where

3004
02:16:18,093 --> 02:16:19,360
we're not making any
additional progress,

3005
02:16:19,560 --> 02:16:22,580
but I think we made a
ton of progress today.

3006
02:16:22,780 --> 02:16:23,325
And if anybody
wanted a workshop,

3007
02:16:23,525 --> 02:16:25,600
we've just about had one,
which is good, right?

3008
02:16:25,800 --> 02:16:29,240
And so I'm glad we were able
to have this discussion.

3009
02:16:29,440 --> 02:16:31,040
This will not be
the last discussion.

3010
02:16:31,240 --> 02:16:33,480
There will be discussions
that, like we mentioned,

3011
02:16:33,680 --> 02:16:36,500
we'll have liaisons,
we'll have lawyers,

3012
02:16:36,700 --> 02:16:38,408
we'll have things brought back.

3013
02:16:38,608 --> 02:16:39,400
We'll have it discussed.

3014
02:16:39,600 --> 02:16:41,059
It'll probably be a
couple rounds of that

3015
02:16:41,259 --> 02:16:43,067
because nobody's ready to start
building anything right now.

3016
02:16:43,267 --> 02:16:44,100
Let's be clear.

3017
02:16:44,300 --> 02:16:46,980
But I'll tell you,
from my perspective,

3018
02:16:47,180 --> 02:16:52,920
I know we can get into the
codes and the legalese and all

3019
02:16:53,120 --> 02:16:55,580
that stuff.

3020
02:16:55,780 --> 02:16:58,000
And I'll just tell you
where I start from.

3021
02:16:58,200 --> 02:17:00,080
I don't start with those
things as boundaries.

3022
02:17:00,280 --> 02:17:03,240
Where I start is I'm looking
at the piece of property,

3023
02:17:03,440 --> 02:17:04,980
I need to figure out
where, as a board,

3024
02:17:05,180 --> 02:17:07,340
we can get from a
policy perspective,

3025
02:17:07,540 --> 02:17:10,079
and where the city council can
get from policy perspective,

3026
02:17:10,279 --> 02:17:12,600
and let's figure out what
that looks like together.

3027
02:17:12,800 --> 02:17:16,380
And then I'll leave it to the
lawyers that do this kind of law

3028
02:17:16,580 --> 02:17:17,559
to figure out how to
document that correctly.

3029
02:17:17,759 --> 02:17:19,900
Development orders
about condos that

3030
02:17:20,100 --> 02:17:22,820
aren't getting built, I
mean, I think what happens

3031
02:17:23,020 --> 02:17:25,080
is we could further go
back towards paralysis

3032
02:17:25,280 --> 02:17:27,645
if we're not careful.

3033
02:17:27,845 --> 02:17:29,720
And I don't want to do that yet.

3034
02:17:29,920 --> 02:17:30,480
I think we've got
some momentum, we've

3035
02:17:30,680 --> 02:17:34,340
got some things to talk about,
and I feel like we'll get there.

3036
02:17:34,540 --> 02:17:36,920
So we should probably move on.

3037
02:17:37,120 --> 02:17:39,359
I don't think we need
action at this point.

3038
02:17:39,559 --> 02:17:42,880
I think we had a consensus and I
think Commissioner Palmer asked

3039
02:17:43,080 --> 02:17:44,140
a question.

3040
02:17:44,340 --> 02:17:45,320
You got some answers.

3041
02:17:45,520 --> 02:17:46,440
COMMISSIONER PALMER: I did.

3042
02:17:46,640 --> 02:17:48,465
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: And
so a very good discussion.

3043
02:17:48,665 --> 02:17:51,880
I also am going to put us
into a 10 minute recess

3044
02:17:52,080 --> 02:17:55,680
before we start
the public hearing.

3045
02:17:55,880 --> 02:17:59,779
That will allow folks
to get a small break.

3046
02:17:59,979 --> 02:18:02,659
And if you don't have
any further business,

3047
02:18:02,859 --> 02:18:05,259
obviously, you can go on
about your day as well.

3048
02:18:05,459 --> 02:18:08,069
So we're in a 10 minute recess.

3049
02:18:08,269 --> 02:18:09,170
[GAVEL STRIKES]

3050
02:18:09,370 --> 02:18:11,689
[CHATTER]

3051
02:29:16,950 --> 02:29:24,450
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And our first item

3052
02:29:24,650 --> 02:29:26,930
will be the public hearing
regarding the surtax.

3053
02:29:27,130 --> 02:29:31,090
Mr. Autrey, if you
could present this item.

3054
02:29:31,290 --> 02:29:33,650
Of course, this is
a public hearing,

3055
02:29:33,850 --> 02:29:36,010
so we will have an
opportunity for public input.

3056
02:29:36,210 --> 02:29:39,110
And because it's a hearing,
the county attorney

3057
02:29:39,310 --> 02:29:42,270
can, I believe on this
one, swear any witnesses

3058
02:29:42,470 --> 02:29:44,810
that need to be sworn.

3059
02:29:45,010 --> 02:29:45,310
Is that right?

3060
02:29:45,510 --> 02:29:46,070
LYNN HOSHIHARA: [INAUDIBLE]

3061
02:29:46,270 --> 02:29:48,050
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
No, no, we don't have to.

3062
02:29:48,250 --> 02:29:47,750
It's not quasi-judicial.

3063
02:29:47,950 --> 02:29:49,870
JASON AUTREY: You're
free to leave, Lynn.

3064
02:29:50,070 --> 02:29:49,510
Thank you.

3065
02:29:49,710 --> 02:29:50,450
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
There you go.

3066
02:29:50,650 --> 02:29:50,070
[LAUGHTER]

3067
02:29:50,270 --> 02:29:51,890
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Run while you can.

3068
02:29:52,090 --> 02:29:53,257
All right, Mr. Autrey.

3069
02:29:53,457 --> 02:29:54,530
JASON AUTREY: Good morning.

3070
02:29:54,730 --> 02:29:54,970
Jason Autrey, Deputy
County Administrator

3071
02:29:55,170 --> 02:29:56,650
for Development Services.

3072
02:29:56,850 --> 02:29:59,210
As this commission
knows, we have

3073
02:29:59,410 --> 02:30:00,650
a local infrastructure--
local option infrastructure

3074
02:30:00,850 --> 02:30:03,210
surtax that's in place.

3075
02:30:03,410 --> 02:30:05,570
We're currently in the
midst of the seven years.

3076
02:30:05,770 --> 02:30:07,690
So we've still got
a little bit of time

3077
02:30:07,890 --> 02:30:09,315
until this thing tapers out,
but we're looking ahead.

3078
02:30:09,515 --> 02:30:10,670
The needs for
infrastructure to continue

3079
02:30:10,870 --> 02:30:14,810
to exist in Okaloosa County, but
we have found this past program

3080
02:30:15,010 --> 02:30:16,750
to be remarkably successful,
not only for Okaloosa County,

3081
02:30:16,950 --> 02:30:20,223
but for our municipalities
and for our public safety

3082
02:30:20,423 --> 02:30:20,890
element as well.

3083
02:30:21,090 --> 02:30:22,990
In order to-- the
current surtax has

3084
02:30:23,190 --> 02:30:26,330
a sunset that is in 10 years.

3085
02:30:26,530 --> 02:30:28,150
So in December 31
of 2028, it will

3086
02:30:28,350 --> 02:30:30,850
ceasefire to be implemented
unless it is extended.

3087
02:30:31,050 --> 02:30:33,650
And this ordinance that's
presented before you

3088
02:30:33,850 --> 02:30:38,970
allows us to put it back in
front of the voting public

3089
02:30:39,170 --> 02:30:40,190
again in the regular
election in November.

3090
02:30:40,390 --> 02:30:44,050
To follow this certain timeline
that we have for notification,

3091
02:30:44,250 --> 02:30:46,770
we have to do an audit
through the state,

3092
02:30:46,970 --> 02:30:50,150
and then we go and see what
the public has to say about it.

3093
02:30:50,350 --> 02:30:51,880
So this is a public hearing
to propose putting language

3094
02:30:52,080 --> 02:30:54,940
on the ballot in November
for the extension

3095
02:30:55,140 --> 02:30:57,920
of the infrastructure surtax
to begin January 1, 2029,

3096
02:30:58,120 --> 02:31:00,840
for another 10 year program.

3097
02:31:01,040 --> 02:31:04,700
I'd be happy to answer any
questions you may have on this.

3098
02:31:04,900 --> 02:31:07,420
And Lynn as well, since she has
been very gracious in helping me

3099
02:31:07,620 --> 02:31:07,920
out with the ordinance.

3100
02:31:08,120 --> 02:31:10,460
But that's what we
have for you today.

3101
02:31:10,660 --> 02:31:11,387
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

3102
02:31:11,587 --> 02:31:12,120
Very good.

3103
02:31:12,320 --> 02:31:14,160
Any questions before we
open the public comment?

3104
02:31:14,360 --> 02:31:15,782
COMMISSIONER COX: I do.

3105
02:31:15,982 --> 02:31:19,440
I just want you to tell us
one more time how much of that

3106
02:31:19,640 --> 02:31:22,520
local option surtax is
paid for by our visitors?

3107
02:31:22,720 --> 02:31:26,180
JASON AUTREY: Yeah, so the
safe number that we have is

3108
02:31:26,380 --> 02:31:28,300
that year round, the
average is about 33% of it.

3109
02:31:28,500 --> 02:31:30,120
A third of it comes
from our tourism.

3110
02:31:30,320 --> 02:31:33,080
And in the peak season, we
see it at 50% or greater

3111
02:31:33,280 --> 02:31:34,880
comes from the tourists that
provide input into this.

3112
02:31:35,080 --> 02:31:36,025
COMMISSIONER COX: OK.

3113
02:31:36,225 --> 02:31:36,600
Thank you.

3114
02:31:36,800 --> 02:31:38,120
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Very good.

3115
02:31:38,320 --> 02:31:40,200
COMMISSIONER PALMER: And may I
just ask something real quick?

3116
02:31:40,400 --> 02:31:40,780
This is another
softball, but how much

3117
02:31:40,980 --> 02:31:44,600
have we been able to partner
outside money with this surtax

3118
02:31:44,800 --> 02:31:47,330
to the benefit of our community?

3119
02:31:47,530 --> 02:31:48,510
COMMISSIONER COX:
Very round numbers.

3120
02:31:48,710 --> 02:31:50,652
Our current expenditure
is about $136 million,

3121
02:31:50,852 --> 02:31:54,830
of which we've turned into about
$270 million for the project.

3122
02:31:55,030 --> 02:31:57,090
So it's basically
a 2 to 1 ratio.

3123
02:31:57,290 --> 02:31:59,890
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

3124
02:32:00,090 --> 02:32:02,790
We'll open now
our public comment

3125
02:32:02,990 --> 02:32:05,190
portion of the public hearing.

3126
02:32:05,390 --> 02:32:05,750
What's that?

3127
02:32:05,950 --> 02:32:06,990
Oh, thank you.

3128
02:32:07,190 --> 02:32:09,470
I turn the microphone off.

3129
02:32:09,670 --> 02:32:13,190
We'll open the public comment
portion of the public hearing.

3130
02:32:13,390 --> 02:32:15,890
First speaker is Alan Jowers.

3131
02:32:25,072 --> 02:32:32,272
ALAN JOWERS: Good
morning, Chairman

3132
02:32:32,472 --> 02:32:34,030
and the board of
County Commissioners.

3133
02:32:34,230 --> 02:32:37,590
My name is Alan Jowers.

3134
02:32:37,790 --> 02:32:40,130
I am the incoming chair
for the Fort Walton Beach,

3135
02:32:40,330 --> 02:32:42,727
Greater Fort Walton
Beach area Chamber

3136
02:32:42,927 --> 02:32:44,610
of commerce and
Bonnie Barlow is here,

3137
02:32:44,810 --> 02:32:49,010
and she is the current chair for
the Greater Fort Walton Beach

3138
02:32:49,210 --> 02:32:49,670
chamber of Commerce.

3139
02:32:49,870 --> 02:32:53,050
BONNIE BARLOW: Thank you
for having us this morning.

3140
02:32:53,250 --> 02:32:56,530
And on behalf of the Board of
the Greater Fort Walton Beach

3141
02:32:56,730 --> 02:32:59,270
Chamber of Commerce, we
support this ordinance 100%.

3142
02:32:59,470 --> 02:33:05,430
And that is for all
of our board as well.

3143
02:33:05,630 --> 02:33:09,130
And we're so excited to
be able to do what we

3144
02:33:09,330 --> 02:33:10,950
can to promote this ordinance.

3145
02:33:11,150 --> 02:33:13,130
So thank you.

3146
02:33:13,330 --> 02:33:14,530
ALAN JOWERS: Thank you.

3147
02:33:14,730 --> 02:33:17,643
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank
you both for being here.

3148
02:33:17,843 --> 02:33:22,630
Next speaker is Sandra Wilson.

3149
02:33:28,010 --> 02:33:35,510
SANDRA WILSON: Good
morning, Chairman Goodwin.

3150
02:33:35,710 --> 02:33:37,210
Commissioners,
thanks for having me.

3151
02:33:37,410 --> 02:33:39,310
I'm Sandra Wilson,
and I'm only here

3152
02:33:39,510 --> 02:33:41,190
on behalf of the
Crestview Chamber,

3153
02:33:41,390 --> 02:33:44,610
but we can only echo what Fort
Walton Beach Chamber is saying.

3154
02:33:44,810 --> 02:33:47,300
We are in strong support
of continuing this surtax.

3155
02:33:47,500 --> 02:33:51,200
I think Crestview has seen a
tremendous amount of money being

3156
02:33:51,400 --> 02:33:53,140
put into our
infrastructure that we all

3157
02:33:53,340 --> 02:33:54,680
know is all about
economic development,

3158
02:33:54,880 --> 02:33:58,400
and we need safe roads, we need
dependable stormwater systems

3159
02:33:58,600 --> 02:34:01,660
and our public
safety facilities.

3160
02:34:01,860 --> 02:34:05,000
I know the Sheriff's
Department has

3161
02:34:05,200 --> 02:34:06,980
had a great benefit
of those surtaxes,

3162
02:34:07,180 --> 02:34:09,780
so I know infrastructure
may not be glamorous,

3163
02:34:09,980 --> 02:34:11,280
but neither are potholes.

3164
02:34:11,480 --> 02:34:14,540
And we all know that we
don't notice infrastructure

3165
02:34:14,740 --> 02:34:18,360
when it's working, but you
definitely notice when it's not.

3166
02:34:18,560 --> 02:34:20,660
And anybody that's left
Crestview at 6:00 AM

3167
02:34:20,860 --> 02:34:24,060
in the morning and try to
come back after 4:00 PM,

3168
02:34:24,260 --> 02:34:25,960
has seen what it does.

3169
02:34:26,160 --> 02:34:27,400
And because it's a
tourist driven county,

3170
02:34:27,600 --> 02:34:31,480
a portion of this
investment, as we just heard,

3171
02:34:31,680 --> 02:34:33,800
is shared by our visitors,
which helps us a lot.

3172
02:34:34,000 --> 02:34:35,520
And I feel like
it's really killing

3173
02:34:35,720 --> 02:34:38,580
two stones with one bird, and
having the tourists help us

3174
02:34:38,780 --> 02:34:39,580
with that.

3175
02:34:39,780 --> 02:34:43,420
And being able to raise some
more funds to match the dollar.

3176
02:34:43,620 --> 02:34:45,110
So where businesses
look to invest

3177
02:34:45,310 --> 02:34:47,910
in our community and the
predictable infrastructure

3178
02:34:48,110 --> 02:34:52,130
funding sends a clear message
that this is a good place

3179
02:34:52,330 --> 02:34:53,110
to come for business.

3180
02:34:53,310 --> 02:34:55,570
So thank you for putting
this on our ballot,

3181
02:34:55,770 --> 02:34:56,490
letting our citizens decide.

3182
02:34:56,690 --> 02:34:59,050
We in the Crestview
Chamber help to make sure

3183
02:34:59,250 --> 02:35:00,870
that people understand
what's on their ballot.

3184
02:35:01,070 --> 02:35:01,850
Thank you.

3185
02:35:02,050 --> 02:35:04,270
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.

3186
02:35:04,470 --> 02:35:06,770
Next speaker, Melissa, with
the Emerald Coast Association

3187
02:35:06,970 --> 02:35:07,830
of Realtors.

3188
02:35:08,572 --> 02:35:16,372
MELISSA SKONIECKI: You
got two Melissa's today.

3189
02:35:16,572 --> 02:35:18,630
This is Melissa Garza, our
government affairs director.

3190
02:35:18,830 --> 02:35:20,950
And my name is
Melissa Skoniecki.

3191
02:35:21,150 --> 02:35:23,830
I'm here on behalf of the
Emerald Coast Association

3192
02:35:24,030 --> 02:35:25,870
of Realtors, representing
more than 5,000 members.

3193
02:35:26,070 --> 02:35:30,610
We respectfully request that you
place the renewal of the 10-year

3194
02:35:30,810 --> 02:35:33,590
half-cent surtax on the
November 2026 ballot,

3195
02:35:33,790 --> 02:35:36,550
covering January 2029
through December 2038.

3196
02:35:36,750 --> 02:35:42,490
ECAR was an original supporter
of the surtax in 2018

3197
02:35:42,690 --> 02:35:44,690
because we believe
strong in infrastructure,

3198
02:35:44,890 --> 02:35:48,370
responsible planning and a
high quality of life that

3199
02:35:48,570 --> 02:35:51,850
are essential to our healthy
community and stable real estate

3200
02:35:52,050 --> 02:35:52,570
market.

3201
02:35:52,770 --> 02:35:55,190
Since taking effect
in 2019, the surtax

3202
02:35:55,390 --> 02:35:56,850
has delivered
measurable results.

3203
02:35:57,050 --> 02:35:59,150
As you know, most
importantly, it

3204
02:35:59,350 --> 02:36:00,850
has allowed the
county to maintain

3205
02:36:01,050 --> 02:36:03,310
a millage rate of under 4%.

3206
02:36:03,510 --> 02:36:05,010
Predictable, stable
tax rates are

3207
02:36:05,210 --> 02:36:07,150
critical for housing
affordability, homeownership,

3208
02:36:07,350 --> 02:36:10,010
and long-term economic
competitiveness.

3209
02:36:10,210 --> 02:36:13,370
Beyond the fiscal
stability, as you

3210
02:36:13,570 --> 02:36:15,996
know, the surtax has funded
over 18 road projects,

3211
02:36:16,196 --> 02:36:18,110
improved traffic
mobility, strengthened

3212
02:36:18,310 --> 02:36:20,970
the stormwater and
water quality systems,

3213
02:36:21,170 --> 02:36:23,740
it's enhanced public
safety, and upgraded

3214
02:36:23,940 --> 02:36:25,390
pedestrian infrastructure.

3215
02:36:25,590 --> 02:36:28,210
These improvements directly
impact property values,

3216
02:36:28,410 --> 02:36:31,570
buyer confidence, and
neighborhood desirability.

3217
02:36:31,770 --> 02:36:35,190
As realtors, we serve
as trusted advisors

3218
02:36:35,390 --> 02:36:37,430
to families and
investors choosing

3219
02:36:37,630 --> 02:36:40,010
to call Okaloosa County home.

3220
02:36:40,210 --> 02:36:42,200
Strong infrastructure and
sound fiscal management

3221
02:36:42,400 --> 02:36:45,400
matter to them, and the
long-term resilience

3222
02:36:45,600 --> 02:36:47,640
of our great community.

3223
02:36:47,840 --> 02:36:49,200
For these reasons,
ECAR respectfully

3224
02:36:49,400 --> 02:36:52,540
supports placing the renewal
of the half-cent surtax

3225
02:36:52,740 --> 02:36:54,600
before voters in 2026.

3226
02:36:54,800 --> 02:36:57,680
Thank you very much
for your consideration.

3227
02:36:57,880 --> 02:37:00,080
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.

3228
02:37:00,280 --> 02:37:01,880
All right.

3229
02:37:02,080 --> 02:37:03,280
Our next speaker, Nathan Sparks.

3230
02:37:03,480 --> 02:37:09,328
NATHAN SPARKS: Mr.
Chairman, commissioners,

3231
02:37:09,528 --> 02:37:11,720
great to be with
you this morning.

3232
02:37:11,920 --> 02:37:13,060
It is still morning, right?

3233
02:37:13,260 --> 02:37:13,160
[CHUCKLING]

3234
02:37:13,360 --> 02:37:16,080
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
A little while.

3235
02:37:16,280 --> 02:37:18,480
NATHAN SPARKS:
Folks, you know this,

3236
02:37:18,680 --> 02:37:19,680
building community requires
intentional action,

3237
02:37:19,880 --> 02:37:23,320
and you all have taken
intentional action consistently,

3238
02:37:23,520 --> 02:37:27,100
just as you did back in 2018,
in allowing the resolution

3239
02:37:27,300 --> 02:37:30,800
to come forward to put the
surtax, the infrastructure

3240
02:37:31,000 --> 02:37:35,040
surtax, before the voters,
and we see the fruits of that.

3241
02:37:35,240 --> 02:37:37,360
Building community also
requires resources,

3242
02:37:37,560 --> 02:37:40,330
and that's exactly what
the surtax has provided.

3243
02:37:40,530 --> 02:37:44,810
I go to a lot of economic
development meetings,

3244
02:37:45,010 --> 02:37:47,890
as you would expect, and I
hear regularly the importance

3245
02:37:48,090 --> 02:37:49,370
of infrastructure.

3246
02:37:49,570 --> 02:37:51,530
Infrastructure really
is ranked right there

3247
02:37:51,730 --> 02:37:54,290
with education and workforce in
terms of economic development

3248
02:37:54,490 --> 02:37:55,910
success.

3249
02:37:56,110 --> 02:37:57,647
But you know it's
also, infrastructure

3250
02:37:57,847 --> 02:37:58,630
is also catalytic.

3251
02:37:58,830 --> 02:38:01,690
Last night, I took a
look at the numbers.

3252
02:38:01,890 --> 02:38:03,150
In 2019, when the infrastructure
surtax took effect.

3253
02:38:03,350 --> 02:38:07,670
According to the US Bureau
of Economic Analysis,

3254
02:38:07,870 --> 02:38:10,410
Okaloosa County's GDP was
$13 billion. $13 billion.

3255
02:38:10,610 --> 02:38:16,930
In 2024, five years
later, which is

3256
02:38:17,130 --> 02:38:19,950
the year that-- the
most recent year

3257
02:38:20,150 --> 02:38:21,150
for which data is available.

3258
02:38:21,350 --> 02:38:24,170
So five years later, the GDP
of our county was $19 billion.

3259
02:38:24,370 --> 02:38:28,930
$6 billion growth in
our GDP over five years.

3260
02:38:29,130 --> 02:38:31,190
That's a 46% increase.

3261
02:38:31,390 --> 02:38:34,985
So how does that compare
to the previous five years

3262
02:38:35,185 --> 02:38:36,210
when we didn't have the
infrastructure surtax?

3263
02:38:36,410 --> 02:38:40,610
So if you look at 2014, our
GDP was a mere $10 billion.

3264
02:38:40,810 --> 02:38:46,970
And we increased, in 2019, to
$13 billion, as I mentioned.

3265
02:38:47,170 --> 02:38:51,770
So we went up 30% in that
five-year time period in which

3266
02:38:51,970 --> 02:38:53,050
we did not have a surtax.

3267
02:38:53,250 --> 02:38:54,290
So I firmly believe--

3268
02:38:54,490 --> 02:38:56,970
I'm not saying the surtax is the
panacea that solves everything,

3269
02:38:57,170 --> 02:39:00,390
and it's certainly
not the source that

3270
02:39:00,590 --> 02:39:02,190
provided all of that
economic growth,

3271
02:39:02,390 --> 02:39:04,710
but it provided the framework
for that economic growth.

3272
02:39:04,910 --> 02:39:06,950
The reality is, people
invest in communities

3273
02:39:07,150 --> 02:39:08,730
that invest in themselves.

3274
02:39:08,930 --> 02:39:11,043
And we've heard that
time and time again

3275
02:39:11,243 --> 02:39:12,710
when we've met with clients
considering our community.

3276
02:39:12,910 --> 02:39:14,730
They value that
this commission has

3277
02:39:14,930 --> 02:39:19,630
done the hard things to position
our community for growth.

3278
02:39:19,830 --> 02:39:22,190
And so, certainly,
we're in favor of it

3279
02:39:22,390 --> 02:39:24,910
on behalf of our nearly
200 members at 1 Okaloosa

3280
02:39:25,110 --> 02:39:26,062
EDC and our board.

3281
02:39:26,262 --> 02:39:28,670
We stand in firm support,
and certainly, we'll

3282
02:39:28,870 --> 02:39:31,890
do anything we can to help
message it accordingly.

3283
02:39:32,090 --> 02:39:32,670
Thank you.

3284
02:39:32,870 --> 02:39:34,490
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.

3285
02:39:34,690 --> 02:39:35,250
All right.

3286
02:39:35,450 --> 02:39:38,200
That's the last speaker card I
have for this public hearing.

3287
02:39:38,400 --> 02:39:40,540
So we'll close the public
comment portion of the meeting.

3288
02:39:40,740 --> 02:39:43,165
I do want to bring up
one housekeeping issue.

3289
02:39:43,365 --> 02:39:45,340
I think Ms. Hoshihara has
a version of the proposed

3290
02:39:45,540 --> 02:39:50,560
ordinance that has one
additional clarification in it.

3291
02:39:50,760 --> 02:39:55,700
Ms. Hoshihara, do you
want to let the board

3292
02:39:55,900 --> 02:40:00,120
know what that is to determine
if the board wants to use

3293
02:40:00,320 --> 02:40:01,120
the clarified version or not?

3294
02:40:01,320 --> 02:40:04,685
LYNN HOSHIHARA: Sure.

3295
02:40:04,885 --> 02:40:06,760
The clarified version adds
the words land acquisition

3296
02:40:06,960 --> 02:40:12,020
specifically within the ballot
language such that it reads,

3297
02:40:12,220 --> 02:40:15,440
Shall the county continue
to levy a half-cent sales

3298
02:40:15,640 --> 02:40:16,540
surtax on taxable
transactions countywide

3299
02:40:16,740 --> 02:40:19,540
for 10 years effective
January 1, 2029,

3300
02:40:19,740 --> 02:40:23,160
for funding critical needs,
including essential law

3301
02:40:23,360 --> 02:40:24,600
enforcement, public
safety facilities.

3302
02:40:24,800 --> 02:40:28,240
And included land acquisitions,
reduced traffic congestion,

3303
02:40:28,440 --> 02:40:32,000
construction, repairing of
roads, bridges, and sidewalks,

3304
02:40:32,200 --> 02:40:34,540
flood control and water
quality improvements,

3305
02:40:34,740 --> 02:40:37,150
associated equipment, and to
construct other public facility

3306
02:40:37,350 --> 02:40:40,110
improvements and paid
debt subject to oversight

3307
02:40:40,310 --> 02:40:41,630
by a citizens committee.

3308
02:40:41,830 --> 02:40:44,170
So specific inclusion of
the term land acquisition

3309
02:40:44,370 --> 02:40:49,190
is proposed to be included
in the ballot language,

3310
02:40:49,390 --> 02:40:51,430
if that's the board's
desire to do so.

3311
02:40:51,630 --> 02:40:55,510
COMMISSIONER COX: Do we
need a consensus on that?

3312
02:40:55,710 --> 02:40:57,312
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Well, I think

3313
02:40:57,512 --> 02:40:59,670
it would be part of the motion.

3314
02:40:59,870 --> 02:40:59,847
COMMISSIONER PALMER: Yeah.

3315
02:41:00,047 --> 02:41:00,930
COMMISSIONER
GOODWIN: If anybody--

3316
02:41:01,130 --> 02:41:03,510
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Chairman,
I'll be glad to make the motion,

3317
02:41:03,710 --> 02:41:04,977
as Ms. Hoshihara just stated--

3318
02:41:05,177 --> 02:41:06,570
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: OK.

3319
02:41:06,770 --> 02:41:08,630
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
--and I'll put a comment

3320
02:41:08,830 --> 02:41:09,490
when I get a second.

3321
02:41:09,690 --> 02:41:10,130
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

3322
02:41:10,330 --> 02:41:10,790
Do we have a second?

3323
02:41:10,990 --> 02:41:12,070
OK, we have a
motion and a second.

3324
02:41:12,270 --> 02:41:12,990
As clarified with Ms.
Hoshihara's discussion.

3325
02:41:13,190 --> 02:41:16,117
All right, Commissioner Ketchel.

3326
02:41:16,317 --> 02:41:17,450
COMMISSIONER
KETCHEL: So first, I

3327
02:41:17,650 --> 02:41:20,025
want to commend everybody
who sat through 2.5 hours.

3328
02:41:20,225 --> 02:41:23,710
This is how important it was
for the chambers and ECAR,

3329
02:41:23,910 --> 02:41:26,890
that they stayed and,
of course, thank you.

3330
02:41:27,090 --> 02:41:30,670
I just can't thank Nathan
Sparks enough for all

3331
02:41:30,870 --> 02:41:33,810
that he has done for our
community and our county.

3332
02:41:34,010 --> 02:41:37,070
This surtax was a game changer.

3333
02:41:37,270 --> 02:41:40,030
I literally probably would
have run for years and stopped.

3334
02:41:40,230 --> 02:41:41,930
I've said that to many people.

3335
02:41:42,130 --> 02:41:43,290
Because everybody
would call and say,

3336
02:41:43,490 --> 02:41:45,570
I've got this huge
pothole in my--

3337
02:41:45,770 --> 02:41:47,970
literally, I could put
a Volkswagen in it.

3338
02:41:48,170 --> 02:41:50,733
And I'd have to say,
I'll put you on the list,

3339
02:41:50,933 --> 02:41:53,550
and I'd call Mr. Autrey and he'd
say, I'll put it on the list

3340
02:41:53,750 --> 02:41:53,692
probably next seven
or eight years.

3341
02:41:53,892 --> 02:41:55,430
And that is no joke.

3342
02:41:55,630 --> 02:41:58,030
That's how far behind we were
in infrastructure projects

3343
02:41:58,230 --> 02:41:59,570
in this county.

3344
02:41:59,770 --> 02:42:02,050
And I am so grateful
to the voters

3345
02:42:02,250 --> 02:42:04,570
that they gave us this
10 years, and I only

3346
02:42:04,770 --> 02:42:06,290
hope that they will
give us another 10

3347
02:42:06,490 --> 02:42:09,610
years so that we can continue
the great work of this county.

3348
02:42:09,810 --> 02:42:11,350
It has made a huge difference.

3349
02:42:11,550 --> 02:42:12,670
It was a game changer.

3350
02:42:12,870 --> 02:42:15,450
And we have so many pressing
projects in front of us

3351
02:42:15,650 --> 02:42:17,990
yet, which I won't
go into today,

3352
02:42:18,190 --> 02:42:20,670
but there's a long list of them.

3353
02:42:20,870 --> 02:42:23,310
And without this, all work would
ceasefire within about a year.

3354
02:42:23,510 --> 02:42:26,990
So thank you very much and
thank you all for being here.

3355
02:42:27,190 --> 02:42:27,523
It made a huge difference.

3356
02:42:27,723 --> 02:42:28,307
And I mean that.

3357
02:42:28,507 --> 02:42:28,730
COMMISSIONER
GOODWIN: Mr. Palmer.

3358
02:42:28,930 --> 02:42:30,910
COMMISSIONER PALMER:
Thank you, Chairman.

3359
02:42:31,110 --> 02:42:33,518
I'd like to echo
that I deeply, deeply

3360
02:42:33,718 --> 02:42:35,940
appreciate the involvement
of the Chambers of Commerce

3361
02:42:36,140 --> 02:42:40,220
and our ECAR and our
Economic Development team.

3362
02:42:40,420 --> 02:42:46,040
This is such an important thing.

3363
02:42:46,240 --> 02:42:49,320
The question that I
asked to start this was,

3364
02:42:49,520 --> 02:42:54,100
how much have we been able to
impact our community with this?

3365
02:42:54,300 --> 02:42:58,300
And so although I've been
guilty in the past of saying

3366
02:42:58,500 --> 02:43:01,440
that 50% is paid
by our visitors,

3367
02:43:01,640 --> 02:43:04,920
however, understanding
it's only--

3368
02:43:05,120 --> 02:43:08,760
one third of it is
paid by the visitors.

3369
02:43:08,960 --> 02:43:10,480
But then when you
couple that with how

3370
02:43:10,680 --> 02:43:12,640
we've been able to leverage
that into partnering money,

3371
02:43:12,840 --> 02:43:16,412
and we can say that
this money that we're

3372
02:43:16,612 --> 02:43:17,520
spending on infrastructure
is only one third

3373
02:43:17,720 --> 02:43:20,760
paid by our residents, which
is an amazing statistic.

3374
02:43:20,960 --> 02:43:24,520
And I thank you for the
work that you do on that.

3375
02:43:24,720 --> 02:43:25,900
I thank you for those
who are supporting it.

3376
02:43:26,100 --> 02:43:27,320
When this was
originally envisioned

3377
02:43:27,520 --> 02:43:30,940
and when this was originally
approved, all we had was

3378
02:43:31,140 --> 02:43:33,990
promises that we would go
and spend this money wisely

3379
02:43:34,190 --> 02:43:36,650
and positively
impact our community,

3380
02:43:36,850 --> 02:43:39,490
and now we have proof.

3381
02:43:39,690 --> 02:43:41,610
And I think the proof
is shown by those

3382
02:43:41,810 --> 02:43:44,050
who are now supporting
it and are out there

3383
02:43:44,250 --> 02:43:45,410
and pushing this for us.

3384
02:43:45,610 --> 02:43:48,510
So thank you very much for-- and
thank you all for being here.

3385
02:43:48,710 --> 02:43:51,590
JASON AUTREY: If I may add to
that, I do want to point out,

3386
02:43:51,790 --> 02:43:53,290
this agenda item has
a good bit to it.

3387
02:43:53,490 --> 02:43:55,807
And one of the things that, I
think, proves successful to this

3388
02:43:56,007 --> 02:43:57,190
was that we had a projects list.

3389
02:43:57,390 --> 02:43:58,390
We will do that
exact same process.

3390
02:43:58,590 --> 02:44:00,130
And it has a Citizens
Advisory committee,

3391
02:44:00,330 --> 02:44:02,470
we will do that
exact same process.

3392
02:44:02,670 --> 02:44:05,010
So I want it to be
clear, this is really

3393
02:44:05,210 --> 02:44:06,370
looking to be a
continuation of what

3394
02:44:06,570 --> 02:44:09,450
we view as the successful
effort we've had to this point.

3395
02:44:09,650 --> 02:44:10,845
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Commissioner Cox?

3396
02:44:11,045 --> 02:44:12,770
COMMISSIONER COX: Thank you.

3397
02:44:12,970 --> 02:44:13,637
Thank you, Chairman.

3398
02:44:13,837 --> 02:44:17,270
So I just wanted to speak for
a moment on something that

3399
02:44:17,470 --> 02:44:20,230
may seem off topic, but
very on topic for me

3400
02:44:20,430 --> 02:44:22,390
because of the other
hat that I wear

3401
02:44:22,590 --> 02:44:24,830
in a group of highly engaged
citizens whose interests are

3402
02:44:25,030 --> 02:44:28,110
usually on whether or not
taxes are constitutional.

3403
02:44:28,310 --> 02:44:32,650
I had the privilege to speak
to them recently about this,

3404
02:44:32,850 --> 02:44:34,610
that this is, just for
the public's benefit,

3405
02:44:34,810 --> 02:44:37,230
the most constitutional
form of a tax

3406
02:44:37,430 --> 02:44:39,790
that you could possibly access.

3407
02:44:39,990 --> 02:44:42,410
It's a tax that's voted
on by the citizens.

3408
02:44:42,610 --> 02:44:45,190
It is a tax that you
have the choice, finally,

3409
02:44:45,390 --> 02:44:49,510
to say this is how
much I want to pay.

3410
02:44:49,710 --> 02:44:51,550
This is not how
much I want to pay.

3411
02:44:51,750 --> 02:44:53,790
And it is equally shared by
ourselves and our visitors.

3412
02:44:53,990 --> 02:44:59,790
Not to say that it's 50-50,
that is to say that as a visitor

3413
02:44:59,990 --> 02:45:02,750
comes to our area, they are
incurring that tax the same way

3414
02:45:02,950 --> 02:45:05,870
that you would in the grocery
stores, in the restaurants,

3415
02:45:06,070 --> 02:45:06,810
wherever they visit.

3416
02:45:07,010 --> 02:45:10,570
On our streets, on our beaches,
in our lakes and rivers

3417
02:45:10,770 --> 02:45:13,690
and what have you, they're
incurring the same taxes

3418
02:45:13,890 --> 02:45:15,270
that you are.

3419
02:45:15,470 --> 02:45:18,330
So for me, it's an
easy, yes, because this

3420
02:45:18,530 --> 02:45:21,270
is the fairest application
of taxing our citizens,

3421
02:45:21,470 --> 02:45:25,310
and with the largest benefit
that I've seen so far.

3422
02:45:25,510 --> 02:45:28,170
So that's all I had
to say about that.

3423
02:45:28,370 --> 02:45:28,370
Thank you.

3424
02:45:28,570 --> 02:45:29,470
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

3425
02:45:29,670 --> 02:45:30,203
Very good.

3426
02:45:30,403 --> 02:45:30,780
Anyone else?

3427
02:45:30,980 --> 02:45:32,918
COMMISSIONER MIXON: Sure.

3428
02:45:33,118 --> 02:45:34,860
Two departments are
very heavy in surtax.

3429
02:45:35,060 --> 02:45:39,320
It's great to see Public Works'
tremendous efforts to continue

3430
02:45:39,520 --> 02:45:42,420
keeping the projects going.

3431
02:45:42,620 --> 02:45:46,840
And then you wouldn't be able
to see that if it wasn't for IT.

3432
02:45:47,040 --> 02:45:48,740
And IT does a great
job with the website.

3433
02:45:48,940 --> 02:45:49,010
JASON AUTREY: Yup.

3434
02:45:49,210 --> 02:45:49,760
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
How Interactive

3435
02:45:49,960 --> 02:45:53,918
it is, to be able to see who
sits on that board, which

3436
02:45:54,118 --> 02:45:55,780
does a tremendous job.

3437
02:45:55,980 --> 02:45:58,600
I've seen some citizen boards
that are merely advisory,

3438
02:45:58,800 --> 02:46:02,480
and they're able to take
that to the extreme.

3439
02:46:02,680 --> 02:46:06,120
And really, it becomes just
a show and a rubber stamp.

3440
02:46:06,320 --> 02:46:10,860
And our citizen advisory board
for this is not that way.

3441
02:46:11,060 --> 02:46:12,980
They do tremendous work.

3442
02:46:13,180 --> 02:46:15,360
My representative on
there, Larry Ward,

3443
02:46:15,560 --> 02:46:17,920
does tremendous work,
continues to keep

3444
02:46:18,120 --> 02:46:20,040
pushing things both
for our district

3445
02:46:20,240 --> 02:46:22,660
and on the public safety side.

3446
02:46:22,860 --> 02:46:25,600
It's great to see, and that
that's open for anybody,

3447
02:46:25,800 --> 02:46:29,020
to go to the website and see
what projects are happening,

3448
02:46:29,220 --> 02:46:30,970
where they are, look at
the map interactively,

3449
02:46:31,170 --> 02:46:34,630
go in, see where it is,
what stage the project's in,

3450
02:46:34,830 --> 02:46:35,990
and the meetings are open.

3451
02:46:36,190 --> 02:46:37,385
So if anybody had
questions about this,

3452
02:46:37,585 --> 02:46:40,210
I would encourage to dive in
while you still have time,

3453
02:46:40,410 --> 02:46:41,590
because it's tremendous to see.

3454
02:46:41,790 --> 02:46:45,430
This is how our property taxes
are able to stay at the rate

3455
02:46:45,630 --> 02:46:48,710
where they are towards
the bottom of the scale

3456
02:46:48,910 --> 02:46:50,610
in comparison to the state.

3457
02:46:50,810 --> 02:46:53,503
JASON AUTREY: And on
that, I'd be remiss

3458
02:46:53,703 --> 02:46:55,770
if I didn't thank Clark
Embry, because their staff is

3459
02:46:55,970 --> 02:46:59,508
the one that provides the data
that goes on to that web page.

3460
02:46:59,708 --> 02:46:59,950
And without their
assistance, we couldn't

3461
02:47:00,150 --> 02:47:01,958
get the data that's out there.

3462
02:47:02,158 --> 02:47:05,417
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Very good.

3463
02:47:05,617 --> 02:47:06,750
All right, further comment?

3464
02:47:06,950 --> 02:47:09,538
All right, those in favor,
please signal by saying Aye.

3465
02:47:09,738 --> 02:47:10,030
COMMISSIONER COX: Aye.

3466
02:47:10,230 --> 02:47:10,530
COMMISSIONER MIXON: Aye.

3467
02:47:10,730 --> 02:47:10,950
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And those opposed.

3468
02:47:11,150 --> 02:47:12,010
That passes unanimously.

3469
02:47:12,210 --> 02:47:13,610
JASON AUTREY: Thank you.

3470
02:47:13,810 --> 02:47:14,150
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Thank you, Mr. Autrey.

3471
02:47:14,350 --> 02:47:15,083
All right.

3472
02:47:15,283 --> 02:47:16,990
That concludes our
public hearings.

3473
02:47:17,190 --> 02:47:21,250
And now we're on to department
business with Ms. bird

3474
02:47:21,450 --> 02:47:22,650
from Human Resources.

3475
02:47:22,850 --> 02:47:27,990
MS. BIRD: I'm here today with--

3476
02:47:28,190 --> 02:47:29,410
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Will you hit the button?

3477
02:47:29,610 --> 02:47:28,750
Sorry.

3478
02:47:28,950 --> 02:47:30,190
MS.BIRD: It was on.

3479
02:47:30,390 --> 02:47:30,082
Sorry.

3480
02:47:30,282 --> 02:47:32,570
I'm here today with Kyle
Stoeckel, our broker.

3481
02:47:32,770 --> 02:47:35,848
You guys are probably used
to seeing Paul Dawson.

3482
02:47:36,048 --> 02:47:37,590
Paul was retiring, and
this is his replacement.

3483
02:47:37,790 --> 02:47:40,210
And he's going to
take good care of us.

3484
02:47:40,410 --> 02:47:43,110
In response to market
increases a couple of years

3485
02:47:43,310 --> 02:47:45,730
ago, the board implemented
a layered property structure

3486
02:47:45,930 --> 02:47:49,230
to keep costs down, and
that's been very successful.

3487
02:47:49,430 --> 02:47:51,910
A couple of years
ago, the county

3488
02:47:52,110 --> 02:47:53,250
took a significant step
toward self-insurance

3489
02:47:53,450 --> 02:47:56,790
by assuming the responsibility
of one of the carriers.

3490
02:47:56,990 --> 02:47:59,610
That has also been
very successful,

3491
02:47:59,810 --> 02:48:03,010
and we are seeing further
savings than we did last year

3492
02:48:03,210 --> 02:48:07,670
on this, at almost $128,000
from that piece of the premium.

3493
02:48:07,870 --> 02:48:11,070
Staff recommends keeping
this structure and approach,

3494
02:48:11,270 --> 02:48:14,590
and continuing to designate to
a property reserve allocation

3495
02:48:14,790 --> 02:48:18,370
of $300,000 this year,
just like we did last year.

3496
02:48:18,570 --> 02:48:22,950
We have to prove to FEMA, as we
take that self-insurance quota

3497
02:48:23,150 --> 02:48:25,330
share portion, that we
are preparing for that.

3498
02:48:25,530 --> 02:48:29,660
There's currently $800,000
in that account right now.

3499
02:48:29,860 --> 02:48:33,160
Due to the softening
of the market,

3500
02:48:33,360 --> 02:48:34,320
we're renewing with
a rate reduction.

3501
02:48:34,520 --> 02:48:37,620
The rate of $100 of
insured value is at $0.30,

3502
02:48:37,820 --> 02:48:41,560
which is a reduction
from $0.37 last year.

3503
02:48:41,760 --> 02:48:45,700
This is well below the rates of
our fellow counties around us.

3504
02:48:45,900 --> 02:48:50,320
Escambia, Walton and Santa
Rosa, some of those are near $1.

3505
02:48:50,520 --> 02:48:52,640
The property
insurance premium is

3506
02:48:52,840 --> 02:48:55,960
based on a total insured value
this year of $410 million,

3507
02:48:56,160 --> 02:49:00,540
which represents $63 million
increase from last year.

3508
02:49:00,740 --> 02:49:04,340
And that is due to
the fact that we've

3509
02:49:04,540 --> 02:49:06,240
been successful in getting
the majority of our properties

3510
02:49:06,440 --> 02:49:07,380
appraised.

3511
02:49:07,580 --> 02:49:09,880
They had not been
appraised in some time,

3512
02:49:10,080 --> 02:49:13,300
and we were afraid that we
would have to pick and choose

3513
02:49:13,500 --> 02:49:16,275
what we put on there in order to
be able to afford the property

3514
02:49:16,475 --> 02:49:17,400
insurance, but because of
the softening of the market,

3515
02:49:17,600 --> 02:49:19,350
we're able to go
ahead and absorb that.

3516
02:49:19,550 --> 02:49:22,520
In addition, because of the
way the market is right now,

3517
02:49:22,720 --> 02:49:25,120
we're able to add some
things that we were not

3518
02:49:25,320 --> 02:49:26,950
able to in the past.

3519
02:49:27,150 --> 02:49:28,930
For instance, there's an
extra expense coverage

3520
02:49:29,130 --> 02:49:30,330
that was $1 million.

3521
02:49:30,530 --> 02:49:32,450
We're able to get $5 million.

3522
02:49:32,650 --> 02:49:35,570
And what that would do is
if we did have a storm,

3523
02:49:35,770 --> 02:49:36,350
it would pay for
rental of facilities.

3524
02:49:36,550 --> 02:49:40,490
Also, if we had to expedite
a part or something in order

3525
02:49:40,690 --> 02:49:42,690
to get us back in
business quicker,

3526
02:49:42,890 --> 02:49:44,470
we can use that
expense for that.

3527
02:49:44,670 --> 02:49:46,870
And we also have blanket
replacement cost, which

3528
02:49:47,070 --> 02:49:48,530
is the biggest improvement.

3529
02:49:48,730 --> 02:49:50,850
We had 110% margin costs.

3530
02:49:51,050 --> 02:49:54,490
So now if we had a
$5 million building

3531
02:49:54,690 --> 02:49:58,490
and it was underreported and
it is actually $7 million cost,

3532
02:49:58,690 --> 02:50:01,770
it would be--

3533
02:50:01,970 --> 02:50:04,190
we can replace it
as we needed to.

3534
02:50:04,390 --> 02:50:07,670
So we're asking that you
approve this approach,

3535
02:50:07,870 --> 02:50:11,750
keeping us with the
self-insured portion,

3536
02:50:11,950 --> 02:50:15,570
and also that you would allocate
$300,000 to the property

3537
02:50:15,770 --> 02:50:16,670
reserve.

3538
02:50:16,870 --> 02:50:20,452
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Commissioners, questions,

3539
02:50:20,652 --> 02:50:21,810
action?

3540
02:50:22,010 --> 02:50:24,630
MS.BIRD: Motion to
approve with discussion.

3541
02:50:24,830 --> 02:50:27,250
- Second, with discussion.

3542
02:50:27,450 --> 02:50:30,390
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right,
we have a motion and a second.

3543
02:50:30,590 --> 02:50:30,615
Commissioner Cox?

3544
02:50:30,815 --> 02:50:33,730
COMMISSIONER COX: I just wanted
to say welcome aboard, and thank

3545
02:50:33,930 --> 02:50:38,530
you so much to you and your
department for all that you do.

3546
02:50:38,730 --> 02:50:40,250
I know that probably nobody,
least of all the taxpayer,

3547
02:50:40,450 --> 02:50:44,410
realizes how much a human
resources department is

3548
02:50:44,610 --> 02:50:45,930
doing behind the scenes.

3549
02:50:46,130 --> 02:50:49,430
I know I don't on the regular
realize how much you're doing

3550
02:50:49,630 --> 02:50:51,610
and how busy you guys
are behind the scenes

3551
02:50:51,810 --> 02:50:53,425
getting all this
stuff done in addition

3552
02:50:53,625 --> 02:50:55,050
to addressing payroll concerns
and staffing shortages

3553
02:50:55,250 --> 02:51:00,790
and what have you, that we
have, in every department

3554
02:51:00,990 --> 02:51:02,350
throughout the county.

3555
02:51:02,550 --> 02:51:05,125
We really appreciate all
the hard work that you do.

3556
02:51:05,325 --> 02:51:06,650
I mean, it's evident
when you come forward.

3557
02:51:06,850 --> 02:51:09,130
I know you're not asking for
praise, but this is me saying,

3558
02:51:09,330 --> 02:51:10,210
we really appreciate
you working so

3559
02:51:10,410 --> 02:51:12,670
hard to reduce the impact
on Okaloosa's taxpayers.

3560
02:51:12,870 --> 02:51:15,570
MS. BIRD: Thank you.

3561
02:51:15,770 --> 02:51:17,170
And we appreciate
the staff so much.

3562
02:51:17,370 --> 02:51:20,470
Terrance Lane is our
newest addition to RISK,

3563
02:51:20,670 --> 02:51:24,180
and he worked really hard to
get these properties appraised,

3564
02:51:24,380 --> 02:51:26,280
and has worked very
hard on the renewal.

3565
02:51:26,480 --> 02:51:27,460
So thank you for that.

3566
02:51:27,660 --> 02:51:28,377
COMMISSIONER COX: Well,
thank you, Terrence.

3567
02:51:28,577 --> 02:51:30,620
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

3568
02:51:30,820 --> 02:51:32,020
Commissioner Ketchel, did
you have something to add?

3569
02:51:32,220 --> 02:51:33,040
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
I echo those thoughts.

3570
02:51:33,240 --> 02:51:34,000
Ms. Bird, you brought
total professionalism

3571
02:51:34,200 --> 02:51:35,960
to this position.

3572
02:51:36,160 --> 02:51:38,440
Thank you so much for
all the hard work.

3573
02:51:38,640 --> 02:51:41,040
But I also want to give a shout
out to Representative Nathan

3574
02:51:41,240 --> 02:51:42,200
Boyles.

3575
02:51:42,400 --> 02:51:44,200
I mean, he was the one--

3576
02:51:44,400 --> 02:51:45,640
I was very nervous when he
suggested self-insurance,

3577
02:51:45,840 --> 02:51:49,740
but he was right,
and it has paid off.

3578
02:51:49,940 --> 02:51:52,245
And we've been blessed not to
have hurricanes and storms.

3579
02:51:52,445 --> 02:51:55,520
So I hope he hears these kind
words that I'm saying about him,

3580
02:51:55,720 --> 02:51:57,860
because we would
spar up here a lot.

3581
02:51:58,060 --> 02:51:59,340
But anyway, it's good.

3582
02:51:59,540 --> 02:52:02,460
Welcome, and I know you'll
be a good advisor too.

3583
02:52:02,660 --> 02:52:03,033
It's been great.

3584
02:52:03,233 --> 02:52:04,000
Thank you, Ms. Bird.

3585
02:52:04,200 --> 02:52:05,140
MS. BIRD: Thank you.

3586
02:52:05,340 --> 02:52:06,273
We're appreciative
of Nathan Boyles too.

3587
02:52:06,473 --> 02:52:08,160
He made us sharper.

3588
02:52:08,360 --> 02:52:10,140
[CHUCKLES] He made us
sharper, and this board

3589
02:52:10,340 --> 02:52:13,123
makes us sharper by the
questions that we get.

3590
02:52:13,323 --> 02:52:13,840
So we appreciate that.

3591
02:52:14,040 --> 02:52:14,757
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Very good.

3592
02:52:14,957 --> 02:52:15,490
Further discussion,
commissioners?

3593
02:52:15,690 --> 02:52:19,208
All right, those in favor,
please signal by saying Aye.

3594
02:52:19,408 --> 02:52:19,700
COMMISSIONER COX: Aye.

3595
02:52:19,900 --> 02:52:20,120
COMMISSIONER PALMER: Aye.

3596
02:52:20,320 --> 02:52:20,490
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Those opposed?

3597
02:52:20,690 --> 02:52:21,460
All right, that
passes unanimously.

3598
02:52:21,660 --> 02:52:22,318
Thank you.

3599
02:52:22,518 --> 02:52:24,250
Next department business.

3600
02:52:24,450 --> 02:52:25,790
Jeff Peters.

3601
02:52:25,990 --> 02:52:29,370
Lovingly known as Mr. Parks.

3602
02:52:29,570 --> 02:52:33,273
JEFF PETERS: Or whatever
you can come up with.

3603
02:52:33,473 --> 02:52:33,990
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Or something else.

3604
02:52:34,190 --> 02:52:35,470
I heard another
one, but your mom

3605
02:52:35,670 --> 02:52:37,630
said not to say it
in a public meeting.

3606
02:52:37,830 --> 02:52:38,170
JEFF PETERS: That's right.

3607
02:52:38,370 --> 02:52:39,910
Thank you, Chairman,
members of the board.

3608
02:52:40,110 --> 02:52:41,660
Before you today is
a dredging contract.

3609
02:52:41,860 --> 02:52:44,590
Single source with Viking
Dredging in the amount

3610
02:52:44,790 --> 02:52:45,510
of $275,000.

3611
02:52:45,710 --> 02:52:48,010
It's at Meigs Park.

3612
02:52:48,210 --> 02:52:49,990
This project was
designed, submitted

3613
02:52:50,190 --> 02:52:52,470
for permitting a few years ago.

3614
02:52:52,670 --> 02:52:56,310
We did receive word
back in November of '25,

3615
02:52:56,510 --> 02:53:00,170
just a few months ago,
that it was approved.

3616
02:53:00,370 --> 02:53:02,090
We were fortunate enough
that the Noreaga Point

3617
02:53:02,290 --> 02:53:05,190
area was being dredged and
utilized a single source

3618
02:53:05,390 --> 02:53:09,430
contract to recommend to
the board today for approval

3619
02:53:09,630 --> 02:53:13,710
to save quite a bit of money on
the mobilization fees and stuff.

3620
02:53:13,910 --> 02:53:18,290
So if approved today, it would
be looking to start about May 1

3621
02:53:18,490 --> 02:53:20,510
here in the next
couple of months,

3622
02:53:20,710 --> 02:53:22,690
and it would take about
two weeks to complete.

3623
02:53:22,890 --> 02:53:24,007
About 600 cubic yards of sand.

3624
02:53:24,207 --> 02:53:25,960
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Ms.
Ketchel, it's your district.

3625
02:53:26,160 --> 02:53:27,910
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
Yes, it's my district,

3626
02:53:28,110 --> 02:53:29,590
and I'm so grateful
that this is happening.

3627
02:53:29,790 --> 02:53:31,090
I want to thank Mr. Coffey.

3628
02:53:31,290 --> 02:53:33,230
He's done a lot of
work on this, and this

3629
02:53:33,430 --> 02:53:35,310
will be a very welcome
to the residents who

3630
02:53:35,510 --> 02:53:39,570
claim they can't get many of
their even small boats out right

3631
02:53:39,770 --> 02:53:40,470
now through John Boats.

3632
02:53:40,670 --> 02:53:41,230
So thank you.

3633
02:53:41,430 --> 02:53:42,930
So I'll make a
motion for approval.

3634
02:53:43,130 --> 02:53:43,730
COMMISSIONER MIXON: Second.

3635
02:53:43,930 --> 02:53:44,630
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
All right, we

3636
02:53:44,830 --> 02:53:45,890
have a motion to
approve with a second.

3637
02:53:46,090 --> 02:53:47,750
Do we have further discussion?

3638
02:53:47,950 --> 02:53:49,870
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Who's-- the dredging,

3639
02:53:50,070 --> 02:53:53,970
we're getting this price
because they're in the area.

3640
02:53:54,170 --> 02:53:56,810
Who's paying for the
dredging of the harbor?

3641
02:53:57,010 --> 02:53:59,270
JEFF PETERS: It was a split.

3642
02:53:59,470 --> 02:54:01,130
The county paid for
about half of it.

3643
02:54:01,330 --> 02:54:02,610
I believe it was a $650,000.

3644
02:54:02,810 --> 02:54:05,170
Craig may know
that. $650,000-ish,

3645
02:54:05,370 --> 02:54:08,690
and the county put up
about half of that.

3646
02:54:08,890 --> 02:54:09,610
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: OK.

3647
02:54:09,810 --> 02:54:12,680
COMMISSIONER PALMER: We came
up with a metrics on that

3648
02:54:12,880 --> 02:54:14,330
a few years ago
with the cost share

3649
02:54:14,530 --> 02:54:16,710
because we have a boat
launch at that location.

3650
02:54:16,910 --> 02:54:20,820
So we have a vested interest
in keeping that channel open.

3651
02:54:21,020 --> 02:54:23,020
But you also have a
number of property owners

3652
02:54:23,220 --> 02:54:24,460
that are situated
on that lagoon.

3653
02:54:24,660 --> 02:54:27,940
So it was a long process,
but everybody's contributing

3654
02:54:28,140 --> 02:54:30,360
to the overall cost of that.

3655
02:54:30,560 --> 02:54:32,168
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: I think
there's an MSBU in place.

3656
02:54:32,368 --> 02:54:33,560
Am I right, Mr. Coffey?

3657
02:54:33,760 --> 02:54:35,440
Did we put an MSBU in place?

3658
02:54:35,640 --> 02:54:36,800
CRAIG COFFEY: Yeah,
the MSBU is in place.

3659
02:54:37,000 --> 02:54:38,740
It was based on a
certain dollar amount.

3660
02:54:38,940 --> 02:54:40,820
We may have to revisit
that, but the idea

3661
02:54:41,020 --> 02:54:43,540
was the county was going
to do the initial project,

3662
02:54:43,740 --> 02:54:45,420
and then over time, they
were going to, essentially,

3663
02:54:45,620 --> 02:54:47,680
save away, sock away money
for the future project.

3664
02:54:47,880 --> 02:54:49,280
And that was the plan.

3665
02:54:49,480 --> 02:54:52,440
And right now, we have
the three funding sources

3666
02:54:52,640 --> 02:54:53,840
that came in a
little bit higher,

3667
02:54:54,040 --> 02:54:56,415
but I think this is probably
our best option as far

3668
02:54:56,615 --> 02:54:57,660
as to avoid the mobilization.

3669
02:54:57,860 --> 02:54:59,580
COMMISSIONER MIXON: And
this would be appreciated

3670
02:54:59,780 --> 02:55:01,760
by the residents of Lake Clyde.

3671
02:55:01,960 --> 02:55:02,960
It's turned into a
good partnership.

3672
02:55:03,160 --> 02:55:05,132
It didn't look that
way in the beginning,

3673
02:55:05,332 --> 02:55:06,540
but it did evolve into that.

3674
02:55:06,740 --> 02:55:09,900
And I think it's going to
be a great path forward.

3675
02:55:10,100 --> 02:55:10,920
My question was geared
towards the harbor.

3676
02:55:11,120 --> 02:55:13,120
Since we're doing it
under the same purview,

3677
02:55:13,320 --> 02:55:16,720
I wanted to see how the
split was in paying for that.

3678
02:55:16,920 --> 02:55:17,792
I remember we had
some involvement,

3679
02:55:17,992 --> 02:55:19,850
I just wasn't sure where it is.

3680
02:55:20,050 --> 02:55:21,930
CRAIG COFFEY: The harbor
was up to $400,000.

3681
02:55:22,130 --> 02:55:25,950
Our contribution up to 50%, not
to exceed $800,000 total project

3682
02:55:26,150 --> 02:55:28,030
any above that.

3683
02:55:28,230 --> 02:55:29,970
It came in under that.

3684
02:55:30,170 --> 02:55:31,530
The project is already done.

3685
02:55:31,730 --> 02:55:35,350
I'm sure the city is going to
be sending us a bill for that,

3686
02:55:35,550 --> 02:55:36,350
but that's an interlocal
we worked on just fine.

3687
02:55:36,550 --> 02:55:39,370
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: If I may
say one more thing, Chairman.

3688
02:55:39,570 --> 02:55:41,270
So a little bit like what
Commissioner Palmer's

3689
02:55:41,470 --> 02:55:44,690
going through now, I had some
very angry citizens around Lake

3690
02:55:44,890 --> 02:55:45,150
Clyde.

3691
02:55:45,350 --> 02:55:48,650
That was quite a few town hall
meetings, but we got there

3692
02:55:48,850 --> 02:55:49,950
and we worked through it.

3693
02:55:50,150 --> 02:55:52,950
So I know we'll work through
this Noriega thing as well.

3694
02:55:53,150 --> 02:55:53,577
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

3695
02:55:53,777 --> 02:55:54,310
Further discussion?

3696
02:55:54,510 --> 02:55:57,017
Those in favor, please
signal by saying Aye.

3697
02:55:57,217 --> 02:55:57,650
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Aye.

3698
02:55:57,850 --> 02:55:57,983
COMMISSIONER PALMER: Aye.

3699
02:55:58,183 --> 02:55:58,066
COMMISSIONER COX: Aye.

3700
02:55:58,266 --> 02:55:58,150
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Those opposed?

3701
02:55:58,350 --> 02:55:58,750
All right.

3702
02:55:58,950 --> 02:55:59,550
That passes unanimously.

3703
02:55:59,750 --> 02:56:00,910
Thank you, Mr. Peters.

3704
02:56:01,110 --> 02:56:02,010
All right.

3705
02:56:02,210 --> 02:56:04,030
Next department business.

3706
02:56:04,230 --> 02:56:04,950
Craig Coffey.

3707
02:56:05,150 --> 02:56:10,465
CRAIG COFFEY: Thank
you, Commissioners.

3708
02:56:10,665 --> 02:56:13,590
It's my pleasure to bring you
yet another project that's

3709
02:56:13,790 --> 02:56:16,510
partnering with
cities in our county.

3710
02:56:16,710 --> 02:56:20,410
And in the staff write-up,
I talked about Destin,

3711
02:56:20,610 --> 02:56:22,670
Fort Walton Beach, Mary Esther,
Cinco Bayou, and Shalimar

3712
02:56:22,870 --> 02:56:24,350
are all projects
interlocals we've done.

3713
02:56:24,550 --> 02:56:27,390
I've been involved in all
the Destin interlocals,

3714
02:56:27,590 --> 02:56:30,290
the last five years,
every single one of them.

3715
02:56:30,490 --> 02:56:31,750
So I'm proud of that fact.

3716
02:56:31,950 --> 02:56:33,630
And I think we
will get there too.

3717
02:56:33,830 --> 02:56:35,170
This property in
particular, this

3718
02:56:35,370 --> 02:56:38,510
is a kind of building off
another project that we've

3719
02:56:38,710 --> 02:56:40,290
worked on with the
town of Shalimar.

3720
02:56:40,490 --> 02:56:43,890
If you recall, we worked on
the other corner, the Southeast

3721
02:56:44,090 --> 02:56:46,390
corner of the bridge, and we
entered into an interlocal

3722
02:56:46,590 --> 02:56:47,850
with that.

3723
02:56:48,050 --> 02:56:49,250
We did that in 2023.

3724
02:56:49,450 --> 02:56:51,030
We bought that property
for about $900,000.

3725
02:56:51,230 --> 02:56:56,070
And I will tell you, that
property was an eyesore

3726
02:56:56,270 --> 02:56:56,770
for many, many years.

3727
02:56:56,970 --> 02:56:59,290
We've cleaned it
up a lot already.

3728
02:56:59,490 --> 02:57:00,570
Just removing-- there
was foundations there,

3729
02:57:00,770 --> 02:57:03,470
and I even found some
old pictures there

3730
02:57:03,670 --> 02:57:04,410
before that
structure burnt down.

3731
02:57:04,610 --> 02:57:06,770
It has a very interesting
and checkered history,

3732
02:57:06,970 --> 02:57:08,490
that property.

3733
02:57:08,690 --> 02:57:11,610
What this would propose is
buying the property, essentially

3734
02:57:11,810 --> 02:57:13,610
a sister parcel on
the Northeast corner,

3735
02:57:13,810 --> 02:57:15,640
and it would, essentially,
coming forward,

3736
02:57:15,840 --> 02:57:19,280
we would propose to remove
the town of Shalimar

3737
02:57:19,480 --> 02:57:20,820
out of that other
interlocal and essentially

3738
02:57:21,020 --> 02:57:22,820
enter into a new
interlocal with them.

3739
02:57:23,020 --> 02:57:25,120
How are we going
to pay for this?

3740
02:57:25,320 --> 02:57:25,640
What's the purchase price?

3741
02:57:25,840 --> 02:57:28,223
The purchase price is proposed
to be about $3 million,

3742
02:57:28,423 --> 02:57:30,900
with about $50,000 of closing
costs and some conceptual stuff.

3743
02:57:31,100 --> 02:57:35,260
We propose to pay for it with
a variety of contributors

3744
02:57:35,460 --> 02:57:36,800
to this in the park.

3745
02:57:37,000 --> 02:57:39,080
Building the park, the
park-- any park today--

3746
02:57:39,280 --> 02:57:41,840
and we got into discussion
even on the Destin,

3747
02:57:42,040 --> 02:57:44,240
why put a dollar
amount in there?

3748
02:57:44,440 --> 02:57:46,280
I will tell you, any park
today, you're probably

3749
02:57:46,480 --> 02:57:47,560
looking at about $3 million.

3750
02:57:47,760 --> 02:57:50,940
Whether it's the one in Mary
Esther or the one in Shalimar,

3751
02:57:51,140 --> 02:57:52,300
just to get off the
ground between design,

3752
02:57:52,500 --> 02:57:52,980
between construction
and anything

3753
02:57:53,180 --> 02:57:55,255
you've got to do with it.

3754
02:57:55,455 --> 02:57:56,805
We've estimated the
total cost of the project

3755
02:57:57,005 --> 02:57:58,980
would be a little bit
over $6 million total

3756
02:57:59,180 --> 02:58:01,260
between acquisition and
development across the way.

3757
02:58:01,460 --> 02:58:05,200
We've asked for $1.5 million
from the legislature,

3758
02:58:05,400 --> 02:58:09,420
and we'll see if
that comes through.

3759
02:58:09,620 --> 02:58:11,820
We made that a contingency of
the purchase sale agreement.

3760
02:58:12,020 --> 02:58:14,237
We've asked for $1.5 Million
from the town of Shalimar.

3761
02:58:14,437 --> 02:58:16,032
There's more work
to be done there.

3762
02:58:16,232 --> 02:58:17,790
And again, that would
be partly tourism money.

3763
02:58:17,990 --> 02:58:21,730
And I think the mayor had
some other great ideas

3764
02:58:21,930 --> 02:58:23,430
on how to work with us on that.

3765
02:58:23,630 --> 02:58:25,130
This property, I'll
talk in general,

3766
02:58:25,330 --> 02:58:29,113
compared to our other
property, other property

3767
02:58:29,313 --> 02:58:31,030
has a large billboard next door.

3768
02:58:31,230 --> 02:58:33,090
50 foot of public right of way.

3769
02:58:33,290 --> 02:58:35,290
This property has
an adjoining parcel

3770
02:58:35,490 --> 02:58:37,630
that the town owns that's
essentially parallel

3771
02:58:37,830 --> 02:58:39,330
to Highway 85.

3772
02:58:39,530 --> 02:58:42,230
It has plenty of trees.

3773
02:58:42,430 --> 02:58:44,870
It has water sewer,
electric already to the site

3774
02:58:45,070 --> 02:58:47,770
because there was a house
there before it burnt down.

3775
02:58:47,970 --> 02:58:49,550
So it has a lot of--

3776
02:58:49,750 --> 02:58:51,170
plus, it has a shoreline
that has a seawall.

3777
02:58:51,370 --> 02:58:53,030
Now, it's a homemade seawall.

3778
02:58:53,230 --> 02:58:55,210
I'm not going to say it
was engineered fully,

3779
02:58:55,410 --> 02:58:56,530
but it has lots of
broken concrete,

3780
02:58:56,730 --> 02:59:00,050
and I think that will actually
save us money in-- considering

3781
02:59:00,250 --> 02:59:03,450
how we've had to pay
for those in the past,

3782
02:59:03,650 --> 02:59:04,710
it might need rebuilding
at some point,

3783
02:59:04,910 --> 02:59:07,950
but I would say that it
might save us money and allow

3784
02:59:08,150 --> 02:59:09,710
us to get the park off
the ground quicker.

3785
02:59:09,910 --> 02:59:12,330
It dead ends with
Clifford Drive.

3786
02:59:12,530 --> 02:59:16,210
And-- I'm trying to think
of any other questions I

3787
02:59:16,410 --> 02:59:16,950
can answer for you.

3788
02:59:17,150 --> 02:59:22,150
You've heard the
mayor of the town

3789
02:59:22,350 --> 02:59:24,790
speak passionately about it.

3790
02:59:24,990 --> 02:59:27,870
And it would be a great
project, great addition

3791
02:59:28,070 --> 02:59:29,210
to join our other park.

3792
02:59:29,410 --> 02:59:30,770
So I'll entertain any
questions you have.

3793
02:59:30,970 --> 02:59:34,012
I'm not going to go into the
PowerPoint bore you with that,

3794
02:59:34,212 --> 02:59:34,370
but that concludes
my presentation.

3795
02:59:34,570 --> 02:59:39,350
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Motion
for approval with discussion.

3796
02:59:39,550 --> 02:59:43,003
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: We have a
motion to approve with a second.

3797
02:59:43,203 --> 02:59:43,270
Commissioner Ketchel?

3798
02:59:43,470 --> 02:59:46,245
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: So
this is a once in a lifetime

3799
02:59:46,445 --> 02:59:46,053
opportunity.

3800
02:59:46,253 --> 02:59:48,750
This would, I'm sure,
go to condos and houses

3801
02:59:48,950 --> 02:59:50,190
if we don't do this.

3802
02:59:50,390 --> 02:59:50,810
It's an absolutely
beautiful parcel.

3803
02:59:51,010 --> 02:59:54,610
I've been assured by
Trumbull, he's working hard

3804
02:59:54,810 --> 02:59:57,890
to get the $1.5 million,
and Representative Maney

3805
02:59:58,090 --> 03:00:03,410
was in my ear before I even had
a chance to bring this forward.

3806
03:00:03,610 --> 03:00:04,770
He really wants this as well.

3807
03:00:04,970 --> 03:00:07,252
And I think you all have
heard from him, maybe,

3808
03:00:07,452 --> 03:00:07,710
or know about that.

3809
03:00:07,910 --> 03:00:09,850
So looking forward to
possibly seeing this

3810
03:00:10,050 --> 03:00:13,200
become a really beautiful
entryway into Shalimar.

3811
03:00:13,400 --> 03:00:17,605
And I thank the mayor
for sitting through all

3812
03:00:17,805 --> 03:00:18,880
of this today and being here.

3813
03:00:19,080 --> 03:00:20,200
It's really kind of you.

3814
03:00:20,400 --> 03:00:24,000
I could go on and
on about the parcel.

3815
03:00:24,200 --> 03:00:25,300
I think the fact
that we're going

3816
03:00:25,500 --> 03:00:27,900
to name it after the
original owner who sat up

3817
03:00:28,100 --> 03:00:30,340
on this dais for
20 years, I think

3818
03:00:30,540 --> 03:00:31,880
that's a real tribute
to the family.

3819
03:00:32,080 --> 03:00:32,040
So--

3820
03:00:32,240 --> 03:00:35,647
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

3821
03:00:35,847 --> 03:00:37,880
Commissioner Palmer, did
you have anything to add?

3822
03:00:38,080 --> 03:00:38,740
All right.

3823
03:00:38,940 --> 03:00:40,722
COMMISSIONER MIXON: I
just have some questions.

3824
03:00:40,922 --> 03:00:42,380
How was the--
looking through this,

3825
03:00:42,580 --> 03:00:46,880
I see that an appraisal would
come, but there's not one yet.

3826
03:00:47,080 --> 03:00:48,800
How was the price gained?

3827
03:00:49,000 --> 03:00:52,020
How did we come to that?

3828
03:00:52,220 --> 03:00:53,020
We're taking some heat
over another parcel,

3829
03:00:53,220 --> 03:00:56,060
and that's because there's
underlying disagreement with how

3830
03:00:56,260 --> 03:01:00,660
they came to a price, and they
came to a price per their packet

3831
03:01:00,860 --> 03:01:00,960
with appraisals.

3832
03:01:01,160 --> 03:01:03,160
I don't see any
appraisals on this,

3833
03:01:03,360 --> 03:01:05,120
and we've come to
a price that's more

3834
03:01:05,320 --> 03:01:07,080
elevated than any other
vacant piece in its area.

3835
03:01:07,280 --> 03:01:08,260
And so I just--

3836
03:01:08,460 --> 03:01:11,710
fiscal stewardship
is still our job.

3837
03:01:11,910 --> 03:01:15,570
I want to be sure that we're
moving in the right direction,

3838
03:01:15,770 --> 03:01:16,290
and that's expensive.

3839
03:01:16,490 --> 03:01:22,690
CRAIG COFFEY: Yeah, so
let me try and address

3840
03:01:22,890 --> 03:01:23,610
that a little bit.

3841
03:01:23,810 --> 03:01:26,530
You're right, an appraisal is
required as part of our process

3842
03:01:26,730 --> 03:01:27,730
and per state law.

3843
03:01:27,930 --> 03:01:29,770
So we have to get that done.

3844
03:01:29,970 --> 03:01:31,837
There's a value that is required
to meet the purchase price,

3845
03:01:32,037 --> 03:01:33,437
or it's required to
be brought back here.

3846
03:01:33,637 --> 03:01:35,570
I think we actually
put 90% of the value.

3847
03:01:35,770 --> 03:01:38,670
We typically do that
in case it's close,

3848
03:01:38,870 --> 03:01:39,930
but it's not quite there.

3849
03:01:40,130 --> 03:01:43,770
And I tried to put some
rationale in our staff report.

3850
03:01:43,970 --> 03:01:46,430
And the way I tried
to rationalize it was,

3851
03:01:46,630 --> 03:01:50,430
this is about 2 and 1/4 times
the size of the other parcel we

3852
03:01:50,630 --> 03:01:50,710
bought in 2023.

3853
03:01:50,910 --> 03:01:53,870
Now, granted, property values
have leveled off, probably.

3854
03:01:54,070 --> 03:01:57,530
I mean, they weren't
really crazy after COVID,

3855
03:01:57,730 --> 03:02:01,150
but waterfront, obviously
they're not making any more.

3856
03:02:01,350 --> 03:02:03,570
This is an opportunity.

3857
03:02:03,770 --> 03:02:04,030
It's there.

3858
03:02:04,230 --> 03:02:07,110
But if you multiply just the
2.2 and 1/4 times $900,000.

3859
03:02:07,310 --> 03:02:10,830
What we paid in '23, that
gets you over $2 million.

3860
03:02:11,030 --> 03:02:13,990
Then you start dragging
in some other things,

3861
03:02:14,190 --> 03:02:16,330
like the riprap
along the seawall.

3862
03:02:16,530 --> 03:02:19,480
Granted, it's a homemade wall.

3863
03:02:19,680 --> 03:02:20,130
It's not perfect.

3864
03:02:20,330 --> 03:02:22,470
And I'm hoping-- it probably
wasn't a permitted seawall.

3865
03:02:22,670 --> 03:02:24,730
Hopefully, we can use that.

3866
03:02:24,930 --> 03:02:27,570
But then the property in
general is just much nicer.

3867
03:02:27,770 --> 03:02:28,785
It has the utilities there.

3868
03:02:28,985 --> 03:02:29,910
It has the trees there.

3869
03:02:30,110 --> 03:02:31,210
It has the other
things I mentioned.

3870
03:02:31,410 --> 03:02:34,530
Not a big giant
billboard next to it.

3871
03:02:34,730 --> 03:02:36,250
So there's some of
those things there.

3872
03:02:36,450 --> 03:02:38,192
How we got to the
price, obviously,

3873
03:02:38,392 --> 03:02:39,650
it's always a negotiation
with the owner.

3874
03:02:39,850 --> 03:02:42,230
This owner owns a lot
of other properties.

3875
03:02:42,430 --> 03:02:43,530
This owner is an attorney.

3876
03:02:43,730 --> 03:02:45,570
The son of a 40-year
county attorney.

3877
03:02:45,770 --> 03:02:50,830
So we tried to appeal to naming
the park after his father

3878
03:02:51,030 --> 03:02:53,870
and that was our appeal to him.

3879
03:02:54,070 --> 03:02:57,750
But I will tell you that
developers, once the house

3880
03:02:57,950 --> 03:03:00,050
burnt down over the
last several months,

3881
03:03:00,250 --> 03:03:02,390
we're competing with the
private market a little bit.

3882
03:03:02,590 --> 03:03:04,390
They come knocking because
what does that happen?

3883
03:03:04,590 --> 03:03:07,310
It gets parceled up and
chopped into individual lots.

3884
03:03:07,510 --> 03:03:10,020
And the case we made
was, yeah, you could sell

3885
03:03:10,220 --> 03:03:13,058
and you can make money and you'd
potentially make more money.

3886
03:03:13,258 --> 03:03:15,300
It might price higher, it
might price a little lower.

3887
03:03:15,500 --> 03:03:15,900
Who knows?

3888
03:03:16,100 --> 03:03:19,700
But I said, your dad's legacy is
not going to be saved that way.

3889
03:03:19,900 --> 03:03:22,620
It's going to be houses and
it's going to be someone else's.

3890
03:03:22,820 --> 03:03:23,620
Your kids can't
come back and visit

3891
03:03:23,820 --> 03:03:25,078
the park and your
grandkids, and he's

3892
03:03:25,278 --> 03:03:27,263
got all those sentiments
wrapped up into that,

3893
03:03:27,463 --> 03:03:29,180
and he's had huge
discussions with his family.

3894
03:03:29,380 --> 03:03:31,180
We tried to negotiate
back and forth.

3895
03:03:31,380 --> 03:03:34,380
He actually wanted
more than this.

3896
03:03:34,580 --> 03:03:36,480
He's stuck at $3 million.

3897
03:03:36,680 --> 03:03:41,040
We wanted to keep going down,
but it was a good back and forth

3898
03:03:41,240 --> 03:03:40,160
discussion.

3899
03:03:40,360 --> 03:03:45,240
And it's always, the beauty
is in the eye of the beholder

3900
03:03:45,440 --> 03:03:46,020
and the market Bears.

3901
03:03:46,220 --> 03:03:46,940
But it's not--

3902
03:03:47,140 --> 03:03:49,685
COMMISSIONER MIXON: So
the back and forth, we

3903
03:03:49,885 --> 03:03:50,960
do have a signed copy?

3904
03:03:51,160 --> 03:03:52,980
The copy in our
packet is not signed.

3905
03:03:53,180 --> 03:03:55,200
CRAIG COFFEY: I do not
have a signed copy.

3906
03:03:55,400 --> 03:03:55,840
I have a commitment
that he's agreed

3907
03:03:56,040 --> 03:03:56,920
to the terms and conditions.

3908
03:03:57,120 --> 03:03:59,680
So I will have a signed copy
after following the meeting.

3909
03:03:59,880 --> 03:04:00,722
COMMISSIONER MIXON: OK.

3910
03:04:00,922 --> 03:04:03,180
So what level would
this come back to us

3911
03:04:03,380 --> 03:04:06,110
before we follow
through with any action?

3912
03:04:06,310 --> 03:04:08,910
CRAIG COFFEY: Well, I think
it wouldn't necessarily

3913
03:04:09,110 --> 03:04:11,950
come back to you unless
some of the contingencies

3914
03:04:12,150 --> 03:04:13,130
couldn't be met.

3915
03:04:13,330 --> 03:04:15,030
For example, if the
appraiser didn't come in

3916
03:04:15,230 --> 03:04:16,650
within the parameters
we put in the pre-sale.

3917
03:04:16,850 --> 03:04:18,970
If the legislature, if we
didn't get $1.5 million

3918
03:04:19,170 --> 03:04:20,150
from the legislature
and there was money

3919
03:04:20,350 --> 03:04:21,550
to be made up the product.

3920
03:04:21,750 --> 03:04:24,070
If the town of Shalimar didn't
come up with the $1.5 million.

3921
03:04:24,270 --> 03:04:25,112
All those would be
contingencies that we'd

3922
03:04:25,312 --> 03:04:28,310
have to come back and bring
that back to the board,

3923
03:04:28,510 --> 03:04:30,070
because then we can't
quite put it together,

3924
03:04:30,270 --> 03:04:33,190
and it's a reconsideration
of does this make sense?

3925
03:04:33,390 --> 03:04:36,170
And we tried to up that.

3926
03:04:36,370 --> 03:04:37,330
Initially, we asked--
and we included,

3927
03:04:37,530 --> 03:04:39,630
I think, the Senate request,
initially, $1 million.

3928
03:04:39,830 --> 03:04:42,090
And not having a price
point, you're right.

3929
03:04:42,290 --> 03:04:43,887
We don't have
appraisal, we were doing

3930
03:04:44,087 --> 03:04:46,370
the best we can based on
market and other properties

3931
03:04:46,570 --> 03:04:49,570
out there that we bought or
we know that's on the market.

3932
03:04:49,770 --> 03:04:53,190
So there was a little bit
back and forth on that.

3933
03:04:53,390 --> 03:04:54,730
And so all that
to come to say, we

3934
03:04:54,930 --> 03:04:56,230
have contingencies
to protect us,

3935
03:04:56,430 --> 03:04:58,630
that if we get down this road.

3936
03:04:58,830 --> 03:05:00,480
And we delay closing, really,
till up to October 31.

3937
03:05:00,680 --> 03:05:02,410
So any expenses
that we're facing

3938
03:05:02,610 --> 03:05:05,160
will be baked into next
year's budget as well.

3939
03:05:05,360 --> 03:05:06,960
We'll probably close in
the October time frame,

3940
03:05:07,160 --> 03:05:09,820
provided we got the legislative
money, and the town of Shalimar,

3941
03:05:10,020 --> 03:05:13,160
we'd be back probably in
the next meeting or two

3942
03:05:13,360 --> 03:05:14,960
with their interlocal as well
with those same contingencies.

3943
03:05:15,160 --> 03:05:18,700
COMMISSIONER MIXON: Seawalls
can be very, very expensive.

3944
03:05:18,900 --> 03:05:20,382
CRAIG COFFEY: Yes, sir.

3945
03:05:20,582 --> 03:05:21,040
We found that--

3946
03:05:21,240 --> 03:05:22,960
COMMISSIONER MIXON: Has
anyone looked at that one?

3947
03:05:23,160 --> 03:05:24,120
CRAIG COFFEY: We
have not done any--

3948
03:05:24,320 --> 03:05:25,680
that's part of our due
diligence process too.

3949
03:05:25,880 --> 03:05:28,800
And if we feel we can't use
it for some reason, that

3950
03:05:29,000 --> 03:05:31,020
might be a big thing
too, because that's

3951
03:05:31,220 --> 03:05:32,780
a value added that
we're counting,

3952
03:05:32,980 --> 03:05:35,400
that's been there
for a long time.

3953
03:05:35,600 --> 03:05:38,980
And if it turns out we can't
use that for some reason,

3954
03:05:39,180 --> 03:05:39,860
then that may be
change the mechanics,

3955
03:05:40,060 --> 03:05:41,800
the financial
parameters of the deal.

3956
03:05:42,000 --> 03:05:45,580
Because I will tell you that
in working with Mary Esther,

3957
03:05:45,780 --> 03:05:48,940
and that project Crystal Ball
Landing, there was $1 million

3958
03:05:49,140 --> 03:05:54,400
worth of seawall and it was a
shorter shoreline than this.

3959
03:05:54,600 --> 03:05:57,518
We didn't have
anything to work with.

3960
03:05:57,718 --> 03:05:59,660
We had some old seawalls
we could have kept,

3961
03:05:59,860 --> 03:06:01,500
but they were like wood
frame and framed up,

3962
03:06:01,700 --> 03:06:04,100
and they were much worse
than what we think is here.

3963
03:06:04,300 --> 03:06:09,560
But I think this has kept the
property intact with storms

3964
03:06:09,760 --> 03:06:13,180
and stuff so far the
seawall that's there.

3965
03:06:13,380 --> 03:06:15,280
There has not been
any major erosion.

3966
03:06:15,480 --> 03:06:17,700
There's no wetlands on the site.

3967
03:06:17,900 --> 03:06:20,140
Whereas the other one,
we have no seawall,

3968
03:06:20,340 --> 03:06:21,320
we had concrete
foundations and stuff.

3969
03:06:21,520 --> 03:06:24,040
And we actually would
have to build a seawall

3970
03:06:24,240 --> 03:06:27,380
on the other Shalimar project,
the one we already bought.

3971
03:06:27,580 --> 03:06:30,933
And that's going to be-- that's
a major expense of that project.

3972
03:06:31,133 --> 03:06:32,700
And that project is going
upwards of $4 million

3973
03:06:32,900 --> 03:06:35,680
because of things like a seawall
that's not there, that we

3974
03:06:35,880 --> 03:06:38,220
got to build from scratch.

3975
03:06:38,420 --> 03:06:40,560
COMMISSIONER MIXON: So I
think it's a great parcel.

3976
03:06:40,760 --> 03:06:47,445
I got to ride my bike
there as a kid many times.

3977
03:06:47,645 --> 03:06:48,580
Tremendous, tremendous
memories there.

3978
03:06:48,780 --> 03:06:50,480
Great parcel.

3979
03:06:50,680 --> 03:06:55,420
If it appraises, I feel
much more confident

3980
03:06:55,620 --> 03:06:57,960
in what we're doing.

3981
03:06:58,160 --> 03:07:00,140
I would love to
see a better number

3982
03:07:00,340 --> 03:07:03,850
on what it's going to
cost to make it a park.

3983
03:07:04,050 --> 03:07:06,010
I'm not opposed to moving
forward on it today.

3984
03:07:06,210 --> 03:07:09,570
I am opposed to today being
the end of all decisions

3985
03:07:09,770 --> 03:07:11,690
from the commission
moving forward.

3986
03:07:11,890 --> 03:07:14,950
I don't think
that's wise for us.

3987
03:07:15,150 --> 03:07:16,990
There's much that could come.

3988
03:07:17,190 --> 03:07:20,050
Comparing it to the
other side of the bridge,

3989
03:07:20,250 --> 03:07:20,790
there's some zoning differences.

3990
03:07:20,990 --> 03:07:23,130
There's a parking difference,
there's a traffic signal,

3991
03:07:23,330 --> 03:07:25,010
there's direct access
to the highway.

3992
03:07:25,210 --> 03:07:26,650
It's not apples to apples.

3993
03:07:26,850 --> 03:07:29,510
But looking at this for
the future of the county

3994
03:07:29,710 --> 03:07:32,070
and to have another resource
there, it's wonderful.

3995
03:07:32,270 --> 03:07:34,570
It would be great.

3996
03:07:34,770 --> 03:07:38,070
I can't write off the
idea of a blank check.

3997
03:07:38,270 --> 03:07:42,170
I like the contingencies
of a million and a half

3998
03:07:42,370 --> 03:07:44,650
from the state, and
a million and a half

3999
03:07:44,850 --> 03:07:46,070
from Shalimar,
because that puts us

4000
03:07:46,270 --> 03:07:48,490
in at 50% both of
them in at 25%.

4001
03:07:48,690 --> 03:07:52,330
That's still going
to be a lot of money,

4002
03:07:52,530 --> 03:07:54,230
but if that seawall is
irreparable or no good,

4003
03:07:54,430 --> 03:07:57,430
that's going to
go up incredibly,

4004
03:07:57,630 --> 03:07:59,750
and it's going to go up fast.

4005
03:07:59,950 --> 03:08:02,280
So it may have lasted
storms in the past, that

4006
03:08:02,480 --> 03:08:04,260
doesn't mean it would
pass everything today

4007
03:08:04,460 --> 03:08:06,060
in standards of construction.

4008
03:08:06,260 --> 03:08:09,760
And so we need to be sure
due diligence is done.

4009
03:08:09,960 --> 03:08:11,500
I would love to see--

4010
03:08:11,700 --> 03:08:14,400
if there's appetite for
this, to see this come back

4011
03:08:14,600 --> 03:08:16,800
after those due diligence
items have taken place,

4012
03:08:17,000 --> 03:08:19,040
just to give the
confirmation that,

4013
03:08:19,240 --> 03:08:21,580
hey, we're moving in
a great direction.

4014
03:08:21,780 --> 03:08:22,380
It appraised appropriately.

4015
03:08:22,580 --> 03:08:27,400
That we were able to see that
the seawall is going to make it,

4016
03:08:27,600 --> 03:08:29,220
or at least it's going
to cost a number that's

4017
03:08:29,420 --> 03:08:29,780
within your budgeted window.

4018
03:08:29,980 --> 03:08:34,080
And I know that's just a sketch
on a piece of paper so far,

4019
03:08:34,280 --> 03:08:34,780
but utilizing experts
in those fields

4020
03:08:34,980 --> 03:08:38,000
is going to help me
feel more confident

4021
03:08:38,200 --> 03:08:41,180
in the fiscal stewardship of
the decision we're making.

4022
03:08:41,380 --> 03:08:45,020
So I'd love to see us
move forward on it today,

4023
03:08:45,220 --> 03:08:46,940
but have a time
where you come back

4024
03:08:47,140 --> 03:08:49,120
as you check some of
those boxes in the future.

4025
03:08:49,320 --> 03:08:52,380
CRAIG COFFEY: I think you raised
some very valid points, which

4026
03:08:52,580 --> 03:08:55,180
you try when you enter
an agreement to think

4027
03:08:55,380 --> 03:08:55,300
of everything.

4028
03:08:55,500 --> 03:08:59,460
And we'd be happy to report back
on some of those items for sure.

4029
03:08:59,660 --> 03:09:04,380
And I will tell you that
the development of the park,

4030
03:09:04,580 --> 03:09:09,980
we got some huge numbers for
the development of the Southern

4031
03:09:10,180 --> 03:09:13,100
portion, which kind of
shocked us a little bit,

4032
03:09:13,300 --> 03:09:15,260
and we'd be moving
elements away.

4033
03:09:15,460 --> 03:09:17,660
We think this is a better
development to parcel,

4034
03:09:17,860 --> 03:09:21,800
but I will tell you at
the Colonel Bud Day Park

4035
03:09:22,000 --> 03:09:24,120
that we worked hand in hand
with Commissioner Goodwin on,

4036
03:09:24,320 --> 03:09:26,740
we are-- and we're actually
doing a Patriot Park.

4037
03:09:26,940 --> 03:09:29,360
I think we're using that
model a little different.

4038
03:09:29,560 --> 03:09:31,340
We're going to
build some things,

4039
03:09:31,540 --> 03:09:34,920
and then we're going to
contract out a bunch of things.

4040
03:09:35,120 --> 03:09:35,480
But this idea of--

4041
03:09:35,680 --> 03:09:40,700
even the ball fields up at BAYA,
and the ball fields in Shalimar.

4042
03:09:40,900 --> 03:09:45,500
We're getting away from
trying to do one mass thing,

4043
03:09:45,700 --> 03:09:47,980
because what we're finding is
those prices are coming back

4044
03:09:48,180 --> 03:09:50,097
in the millions, when
we can do a hybrid,

4045
03:09:50,297 --> 03:09:53,180
and it's actually coming
together much more affordable,

4046
03:09:53,380 --> 03:09:56,140
and we're actually
getting better product

4047
03:09:56,340 --> 03:09:57,970
and it's working out great.

4048
03:09:58,170 --> 03:10:01,150
And that's the model Jeff and
his team we've been working on.

4049
03:10:01,350 --> 03:10:03,972
And I think that's
what we're going

4050
03:10:04,172 --> 03:10:07,530
to be trying to apply that a lot
more to some of these projects.

4051
03:10:07,730 --> 03:10:08,910
COMMISSIONER MIXON: If you're
moving things from the South

4052
03:10:09,110 --> 03:10:11,027
Side, would that mean
some of the-- what

4053
03:10:11,227 --> 03:10:12,450
some would interpret as
commercial activities.

4054
03:10:12,650 --> 03:10:17,190
CRAIG COFFEY: We are
not proposing any--

4055
03:10:17,390 --> 03:10:21,730
we did talk about a bait shop
there or something like that.

4056
03:10:21,930 --> 03:10:23,670
We're not proposing
that to come up here,

4057
03:10:23,870 --> 03:10:25,230
but I'm talking
about more dockage

4058
03:10:25,430 --> 03:10:30,270
to have some day use where you
pull up and not camping, not

4059
03:10:30,470 --> 03:10:30,870
staying there.

4060
03:10:31,070 --> 03:10:34,290
Just pull up, enjoy the
park and go back off there.

4061
03:10:34,490 --> 03:10:35,510
But pavilions and
trails and stuff

4062
03:10:35,710 --> 03:10:39,170
like that, we probably envision
this as more of just a pier

4063
03:10:39,370 --> 03:10:39,910
park play.

4064
03:10:40,110 --> 03:10:42,630
Commercial activity,
we haven't really

4065
03:10:42,830 --> 03:10:44,970
thought of anything for that.

4066
03:10:45,170 --> 03:10:50,550
I don't want to mention the
nasty word of food truck,

4067
03:10:50,750 --> 03:10:53,230
but you could have a food
truck every once in a while.

4068
03:10:53,430 --> 03:10:55,310
COMMISSIONER MIXON: I don't mean
to sound as the doomsdayist,

4069
03:10:55,510 --> 03:10:57,160
but the legislature is
discussing what they're

4070
03:10:57,360 --> 03:10:59,520
doing with property taxes.

4071
03:10:59,720 --> 03:11:00,308
CRAIG COFFEY: Yeah.

4072
03:11:00,508 --> 03:11:01,400
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
And it's been

4073
03:11:01,600 --> 03:11:02,940
mentioned before that
tourism tax would be touched.

4074
03:11:03,140 --> 03:11:06,320
And we have to look at
this with clear eyes.

4075
03:11:06,520 --> 03:11:09,720
If we buy a piece of land
and we have to maintain that

4076
03:11:09,920 --> 03:11:11,540
as an essential
function of government,

4077
03:11:11,740 --> 03:11:15,680
sometimes it needs to be able
to make its own resources,

4078
03:11:15,880 --> 03:11:20,120
or you have to put it
back out to the market

4079
03:11:20,320 --> 03:11:20,800
because you can't
afford to have it.

4080
03:11:21,000 --> 03:11:22,900
And if we lose property
taxes from rental homes,

4081
03:11:23,100 --> 03:11:27,600
from everything every, every or
none, it's going to make a hit.

4082
03:11:27,800 --> 03:11:30,980
And if it hits the ballot,
I'm afraid we will.

4083
03:11:31,180 --> 03:11:34,620
And so I just want us to be
aware of that on the front side.

4084
03:11:34,820 --> 03:11:37,100
And Mayor Marks,
this is a great thing

4085
03:11:37,300 --> 03:11:40,023
and I look forward to
the partnership with it.

4086
03:11:40,223 --> 03:11:41,640
We've had some tremendous
partnerships in the past.

4087
03:11:41,840 --> 03:11:44,720
We loaned one municipality
$10 million with no interest.

4088
03:11:44,920 --> 03:11:47,760
We bought a municipality
multiple sites on the Gulf front

4089
03:11:47,960 --> 03:11:50,760
to be able to partner
with them on parks,

4090
03:11:50,960 --> 03:11:53,140
put the property in their name,
and now we're bad partners.

4091
03:11:53,340 --> 03:11:55,720
I mean, it really begins
to deteriorate in a hurry,

4092
03:11:55,920 --> 03:11:58,880
and I want to be sure
from the beginning,

4093
03:11:59,080 --> 03:11:59,420
we're having good
open communication

4094
03:11:59,620 --> 03:12:02,740
and that we're not leaving
out any possibilities of what

4095
03:12:02,940 --> 03:12:04,120
the future could hold.

4096
03:12:04,320 --> 03:12:06,560
CRAIG COFFEY: And I
would pride myself

4097
03:12:06,760 --> 03:12:09,120
on having good open
communications with all

4098
03:12:09,320 --> 03:12:10,320
the partners we've had.

4099
03:12:10,520 --> 03:12:12,178
We've had some great
interlockers, like I said.

4100
03:12:12,378 --> 03:12:15,440
I will tell you that you
raise a very valid point,

4101
03:12:15,640 --> 03:12:19,480
and I think we are looking
at that in a broader sense.

4102
03:12:19,680 --> 03:12:22,300
I know the property I brought
to you at the last meeting,

4103
03:12:22,500 --> 03:12:24,160
I think, the 1323 acres
we're working with the state,

4104
03:12:24,360 --> 03:12:27,558
I think that has the
opportunity for some revenue

4105
03:12:27,758 --> 03:12:30,200
potential in the form of camping
and some stuff like that.

4106
03:12:30,400 --> 03:12:32,240
Obviously, the Destin piece
has a limited, at least

4107
03:12:32,440 --> 03:12:33,700
to cover cost.

4108
03:12:33,900 --> 03:12:36,575
So you have parks that at
least can cover the cost,

4109
03:12:36,775 --> 03:12:37,500
but some of those
parks can actually--

4110
03:12:37,700 --> 03:12:41,740
that revenue could be more
in a broader pot, a park pot.

4111
03:12:41,940 --> 03:12:44,780
And we even talked about paid
parking, which was a champion.

4112
03:12:44,980 --> 03:12:47,560
And direction by this board,
we're working through that.

4113
03:12:47,760 --> 03:12:50,660
That will-- essentially,
could create a pot of money

4114
03:12:50,860 --> 03:12:54,080
that helps eliminate some of
the burden on the general fund

4115
03:12:54,280 --> 03:12:57,830
if some of those parks are
generating parking revenue

4116
03:12:58,030 --> 03:12:58,870
from non-county residents.

4117
03:12:59,070 --> 03:13:01,310
Let's clarify that again.

4118
03:13:01,510 --> 03:13:03,870
So there is that
potential, and I think

4119
03:13:04,070 --> 03:13:08,470
we're always looking at that.

4120
03:13:08,670 --> 03:13:10,610
Because of the
size of this one--

4121
03:13:10,810 --> 03:13:14,250
But I mean there's probably
some things I'm not

4122
03:13:14,450 --> 03:13:15,730
missing that someone
can share with me,

4123
03:13:15,930 --> 03:13:17,470
I'd be happy to
consider all options

4124
03:13:17,670 --> 03:13:19,590
in working with the town.

4125
03:13:19,790 --> 03:13:20,058
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Chairman.

4126
03:13:20,258 --> 03:13:22,550
[INAUDIBLE] So you've
been here a long time

4127
03:13:22,750 --> 03:13:25,890
like I have, and I
know Mayor Franks.

4128
03:13:26,090 --> 03:13:28,410
And that property, oddly, is
higher than the other side

4129
03:13:28,610 --> 03:13:30,310
and doesn't take on water.

4130
03:13:30,510 --> 03:13:33,510
So that's been one good
thing in terms of flooding

4131
03:13:33,710 --> 03:13:34,770
when there's a hurricane.

4132
03:13:34,970 --> 03:13:37,810
Even though we lost half of the
Shalimar Bridge during Opal,

4133
03:13:38,010 --> 03:13:41,670
I think it was, that particular
parcel stayed high and dry.

4134
03:13:41,870 --> 03:13:46,690
There is such an
interest in this,

4135
03:13:46,890 --> 03:13:48,210
that when I went
back to Trumbull

4136
03:13:48,410 --> 03:13:50,530
and asked for more than
$1 million, he said,

4137
03:13:50,730 --> 03:13:51,350
I'll do $1.5 million.

4138
03:13:51,550 --> 03:13:53,680
And when I talked
to Maney, he said,

4139
03:13:53,880 --> 03:13:55,940
I'm going to try to find
more money than that.

4140
03:13:56,140 --> 03:13:56,957
So let's see what we get.

4141
03:13:57,157 --> 03:14:00,840
And I think that today is an
indication to the legislature

4142
03:14:01,040 --> 03:14:02,780
that we want to move forward.

4143
03:14:02,980 --> 03:14:05,880
If everything blows up, we
bring it back and it blows up.

4144
03:14:06,080 --> 03:14:07,080
But I'm encouraged
right now that this

4145
03:14:07,280 --> 03:14:08,940
is a once in a
lifetime opportunity,

4146
03:14:09,140 --> 03:14:11,500
and I really want us
to see that we try.

4147
03:14:11,700 --> 03:14:15,440
And this is such a
beautiful piece of property

4148
03:14:15,640 --> 03:14:18,800
that if in a couple of years
it doesn't work for us,

4149
03:14:19,000 --> 03:14:21,400
we can sell it and be ahead
of the game anyway, I think,

4150
03:14:21,600 --> 03:14:23,900
because like you say, they're
not making any more waterfront

4151
03:14:24,100 --> 03:14:24,000
property.

4152
03:14:24,200 --> 03:14:26,600
But I hope that
we never have to.

4153
03:14:26,800 --> 03:14:28,940
I hope it becomes the most
beautiful entrance to Shalimar.

4154
03:14:29,140 --> 03:14:30,480
So thanks for consideration.

4155
03:14:30,680 --> 03:14:33,826
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Commissioner Cox.

4156
03:14:34,026 --> 03:14:36,020
COMMISSIONER COX:
Thank you, Chairman.

4157
03:14:36,220 --> 03:14:39,360
I had a question and then
something to share, but--

4158
03:14:39,560 --> 03:14:43,760
so do you happen to know
off the top of your head

4159
03:14:43,960 --> 03:14:45,100
how many linear feet
of waterfront this is?

4160
03:14:45,300 --> 03:14:50,860
CRAIG COFFEY: Oh, I would not
be able to give you an accurate

4161
03:14:51,060 --> 03:14:51,120
answer.

4162
03:14:51,320 --> 03:14:54,220
I think it is much greater
than across the way

4163
03:14:54,420 --> 03:14:59,760
at the other park, because the
other is just a straight shot,

4164
03:14:59,960 --> 03:15:01,240
whereas this is a straight
shot, it's actually,

4165
03:15:01,440 --> 03:15:03,580
I think, longer and
then it wraps around.

4166
03:15:03,780 --> 03:15:05,500
So it's like the
whole point there.

4167
03:15:05,700 --> 03:15:08,545
COMMISSIONER COX:
But it's a lot.

4168
03:15:08,745 --> 03:15:10,820
I mean, I can see
that it's a lot.

4169
03:15:11,020 --> 03:15:11,337
And it's quasi improved
property, right?

4170
03:15:11,537 --> 03:15:16,600
It's already sort of
fitted to be able to use.

4171
03:15:16,800 --> 03:15:18,240
CRAIG COFFEY: Right.

4172
03:15:18,440 --> 03:15:20,880
COMMISSIONER COX: Which
brings forth half of what I'm

4173
03:15:21,080 --> 03:15:24,140
about to say, and
that is that I would

4174
03:15:24,340 --> 03:15:26,440
hate for us to lose our
footing in the bidding

4175
03:15:26,640 --> 03:15:30,000
process toward this
property because I

4176
03:15:30,200 --> 03:15:32,640
do think it's a
unique opportunity

4177
03:15:32,840 --> 03:15:37,140
to acquire a piece of land
for our citizens to enjoy,

4178
03:15:37,340 --> 03:15:39,620
for visitors to enjoy,
that we're not going

4179
03:15:39,820 --> 03:15:43,480
to have a lot more of these.

4180
03:15:43,680 --> 03:15:46,000
And yes, there will be property
tax issues moving forward

4181
03:15:46,200 --> 03:15:48,620
if property tax
reform passes, but I

4182
03:15:48,820 --> 03:15:52,310
feel like that's
maybe even more onus

4183
03:15:52,510 --> 03:15:55,750
to act-- to strike
while the iron is hot,

4184
03:15:55,950 --> 03:15:58,950
while we have the ability to
partner with the legislature

4185
03:15:59,150 --> 03:16:01,250
and the town of Shalimar
to acquire something

4186
03:16:01,450 --> 03:16:05,410
like this, of this size and
magnitude and already quasi

4187
03:16:05,610 --> 03:16:06,850
approved.

4188
03:16:07,050 --> 03:16:09,730
I think it's something
to not wait on,

4189
03:16:09,930 --> 03:16:12,830
but I'll segue into
the other part of this.

4190
03:16:13,030 --> 03:16:15,290
Representative
Maney talked to me,

4191
03:16:15,490 --> 03:16:20,610
that you called me the other
day and right off the bat,

4192
03:16:20,810 --> 03:16:21,990
just because he's a high
integrity individual, says,

4193
03:16:22,190 --> 03:16:24,450
I'm calling as a
concerned constituent.

4194
03:16:24,650 --> 03:16:26,990
I'm not calling as
your representative.

4195
03:16:27,190 --> 03:16:28,750
[CHUCKLES] To say
that, as somebody

4196
03:16:28,950 --> 03:16:31,950
who's lived here for
a very long time, who

4197
03:16:32,150 --> 03:16:33,450
has served us in so many ways.

4198
03:16:33,650 --> 03:16:35,133
He served us publicly.

4199
03:16:35,333 --> 03:16:36,050
He served his nation.

4200
03:16:36,250 --> 03:16:36,933
He served his country.

4201
03:16:37,133 --> 03:16:37,850
He serves still, right?

4202
03:16:38,050 --> 03:16:41,750
Retired many times over.

4203
03:16:41,950 --> 03:16:45,270
Doesn't have to serve, but
he does so for about $29,000

4204
03:16:45,470 --> 03:16:48,250
a year, just so the public knows
what they're getting in exchange

4205
03:16:48,450 --> 03:16:50,940
for public service at the state
level as a representative.

4206
03:16:51,140 --> 03:16:52,120
It's not much, right?

4207
03:16:52,320 --> 03:16:54,128
field, probably the
same amount of tomatoes

4208
03:16:54,328 --> 03:16:56,520
that we do up here on the dais.

4209
03:16:56,720 --> 03:16:58,640
And he was very,
very vested in this.

4210
03:16:58,840 --> 03:17:03,460
He reiterated and we agree that
this is a unique opportunity

4211
03:17:03,660 --> 03:17:05,838
to provide something
for our citizens

4212
03:17:06,038 --> 03:17:07,680
that we may not
come across again.

4213
03:17:07,880 --> 03:17:12,180
And for that reason, I would
very much like to move forward

4214
03:17:12,380 --> 03:17:15,920
today on this in whatever
capacity we need to.

4215
03:17:16,120 --> 03:17:18,220
Thank you.

4216
03:17:18,420 --> 03:17:22,340
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Other discussion.

4217
03:17:22,540 --> 03:17:24,360
All right.

4218
03:17:24,560 --> 03:17:26,660
Then I'll weigh in with
some of my thoughts.

4219
03:17:26,860 --> 03:17:28,480
So first of all, the
idea of partnering

4220
03:17:28,680 --> 03:17:34,600
with the town of Shalimar
for a park at that location

4221
03:17:34,800 --> 03:17:37,140
is very appealing.

4222
03:17:37,340 --> 03:17:39,920
I really like it.

4223
03:17:40,120 --> 03:17:41,540
It is a rare
opportunity for Shalimar

4224
03:17:41,740 --> 03:17:47,080
to have a really
robust entry visual,

4225
03:17:47,280 --> 03:17:54,000
and I think it does
a couple of things.

4226
03:17:54,200 --> 03:17:56,540
I kind of joked with the mayor.

4227
03:17:56,740 --> 03:17:57,820
I said, well, Chief
Jacobs won't have

4228
03:17:58,020 --> 03:18:02,260
anywhere to tuck his car and run
radar if we clear all the stuff.

4229
03:18:02,460 --> 03:18:03,260
But it's OK, he'll
find another spot.

4230
03:18:03,460 --> 03:18:05,980
And we love you, Jacobs.

4231
03:18:06,180 --> 03:18:09,940
But in fact, I
honked at him today

4232
03:18:10,140 --> 03:18:13,520
as he was out in front
of Shalimar Elementary

4233
03:18:13,720 --> 03:18:15,300
waving to folks.

4234
03:18:15,500 --> 03:18:16,800
So good for your town.

4235
03:18:17,000 --> 03:18:18,760
But back to this parcel.

4236
03:18:18,960 --> 03:18:22,040
So there's a couple things.

4237
03:18:22,240 --> 03:18:25,560
One, I am concerned about
some of the due diligence.

4238
03:18:25,760 --> 03:18:32,760
And obviously, we take the
due diligence very seriously.

4239
03:18:32,960 --> 03:18:36,400
You talk about the seawalls,
I haven't walked the parcel.

4240
03:18:36,600 --> 03:18:39,780
I've watched the parcel
over many years of my life.

4241
03:18:39,980 --> 03:18:43,700
I haven't seen seawall work
out there that I can remember,

4242
03:18:43,900 --> 03:18:46,530
not as an adult at least.

4243
03:18:46,730 --> 03:18:48,630
And so what that
tells me is that is

4244
03:18:48,830 --> 03:18:50,990
a most likely wooden seawall
with some riprap in front

4245
03:18:51,190 --> 03:18:53,530
of it, most likely.

4246
03:18:53,730 --> 03:18:55,770
I don't know that for sure.

4247
03:18:55,970 --> 03:18:57,330
Might even be
creosote, it's so old.

4248
03:18:57,530 --> 03:19:01,590
But I don't know, the dock
looks like it's creosote piles.

4249
03:19:01,790 --> 03:19:04,912
If it's creosote, it's
probably in better shape

4250
03:19:05,112 --> 03:19:06,270
than if it's just
pressure treated,

4251
03:19:06,470 --> 03:19:07,510
but regardless,
it creates issues.

4252
03:19:07,710 --> 03:19:11,430
If it's pressure treated,
the seawall is probably junk.

4253
03:19:11,630 --> 03:19:14,030
To the extent the
water has touched it,

4254
03:19:14,230 --> 03:19:17,730
I'm just going to tell you
guys, over the past 20 years,

4255
03:19:17,930 --> 03:19:19,310
the shipworms have gotten
so bad in our community,

4256
03:19:19,510 --> 03:19:22,250
it is unbelievable
what they do to wood.

4257
03:19:22,450 --> 03:19:24,470
That's as our
salinities come up.

4258
03:19:24,670 --> 03:19:27,398
I'm not a scientist, don't
know what I'm talking about.

4259
03:19:27,598 --> 03:19:28,790
I'm just telling you
what I've observed.

4260
03:19:28,990 --> 03:19:31,357
So we're probably going
to have to do a seawall.

4261
03:19:31,557 --> 03:19:32,787
If you want to know
what seawall cost,

4262
03:19:32,987 --> 03:19:35,570
just go look at the boat basin,
that'll give you an idea.

4263
03:19:35,770 --> 03:19:37,230
But that doesn't mean
projects should be paralyzed,

4264
03:19:37,430 --> 03:19:42,790
because we think that it's going
to be expensive to do it right.

4265
03:19:42,990 --> 03:19:44,090
So that's not a
stopping point for me,

4266
03:19:44,290 --> 03:19:47,220
it's just something we're
going to have to work through.

4267
03:19:47,420 --> 03:19:50,160
And we may get some additional
tools, funding and things

4268
03:19:50,360 --> 03:19:52,260
like that.

4269
03:19:52,460 --> 03:19:54,620
All that will get worked out.

4270
03:19:54,820 --> 03:19:57,360
We'll inspect it,
we'll kick the tires

4271
03:19:57,560 --> 03:20:01,320
and figure out what's
going on with it.

4272
03:20:01,520 --> 03:20:06,260
The issue that Commissioner
Mixon brought up, I think

4273
03:20:06,460 --> 03:20:09,840
is something we could bake
into the contract right now.

4274
03:20:10,040 --> 03:20:14,300
And since it's not
signed by the other side,

4275
03:20:14,500 --> 03:20:16,000
obviously, we've got
a motion and a second.

4276
03:20:16,200 --> 03:20:17,940
But if it were appealing,
we could easily

4277
03:20:18,140 --> 03:20:21,560
amend it to make sure that
those contingencies, the due

4278
03:20:21,760 --> 03:20:25,760
diligence, and I can't tell
you I've got them memorized

4279
03:20:25,960 --> 03:20:27,460
because I don't have
a photographic memory,

4280
03:20:27,660 --> 03:20:30,040
but they've got things in there
like appraisal, condition,

4281
03:20:30,240 --> 03:20:33,020
suitability, whatever it says,
whatever lens looked at and said

4282
03:20:33,220 --> 03:20:35,420
is reasonable.

4283
03:20:35,620 --> 03:20:38,180
I would hope we.

4284
03:20:38,380 --> 03:20:41,010
We could add to
that contingency,

4285
03:20:41,210 --> 03:20:43,360
that the contingencies are
only relieved after they've

4286
03:20:43,560 --> 03:20:46,360
been brought back, the
board has been briefed,

4287
03:20:46,560 --> 03:20:48,600
and the board has agreed
that the contingencies have

4288
03:20:48,800 --> 03:20:48,967
been satisfied.

4289
03:20:49,167 --> 03:20:51,062
That would give us
the second bite,

4290
03:20:51,262 --> 03:20:53,120
I think we can bake it in now.

4291
03:20:53,320 --> 03:20:55,040
I mean, John could
come back and say--

4292
03:20:55,240 --> 03:20:58,460
I'm saying John, Mr. Dowd
could come back and say, oh,

4293
03:20:58,660 --> 03:21:00,560
that's not what I told you.

4294
03:21:00,760 --> 03:21:02,100
Why would you send this to me?

4295
03:21:02,300 --> 03:21:04,100
At this purchase
price, I don't think

4296
03:21:04,300 --> 03:21:06,080
it's going to kick
back too hard, frankly.

4297
03:21:06,280 --> 03:21:11,080
And that kind of brings
me to the second thing.

4298
03:21:11,280 --> 03:21:13,080
So I guess before I
leave that I'll say,

4299
03:21:13,280 --> 03:21:16,275
I'd really love to see that
as a friendly Amendment

4300
03:21:16,475 --> 03:21:18,700
that the board gets to vote on
whether the contingencies have

4301
03:21:18,900 --> 03:21:19,220
been satisfied.

4302
03:21:19,420 --> 03:21:21,800
I really think that's important.

4303
03:21:22,000 --> 03:21:24,680
Now the price.

4304
03:21:24,880 --> 03:21:28,060
The price is a little bit--

4305
03:21:28,260 --> 03:21:33,380
is a little bit on the
aggressive side in my opinion,

4306
03:21:33,580 --> 03:21:35,360
but I am not a
property appraiser,

4307
03:21:35,560 --> 03:21:37,860
I am not a real
estate broker, I'm

4308
03:21:38,060 --> 03:21:39,620
not even a real estate agent.

4309
03:21:39,820 --> 03:21:42,530
So what I'm telling--
what I'm saying comes

4310
03:21:42,730 --> 03:21:44,470
from my general
layman's perspectives

4311
03:21:44,670 --> 03:21:48,490
on valuation, which are
not evidence of value,

4312
03:21:48,690 --> 03:21:52,590
it's just my feeling
based on my observations.

4313
03:21:52,790 --> 03:21:54,610
It seems high.

4314
03:21:54,810 --> 03:21:58,130
Now there was a question about
how much waterfront there is.

4315
03:21:58,330 --> 03:22:00,550
There's a lot, and
that makes this unique.

4316
03:22:00,750 --> 03:22:02,430
In fact, and I'll
just be honest,

4317
03:22:02,630 --> 03:22:03,970
I've had a discussion
with some folks

4318
03:22:04,170 --> 03:22:06,230
over at the town of
Shalimar, and we were

4319
03:22:06,430 --> 03:22:06,770
kind of kicking back around.

4320
03:22:06,970 --> 03:22:09,490
They have the price, but
then where do you find this?

4321
03:22:09,690 --> 03:22:12,150
And so it makes actually
finding comps on it difficult,

4322
03:22:12,350 --> 03:22:15,670
and I think we'll find
our appraisers have

4323
03:22:15,870 --> 03:22:16,330
that same challenge.

4324
03:22:16,530 --> 03:22:17,330
They'll probably
include something

4325
03:22:17,530 --> 03:22:19,593
about that in their
narrative when

4326
03:22:19,793 --> 03:22:21,010
they give us their appraisals.

4327
03:22:21,210 --> 03:22:24,060
That it's not like you can
find 10 of these and say,

4328
03:22:24,260 --> 03:22:26,410
well, you average out
the price of the last 10

4329
03:22:26,610 --> 03:22:30,330
of these things that sold in the
last 18 months, and here you go.

4330
03:22:30,530 --> 03:22:31,950
It's not going to be that easy.

4331
03:22:32,150 --> 03:22:34,290
It does have, according to Matt
Busby, our property appraiser,

4332
03:22:34,490 --> 03:22:37,670
235 foot of linear
water frontage.

4333
03:22:37,870 --> 03:22:40,660
That's significant.

4334
03:22:40,860 --> 03:22:44,140
And so I think that
really makes it

4335
03:22:44,340 --> 03:22:45,560
prime for a water-based
park like this.

4336
03:22:45,760 --> 03:22:50,220
I really do like that.

4337
03:22:50,420 --> 03:22:54,700
But on the price, the thing
that's giving me consternation

4338
03:22:54,900 --> 03:22:58,240
is a couple things.

4339
03:22:58,440 --> 03:23:01,260
So I have the opportunity to
sit on the value adjustment

4340
03:23:01,460 --> 03:23:04,480
board for a number of years
as Commissioner Mixon.

4341
03:23:04,680 --> 03:23:07,320
And many of those
years, Mr. Dowd

4342
03:23:07,520 --> 03:23:10,200
has challenged Matt
Busby's valuation,

4343
03:23:10,400 --> 03:23:14,180
saying that Matt Busby's
valuations were far too high.

4344
03:23:14,380 --> 03:23:18,860
However, I look at Matt Busby's
valuations on this parcel

4345
03:23:19,060 --> 03:23:20,760
and it's $1.5 million.

4346
03:23:20,960 --> 03:23:26,280
I know that that's typically
coming in less transaction

4347
03:23:26,480 --> 03:23:28,680
costs, so you can--

4348
03:23:28,880 --> 03:23:32,660
I think the rule of thumb is you
can take what Matt Busby says,

4349
03:23:32,860 --> 03:23:35,060
divide it by 0.85 and
get what you would think

4350
03:23:35,260 --> 03:23:36,560
is a true market sales price.

4351
03:23:36,760 --> 03:23:40,740
That gets you to $1.76 million.
$3 million is a big lift.

4352
03:23:40,940 --> 03:23:45,740
Now, if I'm not paying
it, not my money,

4353
03:23:45,940 --> 03:23:50,480
I can get everybody else to buy
it for me, maybe that's fine.

4354
03:23:50,680 --> 03:23:55,680
But it does cause me a little
bit of heartache on the, well,

4355
03:23:55,880 --> 03:23:59,760
even if it's not my money,
if it's anybody's money

4356
03:23:59,960 --> 03:24:00,740
that was generated
from tax revenue,

4357
03:24:00,940 --> 03:24:03,080
am I supposed to
be a good steward?

4358
03:24:03,280 --> 03:24:04,800
I have to wrangle with that.

4359
03:24:05,000 --> 03:24:06,740
At the same time,
you've got this idea,

4360
03:24:06,940 --> 03:24:09,700
I don't want to lose it.

4361
03:24:09,900 --> 03:24:11,480
So this is where
I would be on it.

4362
03:24:11,680 --> 03:24:15,960
If I've got the backstop of the
appraisal, the due diligence

4363
03:24:16,160 --> 03:24:18,680
and some discretionary
exit ramps

4364
03:24:18,880 --> 03:24:24,960
for this board in the contract,
that brings it back to the board

4365
03:24:25,160 --> 03:24:29,000
to let me get off the train
if I decide this is not

4366
03:24:29,200 --> 03:24:30,220
the right deal, then
I would be comfortable

4367
03:24:30,420 --> 03:24:34,860
going forward at this number.

4368
03:24:35,060 --> 03:24:36,720
And let me explain.

4369
03:24:36,920 --> 03:24:39,280
I made those comments about
Matt Busby and his price.

4370
03:24:39,480 --> 03:24:42,148
I mean, Mr. Dowd does a
good job for his clients.

4371
03:24:42,348 --> 03:24:43,290
He does exactly what
he's hired to do.

4372
03:24:43,490 --> 03:24:44,273
I'm not suggesting--
I'm just saying,

4373
03:24:44,473 --> 03:24:47,410
Matt Busby's valuation
isn't a junk number.

4374
03:24:47,610 --> 03:24:49,210
It's got something.

4375
03:24:49,410 --> 03:24:51,010
It's not necessarily
a sales price,

4376
03:24:51,210 --> 03:24:54,750
but usually you're going to see
20%, 30%, something like that.

4377
03:24:54,950 --> 03:24:58,210
I mean, this is close to double.

4378
03:24:58,410 --> 03:24:59,090
Which could happen.

4379
03:24:59,290 --> 03:25:00,690
I'm not saying it
couldn't happen.

4380
03:25:00,890 --> 03:25:01,870
Just a little unusual.

4381
03:25:02,070 --> 03:25:04,290
That's why I would
like a little bit

4382
03:25:04,490 --> 03:25:07,290
more protection for the board
to come and take a look at it.

4383
03:25:07,490 --> 03:25:07,710
I recognize it's unique.

4384
03:25:07,910 --> 03:25:11,110
I recognize that three million
might turn out to be justified,

4385
03:25:11,310 --> 03:25:14,670
and that we can get the
funding sources to do it,

4386
03:25:14,870 --> 03:25:16,610
and I can wrap my mind
around that for sure.

4387
03:25:16,810 --> 03:25:21,890
But I think I'd be dishonest
to myself and to those

4388
03:25:22,090 --> 03:25:27,730
I serve if I didn't express
some concerns about the purchase

4389
03:25:27,930 --> 03:25:30,490
price, and making sure that
we've got those protections

4390
03:25:30,690 --> 03:25:32,490
in place moving forward.

4391
03:25:32,690 --> 03:25:35,070
So as the motion sits,
it's not my favorite,

4392
03:25:35,270 --> 03:25:39,540
if it were amended to
give the board the ability

4393
03:25:39,740 --> 03:25:41,940
to weigh in on the
contingencies at another time,

4394
03:25:42,140 --> 03:25:45,200
I'd be very, very
inclined to vote yes.

4395
03:25:45,400 --> 03:25:47,720
But that's just where I am.

4396
03:25:47,920 --> 03:25:47,945
COMMISSIONER PALMER:
Mr. Chairman,

4397
03:25:48,145 --> 03:25:50,562
may I just ask a
very quick question,

4398
03:25:50,762 --> 03:25:52,160
because I'm agreeable to
amending my second if--

4399
03:25:52,360 --> 03:25:56,220
but first, I wanted to say,
wouldn't the contingencies

4400
03:25:56,420 --> 03:25:58,160
already be something
that would have

4401
03:25:58,360 --> 03:26:01,460
to be met in order for this
contract to move forward?

4402
03:26:01,660 --> 03:26:01,912
CRAIG COFFEY: That's correct.

4403
03:26:02,112 --> 03:26:02,220
And--

4404
03:26:02,420 --> 03:26:04,660
COMMISSIONER PALMER: So I don't
know that it's necessary--

4405
03:26:04,860 --> 03:26:06,520
CRAIG COFFEY: But he's
talking about bringing it back

4406
03:26:06,720 --> 03:26:08,740
to the board, which is a
little bit of a twist on that.

4407
03:26:08,940 --> 03:26:10,740
And I will say that I know that
Mr. Busby's probably assessment

4408
03:26:10,940 --> 03:26:15,260
of it as a single
family lot like it's

4409
03:26:15,460 --> 03:26:16,900
been for 40 or 50 years.

4410
03:26:17,100 --> 03:26:19,780
I'm not sure it takes into
account highest and best use,

4411
03:26:19,980 --> 03:26:22,120
which would be parceling that up
into waterfront lots and stuff

4412
03:26:22,320 --> 03:26:22,940
like that.

4413
03:26:23,140 --> 03:26:25,840
I think that would be a much
different number than what

4414
03:26:26,040 --> 03:26:26,267
we're talking about.

4415
03:26:26,467 --> 03:26:28,300
And the last thing
I'd caution the board

4416
03:26:28,500 --> 03:26:31,340
or mention to the board,
that if we go forward today

4417
03:26:31,540 --> 03:26:33,740
and the legislature were able
to allocate $1.5 million,

4418
03:26:33,940 --> 03:26:38,860
it would be hard for us then to
say, hey, we're just kidding.

4419
03:26:39,060 --> 03:26:41,620
Don't take the money.

4420
03:26:41,820 --> 03:26:45,380
I just say that for a
specific-- the reason

4421
03:26:45,580 --> 03:26:48,700
it's being brought today
and not-- it was rushed,

4422
03:26:48,900 --> 03:26:51,920
but it was why session
was still in play.

4423
03:26:52,120 --> 03:26:55,520
So that if the board said
no, we could go to them

4424
03:26:55,720 --> 03:26:58,320
and not have egg on our
face and say, pull this out.

4425
03:26:58,520 --> 03:26:59,840
But the idea of us
bringing it today

4426
03:27:00,040 --> 03:27:01,360
is that we bring it
to the legislature

4427
03:27:01,560 --> 03:27:02,943
and say, include it in
the governor's budget

4428
03:27:03,143 --> 03:27:04,460
and follow it through.

4429
03:27:04,660 --> 03:27:09,260
That's going to be a challenge
for us if we pull out later.

4430
03:27:09,460 --> 03:27:09,620
I'm just saying.

4431
03:27:09,820 --> 03:27:12,280
And the due diligence
will be 90 days.

4432
03:27:12,480 --> 03:27:13,880
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Per the packet, it

4433
03:27:14,080 --> 03:27:15,763
went to the legislature
on January 5.

4434
03:27:15,963 --> 03:27:17,500
CRAIG COFFEY: That's correct.

4435
03:27:17,700 --> 03:27:19,020
And that was correct.

4436
03:27:19,220 --> 03:27:21,083
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
This is March.

4437
03:27:21,283 --> 03:27:22,200
CRAIG COFFEY: Right.

4438
03:27:22,400 --> 03:27:25,200
I understand that was at the
request of Commissioner Ketchel.

4439
03:27:25,400 --> 03:27:29,200
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Ms. Cox?

4440
03:27:29,400 --> 03:27:31,780
COMMISSIONER COX: So I
appreciate you bringing that up

4441
03:27:31,980 --> 03:27:34,510
because representative
Maney mentioned

4442
03:27:34,710 --> 03:27:38,350
that he's going to take
another swing at asking

4443
03:27:38,550 --> 03:27:41,670
for these funds for this parcel.

4444
03:27:41,870 --> 03:27:45,130
And if-- I mean, we know that
they have allocations, yes?

4445
03:27:45,330 --> 03:27:52,110
So do we understand that money
has not been secured as of yet?

4446
03:27:52,310 --> 03:27:56,298
CRAIG COFFEY: That's baked
in the contingency, correct.

4447
03:27:56,498 --> 03:27:57,990
We understand where
the budget sits.

4448
03:27:58,190 --> 03:28:01,050
We understand that is a
contingency because it's not

4449
03:28:01,250 --> 03:28:04,010
a given, there's a
lot of horse trading

4450
03:28:04,210 --> 03:28:06,550
that occurs between now and
the end of session for sure.

4451
03:28:06,750 --> 03:28:08,283
COMMISSIONER COX: But
for sure, in order for us

4452
03:28:08,483 --> 03:28:10,690
to move forward and request
that the legislature fund this,

4453
03:28:10,890 --> 03:28:14,810
we need to approve this today.

4454
03:28:15,010 --> 03:28:15,270
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Correct.

4455
03:28:15,470 --> 03:28:16,170
COMMISSIONER COX: That
is the understanding.

4456
03:28:16,370 --> 03:28:18,070
Do we all understand that?

4457
03:28:18,270 --> 03:28:19,730
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Correct.

4458
03:28:19,930 --> 03:28:21,050
That is correct.

4459
03:28:21,250 --> 03:28:24,650
And the other thing is that if
the $1,5 million or $2 million,

4460
03:28:24,850 --> 03:28:27,790
that they might be able
to pledge towards this,

4461
03:28:27,990 --> 03:28:30,190
we then would owe a million
plus the closing cost.

4462
03:28:30,390 --> 03:28:32,600
So I feel very
comfortable with this,

4463
03:28:32,800 --> 03:28:35,820
and I think our
constituents would

4464
03:28:36,020 --> 03:28:38,147
be thrilled in the long
run, because they're

4465
03:28:38,347 --> 03:28:40,580
going to see the beauty
of this park as opposed

4466
03:28:40,780 --> 03:28:41,338
to whatever else
would replace it.

4467
03:28:41,538 --> 03:28:44,620
But if that's the
only way, I think

4468
03:28:44,820 --> 03:28:48,500
we've got the votes to go
forward, I can count to three.

4469
03:28:48,700 --> 03:28:51,800
But if you want me to add that
for a safeguard, Chairman,

4470
03:28:52,000 --> 03:28:53,800
I'll consider it.

4471
03:28:54,000 --> 03:28:55,877
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Well, and I know

4472
03:28:56,077 --> 03:28:57,160
you're addressing my comments.

4473
03:28:57,360 --> 03:29:00,520
That's all I'm looking for, is
safeguards and exit ramps for--

4474
03:29:00,720 --> 03:29:03,415
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
Exit ramps, yeah.

4475
03:29:03,615 --> 03:29:05,640
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: --for
safety, not for leverage.

4476
03:29:05,840 --> 03:29:07,113
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Right.

4477
03:29:07,313 --> 03:29:10,380
So, if it didn't come through,
if the legislative money didn't

4478
03:29:10,580 --> 03:29:13,740
come through, we would not want
to come up with $3 million.

4479
03:29:13,940 --> 03:29:14,660
So I get that.

4480
03:29:14,860 --> 03:29:16,800
OK, so in that case,
I'll amend my motion

4481
03:29:17,000 --> 03:29:19,640
to go along with what you're
suggesting, the contingency.

4482
03:29:19,840 --> 03:29:21,700
COMMISSIONER PALMER: [INAUDIBLE]

4483
03:29:21,900 --> 03:29:26,258
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Further
discussion or are we ready to--

4484
03:29:26,458 --> 03:29:27,600
COMMISSIONER
KETCHEL: I just want

4485
03:29:27,800 --> 03:29:30,175
to thank Mr. Coffey for
his unbelievably long hours

4486
03:29:30,375 --> 03:29:31,720
and work on this.

4487
03:29:31,920 --> 03:29:32,440
It's not easy.

4488
03:29:32,640 --> 03:29:35,840
The first parcel that we bought,
we went after it every five--

4489
03:29:36,040 --> 03:29:39,560
every year, I would call the
owner, every single year.

4490
03:29:39,760 --> 03:29:43,960
And I said to Judy, it's
time to call her again.

4491
03:29:44,160 --> 03:29:45,540
And we couldn't get her.

4492
03:29:45,740 --> 03:29:48,500
So Judy called her husband
and she died the day before,

4493
03:29:48,700 --> 03:29:52,900
and he lowered the price so
that we could get that property

4494
03:29:53,100 --> 03:29:53,400
on the other side.

4495
03:29:53,600 --> 03:29:54,260
Now, this one is--

4496
03:29:54,460 --> 03:29:57,480
that one was going
for close to--

4497
03:29:57,680 --> 03:29:59,860
I think she asked for
$1.5 million, wasn't it?

4498
03:30:00,060 --> 03:30:03,080
So this one's a larger parcel
and a higher piece of land.

4499
03:30:03,280 --> 03:30:04,480
And beautiful trees.

4500
03:30:04,680 --> 03:30:07,880
And the other one
doesn't have it so.

4501
03:30:08,080 --> 03:30:09,240
And we will not clearcut those.

4502
03:30:09,440 --> 03:30:11,352
COMMISSIONER COX: So is the--

4503
03:30:11,552 --> 03:30:12,260
I'm sorry, just
for clarification,

4504
03:30:12,460 --> 03:30:13,720
if I may Chairman.

4505
03:30:13,920 --> 03:30:17,140
So this is to approve the
item with the contingencies

4506
03:30:17,640 --> 03:30:25,440
that we get funding
from the legislature,

4507
03:30:25,640 --> 03:30:28,160
or it's that the
property meets appraisal?

4508
03:30:28,360 --> 03:30:31,088
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: It
comes back to the board.

4509
03:30:31,288 --> 03:30:35,052
LYNN HOSHIHARA:
But both are listed

4510
03:30:35,252 --> 03:30:37,110
as contingencies in the
purchase and sale agreement.

4511
03:30:37,310 --> 03:30:38,615
COMMISSIONER COX: OK.

4512
03:30:38,815 --> 03:30:42,130
CRAIG COFFEY: We actually
have the appraisal,

4513
03:30:42,330 --> 03:30:44,890
the legislative money in
our local town of Shalimar,

4514
03:30:45,090 --> 03:30:48,590
plus a due diligence, which I
think Commissioner Mixon touched

4515
03:30:48,790 --> 03:30:51,330
upon, which would be
inspecting the seawall

4516
03:30:51,530 --> 03:30:53,910
and investigating the site
for any other problems

4517
03:30:54,110 --> 03:30:55,790
or creosol posts
or whatever, we'd

4518
03:30:55,990 --> 03:30:58,050
look at those kind of things.

4519
03:30:58,250 --> 03:31:00,290
LYNN HOSHIHARA: Yes, in addition
to the section on contingencies,

4520
03:31:00,490 --> 03:31:02,398
there's also a provision about
suitability and feasibility.

4521
03:31:02,598 --> 03:31:04,110
CRAIG COFFEY: Correct.

4522
03:31:04,310 --> 03:31:04,990
LYNN HOSHIHARA: To make sure--

4523
03:31:05,190 --> 03:31:05,310
CRAIG COFFEY: For
almost any reason.

4524
03:31:05,510 --> 03:31:07,210
LYNN HOSHIHARA: Right, for
the county's use, and then

4525
03:31:07,410 --> 03:31:07,918
with Commissioner
Goodwin's Amendment,

4526
03:31:08,118 --> 03:31:11,470
which was to include that those
contingencies and requirements

4527
03:31:11,670 --> 03:31:16,070
be later approved by the board
as having been satisfied.

4528
03:31:16,270 --> 03:31:18,457
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Yeah, just to clarify,

4529
03:31:18,657 --> 03:31:21,190
and I'll use an example
to make it clear.

4530
03:31:21,390 --> 03:31:23,650
We've got some suitability
and condition studies.

4531
03:31:23,850 --> 03:31:27,810
I don't want-- I'm not
asking Craig to decide

4532
03:31:28,010 --> 03:31:29,200
if he likes the seawall.

4533
03:31:29,400 --> 03:31:31,140
Ask us if you like the seawall.

4534
03:31:31,340 --> 03:31:32,940
That's what I'm saying.

4535
03:31:33,140 --> 03:31:34,860
And well, within reason,
based on his inspection,

4536
03:31:35,060 --> 03:31:37,140
he'll show it to us.

4537
03:31:37,340 --> 03:31:38,620
We'll say, yeah, we
think that's fine.

4538
03:31:38,820 --> 03:31:39,940
We want to move forward.

4539
03:31:40,140 --> 03:31:40,640
Keep going or not.

4540
03:31:40,660 --> 03:31:47,560
Those in favor.

4541
03:31:47,760 --> 03:31:48,350
COMMISSIONER MIXON: Aye.

4542
03:31:48,550 --> 03:31:48,660
COMMISSIONER COX: Aye.

4543
03:31:48,860 --> 03:31:49,160
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Aye.

4544
03:31:49,360 --> 03:31:49,600
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Those opposed.

4545
03:31:49,800 --> 03:31:50,540
All right.

4546
03:31:50,740 --> 03:31:51,340
That passes unanimously.

4547
03:31:51,540 --> 03:31:52,840
Good job, Craig.

4548
03:31:53,040 --> 03:31:54,480
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Mr. Chairman.

4549
03:31:54,680 --> 03:31:56,300
Mr. Chairman, just
procedurally, I'd

4550
03:31:56,500 --> 03:32:00,320
like to ask a question as
you move to the next item.

4551
03:32:00,520 --> 03:32:03,860
I saw the packet, I saw the
addition of the application

4552
03:32:04,060 --> 03:32:08,340
within the packet, but
it didn't make our state

4553
03:32:08,540 --> 03:32:08,900
legislative agenda.

4554
03:32:09,100 --> 03:32:14,600
Should we have formally added
that as an action of the board?

4555
03:32:14,800 --> 03:32:17,785
COMMISSIONER
GOODWIN: It probably

4556
03:32:17,985 --> 03:32:19,460
would have been stronger.

4557
03:32:19,660 --> 03:32:21,133
COMMISSIONER COX:
What was the question?

4558
03:32:21,333 --> 03:32:22,500
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Well, we submitted--

4559
03:32:22,700 --> 03:32:23,160
I'm sorry.

4560
03:32:23,360 --> 03:32:24,020
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
No, go ahead.

4561
03:32:24,220 --> 03:32:25,940
COMMISSIONER MIXON: We submitted
an application for that funding

4562
03:32:26,140 --> 03:32:29,680
from the state as a board, but
the board, to my knowledge,

4563
03:32:29,880 --> 03:32:33,900
and I may just not be
remembering that, never took

4564
03:32:34,100 --> 03:32:35,280
public action to submit that.

4565
03:32:35,480 --> 03:32:38,920
But we've got to see it today.

4566
03:32:39,120 --> 03:32:40,420
And it was submitted
back in January,

4567
03:32:40,620 --> 03:32:42,200
but it wasn't
something we all did.

4568
03:32:42,400 --> 03:32:45,740
It sounds like it was something
singularly on all of our--

4569
03:32:45,940 --> 03:32:48,495
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Craig,
can you speak to that?

4570
03:32:48,695 --> 03:32:54,598
CRAIG COFFEY: Just there was a
deadline associated with that.

4571
03:32:54,798 --> 03:32:56,840
I was asked to put
something like that in.

4572
03:32:57,040 --> 03:32:59,580
I've been asked in the past from
other commissioners to do that.

4573
03:32:59,780 --> 03:33:01,120
I remember some from
Commissioner Boyles

4574
03:33:01,320 --> 03:33:03,293
back when I was doing
legislative items.

4575
03:33:03,493 --> 03:33:05,260
And it wasn't ripe
to bring forward yet

4576
03:33:05,460 --> 03:33:09,948
because we didn't think it was.

4577
03:33:10,148 --> 03:33:11,240
But Commissioner Mixon
raises a good point.

4578
03:33:11,440 --> 03:33:15,220
And that's one of the things
that was a challenge for us.

4579
03:33:15,420 --> 03:33:17,600
Anytime we have a one
individual in the board.

4580
03:33:17,800 --> 03:33:19,305
COMMISSIONER MIXON: This
is the fifth meeting

4581
03:33:19,505 --> 03:33:20,580
since that was submitted.

4582
03:33:20,780 --> 03:33:22,620
And--

4583
03:33:22,820 --> 03:33:24,020
CRAIG COFFEY: Yes, sir.

4584
03:33:24,220 --> 03:33:25,660
COMMISSIONER MIXON: --I
think it's very inappropriate

4585
03:33:25,860 --> 03:33:28,170
that it was submitted
as though the five of us

4586
03:33:28,370 --> 03:33:30,710
were moving forward on an
item that the five of us

4587
03:33:30,910 --> 03:33:34,550
were not informed of,
or not in knowledge of.

4588
03:33:34,750 --> 03:33:35,950
Definitely didn't
have an opportunity

4589
03:33:36,150 --> 03:33:37,810
to speak to it publicly.

4590
03:33:38,010 --> 03:33:40,750
And it sounds like a lot
of work went into it.

4591
03:33:40,950 --> 03:33:44,170
I just think we can do better
as a group, working as a group.

4592
03:33:44,370 --> 03:33:45,090
Thanks.

4593
03:33:45,290 --> 03:33:47,430
LYNN HOSHIHARA: All right.

4594
03:33:47,630 --> 03:33:48,990
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Point taken, Mr. Coffey.

4595
03:33:49,190 --> 03:33:50,607
Does that make sense?

4596
03:33:50,807 --> 03:33:52,532
CRAIG COFFEY: Yes, sir.

4597
03:33:52,732 --> 03:33:53,490
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

4598
03:33:53,690 --> 03:33:53,830
CRAIG COFFEY: Yeah.

4599
03:33:54,030 --> 03:33:55,310
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.

4600
03:33:55,510 --> 03:33:57,910
All right, Mr. Autrey.

4601
03:33:58,110 --> 03:34:01,802
JASON AUTREY: Good afternoon.

4602
03:34:02,002 --> 03:34:02,710
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Hello.

4603
03:34:02,910 --> 03:34:03,890
JASON AUTREY: Good afternoon.

4604
03:34:04,090 --> 03:34:04,498
Jason Autrey.

4605
03:34:04,698 --> 03:34:06,270
I have a wonderful item here.

4606
03:34:06,470 --> 03:34:08,770
So I would like to
recognize the city manager

4607
03:34:08,970 --> 03:34:10,070
for Niceville, Dave Deitch.

4608
03:34:10,270 --> 03:34:12,830
He's hung in there like
a hair in a biscuit,

4609
03:34:13,030 --> 03:34:14,363
to use a wonderful Southern
expression for this item.

4610
03:34:14,563 --> 03:34:18,050
We are working on Meigs Park
in the city of Niceville.

4611
03:34:18,250 --> 03:34:20,330
This is a special needs
park that back when

4612
03:34:20,530 --> 03:34:21,530
President Ponder
was on the council,

4613
03:34:21,730 --> 03:34:24,770
he was a huge advocate for,
and we have an allocation

4614
03:34:24,970 --> 03:34:27,920
from the state to build a
special needs park in Niceville.

4615
03:34:28,120 --> 03:34:31,320
The city of Niceville has kindly
offered up a piece of property,

4616
03:34:31,520 --> 03:34:33,120
and we've received our bids in.

4617
03:34:33,320 --> 03:34:35,142
They came in a little
bit higher than expected,

4618
03:34:35,342 --> 03:34:37,100
and what we've got is an
interlocal agreement Amendment

4619
03:34:37,300 --> 03:34:39,380
for the funding
towards this project.

4620
03:34:39,580 --> 03:34:43,220
In total, this is a $3.4 million
project that we're constructing.

4621
03:34:43,420 --> 03:34:45,847
It's a special needs ball field.

4622
03:34:46,047 --> 03:34:47,780
It's got a special needs
playground, has some pavilions

4623
03:34:47,980 --> 03:34:50,372
and restrooms area out there,
some open fields as well,

4624
03:34:50,572 --> 03:34:52,140
along with stormwater and
parking improvements out there.

4625
03:34:52,340 --> 03:34:53,740
It's a phenomenal facility.

4626
03:34:53,940 --> 03:34:56,600
In fact, just yesterday,
David sent an email to me

4627
03:34:56,800 --> 03:34:59,140
regarding a citizen that has
a child with special needs

4628
03:34:59,340 --> 03:35:03,100
that has offered to put a sign
out there that's a picture

4629
03:35:03,300 --> 03:35:07,040
board that allows that child
to communicate with parents

4630
03:35:07,240 --> 03:35:08,877
and other children
that are out there.

4631
03:35:09,077 --> 03:35:10,460
Really excited to see
this move forward.

4632
03:35:10,660 --> 03:35:13,600
We've extended the agreement to
add additional funds and its TDD

4633
03:35:13,800 --> 03:35:14,520
based on our side.

4634
03:35:14,720 --> 03:35:17,100
The city has found funds
to put into it as well.

4635
03:35:17,300 --> 03:35:18,800
We'd like to execute this
interlocal agreement so that we

4636
03:35:19,000 --> 03:35:21,000
can move forward with the
construction of this fantastic

4637
03:35:21,200 --> 03:35:23,040
park with the city of Niceville.

4638
03:35:23,240 --> 03:35:25,125
COMMISSIONER MIXON: Make
a motion to approve.

4639
03:35:25,325 --> 03:35:26,100
COMMISSIONER COX: Second.

4640
03:35:26,300 --> 03:35:28,032
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Wow, that was fast.

4641
03:35:28,232 --> 03:35:31,540
I'm going to give that one to
Commissioner Cox on the second.

4642
03:35:31,740 --> 03:35:33,100
So motion and a
second to approve.

4643
03:35:33,300 --> 03:35:34,600
Further discussion.

4644
03:35:34,800 --> 03:35:38,120
All those in favor, please
signal by saying Aye.

4645
03:35:38,320 --> 03:35:38,863
COMMISSIONER COX: Aye.

4646
03:35:39,063 --> 03:35:39,780
COMMISSIONER MIXON: Aye.

4647
03:35:39,980 --> 03:35:40,020
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Aye.

4648
03:35:40,220 --> 03:35:41,040
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And those against.

4649
03:35:41,240 --> 03:35:41,620
All right.

4650
03:35:41,820 --> 03:35:42,420
That passes unanimously.

4651
03:35:42,620 --> 03:35:45,180
JASON AUTREY: Again, thank
you to City Manager Dietch

4652
03:35:45,380 --> 03:35:46,700
for his help with
this effort as well.

4653
03:35:46,900 --> 03:35:47,100
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

4654
03:35:47,300 --> 03:35:49,033
So it's our final public
comment opportunity.

4655
03:35:49,233 --> 03:35:51,440
I've got four cards.

4656
03:35:51,640 --> 03:35:54,440
First speaker, Mr.
Nicholas Smith.

4657
03:36:07,307 --> 03:36:14,807
NICHOLAS SMITH: Good afternoon,
Chairman, Commissioners.

4658
03:36:15,007 --> 03:36:18,040
Thank you all for allowing
us to speak today.

4659
03:36:18,240 --> 03:36:21,020
I can't help but acknowledge--

4660
03:36:21,220 --> 03:36:24,430
I understand that there are
policy and procedure and decorum

4661
03:36:24,630 --> 03:36:27,650
that this board has to
enforce, but I stood back there

4662
03:36:27,850 --> 03:36:29,690
for 15 minutes
with my hand raised

4663
03:36:29,890 --> 03:36:32,110
on an item up on
the consent agenda

4664
03:36:32,310 --> 03:36:36,730
that I turned in my speaker
card before the public comment

4665
03:36:36,930 --> 03:36:39,430
segment occurred and before
that first public comment

4666
03:36:39,630 --> 03:36:43,690
segment ended, but you
all just looked at me

4667
03:36:43,890 --> 03:36:47,950
like I wasn't even there.

4668
03:36:48,150 --> 03:36:51,150
What representation does
the people of this county

4669
03:36:51,350 --> 03:36:55,450
have that would just sit
there and look at a citizen

4670
03:36:55,650 --> 03:36:56,730
and not even acknowledge.

4671
03:36:56,930 --> 03:36:59,570
Sir, we see you.

4672
03:36:59,770 --> 03:37:03,890
Just hold on a
little bit longer.

4673
03:37:04,090 --> 03:37:06,090
Yes, Chairman?

4674
03:37:06,290 --> 03:37:07,730
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Pause this time.

4675
03:37:07,930 --> 03:37:12,350
Did you not talk to Ms.
Sharon about that issue?

4676
03:37:12,550 --> 03:37:16,950
I thought we did make contact
because we did see you.

4677
03:37:17,150 --> 03:37:20,745
NICHOLAS SMITH: Chairman,
that was 10 to 15--

4678
03:37:20,945 --> 03:37:22,620
it felt like 10 to
15 minutes later.

4679
03:37:22,820 --> 03:37:27,580
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: But
we did contact you about it

4680
03:37:27,780 --> 03:37:28,560
and I'm asked--

4681
03:37:28,760 --> 03:37:31,920
I'm looking at our PIO, he's
saying he didn't have the cards.

4682
03:37:32,120 --> 03:37:33,320
I get the cards from him.

4683
03:37:33,520 --> 03:37:34,980
I don't-- there's no
gamesmanship, I promise.

4684
03:37:35,180 --> 03:37:38,720
We get the cards,
we got to stop it

4685
03:37:38,920 --> 03:37:40,920
at some point, that's why we'll
open the second opportunity.

4686
03:37:41,120 --> 03:37:43,920
It's not meant to quiet
anybody's voice, I promise.

4687
03:37:44,120 --> 03:37:45,640
NICHOLAS SMITH: I
understand, Mr. Chairman.

4688
03:37:45,840 --> 03:37:47,580
There's nothing in
your 2017 Policy

4689
03:37:47,780 --> 03:37:49,820
and Procedures
regarding the meetings.

4690
03:37:50,020 --> 03:37:52,940
There's nothing in the
2022 version of the Policy

4691
03:37:53,140 --> 03:37:54,820
and Procedures
governing the meetings

4692
03:37:55,020 --> 03:37:56,920
that establishes a cutoff time.

4693
03:37:57,120 --> 03:38:00,112
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: OK well, I
appreciate you bringing that up.

4694
03:38:00,312 --> 03:38:03,120
Nick, will you get with
Lynn and let's look at that

4695
03:38:03,320 --> 03:38:03,580
and make sure that it's clear.

4696
03:38:03,780 --> 03:38:05,220
I agree with you,
we need clear rules.

4697
03:38:05,420 --> 03:38:06,300
And if there's
something that's missing

4698
03:38:06,500 --> 03:38:09,100
on what the procedure is,
thank you for bringing that up.

4699
03:38:09,300 --> 03:38:09,860
We'll make sure that
everything's clear,

4700
03:38:10,060 --> 03:38:13,027
because it needs to be clear,
just like you point out.

4701
03:38:13,227 --> 03:38:15,013
NICHOLAS SMITH: Thank
you, Mr. Chairman.

4702
03:38:15,213 --> 03:38:16,380
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Yes, sir.

4703
03:38:16,580 --> 03:38:17,072
All right.

4704
03:38:17,272 --> 03:38:20,020
And when you start, Nick
start your time back.

4705
03:38:20,220 --> 03:38:23,700
I didn't want to burn your
time on what I was saying.

4706
03:38:23,900 --> 03:38:24,953
NICHOLAS SMITH: Thank
you, Mr. Chairman.

4707
03:38:25,153 --> 03:38:27,520
I'm not irritated or frustrated,
it's just a repeated--

4708
03:38:27,720 --> 03:38:31,920
repeated events, that
it's not the first time

4709
03:38:32,120 --> 03:38:37,300
that I've been ignored
by members of this board.

4710
03:38:37,500 --> 03:38:40,540
Today is March 3, 2026.

4711
03:38:40,740 --> 03:38:46,640
On January 17, I submitted
a request to this board

4712
03:38:46,840 --> 03:38:50,380
to every member, but I still
have not heard anything back.

4713
03:38:50,580 --> 03:38:52,960
And still to this
day, I don't know

4714
03:38:53,160 --> 03:38:55,720
why I'm still sitting here
hearing agendas being put forth.

4715
03:38:55,920 --> 03:38:59,460
Hey, the only voice
that's being represented

4716
03:38:59,660 --> 03:39:03,020
are the people or the
organizations that have money.

4717
03:39:03,220 --> 03:39:08,280
And please forgive me for the
term that I'm about to use,

4718
03:39:08,480 --> 03:39:08,840
but that is piss-poor
representation.

4719
03:39:09,040 --> 03:39:16,100
You have families in this county
who are being falsely arrested,

4720
03:39:16,300 --> 03:39:20,030
and you sit here and respond
about dogs, about pigs running

4721
03:39:20,230 --> 03:39:23,510
around on private property.

4722
03:39:23,710 --> 03:39:26,550
You have families, careers
that are being torn apart.

4723
03:39:26,750 --> 03:39:31,930
You have citizens being falsely
accused of trespass with friends

4724
03:39:32,130 --> 03:39:36,470
by the elected Sheriff
of this county,

4725
03:39:36,670 --> 03:39:40,490
and neither one of the board--
of the members of this board

4726
03:39:40,690 --> 03:39:42,050
have addressed that.

4727
03:39:42,250 --> 03:39:45,670
Why wouldn't you want to
address the harm being

4728
03:39:45,870 --> 03:39:47,510
done to your constituents?

4729
03:39:47,710 --> 03:39:52,510
I'm even going off
of script here,

4730
03:39:52,710 --> 03:39:55,830
but I definitely think that
it's OK and that it's warranted.

4731
03:39:56,030 --> 03:39:58,650
We have war going on
with Iran right now,

4732
03:39:58,850 --> 03:40:01,070
but there's war going
on in Okaloosa County,

4733
03:40:01,270 --> 03:40:05,290
and I am appalled that you all
would sit here and bring forth

4734
03:40:05,490 --> 03:40:07,790
upon the citizens talking
about water contamination

4735
03:40:07,990 --> 03:40:12,030
from Alabama, talking
about dogs and pigs.

4736
03:40:12,230 --> 03:40:18,540
But you have this gentleman in
the back that has brought forth

4737
03:40:18,740 --> 03:40:20,920
a clear concern
about his life being

4738
03:40:21,120 --> 03:40:25,480
put in jeopardy at
your jail, but yet he

4739
03:40:25,680 --> 03:40:29,900
has been cut off from
explaining what happened to him.

4740
03:40:30,100 --> 03:40:34,580
And I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman,
that I'm going over time,

4741
03:40:34,780 --> 03:40:38,120
but when are you going to
inspect your hearts to represent

4742
03:40:38,320 --> 03:40:45,540
the people of this county?

4743
03:40:45,740 --> 03:40:48,080
I'm not a millionaire.

4744
03:40:48,280 --> 03:40:49,960
I don't have money.

4745
03:40:50,160 --> 03:40:53,440
My credit score is probably
below 500 right now.

4746
03:40:53,640 --> 03:40:57,260
My house might be repossessed.

4747
03:40:57,460 --> 03:41:00,120
I might have to
sell my vehicles.

4748
03:41:00,320 --> 03:41:03,360
And you know why I
might have to do that?

4749
03:41:03,560 --> 03:41:05,040
Anybody want to take a guess.

4750
03:41:05,240 --> 03:41:05,520
Commissioner Mixon?

4751
03:41:05,720 --> 03:41:06,980
No?

4752
03:41:07,180 --> 03:41:10,020
November 20 of 2023,
I went to Toyota

4753
03:41:10,220 --> 03:41:13,900
of Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

4754
03:41:14,100 --> 03:41:16,460
And would you guess
what happened?

4755
03:41:16,660 --> 03:41:18,160
The finance manager,
Timothy James Webster,

4756
03:41:18,360 --> 03:41:21,720
forged my signature on an
auto loan pre-approval check

4757
03:41:21,920 --> 03:41:23,700
from Navy Federal Credit Union.

4758
03:41:23,900 --> 03:41:25,872
And would you like to
guess what happened

4759
03:41:26,072 --> 03:41:27,880
when I reported it to the
Okaloosa County Sheriff's

4760
03:41:28,080 --> 03:41:28,020
Office?

4761
03:41:28,220 --> 03:41:30,860
The responding deputy,
Deputy Jill Hagen.

4762
03:41:31,060 --> 03:41:33,940
I am thankful he did
an outstanding job.

4763
03:41:34,140 --> 03:41:38,580
So I would like to
give a public shout out

4764
03:41:38,780 --> 03:41:40,220
to Deputy Andrew Jill Hagen.

4765
03:41:40,420 --> 03:41:45,680
But the next morning, I took
it upon my own initiative

4766
03:41:45,880 --> 03:41:48,560
to go to the Okaloosa County
Sheriff's Office headquarters

4767
03:41:48,760 --> 03:41:52,340
and request a preliminary
report of the investigation.

4768
03:41:52,540 --> 03:41:56,620
And that's when investigator
Michael Watts came down.

4769
03:41:56,820 --> 03:42:00,340
Investigator Michael Watts
never went to the dealership

4770
03:42:00,540 --> 03:42:02,100
to review the security
camera footage.

4771
03:42:02,300 --> 03:42:05,780
He never spoke to anybody
at the dealership.

4772
03:42:05,980 --> 03:42:11,140
But what he did do was review
the evidence that I submitted,

4773
03:42:11,340 --> 03:42:13,880
the forged signature evidence.

4774
03:42:14,080 --> 03:42:16,470
He reviewed the
body cam footage.

4775
03:42:16,670 --> 03:42:19,750
And would you like to
know what else he did?

4776
03:42:19,950 --> 03:42:20,530
COMMISSIONER MIXON: Not really.

4777
03:42:20,730 --> 03:42:22,610
This is not within the purview
of the County Commission.

4778
03:42:22,810 --> 03:42:25,330
I appreciate you being able
to get it all off your chest.

4779
03:42:25,530 --> 03:42:27,030
I'm just really confused as to
why the chairman is continuing

4780
03:42:27,230 --> 03:42:28,010
to allow you to go on.

4781
03:42:28,210 --> 03:42:28,670
NICHOLAS SMITH: And
I'm respectfully

4782
03:42:28,870 --> 03:42:31,310
saying that article
125, Subsection S,

4783
03:42:31,510 --> 03:42:36,070
allows the County Commission
to investigate County affairs.

4784
03:42:36,270 --> 03:42:39,670
This is within your county.

4785
03:42:39,870 --> 03:42:41,350
It is selective Non-enforcement.

4786
03:42:41,550 --> 03:42:42,828
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: No.

4787
03:42:43,028 --> 03:42:44,470
NICHOLAS SMITH:
And I emailed you

4788
03:42:44,670 --> 03:42:46,290
about it, Commissioner Mixon,
but you deleted the email.

4789
03:42:46,490 --> 03:42:47,290
I'm wondering why.

4790
03:42:47,490 --> 03:42:48,730
Because you already knew.

4791
03:42:48,930 --> 03:42:50,610
COMMISSIONER MIXON: Because
you send group emails

4792
03:42:50,810 --> 03:42:51,590
and that violates the sunshine.

4793
03:42:51,790 --> 03:42:52,770
NICHOLAS SMITH: It does not.

4794
03:42:52,970 --> 03:42:52,950
COMMISSIONER MIXON: OK.

4795
03:42:53,150 --> 03:42:53,870
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Hang on.

4796
03:42:54,070 --> 03:42:55,770
NICHOLAS SMITH: It makes sure
that every member is aware.

4797
03:42:55,970 --> 03:42:55,910
Commissioner, I
appreciate your time,

4798
03:42:56,110 --> 03:42:59,290
and it's about time that
you all get a backbone

4799
03:42:59,490 --> 03:43:00,610
and stand up for your community.

4800
03:43:00,810 --> 03:43:01,377
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

4801
03:43:01,577 --> 03:43:02,710
NICHOLAS SMITH: Thank you.

4802
03:43:02,910 --> 03:43:03,793
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

4803
03:43:03,993 --> 03:43:05,570
Ms. Watkins.

4804
03:43:18,940 --> 03:43:26,740
PAT WATKINS: My
name is Pat Watkins.

4805
03:43:26,940 --> 03:43:29,260
I live at 6087 Bud Moulton
Road in the county.

4806
03:43:29,460 --> 03:43:34,260
I was going to speak
about item number two

4807
03:43:34,460 --> 03:43:37,980
in the consent agenda,
but you all pulled it.

4808
03:43:38,180 --> 03:43:39,920
Thank you very much.

4809
03:43:40,120 --> 03:43:42,720
So now I have to go to plan B.

4810
03:43:42,920 --> 03:43:42,300
[CHUCKLING]

4811
03:43:42,500 --> 03:43:44,340
Thank you to
Commissioner Ketchel

4812
03:43:44,540 --> 03:43:48,580
and to Commissioner Palmer
for responding to my emails.

4813
03:43:48,780 --> 03:43:53,200
I wrote to every one of you
and those two responded.

4814
03:43:53,400 --> 03:43:57,180
Thank you for removing
item 2 from the agenda.

4815
03:43:57,380 --> 03:44:00,540
Commissioner Ketchel
and many citizens

4816
03:44:00,740 --> 03:44:03,080
have repeatedly
called for an end

4817
03:44:03,280 --> 03:44:06,200
to unrestricted clearing
of land in our county,

4818
03:44:06,400 --> 03:44:11,700
i.e. clearcutting, which is what
this item 2 would have allowed

4819
03:44:11,900 --> 03:44:16,410
to occur in our county.

4820
03:44:16,610 --> 03:44:21,130
I find it difficult to believe
that land that has been clear

4821
03:44:21,330 --> 03:44:23,490
cut for development, did
not contain protected trees,

4822
03:44:23,690 --> 03:44:29,490
at least one as defined in our
land development code 6.05.03.

4823
03:44:29,690 --> 03:44:36,270
Since you pulled
this item number 2,

4824
03:44:36,470 --> 03:44:39,270
now is an opportunity to work
together with the citizens

4825
03:44:39,470 --> 03:44:43,370
and amend this land
development code.

4826
03:44:43,570 --> 03:44:46,350
Perhaps a committee of
commissioners and citizens

4827
03:44:46,550 --> 03:44:51,050
can meet and work together.

4828
03:44:51,250 --> 03:44:54,630
This topic needs
clarification so that everyone

4829
03:44:54,830 --> 03:44:58,750
will be on the same
page concerning

4830
03:44:58,950 --> 03:45:01,170
clear cutting and
protection of trees,

4831
03:45:01,370 --> 03:45:06,390
and our precious environment.

4832
03:45:06,590 --> 03:45:10,750
We the citizens half standing
and want to work with you.

4833
03:45:10,950 --> 03:45:14,870
We have standing in how our
county is being developed.

4834
03:45:15,070 --> 03:45:18,390
So please form a committee
with citizens and you

4835
03:45:18,590 --> 03:45:23,010
all so that we can
work on clarification

4836
03:45:23,210 --> 03:45:25,130
of this land development code.

4837
03:45:25,330 --> 03:45:26,310
Thank you.

4838
03:45:26,510 --> 03:45:28,510
I did not use my three minutes.

4839
03:45:28,710 --> 03:45:28,510
Bye.

4840
03:45:28,710 --> 03:45:29,910
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.

4841
03:45:30,110 --> 03:45:31,930
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Chairman,
may I just say one quick thing?

4842
03:45:32,130 --> 03:45:32,550
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: OK.

4843
03:45:32,750 --> 03:45:34,390
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: I
know it's been a long day.

4844
03:45:34,590 --> 03:45:36,773
Ms. Watkins, thank you for
continuing to advocate for this.

4845
03:45:36,973 --> 03:45:38,730
I recently learned
that Leon County--

4846
03:45:38,930 --> 03:45:40,650
I think I'm correct.

4847
03:45:40,850 --> 03:45:42,950
--they have a tree
ordinance that allows

4848
03:45:43,150 --> 03:45:44,950
that trees are not clear cut.

4849
03:45:45,150 --> 03:45:48,310
And if that's true, I'd like
to look at that, Ms. Hoshihara,

4850
03:45:48,510 --> 03:45:50,190
and see about maybe modeling it.

4851
03:45:50,390 --> 03:45:53,010
I know we're all over
the board on this.

4852
03:45:53,210 --> 03:45:55,990
There's some that are for clear
cutting and others who are not,

4853
03:45:56,190 --> 03:45:58,857
but I'd like to look
at it because they have

4854
03:45:59,057 --> 03:45:59,190
gorgeous trees in Tallahassee.

4855
03:45:59,390 --> 03:46:03,070
They're old trees that have
been there for a long time.

4856
03:46:03,270 --> 03:46:04,550
What I call legacy
trees, not just dogwood,

4857
03:46:04,750 --> 03:46:07,170
but the beautiful old live oaks.

4858
03:46:07,370 --> 03:46:08,278
PAT WATKINS: You're
absolutely right,

4859
03:46:08,478 --> 03:46:10,720
Tallahassee and Leon County
does have gorgeous trees.

4860
03:46:10,920 --> 03:46:13,520
So does Gainesville
and Alachua County.

4861
03:46:13,720 --> 03:46:15,720
Those counties have
tree ordinances,

4862
03:46:15,920 --> 03:46:20,740
and I think that maybe we can
read them and if not, model

4863
03:46:20,940 --> 03:46:26,980
our land development
code after them.

4864
03:46:27,180 --> 03:46:28,480
Maybe.

4865
03:46:28,680 --> 03:46:29,880
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Well, let me--

4866
03:46:30,080 --> 03:46:32,720
I appreciate that and
we'll look at it but--

4867
03:46:32,920 --> 03:46:33,680
and I understand
what you're saying.

4868
03:46:33,880 --> 03:46:35,480
But I'm going to
tell you something.

4869
03:46:35,680 --> 03:46:36,180
This is my perspective.

4870
03:46:36,380 --> 03:46:39,100
If we start modeling our code
after Alachua County and Leon

4871
03:46:39,300 --> 03:46:41,380
County, they'll be
commissioners gone quicker

4872
03:46:41,580 --> 03:46:43,460
than you can say goodbye.

4873
03:46:43,660 --> 03:46:44,760
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
I mean, I know

4874
03:46:44,960 --> 03:46:47,460
we're on polar opposites on
that issue, Chairman, but I--

4875
03:46:47,660 --> 03:46:50,877
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: If
we joined forces on that,

4876
03:46:51,077 --> 03:46:52,360
we'll be out of here.

4877
03:46:52,560 --> 03:46:53,680
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Well,
we can find middle ground.

4878
03:46:53,880 --> 03:46:53,800
We always do.

4879
03:46:54,000 --> 03:46:54,720
We always do.

4880
03:46:54,920 --> 03:46:56,640
I mean, I know that Leon is--

4881
03:46:56,840 --> 03:46:59,980
what he's implying is Alachua
and Leon are very Democratic

4882
03:47:00,180 --> 03:47:01,080
and we're very Republican.

4883
03:47:01,280 --> 03:47:02,480
I get it, red and--

4884
03:47:02,680 --> 03:47:04,120
but still, trees, to
me, fall somewhere

4885
03:47:04,320 --> 03:47:07,660
in between all of that.

4886
03:47:07,860 --> 03:47:08,670
I mean, they're beautiful.

4887
03:47:08,870 --> 03:47:11,190
And I hate when you have
these gorgeous woods

4888
03:47:11,390 --> 03:47:12,010
and they're just flattened.

4889
03:47:12,210 --> 03:47:13,430
PAT WATKINS: Exactly.

4890
03:47:13,630 --> 03:47:14,970
Thank you very much.

4891
03:47:15,170 --> 03:47:15,950
Have a good day.

4892
03:47:16,150 --> 03:47:18,230
COMMISSIONER
GOODWIN: But let me--

4893
03:47:18,430 --> 03:47:20,430
and Ms. Hoshihara
brought something up.

4894
03:47:20,630 --> 03:47:22,970
She reminded that SB
180 is still there.

4895
03:47:23,170 --> 03:47:27,050
Let's be clear, I think I kind
of got my point across earlier

4896
03:47:27,250 --> 03:47:28,070
with the speaker.

4897
03:47:28,270 --> 03:47:31,230
I think we're talking
about two different things.

4898
03:47:31,430 --> 03:47:32,890
One, clear cutting
for new subdivisions

4899
03:47:33,090 --> 03:47:37,570
versus clearing land that's
not going to be subdivided.

4900
03:47:37,770 --> 03:47:39,550
They're two different things.

4901
03:47:39,750 --> 03:47:41,637
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Versus a tree ordinance.

4902
03:47:41,837 --> 03:47:43,470
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Versus a tree ordinance.

4903
03:47:43,670 --> 03:47:44,430
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Telling a neighbor what

4904
03:47:44,630 --> 03:47:45,590
tree they can trim, what
tree they can't, what

4905
03:47:45,790 --> 03:47:46,570
tree they can move, What tree--

4906
03:47:46,770 --> 03:47:46,850
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Right.

4907
03:47:47,050 --> 03:47:47,150
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
We're getting

4908
03:47:47,350 --> 03:47:47,470
into dangerous territory.

4909
03:47:47,670 --> 03:47:48,650
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Correct.

4910
03:47:48,850 --> 03:47:49,950
COMMISSIONER MIXON:
This was too vague.

4911
03:47:50,150 --> 03:47:52,010
Thankfully, it was removed
today and it'll have more study.

4912
03:47:52,210 --> 03:47:54,330
18 months, it was mentioned
earlier, is too short.

4913
03:47:54,530 --> 03:47:57,417
Anybody that's going to buy
property can wait 18 months.

4914
03:47:57,617 --> 03:47:59,750
After they clear it, we
don't want to see that.

4915
03:47:59,950 --> 03:48:01,108
We need a longer period of time.

4916
03:48:01,308 --> 03:48:03,210
But there's got to be
a lot more work that's

4917
03:48:03,410 --> 03:48:04,743
put into it than just
what we were presented.

4918
03:48:04,943 --> 03:48:07,063
Thankfully, it was pulled
and I know it'll come back

4919
03:48:07,263 --> 03:48:07,730
and we'll have
those discussions,

4920
03:48:07,930 --> 03:48:09,105
and they'll be
great discussions.

4921
03:48:09,305 --> 03:48:11,750
But if I go out
and decide I want

4922
03:48:11,950 --> 03:48:13,725
to take a portion of our
land and put some trees,

4923
03:48:13,925 --> 03:48:16,370
I want to be able to do that
for agriculture purposes.

4924
03:48:16,570 --> 03:48:18,610
At the same time, I don't
want my neighboring property

4925
03:48:18,810 --> 03:48:22,110
that I don't own to
be able to do that,

4926
03:48:22,310 --> 03:48:24,635
just to hold for 18 months, to
be able to put a subdivision

4927
03:48:24,835 --> 03:48:25,593
and make it easier in
their development process.

4928
03:48:25,793 --> 03:48:28,430
We can't just trust in
the moral fibers of man

4929
03:48:28,630 --> 03:48:30,563
because they're missing a
lot of their moral fibers.

4930
03:48:30,763 --> 03:48:33,930
And so we have to be able to
have some rules and regulations

4931
03:48:34,130 --> 03:48:36,190
that do allow that, but we've
got to stay very cautiously away

4932
03:48:36,390 --> 03:48:39,270
from Leon and Alachua
and the tree ordinance,

4933
03:48:39,470 --> 03:48:43,730
because they go very far into
what you can do and what you

4934
03:48:43,930 --> 03:48:42,910
can't.

4935
03:48:43,110 --> 03:48:44,790
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: I
know what you're saying,

4936
03:48:44,990 --> 03:48:46,550
but the subdivision that
your parents and I live

4937
03:48:46,750 --> 03:48:48,290
in, it was not clear cut.

4938
03:48:48,490 --> 03:48:49,990
And those beautiful
old oaks are what

4939
03:48:50,190 --> 03:48:52,230
made me buy there 40 years ago.

4940
03:48:52,430 --> 03:48:53,550
And I love it.

4941
03:48:53,750 --> 03:48:53,898
And it's beautiful.

4942
03:48:54,098 --> 03:48:56,490
And I would hope that we
can find a compromise.

4943
03:48:56,690 --> 03:48:57,670
And I do understand
what you're saying.

4944
03:48:57,870 --> 03:48:58,995
And I'm not a Democrat.

4945
03:48:59,195 --> 03:49:02,210
And I'm not a tree hugger, I
just think some of these trees

4946
03:49:02,410 --> 03:49:01,970
are beautiful.

4947
03:49:02,170 --> 03:49:03,570
I know the implication men.

4948
03:49:03,770 --> 03:49:04,620
[CHUCKLING]

4949
03:49:04,820 --> 03:49:10,612
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Some
of us just have a chainsaw

4950
03:49:10,812 --> 03:49:14,320
in the garage and feel the need
to use it every now and then.

4951
03:49:14,520 --> 03:49:14,935
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
Private property, have at it.

4952
03:49:15,135 --> 03:49:15,560
[LAUGHTER]

4953
03:49:15,760 --> 03:49:18,406
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Mr. Perry.

4954
03:49:18,606 --> 03:49:21,460
PAT WATKINS: One second.

4955
03:49:21,660 --> 03:49:22,540
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Well, hold on.

4956
03:49:22,740 --> 03:49:26,140
PAT WATKINS: I just hope we
can come to a happy medium

4957
03:49:26,340 --> 03:49:27,060
and save some of
our heritage trees

4958
03:49:27,260 --> 03:49:30,600
and not clearcut everything on
every residential subdivision

4959
03:49:30,800 --> 03:49:33,180
that we--

4960
03:49:33,380 --> 03:49:34,780
that we see today.

4961
03:49:34,980 --> 03:49:36,615
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: I
think everybody is probably

4962
03:49:36,815 --> 03:49:38,140
on board with that.

4963
03:49:38,340 --> 03:49:40,660
We don't want to-- there's
trees everybody wants to save,

4964
03:49:40,860 --> 03:49:43,560
but the last thing we want
to do is have somebody

4965
03:49:43,760 --> 03:49:44,702
with a measuring tape
and a pocket protector

4966
03:49:44,902 --> 03:49:49,960
telling us that we can't
take down that little scrub

4967
03:49:50,160 --> 03:49:50,640
thing over there.

4968
03:49:50,840 --> 03:49:52,740
So anyway, Mr.
Perry [INAUDIBLE].

4969
03:49:52,940 --> 03:49:55,472
STEVE PERRY: Well,
it's been a long time,

4970
03:49:55,672 --> 03:49:58,680
and I watched two weeks ago, and
it was extremely long then, too.

4971
03:49:58,880 --> 03:50:00,260
So I'm going to
shorten what I wanted

4972
03:50:00,460 --> 03:50:03,020
to say and try to keep
it as short as possible,

4973
03:50:03,220 --> 03:50:03,800
cause I want to get
out of here too.

4974
03:50:04,000 --> 03:50:03,200
[LAUGHTER]

4975
03:50:03,400 --> 03:50:06,950
So one thing I want to say
about the consent agenda,

4976
03:50:07,150 --> 03:50:09,890
I'm all in support of item
19 with the artificial reef

4977
03:50:10,090 --> 03:50:11,545
application and what
you guys do there.

4978
03:50:11,745 --> 03:50:12,870
[CLAPS] I'm all for that.

4979
03:50:13,070 --> 03:50:16,763
You know what I'm against, which
is the reefing of the SS United

4980
03:50:16,963 --> 03:50:17,330
States, and the reasons why.

4981
03:50:17,530 --> 03:50:19,030
And I've made that clear.

4982
03:50:19,230 --> 03:50:21,850
I do want to point out
just one thing that--

4983
03:50:22,050 --> 03:50:24,710
I'm not going to quote and
read anything from the book.

4984
03:50:24,910 --> 03:50:26,690
It's just you guys had
a long day already,

4985
03:50:26,890 --> 03:50:27,532
and it's not necessary.

4986
03:50:27,732 --> 03:50:29,990
But I do want to say
in this, and remember,

4987
03:50:30,190 --> 03:50:32,490
I've given you my contact
information at many meetings.

4988
03:50:32,690 --> 03:50:36,427
I've come up and asked, is there
any questions that I can ask?

4989
03:50:36,627 --> 03:50:37,210
And the answer is always no.

4990
03:50:37,410 --> 03:50:40,070
All this information
is available

4991
03:50:40,270 --> 03:50:42,770
and I have a lot of it.

4992
03:50:42,970 --> 03:50:45,030
And your team over the last
year could have asked me.

4993
03:50:45,230 --> 03:50:47,790
I'm not asking to be hired
or add work as a consultant,

4994
03:50:47,990 --> 03:50:48,645
but I could have
informed you something

4995
03:50:48,845 --> 03:50:50,870
about all this stuff that
you're finding out now

4996
03:50:51,070 --> 03:50:53,450
that you're going to have
to deal with and everything.

4997
03:50:53,650 --> 03:50:55,750
So with that said, one
thing I do want to--

4998
03:50:55,950 --> 03:50:57,990
I guess I'm going to take
a little bit of credit

4999
03:50:58,190 --> 03:50:58,790
and pat myself on the back.

5000
03:50:58,990 --> 03:51:01,790
In the December 10 or 9
meeting that Mr. Fall gave

5001
03:51:01,990 --> 03:51:05,110
his presentation everything,
all those issues he brought up,

5002
03:51:05,310 --> 03:51:09,090
I'm just wondering, would he
have brought those items up

5003
03:51:09,290 --> 03:51:12,890
if myself and my team had not
brought up the bomb disposal

5004
03:51:13,090 --> 03:51:15,135
off the shore, hexavalent
chromium, all these things that

5005
03:51:15,335 --> 03:51:18,110
have been addressed, would any
of that stuff been looked at?

5006
03:51:18,310 --> 03:51:20,310
Because again, what you guys
have done is sinking boats.

5007
03:51:20,510 --> 03:51:23,050
Sinking a ship
with zinc chromate,

5008
03:51:23,250 --> 03:51:24,850
and hexavalent chromium
is something different.

5009
03:51:25,050 --> 03:51:28,530
And no disrespect to Mr.
Coffey, but when he said we've

5010
03:51:28,730 --> 03:51:31,150
sunk everything that's zinc
chromate, that is not true.

5011
03:51:31,350 --> 03:51:34,470
I can honestly say, 40 years in
the business of building ships,

5012
03:51:34,670 --> 03:51:36,090
operating ships and everything.

5013
03:51:36,290 --> 03:51:38,730
And I'll give you one
brief example of that.

5014
03:51:38,930 --> 03:51:42,168
Of course, during World War II,
we built nearly 2,700 liberty

5015
03:51:42,368 --> 03:51:42,010
ships.

5016
03:51:42,210 --> 03:51:44,610
They were designed to last
five voyages, that's all.

5017
03:51:44,810 --> 03:51:47,750
But we didn't have time to
coat them and protect them

5018
03:51:47,950 --> 03:51:50,645
with zinc chromate during that,
we had to get them in the water

5019
03:51:50,845 --> 03:51:50,870
to fight a war.

5020
03:51:51,070 --> 03:51:53,310
This ship probably has
more zinc chromate,

5021
03:51:53,510 --> 03:51:54,713
containing hexa
chromium, probably

5022
03:51:54,913 --> 03:51:56,430
than any ship constructed.

5023
03:51:56,630 --> 03:51:58,435
None of those Essex-class
carriers have that.

5024
03:51:58,635 --> 03:52:00,310
We had to get them into--

5025
03:52:00,510 --> 03:52:01,780
constructed to fight a war.

5026
03:52:01,980 --> 03:52:03,580
The Oriskany was
the only one that

5027
03:52:03,780 --> 03:52:06,070
was completed after the war,
where they could do that.

5028
03:52:06,270 --> 03:52:07,120
We weren't in a rush.

5029
03:52:07,320 --> 03:52:08,620
So that's important
for you to know.

5030
03:52:08,820 --> 03:52:11,720
Lots of information, and I'm
willing to share this to you.

5031
03:52:11,920 --> 03:52:15,160
You just have to be willing to
allow a discussion about it.

5032
03:52:15,360 --> 03:52:18,840
So with that said, another
thing that he brought up,

5033
03:52:19,040 --> 03:52:21,200
there will be
galvanic corrosion.

5034
03:52:21,400 --> 03:52:22,920
Because all the
stuff you've sunk

5035
03:52:23,120 --> 03:52:23,995
is either steel
vessels, aluminum.

5036
03:52:24,195 --> 03:52:27,080
When you have steel and
aluminum in the same vessel,

5037
03:52:27,280 --> 03:52:29,660
you have a thing called galvanic
corrosion, and that will occur.

5038
03:52:29,860 --> 03:52:32,280
So you have to take that--

5039
03:52:32,480 --> 03:52:34,040
you have to be wary of that.

5040
03:52:34,240 --> 03:52:35,752
The Oriskany does not have
aluminum on it, regardless

5041
03:52:35,952 --> 03:52:37,060
of what some people say.

5042
03:52:37,260 --> 03:52:38,660
Yes, it's aluminum
planking on the after deck,

5043
03:52:38,860 --> 03:52:40,900
but the flight deck
is still steel.

5044
03:52:41,100 --> 03:52:42,302
The World Trade
centers were steel.

5045
03:52:42,502 --> 03:52:43,760
They were covered in
aluminum sheathing

5046
03:52:43,960 --> 03:52:45,620
to make them look good.

5047
03:52:45,820 --> 03:52:46,960
They weren't built
out of aluminum.

5048
03:52:47,160 --> 03:52:50,360
So when people go around and
say, oh, it has aluminum,

5049
03:52:50,560 --> 03:52:51,220
it's not a problem.

5050
03:52:51,420 --> 03:52:53,340
You have to use a
little bit of depth

5051
03:52:53,540 --> 03:52:55,180
in your discussion on that.

5052
03:52:55,380 --> 03:52:58,920
So with all that said, I wanted
to bring up just one more quick

5053
03:52:59,120 --> 03:53:00,070
item--

5054
03:53:00,270 --> 03:53:01,637
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

5055
03:53:01,837 --> 03:53:04,470
STEVE PERRY: --and we'll
make it quick and get out.

5056
03:53:04,670 --> 03:53:06,507
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Yep.

5057
03:53:06,707 --> 03:53:08,190
All right, Steve, 10 seconds.

5058
03:53:08,390 --> 03:53:08,890
Do it.

5059
03:53:09,090 --> 03:53:09,990
STEVE PERRY: All right.

5060
03:53:10,190 --> 03:53:14,190
Back in the 2000s, the army or
the Air Force had to get rid

5061
03:53:14,390 --> 03:53:17,830
of some F-11s.

5062
03:53:18,030 --> 03:53:21,112
They were buried out in Utah
due to environmental concerns.

5063
03:53:21,312 --> 03:53:23,570
The primary reason the F-11
fleet was buried and scrapped,

5064
03:53:23,770 --> 03:53:24,870
environmental health
concerns, hexavalent chromium

5065
03:53:25,070 --> 03:53:26,970
being the major factor.

5066
03:53:27,170 --> 03:53:28,790
Not the liquid state,
the solid state.

5067
03:53:28,990 --> 03:53:31,690
Which is what you have
on the United States.

5068
03:53:31,890 --> 03:53:32,323
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

5069
03:53:32,523 --> 03:53:34,257
Ms. Lewis needs to speak now.

5070
03:53:34,457 --> 03:53:34,910
STEVE PERRY: All right.

5071
03:53:35,110 --> 03:53:34,670
Thank you.

5072
03:53:34,870 --> 03:53:35,830
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Thanks, Diane Lewis.

5073
03:53:42,166 --> 03:53:49,366
DIANE LEWIS: Mr.
Chairman, commissioners,

5074
03:53:49,566 --> 03:53:52,530
thank you for giving me
an opportunity to talk.

5075
03:53:52,730 --> 03:53:54,225
I just wanted to bring up--

5076
03:53:54,425 --> 03:53:55,050
My name is Diane Lewis.

5077
03:53:55,250 --> 03:53:59,690
I am a resident of Destin and a
property owner on Holiday Isle,

5078
03:53:59,890 --> 03:54:03,270
and I just want to make
a couple of quick points.

5079
03:54:03,470 --> 03:54:05,610
At the last board
meeting, the board

5080
03:54:05,810 --> 03:54:07,950
demonstrated in
extraordinary capacity

5081
03:54:08,150 --> 03:54:13,750
on projects I had never
heard about before.

5082
03:54:13,950 --> 03:54:16,690
For collaboration and
cooperation and managing nuance

5083
03:54:16,890 --> 03:54:23,090
and respect for property
history on something

5084
03:54:23,290 --> 03:54:27,790
as small as rezoning a single
parcel, and something-- a

5085
03:54:27,990 --> 03:54:30,890
project as large as the
Fairground redevelopment.

5086
03:54:31,090 --> 03:54:35,410
It was amazing, and it
was obvious how much

5087
03:54:35,610 --> 03:54:38,230
work and effort had gone
into those kinds of things.

5088
03:54:38,430 --> 03:54:41,010
Regarding Holiday Isle
and the state property,

5089
03:54:41,210 --> 03:54:44,290
I would just offer
three considerations.

5090
03:54:44,490 --> 03:54:48,110
The first was what's
already been brought up.

5091
03:54:48,310 --> 03:54:51,230
The original approval for the
Marina was very, very specific.

5092
03:54:51,430 --> 03:54:57,350
That the Marina could-- nothing
could happen at the Marina

5093
03:54:57,550 --> 03:54:59,820
until there was a
certificate of occupancy

5094
03:55:00,020 --> 03:55:01,260
for those residential condos.

5095
03:55:01,460 --> 03:55:05,300
The people who did
that, who executed

5096
03:55:05,500 --> 03:55:07,560
that process were
like you, elected

5097
03:55:07,760 --> 03:55:10,520
officials who were
very, very deliberative,

5098
03:55:10,720 --> 03:55:13,460
very thoughtful about it.

5099
03:55:13,660 --> 03:55:16,160
To now ignore that
residential element of it

5100
03:55:16,360 --> 03:55:21,680
because it happened a long
time ago, I don't think

5101
03:55:21,880 --> 03:55:24,760
demonstrates the same
degree of respect

5102
03:55:24,960 --> 03:55:27,080
that you guys showed
last year, but I

5103
03:55:27,280 --> 03:55:30,700
would offer for you to
revisit that in the same vein.

5104
03:55:30,900 --> 03:55:36,848
There's a lot of
discussion about the state

5105
03:55:37,048 --> 03:55:38,340
and the county and the city.

5106
03:55:38,540 --> 03:55:41,120
There's not as much
consideration for people who

5107
03:55:41,320 --> 03:55:43,960
are residents of Holiday Isle.

5108
03:55:44,160 --> 03:55:46,640
There are HINI.

5109
03:55:46,840 --> 03:55:49,080
We have PCNRs, that
all of us, when

5110
03:55:49,280 --> 03:55:54,480
we decided to purchase
property on Holiday Isle,

5111
03:55:54,680 --> 03:55:56,830
agreed to abide by.

5112
03:55:57,030 --> 03:56:02,170
Again, I think, to come in
and write a set of rules

5113
03:56:02,370 --> 03:56:06,550
for things that can happen
at the state property

5114
03:56:06,750 --> 03:56:13,030
and ignore what everyone
else has to abide by

5115
03:56:13,230 --> 03:56:18,710
doesn't demonstrate the
same level of respect.

5116
03:56:18,910 --> 03:56:22,410
Again, those are
things that were

5117
03:56:22,610 --> 03:56:24,330
put in place with
thoughtful consideration,

5118
03:56:24,530 --> 03:56:29,310
and I would just ask that all
of that process be respected.

5119
03:56:29,510 --> 03:56:35,230
And I would say you're
worried about $5 million,

5120
03:56:35,430 --> 03:56:39,290
most of the property
owners on Holiday Isle

5121
03:56:39,490 --> 03:56:42,370
have a lot more than $5
million invested under what

5122
03:56:42,570 --> 03:56:44,330
they considered rules.

5123
03:56:44,530 --> 03:56:46,770
I wouldn't have
bought a property next

5124
03:56:46,970 --> 03:56:49,510
to a park, a public park.

5125
03:56:49,710 --> 03:56:56,470
So I would just say before you
spend a lot of time writing

5126
03:56:56,670 --> 03:56:57,530
rules, also recognize, if
you're willing to override

5127
03:56:57,730 --> 03:57:00,730
all of the other
deliberative property

5128
03:57:00,930 --> 03:57:02,990
processes of former
elected officials,

5129
03:57:03,190 --> 03:57:07,230
I wouldn't spend a lot
of time on the rules

5130
03:57:07,430 --> 03:57:08,470
because somebody else
can just override them.

5131
03:57:08,670 --> 03:57:09,750
And that's--

5132
03:57:09,950 --> 03:57:11,030
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.

5133
03:57:11,230 --> 03:57:13,563
DIANE LEWIS: So you also
cannot take into account--

5134
03:57:13,763 --> 03:57:14,990
you can't be--

5135
03:57:15,190 --> 03:57:17,070
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: You're
using up Mr. Scott's time.

5136
03:57:17,270 --> 03:57:17,562
Sorry.

5137
03:57:17,762 --> 03:57:20,262
DIANE LEWIS: You can't
compensate anybody

5138
03:57:20,462 --> 03:57:22,870
for loss of property value
on Holiday Isle either.

5139
03:57:23,070 --> 03:57:25,310
- Mr. Scott.

5140
03:57:27,430 --> 03:57:35,230
JOHN SCOTT: Hi, I'm John Scott.

5141
03:57:35,430 --> 03:57:38,210
We spoke before, and I
just wanted to spit off

5142
03:57:38,410 --> 03:57:39,550
a bunch of facts real quick.

5143
03:57:39,750 --> 03:57:41,770
So on November 9,
2023, I was arrested,

5144
03:57:41,970 --> 03:57:48,110
and it was a wrongful arrest.

5145
03:57:48,310 --> 03:57:49,110
The officer made an
investigative stop,

5146
03:57:49,310 --> 03:57:53,370
and then the three of them
shut their body cameras off.

5147
03:57:53,570 --> 03:57:55,560
They identified that
they had seized evidence

5148
03:57:55,760 --> 03:57:58,400
without having a warrant,
and then they delivered me

5149
03:57:58,600 --> 03:58:00,760
to the county jail.

5150
03:58:00,960 --> 03:58:01,860
Oh, I should backtrack.

5151
03:58:02,060 --> 03:58:03,720
On November 11,
2022, I was arrested

5152
03:58:03,920 --> 03:58:06,580
and I was taken to
the county jail,

5153
03:58:06,780 --> 03:58:09,080
and I wasn't provided
insulin as a type I diabetic

5154
03:58:09,280 --> 03:58:09,920
through my entire stay.

5155
03:58:10,120 --> 03:58:13,440
On November 29, 2022, I
went to the Board of County

5156
03:58:13,640 --> 03:58:14,760
Commissioners and
informed you all

5157
03:58:14,960 --> 03:58:17,080
that I was not
provided insulin, which

5158
03:58:17,280 --> 03:58:19,360
is necessary for life
as a type I diabetic,

5159
03:58:19,560 --> 03:58:22,340
and I was told that an
investigation would be performed

5160
03:58:22,540 --> 03:58:25,020
and if any issues were found,
they would be corrected.

5161
03:58:25,220 --> 03:58:27,080
And if I expected
any sort of relief,

5162
03:58:27,280 --> 03:58:29,980
I would need to file a federal
lawsuit against the County.

5163
03:58:30,180 --> 03:58:33,200
So then we'll fast forward
a year to November 11, 2023,

5164
03:58:33,400 --> 03:58:36,500
where I was wrongfully arrested
and the booking officer verified

5165
03:58:36,700 --> 03:58:39,780
that I was not
guilty of any crimes

5166
03:58:39,980 --> 03:58:41,940
during the booking
process, and it was later

5167
03:58:42,140 --> 03:58:43,740
confirmed by the
director of corrections

5168
03:58:43,940 --> 03:58:46,507
that that's the standard
practice of the Okaloosa County

5169
03:58:46,707 --> 03:58:48,540
Board of Corrections,
and that's how it works.

5170
03:58:48,740 --> 03:58:52,553
If somebody is innocent, when
they're brought to the jail,

5171
03:58:52,753 --> 03:58:53,770
the jail just incarcerates
innocent people.

5172
03:58:53,970 --> 03:58:56,290
That's how Okaloosa County
County Jail operates.

5173
03:58:56,490 --> 03:59:00,210
So let's be quick.

5174
03:59:00,410 --> 03:59:03,590
So on December 5, 2023, I
spoke with Chelsea Sharon.

5175
03:59:03,790 --> 03:59:08,550
That was your
assistant, and she let

5176
03:59:08,750 --> 03:59:11,130
me know that she needed an
email dictating everything.

5177
03:59:11,330 --> 03:59:13,810
I contacted her on
December 11, 2023

5178
03:59:14,010 --> 03:59:17,430
to let her know I was
sending her that email.

5179
03:59:17,630 --> 03:59:18,030
On January 16.

5180
03:59:18,230 --> 03:59:21,335
I contacted her
to ask her if she

5181
03:59:21,535 --> 03:59:24,210
was going to reply to any of
the emails I had sent her.

5182
03:59:24,410 --> 03:59:26,570
I contacted the board and
approached them and addressed

5183
03:59:26,770 --> 03:59:28,590
them in March of
2024 and let them

5184
03:59:28,790 --> 03:59:33,350
know that nothing had
come from the meetings

5185
03:59:33,550 --> 03:59:34,930
with your assistant,
Mr. Goodwin,

5186
03:59:35,130 --> 03:59:39,150
regarding the criminal neglect I
experienced at the county jail,

5187
03:59:39,350 --> 03:59:43,010
and that an investigation
would be unfolding.

5188
03:59:43,210 --> 03:59:45,350
Lynn Hoshihara then
let me know she

5189
03:59:45,550 --> 03:59:47,910
was going to perform an
investigation, which contained

5190
03:59:48,110 --> 03:59:50,910
more medical information than
the official medical records

5191
03:59:51,110 --> 03:59:53,990
from the Okaloosa County Jail.

5192
03:59:54,190 --> 03:59:57,568
And I was curious as to how the
Board of County Commissioners

5193
03:59:57,768 --> 03:59:58,610
were able to perform an
official investigation

5194
03:59:58,810 --> 04:00:01,430
and get more actual
medical information

5195
04:00:01,630 --> 04:00:04,970
than the medical records from
the Okaloosa County Jail.

5196
04:00:05,170 --> 04:00:06,750
That seemed weird.

5197
04:00:06,950 --> 04:00:10,330
So we were supposed to have a
conference call, Ms. Hoshihara,

5198
04:00:10,530 --> 04:00:12,130
to discuss a settlement.

5199
04:00:12,330 --> 04:00:14,750
And that was supposed
to occur on February 13,

5200
04:00:14,950 --> 04:00:18,230
2024 per the email you sent me,
your outlook and the Zooms type

5201
04:00:18,430 --> 04:00:22,350
software was not
functioning and you

5202
04:00:22,550 --> 04:00:24,930
weren't able to make that call.

5203
04:00:25,130 --> 04:00:27,110
You never reached out
to me to reschedule.

5204
04:00:27,310 --> 04:00:29,630
So I've repeatedly
reached out to this board.

5205
04:00:29,830 --> 04:00:33,210
Finally, the last big one was
when Nolan Weeks came up here

5206
04:00:33,410 --> 04:00:35,270
and admitted that his
corrections officers were not

5207
04:00:35,470 --> 04:00:39,070
responsible or obligated to do
anything when someone is proven

5208
04:00:39,270 --> 04:00:42,630
to be innocent when
brought to your jail,

5209
04:00:42,830 --> 04:00:44,910
and that their responsibility
is to incarcerate people.

5210
04:00:45,110 --> 04:00:49,548
So again, I would ask the
Board of County Commissioners

5211
04:00:49,748 --> 04:00:51,240
to address the criminal
operations of their jail

5212
04:00:51,440 --> 04:00:54,480
and, again, ask that they
offer some sort of settlement,

5213
04:00:54,680 --> 04:00:57,100
since I have established
beyond any reasonable doubt

5214
04:00:57,300 --> 04:00:59,960
that my rights were
criminally violated.

5215
04:01:00,160 --> 04:01:01,658
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Thank You, Sir.

5216
04:01:01,858 --> 04:01:03,200
JOHN SCOTT: Thank you.

5217
04:01:03,400 --> 04:01:05,527
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

5218
04:01:05,727 --> 04:01:07,460
I have no more speaker cards.

5219
04:01:07,660 --> 04:01:09,300
We're closing the public
comment portion of the meeting.

5220
04:01:09,500 --> 04:01:13,640
Commissioners a
minute, if you dare.

5221
04:01:13,840 --> 04:01:14,720
Commissioner Cox.

5222
04:01:14,920 --> 04:01:19,477
COMMISSIONER COX:
Thank you, Chairman.

5223
04:01:19,677 --> 04:01:21,960
I just want to
thank the public who

5224
04:01:22,160 --> 04:01:23,718
have been fully vested in
the legislative process here.

5225
04:01:23,918 --> 04:01:27,160
It's a lot.

5226
04:01:27,360 --> 04:01:29,060
I understand that it's a lot.

5227
04:01:29,260 --> 04:01:30,480
It's a lot on us too.

5228
04:01:30,680 --> 04:01:30,785
Commissioner
Palmer, I appreciate

5229
04:01:30,985 --> 04:01:33,660
you being professional when
addressing some of the concerns.

5230
04:01:33,860 --> 04:01:37,720
I have plenty of constituents
who don't agree with the job

5231
04:01:37,920 --> 04:01:40,920
that I do up here
sometimes as well.

5232
04:01:41,120 --> 04:01:44,340
And I hope to serve
everybody in my district

5233
04:01:44,540 --> 04:01:46,600
and the other districts
we're elected at large.

5234
04:01:46,800 --> 04:01:47,760
Your input is
absolutely necessary.

5235
04:01:47,960 --> 04:01:52,030
We don't know what the feedback
is from you without you saying,

5236
04:01:52,230 --> 04:01:52,530
right?

5237
04:01:52,730 --> 04:01:55,130
Not a single one of
us, I don't think,

5238
04:01:55,330 --> 04:01:58,170
is going to be able to
respond to every inquiry,

5239
04:01:58,370 --> 04:02:00,830
every feedback,
every time, but we

5240
04:02:01,030 --> 04:02:05,090
hope to when we bring those
concerns up here to the dais.

5241
04:02:05,290 --> 04:02:08,310
I mean, I want you to know that.

5242
04:02:08,510 --> 04:02:10,490
Our hearts are with
you or we wouldn't

5243
04:02:10,690 --> 04:02:11,630
run for these positions.

5244
04:02:11,830 --> 04:02:11,830
Amen.

5245
04:02:12,030 --> 04:02:15,710
And to our county staff, thank
you for the additional work

5246
04:02:15,910 --> 04:02:17,230
that you do that
is brought forth

5247
04:02:17,430 --> 04:02:20,930
because of us behind the dais
and also because of the concerns

5248
04:02:21,130 --> 04:02:21,770
of our citizens.

5249
04:02:21,970 --> 04:02:24,890
I mean, we recognize that you
are working for us, working

5250
04:02:25,090 --> 04:02:27,150
for them, and we
appreciate every one

5251
04:02:27,350 --> 04:02:31,010
of you and the extra efforts
that you put into that process.

5252
04:02:31,210 --> 04:02:31,110
So thank you.

5253
04:02:31,310 --> 04:02:31,952
That's all I have.

5254
04:02:32,152 --> 04:02:34,697
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.

5255
04:02:34,897 --> 04:02:35,430
Commissioner Mixon.

5256
04:02:35,630 --> 04:02:36,522
COMMISSIONER MIXON: No!

5257
04:02:36,722 --> 04:02:37,180
No, sir.

5258
04:02:37,380 --> 04:02:37,630
[LAUGHTER]

5259
04:02:37,830 --> 04:02:39,030
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Thank you, sir.

5260
04:02:39,230 --> 04:02:41,670
Commissioner Palmer.

5261
04:02:41,870 --> 04:02:43,613
COMMISSIONER PALMER:
I just wanted

5262
04:02:43,813 --> 04:02:46,830
to say, pray for our troops
that are in harm's way.

5263
04:02:47,030 --> 04:02:48,792
Obviously, there's a lot
going on in the world.

5264
04:02:48,992 --> 04:02:50,450
And then happy birthday
to my wife, Jody.

5265
04:02:50,650 --> 04:02:51,258
That's all I got.

5266
04:02:51,458 --> 04:02:51,750
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Awesome.

5267
04:02:51,950 --> 04:02:54,500
Very, very, very well
said on both points, sir.

5268
04:02:54,700 --> 04:02:55,290
Ms. Ketchel.

5269
04:02:55,490 --> 04:02:57,810
COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: I just
have to briefly comment.

5270
04:02:58,010 --> 04:03:01,218
Thank you to Jeff Peters and his
entire staff for the Shalimar

5271
04:03:01,418 --> 04:03:01,970
Little League Park.

5272
04:03:02,170 --> 04:03:03,890
Saturday morning was
a glorious morning.

5273
04:03:04,090 --> 04:03:07,090
We had flyovers from all
the Ospreys and Eagles,

5274
04:03:07,290 --> 04:03:09,490
and we had a beautiful
park to unveil

5275
04:03:09,690 --> 04:03:11,210
for all those sweet
little children,

5276
04:03:11,410 --> 04:03:12,990
and the parents were
so appreciative.

5277
04:03:13,190 --> 04:03:16,170
Also, I just want
to say, the thing

5278
04:03:16,370 --> 04:03:18,090
that I've enjoyed
most about being

5279
04:03:18,290 --> 04:03:21,210
up here over the
last decade has been

5280
04:03:21,410 --> 04:03:25,110
that when we get off the dais,
there's no hard feelings.

5281
04:03:25,310 --> 04:03:26,950
In other words, we
all vote the best

5282
04:03:27,150 --> 04:03:28,050
we can to serve
our constituents.

5283
04:03:28,250 --> 04:03:31,190
And I don't envy Mr.
Palmer's position right now,

5284
04:03:31,390 --> 04:03:34,130
but I've been where
he is, so thank you.

5285
04:03:34,330 --> 04:03:36,490
I just wanted to say that.

5286
04:03:36,690 --> 04:03:37,317
COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.

5287
04:03:37,517 --> 04:03:38,050
Very good.

5288
04:03:38,250 --> 04:03:39,750
Well, I have nothing to add.

5289
04:03:39,950 --> 04:03:40,950
So we are adjourned.

5290
04:03:41,150 --> 04:03:41,690
[GAVEL STRIKES]

5291
04:03:41,890 --> 04:03:42,900