[6:29] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: --26th
meeting of the Okaloosa County
[6:38] Board of County Commissioners.
[6:39] We welcome you
here this morning.
[6:41] We have a full house, so
we're glad to see that.
[6:44] As always, we're going to
open with an invocation.
[6:47] We'll follow that with
a pledge of Allegiance
[6:49] that will be led by the
Crestview High School Junior
[6:51] ROTC.
[6:52] But invocation first,
and I believe we
[6:54] have a chaplain with us today.
[6:58] Yes, sir.
[6:59] If you would open us up, we
would really appreciate it.
[7:02] SPEAKER 1: Forward march.
[7:05] Colors halt. Left face.
[7:14] CHAPLAIN: Father, we
come to you today,
[7:22] and I am thankful
that I live in a place
[7:26] where I'm invited to come and
pray before these meetings.
[7:29] Father, we call upon your name.
[7:32] We acknowledge you today.
[7:33] We acknowledge we
need your help.
[7:35] We humble ourselves before you.
[7:38] And, Father, I pray that you
would give these men and women
[7:43] wisdom as they lead and
guide us as citizens as well
[7:46] as themselves.
[7:50] Father, I pray for
their families,
[7:52] that you would bless
them, protect them
[7:53] as they are in the public eye.
[7:55] Lord, today we pray
for wisdom and we
[7:58] know that only true
wisdom comes from you.
[8:00] So I pray that you would impart
that wisdom to them today.
[8:05] Father, under the sound of my
voice, each and every individual
[8:08] here today, Lord, we need you.
[8:10] Our town needs you.
[8:13] Our city needs you.
[8:14] Our country needs you.
[8:15] I pray for our
president today, Lord,
[8:18] as he's making decisions
with leaders that's
[8:20] affecting the entire world.
[8:23] And we know that you can
help and you can guide us.
[8:27] So, Father, we love you today.
[8:29] We thank you today.
[8:30] I pray for those who may not
know you today personally.
[8:33] Lord, I've not come
here to offend anyone.
[8:36] I've come here to speak
the name of Jesus.
[8:38] And I pray, Lord, you
draw them close to you.
[8:40] For those of us who do know
you, Father, we give you praise,
[8:44] we give you glory,
we give you honor.
[8:45] May this meeting be done for
your praise and your glory
[8:48] and honor.
[8:49] For all that we do today.
[8:50] Father, we praise you and
thank you in Jesus' name.
[8:53] Amen.
[8:53] AUDIENCE: Amen.
[8:55] SPEAKER 1: Present arms.
[8:57] SPEAKER 2: Please
join us in the Pledge.
[9:04] ALL: I pledge
allegiance to the flag
[9:06] of the United States of
America and to the Republic
[9:09] for which it stands.
[9:11] One nation under
God, indivisible,
[9:12] with liberty and
justice for all.
[9:16] SPEAKER 1: Forward arms.
[9:18] Right face.
[9:22] Forward March.
[9:34] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All
right, you may be seated.
[9:42] Thank you.
[9:43] I'm always impressed
with our students
[9:46] here in Okaloosa County,
how professional they are.
[9:49] And we see the success
in our ROTC programs
[9:54] and see the future
leaders, not just
[9:57] our future leaders, the
people who are going
[10:00] to protect us in the future.
[10:01] And it's really
encouraging to see that.
[10:02] So we really thank
them for being here.
[10:05] Mr. Hofstad.
[10:05] The county
administrator's update.
[10:08] JOHN HOFSTAD: Thank you,
Mr. Chairman Commissioners.
[10:11] I just have a couple
updates for you.
[10:13] First, I want to remind the
board that our next meeting is
[10:16] a three-week gap.
[10:16] We're going to take off
what was the spring break
[10:20] week this month.
[10:21] So our next meeting will be
the 24th of March in Shalimar.
[10:25] I just want to remind the board
of the jetBlue inaugural flight
[10:29] this Thursday.
[10:30] So I hope all of
you can make that.
[10:32] And then lastly,
I would request,
[10:33] Mr. Chairman, that
we pull item 2.
[10:36] We need to do some additional--
[10:38] item 2 on consent
agenda, excuse me.
[10:40] We need to do an additional
staff analysis on that.
[10:44] So we'll bring that item back.
[10:45] And that's all I have, sir.
[10:47] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[10:48] Very good.
[10:48] Ms. Hoshihara, county
attorney's update.
[10:49] MS. HOSHIHARA: Thank
you, Mr. Chairman.
[10:54] I have no updates this morning.
[10:56] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[10:57] Clerk of court, Mr. Embry.
[10:59] BRAD EMBRY: Nothing
from the clerk's office.
[11:00] Thank you very much.
[11:02] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[11:03] Thank you.
[11:03] All right, that brings
us to public comments.
[11:06] Now, as always, we've
got three minutes
[11:08] reserved for each speaker.
[11:10] And that is in-- that's going
to be enforced because we're
[11:14] trying to get
through each speaker
[11:17] and have everyone have an
opportunity to be heard.
[11:19] But there is a
second opportunity
[11:22] at the end of the meeting
to be heard as well.
[11:25] So if you don't speak
during the first session,
[11:27] you can speak at the end.
[11:29] If you speak at
the first session,
[11:30] you can also speak
again at the end.
[11:31] That's perfectly OK.
[11:32] If you are here on a
public hearing item,
[11:36] and we only have one,
which is the surtax,
[11:39] you won't be called
during this session.
[11:42] You'll be called during the
public hearing for that item.
[11:45] Otherwise, as we go through
items along the agenda,
[11:48] you've got to make your
comments either at the beginning
[11:53] or the end.
[11:53] So I think I've got the surtax
public hearing cards properly
[11:56] flagged.
[12:00] But if I call your name and
you're here for that one,
[12:04] just let me know and
we'll defer your time.
[12:05] Also, if you're here and
you're actually only wanting
[12:07] to speak at the end but
you've turned in a card,
[12:11] just let me know that, we'll
also defer you to the end.
[12:13] Be happy to do that.
[12:14] All right.
[12:15] Our first speaker
is Mayor Mark Franks
[12:18] from the town of Shalimar.
[12:25] MARK FRANKS: Can you hear me?
[12:33] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: You're on.
[12:34] MARK FRANKS: All right.
[12:34] Good morning, Chairman
and County commissioners.
[12:35] I want to thank you for the
opportunity to speak today.
[12:39] As mayor of the
town of Shalimar,
[12:40] I am here in strong support
of the purchase and sale
[12:43] agreement for the
acquisition of the 1.7 acre
[12:45] Waterfront property in Shalimar.
[12:47] This is more than
a land acquisition.
[12:50] It is a once in a
generation opportunity
[12:53] to preserve open
space and ensure
[12:55] that this property is accessible
to the public for decades
[12:58] to come.
[12:58] Waterfront land is finite.
[13:00] Once it is developed
privately, we rarely
[13:02] get a chance to reclaim
it for community use.
[13:05] By partnering together,
we share the cost.
[13:07] The funding for this
acquisition and park development
[13:11] would come from the County,
the town of Shalimar
[13:13] and state legislative
appropriations.
[13:14] An interlocal agreement
following the purchase
[13:17] would reflect fiscal prudence,
collaboration, and a shared
[13:20] vision for smart growth.
[13:22] We can create a
thoughtfully designed park
[13:25] that supports recreation,
environmental stewardship,
[13:27] and economic vitality.
[13:30] Parks increase property values.
[13:32] They attract visitors and
improve quality of life.
[13:35] They provide safe
spaces for families,
[13:38] outdoor learning
opportunities for children,
[13:40] and natural buffers that
strengthen our resilience
[13:43] against storms and flooding.
[13:44] Most importantly, this is an
investment in our residents.
[13:48] It sends a message that we share
balanced growth, public access
[13:51] to our waterfront and
leaving something better
[13:53] for the next generation.
[13:55] I respectfully ask for your
support of this purchase
[13:58] and sale agreement,
so that together, we
[13:59] can secure this property
and transform it
[14:01] into a lasting community asset.
[14:03] I thank you for your time.
[14:06] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Thank you, mayor.
[14:06] Our next speaker is
John William Scott.
[14:18] JOHN SCOTT: Chairman
commissioners.
[14:26] I'm John Scott.
[14:27] Nice to see you guys again.
[14:29] I wanted to provide an
update on all my stuff.
[14:32] So over the last
several years, I've
[14:35] been dealing with some
issues in the County.
[14:38] Initially, of course,
was the wrongful arrest
[14:41] where I was denied medical
attention at the County jail,
[14:45] then the cover up by the
Board of County Commissioners,
[14:48] then the third address in which
Nolan Weeks was investigated
[14:51] and then resigned as a
result of that investigation.
[14:54] So I've now been able
to establish that
[14:58] under Sheriff Charlie Nix,
Captain Robert Wagner, Captain
[15:02] Todd Watkins, Captain John
merchant, Captain Michael
[15:06] Rader, Deputy Harold Dewitt,
and Sergeant Robert Wagner--
[15:11] I'm sorry.
[15:16] Sergeant-- Sergeant-- oh, my
God, there's just so many.
[15:18] All took part in a federal
criminal conspiracy.
[15:24] And what I mean is
they violated-- they
[15:27] committed federal felonies.
[15:28] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And, sir, pause--
[15:31] JOHN SCOTT: Please
don't cut me off.
[15:33] I've got limited time.
[15:34] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: No, no.
[15:34] Pause it, Nick.
[15:34] I'm going to keep your time.
[15:36] Pause it.
[15:36] Put it back to two
minutes, please.
[15:37] I just want to--
[15:39] I'll defer to the
County attorney,
[15:40] but I want to make
clear that you
[15:42] don't have a misconception about
what the Sunshine Law provides
[15:45] because I want to make sure
our citizens understand
[15:48] to protect you, OK?
[15:49] I don't think the Sunshine
Law is a privileged exemption
[15:52] to potential defamation claims.
[15:56] That's my understanding.
[15:58] JOHN SCOTT: Oh,
it's not defamation.
[16:00] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
So I just want to--
[16:01] I don't want you to think
that we're providing--
[16:04] JOHN SCOTT: I have
body cam footage.
[16:05] I have--
[16:06] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Hang on.
[16:07] Hang on.
[16:06] JOHN SCOTT: --your on
records established.
[16:08] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Hang on, hang on.
[16:09] Don't overtalk me or I
might have to cut you off.
[16:11] I haven't cut you off before,
and I've listened to you.
[16:14] JOHN SCOTT: It's not defamation.
[16:15] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Stop, please.
[16:15] JOHN SCOTT: I haven't--
[16:16] I've been posting it.
[16:17] It's not defamation, sir.
[16:18] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
I'm going to give you
[16:20] your full two minutes because
I'm not going to take your time.
[16:24] I was saying that
simply because I
[16:25] don't want any
member of the public
[16:27] to think that we are giving the
appearance of a platform that
[16:30] provides a free
opportunity to say anything
[16:33] you want without potential
civil consequences outside
[16:36] of this arena.
[16:38] That's all.
[16:39] You're free to say what you like
as long as non-threatening, all
[16:42] the standard rules, which
you've never threatened anybody.
[16:47] And I understand that,
and I'm not saying that.
[16:50] I just want to make sure that
you didn't think that we were--
[16:52] JOHN SCOTT: Oh, no.
[16:52] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
--portraying this.
[16:53] JOHN SCOTT: I've been
building evidence
[16:54] so I can make these
forums legally
[16:56] and without facing consequence.
[16:57] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[16:59] Hang on.
[16:59] Hang on.
[16:59] I'm going to give
you your two minutes.
[17:01] But usually what I've found,
because I've stood down
[17:03] there a lot, not in this
room, but some other rooms
[17:06] in this building, and when
they're talking up at the dais,
[17:09] the best thing down
there is to stop talking.
[17:12] That's what's kept me in
business for 20 years.
[17:15] So just wait.
[17:16] I'm going to give it
to you, but I just
[17:19] want to confirm that because
you said some things that
[17:20] made me concerned that you
were believing that this
[17:23] was a free for all forum.
[17:25] You can say what you
want, but don't--
[17:27] I just don't want there to be
any misconception by the public
[17:30] that this provides some sort
of an immunity forum for that.
[17:33] That's all.
[17:34] So you have your two minutes.
[17:38] [INAUDIBLE]
[17:38] JOHN SCOTT: So my
issue is that I've
[17:42] brought this to the
county's attention in 2022
[17:44] and is now 2026.
[17:46] I've asked for relief
from the county attorney.
[17:49] I brought it to the
county's attention.
[17:51] The county has done nothing to
address the medical and neglect,
[17:54] the criminal operations of
the county jail, the cover up
[17:57] of the medical neglect
of the County jail.
[18:00] That's criminal operations
of a county organization.
[18:02] That would be a RICO
violation from 2022 to 2023,
[18:06] just from the evidence
that I've gathered.
[18:10] So I'm not committing
slander, defamation.
[18:12] This is just the evidence
that I've gathered.
[18:17] I have body cam
footage that confirms
[18:18] that these officers committed
federal felonies, falsified
[18:20] arrest reports.
[18:23] And then I have letters from the
sheriffs department supporting
[18:26] their actions.
[18:27] And then I have state
attorneys that I've
[18:30] submitted the evidence to that
said that no criminal activity
[18:33] occurred.
[18:33] So there's an established
precedent in this county
[18:37] where the law
enforcement are allowed
[18:39] to commit criminal activity, and
then the county jail follows up
[18:43] on criminal activity.
[18:46] And then when it's brought
to the county's attention,
[18:49] they take no action.
[18:50] Now, I've brought it to the
county's attention over and over
[18:55] again, that I was denied medical
attention at the county jail,
[18:58] and I was almost killed.
[18:59] And then I was told,
the first time,
[19:02] that it would be addressed.
[19:04] And if I needed--
[19:05] and if I expected any
relief, that I would
[19:07] need to file a federal lawsuit.
[19:08] The second time
where I almost died,
[19:10] I was laughed at
by Nathan Boyles,
[19:13] and then I had to address
the board three times for you
[19:17] to investigate
Nolan Weeks and then
[19:17] he resigned after he stated
that the standard practice was
[19:23] to incarcerate people
that were innocent.
[19:25] He said that at this
podium in this room.
[19:29] So there's an obvious level
of corruption operating
[19:33] in this county, and I would
like it to be addressed.
[19:36] Thank you.
[19:37] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[19:43] Our next speaker is
Michelle Hampster.
[19:49] If I said it wrong, I apologize.
[19:57] I don't have my glasses on.
[19:58] MICHELLE HARPSTER: Good
morning, commissioners.
[19:59] Michelle Harpster, 1801
Harpster lane Baker, Florida.
[20:02] In late November,
a stop work order
[20:05] was issued at the
Buttonbush site
[20:07] for clearing the road
and retention pond
[20:08] areas before a development
order had been issued.
[20:11] In February, during mediation
for that same development,
[20:14] I heard the statement
that land can
[20:16] be cleared as long as it
is done prior to applying
[20:19] for development order.
[20:19] Now we are being asked to
memorialize that interpretation
[20:23] in a resolution, Today.
[20:26] The development
order process exists
[20:28] to ensure impacts are evaluated
before land is permanently
[20:31] altered.
[20:32] If clearing tied to
subdivision infrastructure
[20:35] can occur before a DO
is even applied for,
[20:38] the review process becomes
reactive rather than preventive.
[20:40] If this resolution
moves forward,
[20:44] I ask that the language at least
be tightened to clearly state
[20:47] that subdivision related
clearing cannot occur prior
[20:49] to development order approval.
[20:51] Clarity protects everyone,
both property owners
[20:56] and the integrity of
the development process.
[20:58] And if subdivision related
clearing occur prematurely,
[21:01] there must be
meaningful consequences.
[21:05] Penalties that function merely
as a cost of doing business
[21:08] are not deterrents.
[21:10] For clarity, how will
staff distinguish
[21:12] between routine
clearing and clearing
[21:14] that is functionally the first
phase of subdivision development
[21:17] when DO applications
have yet to be submitted?
[21:20] The process matters.
[21:25] The sequencing matters.
[21:26] Please make sure the language
reflects that clearly.
[21:28] Thank you.
[21:31] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Ma'am, and I'll
[21:32] use Chairman's prerogative
as an opportunity
[21:34] to address this with you.
[21:36] First, staff has
pulled it, I think,
[21:39] to take another look at
tightening some of the language.
[21:42] MICHELLE HARPSTER: Perfect.
[21:42] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
You're not wrong.
[21:43] Clarity is the key to organized
land development, right?
[21:46] MICHELLE HARPSTER: Mm-hmm.
[21:47] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: So
removal of ambiguity, I
[21:49] think that's what this is
designed to try and do.
[21:53] But I think staff has recognized
with some of the comments
[21:56] that maybe there's even a more
tightening that could be done.
[21:59] I think what you're saying-- and
I'm only speaking for myself,
[22:02] as how I interpreted it.
[22:04] I think the risk
you're talking about,
[22:06] of clearing for subdivisions
without a permit
[22:08] is not what this was intended to
do, at least in my perspective.
[22:13] I think it was intended to
deal with lots that are not
[22:17] going to be further subdivided.
[22:18] And I think that's
a big distinction.
[22:20] MICHELLE HARPSTER:
And I understand
[22:21] that that could
be the intentions,
[22:23] but I think we all
are aware that there's
[22:25] a lot of manipulating and
loopholes in interpreting--
[22:28] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
You're 100% right.
[22:30] I mean, I've heard from North
end, I've heard from South end,
[22:33] we all have, we don't
want. you know, clear
[22:36] cutting for new subdivisions.
[22:38] And I think what you're talking
about makes a lot of sense.
[22:42] And this will give staff the
opportunity to look at it
[22:45] and say, well,
then maybe we say,
[22:46] there's some sort
of a time period.
[22:48] If you're clearing it with--
[22:51] you can't subdivide for
18 months, or something
[22:54] to make sure it's not
form over function.
[22:59] But I think the idea is it's
a big distinction if you've
[23:03] got lot 12, block B and the--
[23:05] a subdivision that was recorded
in 1955, and all you want to do
[23:12] is put a house on it.
[23:14] It's been in the
record for 50 years.
[23:16] I think that's different
than what you're
[23:17] talking about, where somebody's
coming in and saying, hey,
[23:20] I want to create a
new subdivision that's
[23:21] never existed before.
[23:22] MICHELLE HARPSTER: Yes.
[23:23] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: So I
just want to make sure at least
[23:25] I'm telling you what
my perspective is.
[23:26] I hear you.
[23:27] MICHELLE HARPSTER: OK.
[23:28] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And I feel like staff
[23:30] can help us get to a common
goal that does both things.
[23:33] Doesn't overly restrict
something that is already a lot,
[23:35] but also prevents that
process from being abused.
[23:39] And I think, if
I hear you right,
[23:42] that sounds like
what you're asking.
[23:43] MICHELLE HARPSTER:
Yeah, I appreciate that.
[23:44] And a stiff penalty if
it's found-- if they try
[23:47] to work their way around it.
[23:50] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Well, I mean, I
[23:51] know what other
jurisdictions do.
[23:51] Refusal to accept permits
for a period of time,
[23:54] which stalls out projects.
[23:55] You can bake in different
things within the law.
[23:57] And we'll turn to our
attorney about how to do that.
[24:02] Obviously, it's
a balancing test.
[24:03] Everything's a balancing test.
[24:04] But yes, I think your
points are well taken,
[24:07] and I understand you speak for
the sentiment of a lot of folks
[24:12] both on the North end and
the South end about managed
[24:16] development if you're re
subdividing and creating
[24:19] new communities
that didn't exist.
[24:21] And I think this is designed
to deal with communities
[24:25] that already exist.
[24:25] Some of which are more
like an infill development.
[24:29] And I don't think that's
what's going on in Baker.
[24:32] I think that's a
different thing.
[24:33] So thanks for coming
down here today.
[24:34] Sorry, I didn't mean to jump in.
[24:38] MICHELLE HARPSTER: It's OK.
[24:39] Thank you.
[24:38] COMMISSIONER
GOODWIN: But I wanted
[24:39] to clarify that
because I thought
[24:40] you made some excellent
points, and I wanted
[24:42] to make sure we got on
the record, at least
[24:44] where I was
thinking, we might be
[24:45] going when we bring this back.
[24:47] MICHELLE HARPSTER: OK.
[24:48] Appreciate it.
[24:47] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.
[24:49] All right.
[24:53] Next speaker, Narissa Jenkins.
[24:55] NARISSA JENKINS: Good morning.
[25:00] Chairman and Commissioners,
my name is Narissa Jenkins.
[25:02] I'm a North County resident
up here in Crestview,
[25:05] and I'm also the CEO and
founder of Healing Hoof Steps.
[25:07] For the last year and a half,
myself and seven surrounding
[25:10] property owners have been
terrorized by an individual's
[25:12] refusal to contain their roaming
nuisance animals and livestock.
[25:16] According to their
owner, the dog
[25:19] is a Belgian
Malinois wolf mix who
[25:21] hunts with a German
shepherd and a Catahoula.
[25:24] In addition to these large dogs,
there's also a 1,300 pounds pig
[25:28] that escapes in roams
onto private property.
[25:30] I've been chased by the
dogs while on horseback
[25:34] on my own private
property, and have
[25:36] had to resort to pushing
the pig with a UTV
[25:38] to stop it from entering the
Healing Hoof Steps property
[25:42] and disrupting client sessions.
[25:43] My personal 25 acres sits
between the roaming animals
[25:47] property and Healing Hoof
Steps, and in recent weeks,
[25:50] they've been coming
increasingly closer,
[25:51] causing disruptions
to business operations
[25:53] and the safety of the sensitive
populations we've served.
[25:57] I've filed numerous affidavits
and notified as many people
[26:00] as I can.
[26:01] The dogs were roaming as
recent as 4:00 AM this morning.
[26:04] All of our surrounding
property owners
[26:07] have sent numerous photos
and videos to animal control.
[26:10] But on our third
animal control officer,
[26:12] who, despite his best
efforts, is still
[26:14] struggling to enforce anything
beyond the numerous citations,
[26:16] the owners even said they'd
rip up any citations.
[26:20] They told the animal
control officer
[26:22] that we'll just rip them up.
[26:24] So this shows a
blatant disregard
[26:25] for the enforcement of laws to
protect community residents.
[26:28] It also shows that
habitual offenders
[26:30] are aware that their
penalties are minimal at best.
[26:33] A large dog trap was provided
to me by animal control
[26:37] where I actually
trapped the dog.
[26:39] However, the owners proceeded
to send their daughter
[26:42] over the fence to trespass and
release the dog before Animal
[26:45] Control could impound it.
[26:46] Healing Hoof Steps
has experienced
[26:48] defamation, defamation per
se, tortious interference
[26:50] with business relationships,
civil conspiracy, trespass,
[26:53] nuisance, negligence, and
intentional infliction
[26:56] of emotional distress
from our attempts
[26:58] to contain these animals.
[27:01] Their civil ceasefire
and desist has been
[27:03] served by our board attorney.
[27:05] So what I've learned
throughout this process,
[27:07] animal control only
has one large dog trap
[27:09] for the whole County.
[27:10] They have limited
enforcement tools.
[27:12] When you call the
Sheriff, the Sheriff
[27:14] says, we to call animal control.
[27:16] This is not an isolated problem.
[27:17] So many people reached out
to me after the news story
[27:20] that we did.
[27:21] One family with 40 affidavits
in the last five years, and it's
[27:24] still happening.
[27:25] Many of these
older owners do not
[27:28] have the resources or
the desire to engage
[27:30] with these habitual offenders
for fear of retaliation,
[27:32] like I and Healing Hosts
Steps have experienced
[27:34] from these individuals.
[27:35] There's new laws in place
like the Pam Rock law,
[27:38] but where do we go from here?
[27:40] I'd like to propose an
amendment to the ordinance,
[27:42] because as each of you
know, a dog and a pig
[27:46] can't build their own pen.
[27:46] And animals get out, right?
[27:48] That happens.
[27:48] But maybe there's like
a three-strike rule
[27:51] that we can do with
animal control,
[27:53] and after that, that
becomes a trespass
[27:55] where somebody
that's responsible
[27:56] has to be held accountable and
responsible within a 12 month
[28:00] period.
[28:01] And, Ms. Jenkins, I
know your time is up.
[28:04] I think the board hears you.
[28:05] I think we've heard a lot of
complaints along these lines
[28:09] over time.
[28:09] Mr. Maddox, will
you raise your hand?
[28:11] This is the captain of the
animal control SWAT team.
[28:16] So--
[28:18] [LAUGHTER]
[28:19] NARISSA JENKINS: I ought
to be after all this.
[28:21] Let me just tell you.
[28:22] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
So I know you've
[28:23] been connected with Mr. Maddox.
[28:24] I suspect that there--
[28:26] is there a consensus
of the board
[28:28] asking that Ms. Jenkins and
Mr. Maddox work on this,
[28:31] bring us something back?
[28:32] Anybody object to that?
[28:34] So I think-- he knows the
technical way more than we do.
[28:37] NARISSA JENKINS: Got it.
[28:41] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: And he
knows the enforcement side.
[28:43] And all the ACOs ultimately
fall under his authority
[28:46] as the public safety-- the
chief public safety officer
[28:49] in Okaloosa County.
[28:50] NARISSA JENKINS: OK.
[28:51] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
So, yeah, we hear you.
[28:53] We're here to help.
[28:54] All we can do is vote.
[28:56] He can do a whole lot more.
[28:59] So I'd start with Mr. Maddox.
[28:59] If that makes sense.
[29:01] NARISSA JENKINS: I've
learned a lot in this.
[29:03] And if we can help
everyone in the County
[29:05] solve this a little better, it
would be best for everybody.
[29:07] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Oh,
yes, improvements can be made.
[29:09] COMMISSIONER
KETCHEL: I know we're
[29:10] trying to get
through a big crowd,
[29:11] but may I say something here?
[29:12] I wish we had a picture of
the wolfhound and the pig.
[29:15] She showed it to me--
[29:17] NARISSA JENKINS:
Oh, I have plenty.
[29:18] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: No,
I wish we could put it up.
[29:20] NARISSA JENKINS: Oh.
[29:19] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
It is jaw dropping.
[29:20] I've never-- I didn't know
pigs could get that big,
[29:23] and I grew up in a farming area.
[29:25] It's the biggest-- 1,300
pounds maybe, maybe bigger.
[29:26] I've never seen
anything like it.
[29:29] It would scare me to death.
[29:31] And the wolfhound is
a very scary thing.
[29:32] You've done a great job.
[29:34] Thanks for articulating
this so well.
[29:35] We've got an issue
and we know it.
[29:38] NARISSA JENKINS: Thank you.
[29:39] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Thank you.
[29:39] NARISSA JENKINS: Thank you.
[29:40] COMMISSIONER
GOODWIN: Steve Perry.
[30:01] STEVE PERRY: Good
morning, Commissioners.
[30:09] Glad to see you here again.
[30:11] This is my 15th time now
speaking in front of the Board
[30:14] and the Tourism
Development Council.
[30:15] I'm going to go back
over a couple of items
[30:19] that were discussed
back on September 2,
[30:19] when we were lucky enough to
have a little bit of engagement
[30:23] with this board
during public comment.
[30:24] During that public comment,
my colleague, Mr. Ruby,
[30:27] was able to have a rather long
engagement, and Commissioners
[30:30] Goodwin, Commissioner Cox
and Commissioner Ketchel
[30:33] all brought up the
issue of zinc chromate
[30:36] that I've been talking about for
over a year now to this board.
[30:40] And during that lucky
enough, fortunate dialogue,
[30:42] you guys all raised issues and
said, we need to look at this.
[30:50] And basically it's been
radio silence since that
[30:51] from the board.
[30:52] No, comment back except for
when we come and speak to you.
[30:55] No reply, no nothing about that.
[30:57] Now, you may have done
something behind the scenes
[31:00] and discussed amongst
yourself about this.
[31:01] Commissioner Goodwin, you
said, can't we do some testing?
[31:05] I think, Commissioner Cox, you
mentioned this and everything,
[31:07] but six months now, and complete
radio silence on this issue.
[31:10] During that meeting, also,
Chairman Mixon specifically
[31:13] made comment three times to
make this an agenda item.
[31:18] We sent a request in
January, eight weeks ago
[31:21] to submit a video and
request an agenda item.
[31:25] To this date, we have received
no response, no reply,
[31:28] no acknowledgment of our
communications to this board.
[31:30] Complete radio silence.
[31:31] With that said,
again, we would like
[31:35] to request possible dialogue.
[31:37] I would love to be able to
speak and sit down with you.
[31:42] I even have the specifications
book, The Shift, 700 pages
[31:44] and I'm going to read
some passages from it.
[31:47] It talks about zinc
chromate to you.
[31:48] But we need to have some
dialogue because it seems like
[31:51] and I apologize if it sounds
like I'm being accusatory.
[31:54] It seems like you're
ignoring this issue,
[31:57] and you've gone on public record
saying, we should address this,
[32:00] we should look into it.
[32:01] But again, radio silence.
[32:02] As you guys all
know, with the fact
[32:05] that we wanted to submit Mr.
Todd Osborne's video, who
[32:08] is a professor with
a PhD, we have not
[32:11] submitted it to you for
the reason of no response
[32:14] from this board.
[32:16] As a result, we've gone public
with it to media and everything.
[32:19] So it's out in
the public domain.
[32:20] You can see it.
[32:21] I would still like to send it to
you if the board or the County
[32:25] commissioners chair would--
or the people who would
[32:27] like to address that issue.
[32:29] So with that said, you all
know Ms. Erin Brockovich
[32:32] has posted a Facebook
page about this
[32:34] and raised the issue
of zinc chromate,
[32:36] and especially
hexavalent chromium.
[32:37] We all know who she is and
what she was able to achieve
[32:42] to prevent and solve a problem
that existed out in California
[32:43] back in the 1990s.
[32:46] And at that time, that was--
[32:48] it resulted in the
largest class action
[32:50] lawsuit in the United States,
and an awarded judgment
[32:52] of $333 million.
[32:53] With that all said,
in the specification,
[32:57] and I'm going to
run out of time,
[33:00] so I'll have to save it
to the end of the thing,
[33:03] but I've got two other
points I'd like to make
[33:04] and everything, so I will see
you at the end of the meeting.
[33:07] Thank you for your time.
[33:07] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.
[33:08] All right.
[33:11] Rob Valiton.
[33:13] ROB VALITON: Good morning.
[33:18] Thank you for your time.
[33:20] My name is Rob Valiton, I'm a
member of the board of directors
[33:23] of the Holiday Isle Improvement
Association in Destin,
[33:24] representing 1,900
properties in that residence.
[33:26] An email and letter was sent to
Mr. Hofstad and Ms. Hoshihara
[33:31] yesterday.
[33:32] I'm sorry for
mispronouncing that.
[33:33] From Leslie Sheakley of Hand
Arendall Harrison and Sale,
[33:37] an attorney for the association.
[33:40] I want to read a
portion of that letter
[33:42] here, as time will not allow
me to read it in its entirety,
[33:45] and I will provide a full
copy for your records,
[33:47] for your reading pleasure.
[33:47] It goes on to say, I write
to address a comment made
[33:51] by Mr. Palmer at the end of the
most recent County commission
[33:54] meeting, at which there were
numerous resident comments made
[33:56] against the proposed
conservation management
[33:57] plan for commercial activities
on the newly acquired state land
[34:01] Mr. Palmer attempted to justify
the county's proposed plan by,
[34:05] among other things, stating
that Holiday Isle was already
[34:09] engaging in commercial activity
with short-term rental of homes
[34:11] and condominium units.
[34:13] It's important to understand
that Mr. Palmer's assumptions
[34:16] and assertions in that
regard are incorrect
[34:18] under established
Florida case law,
[34:20] Santa Monica Beach
POA versus accord.
[34:22] In the Santa Monica
case, the court
[34:26] held that the rental
of homes does not
[34:28] transform the home's
use from residential to
[34:29] either business or commercial.
[34:31] Thus, covenants, and
restrictions which prohibit
[34:33] business operations such as
those of the Holiday Isle
[34:36] Association cannot be used
to prevent rentals of homes.
[34:39] There has been no waiver by
the Holiday Isle Association
[34:43] of its right to enforce
the business operation
[34:45] provisions of the
PCNRs by reason
[34:47] of the short-term rentals.
[34:49] On the contrary, as one
resident speaking at the meeting
[34:52] last week noted,
Holiday Isle home owners
[34:54] are not permitted to have
commercial or charitable use
[34:57] of their docks,
nor is exemplified
[34:58] by a ceasefire and
desist letter sent
[35:01] to a certain homeowner operating
a car leasing and sales
[35:03] operation at their
Holiday Isle home.
[35:04] Can residents engage in
commercial activities?
[35:07] The commercial activity
described in the county's draft
[35:10] conservation management
plan would not
[35:12] receive the same
treatment for exclusion
[35:14] from business
activity prohibitions
[35:15] in covenants and restrictions.
[35:19] They clearly lack the requisite
nexus to residential use,
[35:22] forming the basis for the
rationale of the court
[35:25] and decisions like
Santa Monica Beach.
[35:27] Accordingly, as noted
in prior correspondence,
[35:29] business operations on the state
land including but not limited
[35:33] to the rental of boat slips as a
business or commercial activity,
[35:37] are prohibited under
the holiday Isle PCNRs.
[35:40] Read on at your
convenience as it
[35:44] goes on with other
details supporting
[35:45] that conveyance of the
property to the previous owner.
[35:47] Point Resort LLC was expressly
made subject to the Holiday Isle
[35:51] PCNRs.
[35:52] We understand that
the city and county
[35:55] are working to enter into an
interlocal agreement, which
[35:57] we support.
[35:59] The Holiday Isle
is a third party
[36:02] with a strong vested
interest and legal standing
[36:03] in this property.
[36:05] Don't get us wrong, we welcome
all residents of Okaloosa County
[36:08] and its visitors
to come and enjoy
[36:10] the beauty of this
property, but we
[36:12] will continue to oppose
any agreement that
[36:14] includes commercial
development of the property.
[36:16] Thank you for your time.
[36:20] If you have a letter--
[36:23] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: You can
provide that to the clerk,
[36:24] if you would, and that will
make it into the record.
[36:27] Thank you, sir.
[36:27] Molly Moore.
[36:34] MOLLY MOORE: Good morning.
[36:42] First time speakers, so
thank you for your patience.
[36:44] I have ties to Destin
in Holiday Isle since I
[36:47] was three years old, back
here even Okaloosa County,
[36:50] going to lums, and going
to the water slides that
[36:53] were full cement, if
you recall any of those
[36:56] if you were children
here as well.
[36:57] I hope you'll each have or will
take the time to come personally
[37:01] see the area at the
end of Holiday Isle
[37:02] and stand up for conservation.
[37:03] In addition to conservation,
though, residents also
[37:06] have concerns with
safety, security,
[37:08] and Destin's reputation, if
this plan all goes South.
[37:11] As you may know, the residential
area of Gulf Shaw Drive
[37:15] is a serene, well
maintained two-lane road,
[37:17] sided with residential
and HIIA landscaping.
[37:19] There's an active sidewalk
with runners and walkers
[37:23] and bikers and dog walkers.
[37:25] There is limited area on
each side for clearing
[37:28] a lane for emergency vehicles.
[37:30] We've always had visitors
and the occasional need
[37:33] for fire trucks, the sheriffs,
et cetera, but in the future,
[37:36] there will be a difference.
[37:37] The current traffic is primarily
residents and Holiday Isle
[37:39] guests that have somewhere
specific to go into park.
[37:42] Not day visitors who may be less
likely to know how effectively
[37:46] to clear the road
safely or think they
[37:48] can take their chances
parking on a side road
[37:51] or in a neighborhood.
[37:52] We now typically don't
have much night traffic,
[37:54] but with the future plan of
overnight camping boaters,
[37:57] people are not going
to stay on their boats.
[38:01] Automobile traffic
on Holiday Isle
[38:02] may increase due to a greater
need for rideshare companies.
[38:05] The amount of pedestrians
will increase.
[38:07] There may be impatience and
people speeding or running
[38:10] the limited stop signs.
[38:12] We have been told that one
non-negotiable is free parking
[38:16] for Okaloosa County residents.
[38:17] The reality is that it will
be tourist visitors who
[38:21] have driven in,
staying at Highway 98
[38:23] or Harbor Boulevard, the
off-beach properties, who
[38:25] will be securing the parking
spaces early in the day.
[38:29] With limited parking spaces
at the end of the point,
[38:32] drive-in visitors
will not have a way
[38:34] to know that the
parking is full.
[38:35] That will keep a steady
stream of traffic,
[38:38] potentially through the
day and the evening.
[38:40] Our Destin tourist
population is heavily
[38:42] drive-in from neighboring
states and counties.
[38:44] I hope you will
think about the need
[38:48] and funding for a future of
scheduled public transit,
[38:50] off-site or satellite
parking, or also
[38:53] working with off-site hotels
and motels, the non-holiday Isle
[38:56] properties to offer shuttles to
minimize private cars on Holiday
[39:00] Isle.
[39:03] Also Emerald Coast
Transit express shuttles
[39:05] from the Destin public
parking lots, for example.
[39:08] Finally, I have safety
concerns of people and families
[39:12] who think they are going to be
swimming in the Gulf who are not
[39:16] understanding that
they're actually swimming
[39:16] in a strong, active channel.
[39:19] I also have concerns with
the additional harbor traffic
[39:22] of less experienced boaters or
those unfamiliar to our harbor's
[39:25] fishing and water
sport industries that
[39:27] will back up to this Rental
Marina Boat campground.
[39:31] There may be more
traffic in Destin
[39:34] than ever before and
businesses, but let's not ruin
[39:36] the vision or our reputation
as the world's luckiest fishing
[39:39] village.
[39:41] Thank you for your time.
[39:43] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.
[39:44] [APPLAUSE]
[39:45] All right.
[39:46] Destin City Attorney,
Kimberly Kopp.
[39:48] KIMBERLY KOPP: May I wait
till the end, Mr. Chairman?
[39:52] COMMISSIONER
GOODWIN: Absolutely.
[39:52] KIMBERLY KOPP: Thank you.
[39:53] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[39:54] Councilman Dewey Destin.
[39:56] COMMISSIONER
KETCHEL: Chairman, we
[40:03] have to wish him
a happy birthday.
[40:05] It's his birthday today.
[40:06] Sorry, I had to say that.
[40:07] [CHUCKLING]
[40:07] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Wow.
[40:08] [CHEERS, APPLAUSE]
[40:09] DEWEY DESTIN: Thank
you very much.
[40:11] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Hang on,
I think Commissioner Ketchel
[40:13] is going to sing.
[40:13] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
Would you like me too?
[40:15] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Go ahead, councilman?
[40:17] DEWEY DESTIN: All right.
[40:18] I appreciate the opportunity
to be before you today.
[40:20] And I want to celebrate
the cooperation
[40:24] that we've been able to
accomplish over the last five
[40:27] or six years.
[40:28] Together, we expanded
the fed tax districts.
[40:30] Not an easy task,
but we got it done.
[40:34] And I think everybody's
happy with the outcome.
[40:35] We've purchased several
beautiful pieces
[40:37] of beachfront property.
[40:39] We have had a pretty good
run of working together.
[40:43] And that's what I
urge the commission
[40:46] to do on this issue of
the interlocal agreement.
[40:49] For an interlocal
agreement to be effective,
[40:54] it has to be equal partners.
[40:58] We've sent you a draft.
[41:00] We've got no reply on that.
[41:02] I understand you
have another draft,
[41:03] but we need to get
together and figure out
[41:07] how we can work as partners.
[41:09] There are a lot of issues here.
[41:12] I've met with Mr.
Palmer several times.
[41:13] And it appears the thrust from
your side, at least so far,
[41:18] has been much more commercial
activity than the city thinks
[41:20] is acceptable.
[41:22] We would like to tap it down and
keep it conservation oriented
[41:26] and work toward that end.
[41:30] And the only way
we're going to be
[41:32] able to do that
in partnership is
[41:33] to have a interlocal in
which we are equal partners.
[41:36] And I would urge you to move
forward with that so that we
[41:41] can continue the cooperation
we've had over the last five
[41:44] or six years and accomplish
a lot of really good things.
[41:47] Thank you.
[41:48] [APPLAUSE]
[41:48] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.
[41:50] All right.
[41:54] Councilman Jim Bagby.
[41:55] JIM BAGBY: Can Sandy go?
[41:58] She's got an appointment--
[41:59] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Sure.
[42:00] Councilwoman Trammell.
[42:01] SANDY TRAMMELL: Thank you.
[42:03] JIM BAGBY: Sure.
[42:04] COMMISSIONER
GOODWIN: [INAUDIBLE]
[42:05] SANDY TRAMMELL: [INAUDIBLE]
[42:07] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Actually,
if you'll give it to the clerk.
[42:11] SANDY TRAMMELL: OK.
[42:12] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.
[42:13] SANDY TRAMMELL: Could
you just pass it down
[42:14] to the council [INAUDIBLE].
[42:15] Thank you.
[42:17] Good morning, commissioners.
[42:21] I'm Sandy Trammell,
currently Destin City Council
[42:23] and a 65-plus-year resident
of Okaloosa County.
[42:27] And now that Dewey's
had his birthday today,
[42:31] where both the same age.
[42:32] [CHUCKLING]
[42:32] SANDY TRAMMELL: So we've
been around for a long time.
[42:35] My husband and he played around
Destin their whole lives.
[42:39] I'm here to share
some thoughts with you
[42:43] on why the county and
the city of Destin
[42:45] need an interlocal agreement,
and why it's imperative
[42:47] that the city of Destin
be included in that.
[42:50] I met with Commissioner
Palmer last week,
[42:52] and he laid out his plan for
the state's parcel, located
[42:55] adjacent to Noriega
point in Destin.
[42:57] Although premature in the
process of development,
[43:00] I appreciated the meeting.
[43:02] I've given you a drawing
illustrating the 100-plus
[43:06] parking spaces outlined
to me by Mr. Palmer,
[43:09] and he did ask for
some suggestions,
[43:12] so I'm going to
give you some today.
[43:15] First of all, I'd like you
to make note of the fact
[43:19] that this particular
map that I gave
[43:19] you was done by the owner of the
property prior to the state's
[43:24] acquisition.
[43:27] So what he gave me
was what the owner
[43:30] actually wanted on this
particular property.
[43:33] As you can see, the parking
illustrated in this drawing
[43:38] is massive.
[43:39] Do we need that much parking?
[43:42] It appears that the idea is
to allow the public on city
[43:45] owned parcel as well.
[43:48] Clearly this illustrates a need
for an interlocal agreement
[43:51] with the County and
the city of Destin.
[43:55] Sustainability for
both parcels has
[43:56] to be addressed
within the interlocal.
[43:59] I encourage you to accept
the version of the interlocal
[44:03] supplied by Destin, as we
are the owner of the larger
[44:06] parcel partial affected.
[44:08] And that's illustrated in the
second picture that I gave you.
[44:11] The note on the front
was from Mr. Coffey, who
[44:16] stated that the
partial was smaller,
[44:18] and obviously, that's
water under the bridge.
[44:22] It was explained to me that
the number of parking spaces
[44:27] was also needed for overnight
parking for the docks.
[44:29] By overnighting
vessels, you will
[44:31] need to have a pump out
station with holding facilities
[44:34] for sewage and regular
sewage truck visits
[44:36] to remove it from
the holding tank.
[44:38] Destined Water Users does not
take the concentrated sewage
[44:41] from holding tanks.
[44:43] DWU is Destin's water
and sewer company
[44:45] and is independent of the city.
[44:48] Also, the parks close at dusk,
and all of the overnight vessels
[44:52] would be unable to access
the parking or the park area.
[44:56] I don't think this is going to
be a draw for overnight vessels.
[45:01] If overnight vessels is the plan
for the county to garner revenue
[45:04] to sustain this park,
I will refer you
[45:06] to the overnight
parking for the vessels
[45:09] adjacent to the old Elks
Lodge on Okaloosa Island.
[45:11] This property was
developed by the same owner
[45:14] that has developed this
new state property.
[45:19] No one's parking yachts there.
[45:22] The harbor study already
completed for Destin harbor
[45:26] stated that the overcrowding
in the Destin harbor
[45:28] exists without
these active docks.
[45:29] So I would encourage you to--
[45:33] I'm sorry. --encourage you
to take into consideration
[45:35] the interlocal agreement and
to pass it today, if you will.
[45:40] Thank you.
[45:42] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Ms. Tramell, thank you.
[45:44] COMMISSIONER PALMER:
I know this is unusual
[45:45] and I normally would not
respond in public comment,
[45:48] but I wanted to be very clear.
[45:50] The drawing that I gave you
is exactly-- you're correct,
[45:53] it's the developer's
previous drawing.
[45:54] What I had asked was that
you guys-- and I handed
[45:59] that same drawing to the
others that met with me,
[46:02] and what I ask is that is
that you overlay that drawing.
[46:06] And just so that we know that
what was previously approved,
[46:08] that's why we used that drawing
versus just a blank sheet.
[46:11] What I had asked was that you
guys overlay what you thought
[46:15] would be acceptable to
your council on that,
[46:17] just so that we can see the
difference between the two
[46:23] as we overlay them.
[46:24] So this parking
was not what we had
[46:27] or what I would suggest at all.
[46:29] I think it's way--
it's far too much.
[46:31] What we're looking for
is about 100 spaces.
[46:33] I think there's about
200, maybe 250 here.
[46:34] But so anyways, I just want
to be clear about that.
[46:38] And yeah, I think
that's all I had.
[46:40] Thank you.
[46:41] SANDY TRAMMELL: You
told me one [INAUDIBLE],
[46:43] so that's why I was--
[46:43] COMMISSIONER PALMER:
We had other drawings.
[46:45] Yeah, we had other drawings
that were submitted.
[46:46] SANDY TRAMMELL: Yeah.
[46:47] COMMISSIONER PALMER: Thank you.
[46:47] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Councilman Bagby.
[46:51] JIM BAGBY: Thank you, Mr.
Chairman, Commissioners.
[46:59] I appreciate the
opportunity to be here,
[47:01] and I want to thank you
for listening to us again
[47:04] and probably again
and again and again.
[47:07] This is a conflict none
of us really wants.
[47:10] I don't want it.
[47:14] You don't want it.
[47:14] The state doesn't even
want us to have it.
[47:16] I want to thank Commissioner
Palmer for meeting with us.
[47:19] I've met with him three
or four or five times.
[47:22] I can't even remember how many.
[47:23] And in our last meeting, he
gave me his two red lines,
[47:27] and I want to address those.
[47:28] He wants free parking
for County residents.
[47:30] He talked about license
plate reader installation.
[47:33] He talked about a sign
out by Highway 98 that
[47:38] would tell people it's full,
so people don't go down
[47:42] through the neighborhood.
[47:42] Completely agree
with that approach.
[47:44] He talked about
what in the military
[47:47] would call unity of command.
[47:49] He wanted one entity in charge.
[47:51] I don't have a problem with that
as long as that one entity is
[47:57] the city of Destin.
[47:58] But I think you all would
have a problem with that,
[48:01] and I understand.
[48:02] He said he wanted that because--
[48:04] and the example he gave was
the Crystal Beach Park, --well,
[48:08] you all came in, quite
honestly, at the latter stages
[48:12] of the Crystal Beach Park.
[48:14] It was already a park
when you all came in
[48:18] and we collaborated together
to work together on that park.
[48:20] We had unfortunately,
some restrictions
[48:22] that were placed upon us by the
people that helped us purchase
[48:27] the park originally.
[48:29] I think a better
example would be Tarpon,
[48:32] because I know many
of you were there
[48:34] less than three years ago when
we tore down Dieter's hotel.
[48:38] And many of you were there too,
include Commissioner Palmer,
[48:42] less than a year and a half ago
when we actually broke ground.
[48:47] And if you go out
there today, you'll
[48:50] see we're well
under construction.
[48:50] He wanted unity of
command because he
[48:53] was afraid it would take
forever-- at least what
[48:56] he told me, --it
would take forever
[48:58] to get this project completed.
[48:59] I would just say to you, we
have proven, as Mr. Destin said,
[49:04] that we can work
together, that we can be
[49:07] good partners with the county.
[49:08] And I would ask that we
be good partners again.
[49:11] Ross Perot said, when
someone offers you a deal,
[49:14] offer them the same deal and see
if they take it or they like it.
[49:19] if you offered us
or if we offered you
[49:23] the version of the interlocal
that you're offering us,
[49:27] we would reject it immediately.
[49:30] And rightly so,
you would reject it
[49:33] if we offered it to you, because
that would just put us in charge
[49:37] and you wouldn't have a vote.
[49:39] And I know you
would reject that.
[49:41] If you offered us the
deal we've offered you,
[49:44] we would accept it immediately.
[49:46] Why?
[49:47] Because it's a
collaborative partnership.
[49:48] I think we've been here
today working humbly
[49:51] and want to work
collaboratively.
[49:54] This is going to take forever.
[49:57] If you want to get
this park built,
[49:59] you need to do it with
us, not against us.
[50:02] Thank you.
[50:03] [APPLAUSE]
[50:03] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Did
you want to say anything?
[50:07] I'll just take-- and I
know we've got a few more
[50:10] Destin speakers and
everybody will be recognized,
[50:11] but I just want to reiterate,
I think what we're seeing now
[50:15] is actually the evolution of
what councilman Braden said
[50:18] the last time.
[50:22] He said, it's probably
going to be the cities
[50:25] version, the counties
version, negotiation, and you
[50:28] land somewhere in the middle.
[50:31] I think that's kind of
what he articulated,
[50:33] and that's usually
how most deals go.
[50:34] As a practical matter, I'm
happy to debate in this forum,
[50:38] as much as anybody wants
to, but it's probably
[50:41] the least efficient
way to get some
[50:44] of the nuts and bolts resolved.
[50:46] We can hit major
policy things here,
[50:48] but it's hard to
wordsmith from up here.
[50:52] The good Lord knows I've
tried a number of times,
[50:55] and I've probably
just about lost favor
[50:56] with all of my fellow council
members when I start doing that.
[51:00] So my suggestion would be--
[51:02] and I'm just kind
of taking a cue
[51:05] from what the board's already
done at the administrator's
[51:11] suggestion,
appointing a liaison,
[51:13] which you guys at
the city of Destin
[51:16] have been able to meet
with Commissioner Palmer
[51:18] and talk through some of the
logistics about the park.
[51:22] I would suggest it might
not be a bad idea--
[51:26] and the board's subject to say,
no, we don't want to do that,
[51:30] but maybe you as the city have a
lead person with your attorney,
[51:32] meet with our lead
person with our attorney,
[51:38] and you all get into
a conference room
[51:41] and work through some
of the nuts and bolts,
[51:43] because I think this is probably
the least effective forum
[51:46] to work through those detailed,
granular language terms.
[51:47] But we can talk about broad
policy, because I suspect--
[51:52] well, I heard it at
the last meeting.
[51:54] I heard what everybody at
the city of Destin said,
[51:57] I heard what the
board said, and I
[51:58] don't think anybody
said, hey, we don't
[52:00] want to work with our partner.
[52:02] It's just, what is
this relationship going
[52:04] to actually look like?
[52:05] And that's the granular
level we need to get to next.
[52:08] And I think if we could--
[52:10] that's the way I
would approach it.
[52:12] I don't know how the
rest of this board feels,
[52:14] but I'd love to see
Commissioner Palmer,
[52:15] I'd love to see
the city say, hey,
[52:17] we're going to send a delegate.
[52:18] Let's send a send a lawyer on
each side and go work it out.
[52:22] I mean, that's what we
do in business every day.
[52:24] Just a thought.
[52:25] Next speaker, Mayor Wagner.
[52:30] BOBBY WAGNER: All right.
[52:36] Good evening board.
[52:36] If the county receives any
interest in this property,
[52:39] we are eager to collaborate.
[52:41] We deeply value the
board's partnership,
[52:42] and we put forward--
[52:44] and because of that,
we've put forward
[52:46] a city of Destin
interlocal agreement
[52:47] as a solid starting point.
[52:49] To your position, Chairman, that
signed and voted on document
[52:52] is our position.
[52:56] As a collective body
of City of Destin,
[52:58] there is our
starting point, there
[53:00] is our clear defining point.
[53:02] And with that, we
keep continuing
[53:05] to ask for redlines
repeatedly since January 22,
[53:07] without any revisions
until now, we
[53:10] have this other alternate
draft that has completely
[53:13] opposite language, that
holds no substance at all,
[53:18] and, really, doesn't even
create a starting point, just
[53:23] an alternative narrative.
[53:24] Either way, we're ready to sign.
[53:28] If you guys are either ready
to sign in or need a red line
[53:32] to edit our
interlocal agreement,
[53:32] we welcome that
because that matter--
[53:34] that what matters most
is that we leave here
[53:37] with a clear direction
and a real path
[53:39] forward for how
we work together.
[53:40] I'd like to address
the two comments
[53:43] that Commissioner Palmer made at
the last meeting after we left.
[53:45] First, the will of the people
is the heart of good governance.
[53:49] The citizens who
came to speak did
[53:52] so because they care deeply
about their community
[53:54] and what happens at this park.
[53:56] I did not inflame or
fabricate that concern.
[53:59] I simply helped
organize it and provide
[54:01] a clear, appropriate platform
for our residents to be heard.
[54:05] Their frustration and
their questions are real,
[54:08] and we will be behind
them and beside them
[54:11] every step of the way to
make sure that their voice is
[54:15] heard through this discussion.
[54:15] Secondly, I
respectfully disagree
[54:17] that our interlocal agreement
process was unusual.
[54:20] The city has a clear
process for outward facing
[54:24] partnerships and agreements.
[54:25] Just like you
addressed, we wanted
[54:27] to make sure that the will of
the Council and what we believe,
[54:31] the will of the people,
reflected in that deal.
[54:32] So instead of a
delegate and hearsay,
[54:34] we wanted to make sure that
we brought to you something
[54:37] that this council could agree on
and start on knowing that there
[54:40] would be edits coming forward.
[54:42] We seek a council
approval first,
[54:44] so that we will see the
will of our elected body
[54:48] is clear in writing that, and
that the subject of-- so there's
[54:51] no confusion back and forth
or hearsay through staff
[54:53] or an elected body official.
[54:56] That is exactly
why, on January 22,
[54:58] we sent the city council's
interlocal agreement
[55:00] to the county with
full expectations
[55:02] that you would have edits,
redlines and suggestions.
[55:05] We intended it to be a
fundamental document,
[55:08] a clear starting point that
reflects the true council
[55:12] intent so the collaboration
can start with concrete
[55:14] and transparency at its heart.
[55:17] Since then, we have asked
multiple times for--
[55:20] just as the city council
files clear public process,
[55:24] we trust the county values
that same transparency.
[55:26] In that spirit, we have
one sincere question
[55:29] for the full board,
because clarity
[55:31] matters when we are talking
about a major public commitment
[55:34] and investment.
[55:35] At the previous meeting,
Commissioner Palmer
[55:37] held up a letter that
appeared to commit $5 million
[55:40] towards this project.
[55:41] Did the board fully
intend and know
[55:44] of the level of
commitment that were
[55:47] being created in that letter?
[55:49] We are simply asking for clarity
so that everyone, the city,
[55:53] the county and the
public understand
[55:55] what has been authorized and
what has not been authorized
[55:59] by the county commissioners.
[56:00] We are ready to collaborate.
[56:02] We welcome the
redline direction.
[56:04] If the commitment to
transparency is real
[56:06] and the step-by-step
process aimed
[56:09] is for truly a partnership,
we can move forward
[56:13] in a way that reflects
this body's eagerness
[56:16] to work together and the will
of the people that we all serve.
[56:21] Thank you for your time.
[56:22] [APPLAUSE]
[56:21] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.
[56:23] COMMISSIONER PALMER:
Mr. Chairman, I'm sorry,
[56:30] I do just need to say
one thing very quickly.
[56:34] Again, I know this is unusual.
[56:36] I don't normally respond
in public comment,
[56:37] but as an elected official, I
think I owe you that courtesy
[56:40] to be correct about that.
[56:43] So as far as the-- and I
actually just need clarity
[56:46] here a little bit
because the mayor just
[56:49] said that they sent us
the interlocal agreement
[56:52] with the intent of
having redlines back.
[56:57] However, when I saw
the city council
[57:00] meeting in which
that was introduced,
[57:04] it was followed immediately
by a good cop, bad cop,
[57:07] I think is what was said.
[57:10] And it was followed
immediately by a commitment
[57:12] to approve a resolution
that would then,
[57:14] if it wasn't
approved by us, then
[57:18] you guys, your city
council, would then
[57:21] approve a resolution that
would then go and petition
[57:23] the state for control
of the property.
[57:25] So to me, I felt
like it wasn't--
[57:27] the redline was not
what was requested.
[57:30] However, I could be
completely wrong about that.
[57:34] That's the understanding
that I came away
[57:36] with when I saw the
city council meeting,
[57:38] and then we read the
interlocal agreement.
[57:39] BOBBY WAGNER: Last
night's [INAUDIBLE].
[57:41] COMMISSIONER PALMER: No, no.
[57:41] This is when it was
originally introduced.
[57:42] I didn't see the one last
night, but I look forward
[57:45] to seeing you later.
[57:45] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: And
Mayor, did the city council vote
[57:49] last night to submit a
resolution to the state?
[57:53] BOBBY WAGNER: No.
[57:53] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: No.
[57:54] OK.
[57:54] I hate to do this.
[57:56] And I think, like
Commissioner Palmer says,
[57:57] we're reluctant to speak during
public comment and respond,
[58:00] but when there's an opportunity
to maybe clear an issue,
[58:04] sometimes it makes
sense to do so.
[58:06] And I think that's exactly
what the commissioner is doing.
[58:08] That's what I was doing
earlier with some speakers.
[58:10] Commissioner Ketchel as well,
because it was an opportunity
[58:12] to speak.
[58:12] And I see she wants
to speak right now,
[58:14] so I'll let her do that
before I do anything.
[58:17] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: I think,
blessed are the peacemakers.
[58:18] We want to try a path forward.
[58:21] I don't think any of us
enjoy what's happening here.
[58:24] What I'd like to say is, I
really agree with the chairman
[58:28] that it would be great
to get Commissioner
[58:31] Palmer, a representative of your
choice that you all respect,
[58:34] somebody you respect, and
your attorney's in a room
[58:38] and see if you can
work something out
[58:40] that we could all live with.
[58:41] However, we got
here, we got here.
[58:43] There's enough fingers
pointing, blame going around.
[58:45] This is not what-- this
is not our community.
[58:48] Our community has
always gotten along,
[58:50] and I want to see that continue.
[58:54] This is a beautiful
piece of property.
[58:55] Somebody suggested, I think
it was Sandy, that I go out.
[58:59] I went out with and I visited.
[59:01] Oh, it's jaw droppingly,
it's beautiful.
[59:02] And I agree with
you, the channel
[59:04] frightens me for children.
[59:05] And I think of the little
children out there.
[59:08] We need to do the
right thing here.
[59:10] We've got an opportunity.
[59:11] We should look at it
as an opportunity,
[59:13] not as let's fight each
other and see who's
[59:15] going to get the money, OK?
[59:17] Let's make this a
conservation easement.
[59:18] Let's make it
something beautiful
[59:20] that we can all love, OK?
[59:22] That's where I'd
like to see it go.
[59:25] Chairman, thank you for
bringing that idea up.
[59:27] I think we should go
forward with that.
[59:28] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Do we have a consensus
[59:30] to authorize sending
Commissioner Palmer, Ms.
[59:31] Hoshihara or Ms.
Parsons and perhaps
[59:35] if he wants a member of
the administrative team
[59:40] as well to go and
negotiate with the city?
[59:43] Do we have a consensus for that?
[59:46] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
No objections.
[59:46] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And no objection to that?
[59:48] OK, so that will go forward.
[59:49] JIM BAGBY: [INAUDIBLE]
[59:49] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Hang on, Commissioner--
[59:51] Councilman, I'll-- When
Mr. Jones has time left,
[59:54] he may defer if somebody
else wants to use it.
[59:59] But I just wanted
to say, Mayor, I
[1:00:01] understand your city
voted to send that,
[1:00:04] but I also understand
how negotiations work,
[1:00:07] and so it certainly with
me, it didn't offend me.
[1:00:11] I mean, if I'm making an
offer on a piece of property
[1:00:14] for a client or
something, we'll send
[1:00:15] a signed deal expecting
that it's going
[1:00:17] to come back with some change.
[1:00:18] But you start by
firing something real,
[1:00:20] and that's what y'all did.
[1:00:24] I think, Mayor, you accomplished
exactly what your city
[1:00:26] council asked you to do.
[1:00:28] You got a genuine,
substantive dialogue
[1:00:30] started with the county about an
interlocal that was not actively
[1:00:34] in discussion
happening and likely
[1:00:37] to ultimately probably come
back to both boards for approval
[1:00:41] of a joint document.
[1:00:42] So at the end of
the day, I think
[1:00:45] you did exactly what
you were asked to do.
[1:00:48] And the way that you
all approached it
[1:00:50] doesn't offend me at all.
[1:00:53] We need to have a discussion,
and we're having it.
[1:00:56] And now we've got a format
and a plan and we'll see,
[1:00:59] but your city may
agree to that format
[1:01:02] and decide a representative,
trust your attorney to go
[1:01:05] and negotiate on
your behalf as well,
[1:01:08] and I think we're
going to get somewhere.
[1:01:11] But anyway, I'm probably way
off of Robert's Rules by now
[1:01:14] by a long shot.
[1:01:16] So I'll stop now.
[1:01:18] But I just wanted
to say I think you
[1:01:21] did a good job for your city.
[1:01:23] We've still got some
more work to do.
[1:01:25] We'll get there, I think.
[1:01:26] So, Mr. Jones, did you
want to defer to Mr. Bagby?
[1:01:29] MR. JONES: [INAUDIBLE]
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[1:01:34] Yes.
[1:01:41] JIM BAGBY: Thank
you, Mr. Chairman.
[1:01:43] Three quick points.
[1:01:44] Number one, we've already
appointed Mr. Destin
[1:01:46] as our representative.
[1:01:48] Number 2, we already
offered to meet.
[1:01:50] The difference was we
wanted it in the sunshine
[1:01:54] and the county did not.
[1:01:56] We still want it
in the sunshine.
[1:01:57] It ought to be in the sunshine.
[1:01:59] When we're talking about
this parcel and the impact
[1:02:01] that it has on the
citizens of Destin
[1:02:03] and the citizens of this county,
it should be in the sunshine.
[1:02:06] It shouldn't be two, four
people in some dark room,
[1:02:10] back room, cigar smoke,
maybe a scotch or something,
[1:02:14] negotiating a--
[1:02:16] no, I'm sorry Mr. Destin is
our representative, not me.
[1:02:21] Sorry.
[1:02:21] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
I was going to say--
[1:02:23] JIM BAGBY: Yeah.
[1:02:23] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
You'll be good.
[1:02:23] You're sending Dewey Destin.
[1:02:24] It will be above board.
[1:02:25] JIM BAGBY: Yeah, I
know, it will be.
[1:02:27] So we asked that it
be in the sunshine.
[1:02:29] And we agree with you.
[1:02:31] This is a perfect
collaborative thing.
[1:02:32] We want to do it, but we
ask that it be in sunshine.
[1:02:37] Thank you.
[1:02:38] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And everything
[1:02:39] will be in the sunshine,
because any documents approved
[1:02:41] has to go before
both boards, which
[1:02:43] require two public meetings
with public comment.
[1:02:46] But just like with
anything else,
[1:02:48] whether you're redoing
a land development code
[1:02:51] or drafting a 40
page contract, you
[1:02:54] can't possibly work out
the arbitration clause
[1:02:57] sitting at this dais.
[1:02:59] And is it going to be 150
or 148 parking spaces?
[1:03:03] That sort of thing,
I think is where--
[1:03:06] that's the granular
level I'm talking about.
[1:03:08] Not by any means suggesting
that this board or your council
[1:03:11] would ever try to agree to
things that the public would not
[1:03:16] be fully aware of and have
the opportunity to speak on
[1:03:19] before it's adopted.
[1:03:19] JIM BAGBY: [INAUDIBLE]
talk about that later.
[1:03:21] I apologize [INAUDIBLE].
[1:03:22] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Sorry.
[1:03:24] JIM BAGBY: --Mr. Palmer's
comment about something I said.
[1:03:26] COMMISSIONER PALMER:
Welcome to my struggles.
[1:03:28] JIM BAGBY: Yes.
[1:03:30] I was the one that
said, hopefully
[1:03:32] they will accept this
interlocal agreement.
[1:03:34] Seems fair to me.
[1:03:37] If they don't, then our other
option is to go to the state
[1:03:41] and ask that the state
appoint point us.
[1:03:42] I think that's fair.
[1:03:43] I don't even think we
voted on that night.
[1:03:45] I said, but that's
one of our options.
[1:03:47] That is always one
of our options,
[1:03:48] is to go to the state, our
legislative delegation,
[1:03:51] and ask either the
cabinet or the legislature
[1:03:53] or DEP or somebody to reassign
the manager because we
[1:03:57] don't even have a lease.
[1:04:01] There has been no
manager assigned.
[1:04:02] So that's one of our options.
[1:04:04] I stand by my statement.
[1:04:05] It'll be one of our
options until we
[1:04:07] get something that works out.
[1:04:08] Thank you.
[1:04:10] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[1:04:12] Mr. Fuller, you've
waited patiently.
[1:04:15] KENNETH FULLER: Oh, yeah.
[1:04:19] My name is Kenneth Fuller, and I
want to act like I'm important,
[1:04:29] talk about Destin stuff just
for a tiny bit, then Mr. Palmer.
[1:04:36] There are two main ways
the city power can be
[1:04:40] bypassed by state preemption.
[1:04:41] Is if the state of
Florida, not the county,
[1:04:45] decides their project is
a matter of state concern,
[1:04:47] it can sometimes
override local zoning
[1:04:49] to where the state
currently requires
[1:04:51] collaboration between the county
and the city for Holiday Isle
[1:04:54] project.
[1:04:56] The state preemption
is a legal doctrine
[1:05:00] that allowed the Florida
legislature to override, limit,
[1:05:03] or completely eliminate the
power of local government
[1:05:07] like the city of Destin or
Okaloosa county, to pass laws,
[1:05:11] specify issues.
[1:05:12] So I don't have nothing
to do with that.
[1:05:16] I just want to feel important.
[1:05:17] Now, Mr. Palmer--
[1:05:18] Oh, yeah Mr. Palmer, do you
know Dewey Park at Destin
[1:05:26] and a restaurant guy
who gave you $1,000?
[1:05:31] And you come off--
[1:05:36] I'm not going to cuss, but
you come off as full of feces.
[1:05:40] Also, this is what your
other job you are a liaison.
[1:05:45] I'm not good at
this, but it means
[1:05:50] that while the board members are
not paid a salary for the time,
[1:05:54] the county ensures they
are not out of pocket
[1:05:58] for the cost of requirement
to do their job.
[1:06:01] I was thinking I was
talking about the TCD
[1:06:05] or whatever, you and a lady
were talking the other time.
[1:06:07] And also your wife's
birthday today.
[1:06:10] She was born March the 3, 1979.
[1:06:14] We are-- we did recon on
you, that's why I know.
[1:06:19] I'm not-- I don't know her.
[1:06:21] I ain't never talked
to her or even you.
[1:06:23] Also, I'm fixing to talk
about us poor people
[1:06:26] stuff about the buses again.
[1:06:28] Well, I don't want the
buses to be stopped running,
[1:06:31] and that $850,000, y'all need
to pay it back because the guy
[1:06:34] y'all hired, y'all gave him a
salary of 100 and some thousand
[1:06:39] dollars a year annually,
and he resigned.
[1:06:42] And I don't know why
he would want to resign
[1:06:46] making that much money.
[1:06:46] And so even though y'all put
it in the airport department,
[1:06:50] but it seemed like y'all trying
to just get rid of it when
[1:06:56] grants are given to y'all
by the government and stuff.
[1:07:00] So it was y'all responsibility
to make sure, really,
[1:07:05] the person committed fraud.
[1:07:08] But I guess it might be a friend
of y'all, but he committed fraud
[1:07:12] when he got all that money.
[1:07:16] He knew what he was doing.
[1:07:17] He was in that bus
stuff for 26 years.
[1:07:19] But that's it.
[1:07:20] That's all I had to say.
[1:07:22] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.
[1:07:23] I have no other speaker cards
other than for a public hearing.
[1:07:27] So if you're still wanting to
speak on something, make sure
[1:07:31] you turn a card into to
Nick at the back desk,
[1:07:35] and we'll have
another opportunity,
[1:07:36] both at the public hearing
item for the public hearing
[1:07:41] and then general
comments at the end.
[1:07:42] All right.
[1:07:44] That closes our first
public comment opportunity
[1:07:45] of the meeting.
[1:07:48] And so we'll turn to
the consent agenda
[1:07:50] pursuant to the
administrator's request.
[1:07:51] Item 2 is going to be taken
off and reworked with staff
[1:07:56] based on some of the
comments received.
[1:08:00] So we've got the consent
agenda less Item 2.
[1:08:02] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
I think the motion
[1:08:04] for approval minus 2 and 15.
[1:08:06] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: And 15.
[1:08:08] Well, do we need--
[1:08:11] COMMISSIONER COX: So--
[1:08:12] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Yeah.
[1:08:16] COMMISSIONER COX: I think
we're also going to pull 21.
[1:08:19] Yes, for previous consensus.
[1:08:20] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
So Commissioner Mixon,
[1:08:21] is that less 250
and 21 acceptable?
[1:08:24] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
If that's what--
[1:08:26] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
If it's your motion,
[1:08:28] I just want to clarify.
[1:08:29] COMMISSIONER MIXON: That's fine.
[1:08:30] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: OK.
[1:08:31] So less 21, 2 and 15.
[1:08:33] Do we have a second?
[1:08:38] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
I'll second that.
[1:08:39] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
We have a second.
[1:08:40] Further discussion.
[1:08:41] Right.
[1:08:41] Those in favor, please
signal by saying aye.
[1:08:44] SPEAKER 4: Aye.
[1:08:45] SPEAKER 5: Aye.
[1:08:45] SPEAKER 6: Aye.
[1:08:45] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And those opposed?
[1:08:46] All right, that
passes unanimously.
[1:08:48] 2 is not up for
discussion at this time.
[1:08:50] 15 Commissioner Mixon?
[1:08:52] COMMISSIONER MIXON: Yes, sir.
[1:08:57] COMMISSIONER PALMER:
15 is the approval
[1:09:05] to reimburse public
safety expenditures funded
[1:09:06] by Tourism Development.
[1:09:08] We had taken the issue
before and held--
[1:09:14] due to some questions,
I got some answers,
[1:09:18] I just don't believe that the
answers fall into relevancy
[1:09:23] of what should be spent.
[1:09:26] Just to remind
you, commissioners,
[1:09:27] and I'm sure you've looked at
this on page 94 in our packet.
[1:09:32] But beach safety,
which is on the island.
[1:09:35] Salaries and wages
400 and-- well,
[1:09:38] let me give you the overall.
$937,152 for lifeguards
[1:09:41] on the island.
[1:09:45] $1,447,647 for Destin, and
then we reimbursed the Sheriff
[1:09:48] $856,680.
[1:09:51] When you get into page 94, which
gives a little better breakdown,
[1:09:57] you'll see that the
salaries in 24, $472.000.
[1:10:00] For beach safety, Destin
Fire, just over a million.
[1:10:07] And the Sheriff, $236,000.
[1:10:09] As you move through
that, some of the changes
[1:10:13] lead me to further
questions, and so I
[1:10:16] thought this was the
only fitting time that we
[1:10:19] have to be able to discuss it.
[1:10:22] When you look at--
[1:10:25] and I'm sure you
looked at this already,
[1:10:28] but I'll show you what
caught my eye starting
[1:10:31] from the dues and fees.
[1:10:33] The only one to pay that that
we're reimbursing is Destin.
[1:10:38] The salaries, the
difference is very large.
[1:10:41] The training education
experience is a difference.
[1:10:44] There's several there
that are much higher.
[1:10:49] One that's very concerning to me
is H-2B visa fees and housing.
[1:10:53] After asking some
questions, Destin
[1:10:59] hires mostly foreign
workers for the beach
[1:11:02] and they pay Visa fees.
[1:11:05] They pay salaries,
and they pay housing.
[1:11:08] The Sheriff and the County for
Lifeguards hire local people.
[1:11:13] We don't pay them housing,
we do pay a salary,
[1:11:19] and we don't pay Visa fees.
[1:11:23] I think there are some
major concerns there
[1:11:25] with the fiscal
stewardship in how
[1:11:29] we're approaching beach safety.
[1:11:32] I don't know if the problem
is that we cannot hire local
[1:11:36] lifeguards, that we could not go
and train and equip more people,
[1:11:41] which I see that as a failed
excuse if that is the excuse,
[1:11:46] because I know we are training
for job categories and fields
[1:11:49] where we want to see
people grow into.
[1:11:52] My concern is I think this needs
to have a better look into how
[1:11:58] we're spending this money.
[1:12:03] I understand now
it's a reimbursement,
[1:12:05] and I'm sorry that this
comes up as a reimbursement
[1:12:08] because that's after the fact.
[1:12:09] But I don't think
we're too far in
[1:12:12] to look at even
communication difference.
[1:12:15] 3,000 on both sides, the
Sheriff and the County,
[1:12:18] and then they're
almost at 20,000.
[1:12:21] There's a lot of
differences that come out.
[1:12:24] Liability insurance, anyway.
[1:12:25] I believe we need to
task staff with giving us
[1:12:29] a better idea of this,
really, to see why
[1:12:32] the differences are so extreme.
[1:12:35] I'm very concerned about the
overwhelming expenses of hiring
[1:12:38] foreign workers, and the
thought that we have people that
[1:12:43] potentially could
fit into those molds
[1:12:46] and be seasonal or
year-round employees.
[1:12:49] There's several
concerns in front.
[1:12:53] I thought it would
be good to pull that
[1:12:58] so that we could have
a moment to discuss it,
[1:12:59] because it's extremely
alarming to me.
[1:13:00] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Commissioner,
[1:13:03] do you have any action
or suggested direction
[1:13:06] to staff that you want to
bring forward for the board
[1:13:13] to consider?
[1:13:13] COMMISSIONER MIXON: The only
action I could grab hold of
[1:13:17] is that we tasked Mr.
Maddox with telling us
[1:13:20] how much it would cost to
operate that side of the beach
[1:13:24] if we were to
extend our services,
[1:13:26] because there's a
large breakdown there.
[1:13:28] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Would that
be in lieu of approving this,
[1:13:33] or is a separate instruction?
[1:13:34] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
So in approving this,
[1:13:36] it's money that they
have operated with.
[1:13:38] I would love to hear
some of the differences
[1:13:42] that I've voiced as
to why those become
[1:13:44] critical to the operations
within the contract
[1:13:46] that we have.
[1:13:47] We did not, that I know
of, invite anyone here
[1:13:51] to speak to that
today, and I would not
[1:13:54] want to blindside
any of them with it.
[1:13:55] And so I'm definitely
here at the will
[1:13:57] of my colleagues to see
how we best move forward.
[1:14:01] I just wanted to be sure that
we saw the differences here
[1:14:04] because they're very extreme.
[1:14:05] I think for the future, to be
able to address it and see cost
[1:14:10] effectively, what
it would take, I
[1:14:10] think to be able to
talk to CareerSource
[1:14:12] and talk to some of
our retiring military,
[1:14:15] some of our high schools to
see how the job field looks
[1:14:18] with the overwhelming
employment opportunities,
[1:14:19] I think some of those
avenues are worth exploring
[1:14:24] to reimburse them.
[1:14:25] If it's money they've spent
already within our contract,
[1:14:29] we have an obligation
to do that.
[1:14:32] But we don't have an
obligation to move forward
[1:14:34] in poor stewardship again.
[1:14:35] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
From a timing perspective,
[1:14:40] if more information is
needed-- and I'm asking staff,
[1:14:44] if more information is needed
to answer the questions that
[1:14:47] Commissioner Mixon is asking, do
we have time under the current
[1:14:53] circumstances--
[1:14:56] In other words, is
there a bill due that
[1:14:59] we agreed to pay that if we
defer it to the March meeting
[1:15:02] we are late?
[1:15:02] COMMISSIONER MIXON: Yeah,
we're under contract
[1:15:03] with service for this year.
[1:15:05] So these bills are part of an
approved budget, an approved
[1:15:09] contract.
[1:15:09] So we are basically obligated,
I believe, to pay these things.
[1:15:13] Now if you want to make
a change going forward,
[1:15:17] I think it's more than
appropriate to look at this.
[1:15:19] I think it's worth
considering these options,
[1:15:21] but I don't know that it's
behooves us to withhold payment
[1:15:24] based on our current contract.
[1:15:27] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And again, I'm
[1:15:28] not suggesting what the
outcome of this activity
[1:15:31] is right this second,
but just so I understand
[1:15:34] what the framework is.
[1:15:35] So there is a world where we
would potentially approve this
[1:15:38] because it's already
occurred and obligated,
[1:15:41] but also instruct staff to
unpack this issue to the level
[1:15:45] that Commissioner Mixon is
describing and have staff.
[1:15:48] And with the invitation
of Destin Fire,
[1:15:51] if they'd like, come and present
this in a comprehensive manner
[1:15:55] so that the board can
really understand it.
[1:15:58] Is that a reasonable
outcome that could happen?
[1:16:00] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Yeah, I think
[1:16:02] that would be more than
fair and appropriate.
[1:16:04] And I mean, obviously, we've
met with them many years
[1:16:07] over this particular issue.
[1:16:08] And I think they can
try and address it,
[1:16:11] and you guys can go from there.
[1:16:14] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.
[1:16:14] Sorry, Commissioner Mixon,
I wasn't trying to jump in.
[1:16:17] You've got the microphone
first, and then
[1:16:19] if you don't make action,
obviously, we'll defer,
[1:16:21] but I just need to understand
the framework we had.
[1:16:24] COMMISSIONER COX:
[INAUDIBLE] permission.
[1:16:26] OK.
[1:16:28] So I understand
us to be resolving
[1:16:30] to conditionally approve the
expenditure for the funds that
[1:16:35] have already been spent per
the B budget request, which
[1:16:40] was approved for last year,
but for this, for revisions
[1:16:45] or to revisit this particular
item during the budget process
[1:16:47] before approval moving forward.
[1:16:52] Is that correct?
[1:16:54] I mean--
[1:16:54] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: I don't
think we have a motion yet,
[1:16:57] but I think that was--
[1:16:57] I think that is getting towards
the heart of what the discussion
[1:17:00] is developing into.
[1:17:01] COMMISSIONER MIXON: It is.
[1:17:03] Mr. Chair, if I would
have made a motion,
[1:17:05] this would not have
been part of the item.
[1:17:07] We would have moved
past it, and I
[1:17:08] would have had to try
to walk on an item
[1:17:10] due to the inconsistencies.
[1:17:10] I think the item that
we have can show us
[1:17:13] the inconsistencies, or
at least the view of them
[1:17:16] to be very, very--
[1:17:18] scroll up just a touch
Mr. Tomecek, if you would.
[1:17:21] When you get to the bottom
line, that includes the new boat
[1:17:24] that we bought for
the Sheriff's Office.
[1:17:29] So there's just a
huge difference there,
[1:17:31] and I want to see what
it is comparing services.
[1:17:34] Which could be seen as a
totally separate issue,
[1:17:37] but this issue
brings it to light.
[1:17:40] So with that, I will make the
motion for the reimbursement
[1:17:43] as long as we have some
consensus, potentially,
[1:17:45] to at least explore
this in the future.
[1:17:48] COMMISSIONER COX:
I'll second that.
[1:17:50] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
Chairman, if I may,
[1:17:52] Mr. Maddox, can you give
us any insight or do you
[1:17:55] feel like you need to have
thought to go forward.
[1:17:57] PATRICK MADDOX: I try
not to think too much,
[1:18:00] but I am familiar with
this budget pretty well.
[1:18:02] And part of those
differences are, obviously,
[1:18:04] the fact that we have 3 and 1/2
miles of beach and Destin has
[1:18:09] over 6 miles.
[1:18:09] Some of that comes with
more territory, more people,
[1:18:12] more assets, more resources.
[1:18:14] Some of that is not visible
to us, such as the H-2B
[1:18:17] portions of that and
what portions of that
[1:18:20] go towards funding the
visas, which we can see there
[1:18:23] and where that money
for housing comes out
[1:18:25] of whether it's a co-mingling of
those dollars and fire dollars
[1:18:28] are all from the fireside.
[1:18:29] We have asked for a
further breakdown of that.
[1:18:31] We have not received it.
[1:18:32] So that being said, I think it
will take a little bit of time
[1:18:36] to dive into that further.
[1:18:37] But that is the information
we get from them
[1:18:39] in their annual report, which
they're required to provide
[1:18:40] to us in the contract.
[1:18:42] So we can definitely dig down
to the commissioner's level
[1:18:44] of detail and find exactly
what he's looking for.
[1:18:47] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
Thank you, Chief.
[1:18:49] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[1:18:50] So we have a motion to
approve the reimbursements,
[1:18:53] coupled with a
direction to staff
[1:18:54] to bring back a detailed
analysis of this funding.
[1:18:58] And, Commissioner
Mixon, is there a time
[1:19:01] that you were thinking that
this would come back within?
[1:19:05] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Prior to the renewal.
[1:19:08] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And that's the second.
[1:19:11] All right, further discussion.
[1:19:13] Mr. Hofstad, did you have
something you want to add?
[1:19:16] JOHN HOFSTAD: I was
just saying thank you
[1:19:17] for that clarification.
[1:19:18] That gives us time to
work through this process.
[1:19:20] We've got a budget policy
workshop coming up next month,
[1:19:23] so hopefully, we can have some
additional detail by then.
[1:19:27] PATRICK MADDOX: Yes, sir.
[1:19:28] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Very good.
[1:19:29] All right, those in favor,
please signal by saying Aye.
[1:19:31] ALL: Aye.
[1:19:31] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And those opposed.
[1:19:32] All right, that
passes unanimously.
[1:19:34] I look forward to seeing
that report back, Mr. Maddox.
[1:19:37] Item 21.
[1:19:40] Do we need to
address that board,
[1:19:42] or is that just pulled subject
to our earlier consensus?
[1:19:44] All right.
[1:19:48] We can move on beyond
the consent agenda.
[1:19:50] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Mr. Chairman, I
[1:19:51] think I've misunderstood you.
[1:19:54] I'm a touch confused, if I may.
[1:19:58] We're not the
tenants at this time.
[1:20:02] I was pleased to hear Mr.
Bagby say that because I
[1:20:06] think we've lost focus of that.
[1:20:13] Right now, we're in
discussion of how
[1:20:17] do we pick a roommate
on a house that we
[1:20:20] might be able to rent together.
[1:20:22] That's a little odd.
[1:20:24] I think that the
conversations have started,
[1:20:26] but here's my concern
on the commission side.
[1:20:31] And I didn't have this
until the discussion
[1:20:34] today during public comment.
[1:20:36] Destin has approved
an interlocal
[1:20:40] which we have not taken up.
[1:20:46] We have put forth an interlocal
which now, it appears,
[1:20:51] we're deciding not to look into.
[1:20:53] But we're talking about
coming to a negotiation where
[1:20:57] we meet in the middle.
[1:20:59] In the middle of what?
[1:21:01] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Are
you looking for feedback
[1:21:04] or is that rhetorical?
[1:21:06] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: No,
I'm looking for feedback.
[1:21:08] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: OK.
[1:21:08] I'll tell you my
viewpoint on it.
[1:21:10] I think we had an offer
and a counteroffer.
[1:21:12] That's what I-- I think those
are the bookends right now.
[1:21:16] Our version, their version.
[1:21:16] And logic tells me the answer
is somewhere in between them.
[1:21:20] COMMISSIONER MIXON: OK.
[1:21:22] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: That's my
simplistic way of viewing it.
[1:21:24] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
--bookend, do
[1:21:25] we need to prove
consensually that we
[1:21:27] agree with that being a bookend
or do we start with nothing?
[1:21:32] Because if we merely pull it,
we have nothing to start with.
[1:21:36] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And I apologize.
[1:21:38] I thought when we had
consensus earlier,
[1:21:41] maybe it was probably
me in my mind
[1:21:43] saying this and not
actually articulating it,
[1:21:45] and I apologize.
[1:21:46] I was thinking we
were saying consensus,
[1:21:48] this is our starting position.
[1:21:50] We know their starting position.
[1:21:51] Please send our
delegates and our lawyers
[1:21:53] and let's get this figured out.
[1:21:55] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
That's what I thought too.
[1:21:57] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
That's what I thought.
[1:21:58] COMMISSIONER MIXON: Was
their starting position
[1:21:59] broad as an agenda item
and voted on as a council?
[1:22:02] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: It was.
[1:22:04] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
So potentially,
[1:22:05] our starting
position should be 2.
[1:22:07] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Any objection
[1:22:08] to item 21 as presented by
staff being our formal position
[1:22:11] for beginning of negotiation?
[1:22:15] COMMISSIONER PALMER:
I don't think
[1:22:17] I have an objection to that.
[1:22:19] The reason I appreciate
the construct
[1:22:21] that we are at now where
we will have the county
[1:22:25] attorney and the city attorney
as part of those discussions,
[1:22:29] I think that although we are
using many of the same words,
[1:22:33] we have different
definitions for those words.
[1:22:36] And I think that's part of what
has caused us to be at impasse.
[1:22:40] I also believe--
and I say impasse,
[1:22:41] it's because our two interlocal
agreements are so vastly
[1:22:44] different, they don't
agree with one another
[1:22:47] whatsoever, except that we
intend to work with the city
[1:22:52] and the cities is
kind of us agreeing
[1:22:55] that we're responsible
for this and they're
[1:23:00] in charge of our
decisions or at least
[1:23:03] the approval of our decisions.
[1:23:06] So I think that the direction
going forward with the attorneys
[1:23:09] present, I think we can at
least start at some of those.
[1:23:15] When I discussed with the
council members and the mayor--
[1:23:17] thank you all for
meeting with me.
[1:23:20] I do appreciate that time.
[1:23:21] I enjoyed coloring with you,
Mr. Mayor, specifically.
[1:23:23] Anyways, I think we've had
some productive discussions.
[1:23:28] I think that when we
start-- and the attorneys
[1:23:33] will help us to this out.
[1:23:37] When we start with
one side wanting
[1:23:38] to remove the Marina and
the other side saying,
[1:23:41] no, I think we've
got to keep that.
[1:23:44] We got to figure out how to
use that as per the State's
[1:23:47] cabinet's direction or at least
their approved statements,
[1:23:49] there's not much further
for us to go beyond that.
[1:23:57] And so that's one of the things.
[1:24:00] And then the other
non-negotiable
[1:24:01] that I opened with-- and
this is my non-negotiable,
[1:24:05] and of course, I'm
one of five, but mine
[1:24:08] is that I do want free and
sufficient parking for County
[1:24:11] residents.
[1:24:11] There has been some
discussion that possibly we
[1:24:14] could open up all city
parking to County residents.
[1:24:16] That would be amazing.
[1:24:18] I think that would
be a win, and that
[1:24:20] would be something that we
could add to this negotiation.
[1:24:22] I think that would be
an excellent outcome.
[1:24:24] However, I think that the
current direction that we
[1:24:26] have from this board
to have myself,
[1:24:30] Ms. Hoshihara and
the city appointee,
[1:24:33] I believe that's Mr.
Destin and Ms. Kopp,
[1:24:37] I believe that we're
at a good point
[1:24:41] where we can actually
start those negotiations.
[1:24:42] Whether this is our beginning
or we have no beginning,
[1:24:46] I think we start
in the same place
[1:24:48] because theirs is so
vastly different than ours.
[1:24:49] Thank you.
[1:24:51] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Commissioner Cox.
[1:24:54] COMMISSIONER COX: I have a
little bit to say about this.
[1:24:59] I will say just, I
mean, unilaterally,
[1:25:00] after having spoken to a
couple of city councilmen
[1:25:04] from Destin and
our county attorney
[1:25:06] and Mr. Hofstad about this,
in a deeper dive about what
[1:25:11] our position, our
collective position
[1:25:15] was in our own version of
the interlocal agreement.
[1:25:18] Because frankly, I had not
visited it before this.
[1:25:21] It was a little bit of a
surprise, I think, to some of us
[1:25:26] that the county's
position was as, I guess,
[1:25:27] maybe one sided as
it appeared to be.
[1:25:33] That is not--
[1:25:36] I mean, item number 21,
to request consideration
[1:25:40] of the interlocal agreement that
we have as it occurs currently,
[1:25:44] I mean, those
aren't my thoughts.
[1:25:48] That's not my position on this.
[1:25:50] I mean, I won't vote
to support adopting
[1:25:53] that in the consent agenda
as it is written currently.
[1:25:56] I expressly need more time
to wrap my hands around it
[1:26:00] and work with or
hear the concerns,
[1:26:03] at least from the citizens
that are affected.
[1:26:06] And not just the Destin
Citizens affected.
[1:26:08] I want to be candid.
[1:26:10] I spoke with Larry Jones,
their city manager, last week
[1:26:12] and discussed at
length that not--
[1:26:16] I do recognize that the city of
Destin residents are comprised
[1:26:20] 14,000 citizens of
140,000 or so affected.
[1:26:22] And really, that's even
a smaller footprint
[1:26:29] than what really
is true, because we
[1:26:31] have so many visitors that
will be affected by this too.
[1:26:33] I'm not sure that just
one of our representatives
[1:26:35] and an attorney and one of your
representatives and attorney
[1:26:39] is an adequate picture of who's
going to be affected by this.
[1:26:42] I have to say that those 14,000
would be represented by fewer,
[1:26:45] probably, than the collective
consortium that I would put
[1:26:48] together to have a workshop
and workshop this out just
[1:26:51] because there are so many
more affected than just those.
[1:26:55] But without having--
as having mulled this
[1:26:59] over for the amount of time
that, frankly, the city
[1:27:03] of Destin has been
given to look it over,
[1:27:05] the county's version that is,
of an interlocal agreement,
[1:27:09] I would not be comfortable
passing it at this juncture
[1:27:13] as it stands.
[1:27:16] I wouldn't even be comfortable
saying that's our position
[1:27:18] because that's not my position.
[1:27:19] I haven't wrapped my hands
around it enough to say, yes,
[1:27:22] this is where I stand on that.
[1:27:25] So that's the reason I
requested that we pulled it.
[1:27:27] And I thought that we
had sort of collectively
[1:27:29] gotten a consensus for working
together before we agreed
[1:27:32] that we had a position on this.
[1:27:35] That's why I pulled it.
[1:27:37] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: And
I'm glad you clarified that.
[1:27:39] So we do not have consensus
that that is our starting point.
[1:27:42] I think, as Commissioner
Palmer mentioned,
[1:27:43] it feels like he can still
meet, as we discussed,
[1:27:47] with or without a
bookend on our side,
[1:27:50] but we can talk through that.
[1:27:54] Commissioner Ketchel
has some comments,
[1:27:54] I think, to add to this as well.
[1:27:58] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: I do.
[1:27:58] This is really the
first time we've really
[1:28:01] talked about all of this.
[1:28:02] And I agree with
Commissioner Cox,
[1:28:04] this is not my starting point.
[1:28:07] These were not my words.
[1:28:08] I would not have
written this document.
[1:28:10] So I have gone
out and viewed it.
[1:28:12] It's a beautiful
piece of property.
[1:28:13] It's also something that might
disappear in a hurricane.
[1:28:16] It's a lot of dredge sand.
[1:28:19] So let's go forward
without the interlocal
[1:28:22] and see what Mr. Palmer and
Mr. Destin can get together.
[1:28:26] Commissioner Palmer
and Councilman
[1:28:28] Destin and their attorneys,
and see where we go from there.
[1:28:32] So certainly, like
I said, really
[1:28:33] happy to hear that you feel the
same way because we haven't had
[1:28:38] a chance to speak about that.
[1:28:39] COMMISSIONER PALMER: Mr.
Chairman, I would like--
[1:28:41] so given that we don't
have a lot of opportunity
[1:28:44] to discuss these
things openly, I
[1:28:45] would like some opinions from
the members of this board
[1:28:48] on one of the hanging
points, I think,
[1:28:54] with Holiday Isle, the city.
[1:28:57] And when I talk
about definitions
[1:29:00] of things, commercial activity,
if I'm to give my opinion,
[1:29:04] I think that we need
to figure out some way
[1:29:12] to generate some funds
from this property
[1:29:14] in order to help
with the maintenance
[1:29:16] and the upkeep of
the property itself.
[1:29:18] And I would not have signed
on to the previous letter
[1:29:21] agreeing with the state to
manage this property if they did
[1:29:25] the acquisition and
committing $5 million to that,
[1:29:28] I would not have voted
for that if I had thought
[1:29:32] that was just a complete--
[1:29:32] just a donation to this
property and there would be no--
[1:29:35] and then we would have
a continued donation
[1:29:39] to this property, to upkeep
this property over time
[1:29:42] without generating
any funds from it.
[1:29:43] I think that we have the ability
to do that with this Marina,
[1:29:47] but I would like some
opinions from this board
[1:29:49] as to the Marina operation.
[1:29:52] Do you guys contemplate,
do you envision
[1:29:55] seeing these slips as rentals?
[1:29:57] And if that's the
case, then I think
[1:30:01] that helps us to at least
define where I can start.
[1:30:03] Because when I'm talking with
whether it be the city or some
[1:30:09] of the residents
of Holiday Isle,
[1:30:10] that would be
commercial activity
[1:30:14] that would be prohibited
by their rules.
[1:30:16] I think that when I talk to
other people in the county
[1:30:20] and even other
residents in Destin,
[1:30:21] I think they think
that's a great idea.
[1:30:23] So I think that I would like the
opinion of this board on that as
[1:30:27] to whether number 1, do we
define that as commercial?
[1:30:29] Number 2, is that
something that this board
[1:30:32] would like me to pursue as
at least a starting point?
[1:30:36] And I don't know that we
can get to that right now,
[1:30:40] but that's one of my questions.
[1:30:42] And then, Yeah, we can't
give away all control
[1:30:45] to another body.
[1:30:52] I don't know that
either of our attorneys
[1:30:57] would advise us to
do that, if we were
[1:30:59] responsible for
something and just
[1:31:00] giving over that authority
to the other body,
[1:31:03] I don't think
that's appropriate.
[1:31:04] And so anyways, I would
like some opinions
[1:31:06] from this board at this time.
[1:31:07] Ms. Hoshihara.
[1:31:07] LYNN HOSHIHARA: Thank you.
[1:31:08] If I may, as a point
of clarification,
[1:31:11] so the interlocal agreement
that was presented by the city
[1:31:14] focused more on the process of
how the two parties would work
[1:31:18] together to come up
with an agreed upon plan
[1:31:21] for future development
of that park,
[1:31:24] but it doesn't get into any of
the nuts and bolts of what's
[1:31:29] going to be allowed.
[1:31:29] The county's
version did the same
[1:31:31] to say, yes, the parties
will work together.
[1:31:34] Here's how-- here's
what the County is
[1:31:36] willing to commit to do.
[1:31:38] Are we still talking about
an interlocal just about
[1:31:41] the process, or are we talking
about an interlocal that
[1:31:45] drills into the actual details
of the development of the park?
[1:31:48] COMMISSIONER PALMER:
I don't know.
[1:31:50] I don't think it's
up to this board.
[1:31:52] I don't think that we're talking
about developing the interlocal
[1:31:55] with those things, but I need to
know as I'm speaking with them.
[1:31:59] I have to know.
[1:32:00] So if I'm saying, OK,
yes, we will make sure
[1:32:03] that everything
that we send forward
[1:32:04] has also the
approval of the city.
[1:32:07] I also know that they define
conservation differently
[1:32:11] than what the state defines it.
[1:32:13] I don't think those two
things can work together
[1:32:16] if we agree with that
process, and then
[1:32:18] we've tied ourselves
to their approval,
[1:32:22] and yet when we're
saying conservation,
[1:32:25] we also mean outdoor-based
recreation versus just
[1:32:27] leave it alone, I think those
are two separate things.
[1:32:34] And so I need some
direction from this board
[1:32:36] as we go forward so that
I can speak with them
[1:32:41] and negotiate in good faith,
because at this point,
[1:32:42] we're saying the same words and
we're meaning different things.
[1:32:46] And I'm saying we--
[1:32:47] I'm saying when I meet with
city council member or the mayor
[1:32:50] on this.
[1:32:51] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: So I think
what the commissioner is saying
[1:32:54] is he feels like that we're
starting to have conversations
[1:32:57] where we're talking
past each other,
[1:32:58] and I think he'd
like to get past that
[1:33:04] so that we can actually
talk towards a center point.
[1:33:06] So he's right.
[1:33:07] We can't go meet at
Starbucks or some other place
[1:33:12] and talk to him about this.
[1:33:14] So a little out of
the ordinary usual.
[1:33:16] This isn't a workshop, but it
is on the agenda as an item,
[1:33:21] so it's definitely germane
to what's been published.
[1:33:23] I would say this is probably
the best time, if any,
[1:33:26] while the topic is hot to
tell Commissioner Palmer what
[1:33:30] your thoughts are.
[1:33:31] I think Commissioner Cox
started that process pretty well
[1:33:33] and may have a few
more clarifications.
[1:33:35] I see your lights on
[1:33:37] COMMISSIONER COX: So--
[1:33:38] Sure.
[1:33:39] So I too am concerned about
how we would fund or reclaim
[1:33:42] the $5 million that was
committed to this property.
[1:33:46] And I am not fully aware
of how the $5 million
[1:33:51] was committed to
the property, to be
[1:33:54] completely honest with you.
[1:33:55] But beyond that,
[1:33:57] I think that the
crux of the issue,
[1:34:02] trying to remediate or
to earn back the $5,000--
[1:34:07] the $5 million is, while
that's really important,
[1:34:12] I don't know that--
without presenting
[1:34:18] several options
within collaboration
[1:34:20] with the city of Destin as part
of the process of give and take
[1:34:25] and what the citizens want
versus what our appetite is
[1:34:30] for recapturing those
funds, I'm not sure
[1:34:32] that that decision should
be made solely by this dais
[1:34:36] today without working on it any
further and workshopping it out.
[1:34:39] I think that it's
probably better for us
[1:34:43] to say this version, number
21, does not work today.
[1:34:45] Some version of that
may work down the road,
[1:34:51] but that it needs more time.
[1:34:54] I know as a commissioner, I
mean, with very little exposure,
[1:34:56] little time to wrap my arms
around this particular version
[1:34:59] of this, I'm not comfortable
passing any version of number 21
[1:35:02] today.
[1:35:04] COMMISSIONER PALMER: I agree.
[1:35:06] I think that we already
agree on, at least,
[1:35:08] that portion of it.
[1:35:11] I think this, I'm fine without
number 21 being a part of what
[1:35:14] we're talking about today.
[1:35:16] What I'm looking for
specifically is--
[1:35:17] and it's not just
the $5 million,
[1:35:21] it's the going forward
upkeep and maintenance
[1:35:22] of this property.
[1:35:24] There's going to be costs
that's associated with that,
[1:35:27] and we need to make sure
that we handle that in order
[1:35:30] to be good stewards of--
[1:35:32] And I think you know,
you agree, I'm not
[1:35:34] saying that you're saying
anything differently,
[1:35:36] I'm just saying
for clarity, that's
[1:35:38] my concern is, how do we--
are you guys in agreement
[1:35:41] that, no, we don't
rent these slips?
[1:35:45] If that's the case,
then I don't know
[1:35:48] other means other than maybe
parking or something like that.
[1:35:52] But are we in agreement
that there's no--
[1:35:55] that we're contemplating no
commercial activity whatsoever
[1:35:58] on this park?
[1:36:00] I don't know that that's
the will of this board.
[1:36:03] And then the other thing is
there's really two main things
[1:36:07] that we have different
definitions on.
[1:36:10] One is the definition of
conservation as per the state's
[1:36:13] definition, it does
include outdoor recreation,
[1:36:16] which the boating that--
anything that supports
[1:36:19] that would be allowed
within that definition.
[1:36:23] However, again, the city's
definition is vastly different.
[1:36:28] And then the definition
of commercial activity,
[1:36:31] when I'm looking at
slips in a Marina,
[1:36:34] if I'm defining
commercial slips, that's
[1:36:38] slips that support fishing
livery vessels, charters,
[1:36:41] dolphin cruises,
that type of thing
[1:36:48] where what we're contemplating--
and somebody brought it
[1:36:50] up earlier about
the weekly rentals
[1:36:55] are not commercial activity.
[1:36:57] I understand that.
[1:36:57] That's the point
that I was making, is
[1:36:59] that this, as weekly rental
slips for overnight stays,
[1:37:02] would be in a similar
manner as that.
[1:37:05] And maybe it's prohibited
already in your covenants.
[1:37:07] I don't know.
[1:37:08] But again, those are
the types of things
[1:37:10] that I'm thinking about.
[1:37:11] And so as I'm looking at
this, since we don't have
[1:37:14] another opportunity,
I'm absolutely
[1:37:14] willing to put together
a workshop in the future,
[1:37:17] but I'd like to get some
steps along the way.
[1:37:21] I'd like to start on third
base rather than starting
[1:37:24] and building the lineup.
[1:37:25] And so that's what
I would like to do.
[1:37:28] COMMISSIONER COX: And it's
interesting that you position it
[1:37:30] that way, as starting
on third base,
[1:37:32] because that's how
I feel about it too.
[1:37:34] I feel like they're
asking us to--
[1:37:35] as five commissioners who
represent a large body of people
[1:37:39] and not nearly as many people as
will be affected by this parcel
[1:37:43] as a state purchase,
asking us our five opinions
[1:37:45] of this so early in this game.
[1:37:49] We don't even have
ownership of it yet, right?
[1:37:51] Asking our position to make
a decision on the boat slips,
[1:37:55] the not boat slips, the
commercial activity, the not
[1:37:59] commercial activity without
having had any opportunity
[1:38:00] whatsoever to canvas those
affected in our districts
[1:38:03] and outside of them,
is too much for me.
[1:38:07] I'm a no to that.
[1:38:08] COMMISSIONER PALMER: That's a
strong and a very fair point.
[1:38:11] And I think that the way that
we got here was early on,
[1:38:15] engaging with the city on
some of these discussions
[1:38:17] and then silence because we
have nothing to take action on.
[1:38:22] We've taken no action.
[1:38:24] The management plan that was
being drafted by staff and just
[1:38:27] through brainstorming
and even meetings
[1:38:30] with the city,
some of those ideas
[1:38:35] were captured in
the management plan,
[1:38:37] but it wasn't ready
for prime time,
[1:38:40] but it was public record
requested and then posted
[1:38:42] publicly, and then discussed
publicly in a town hall meeting.
[1:38:45] And so I agree
with you, we're way
[1:38:48] premature on really
all of this stuff.
[1:38:50] We have no legal standing
on this property as of yet.
[1:38:53] We have the direction
that we are anticipating,
[1:38:55] and I think that every
action that we have taken up
[1:38:59] to this point has
been in anticipation
[1:39:00] of that language that's in the
Florida Cabinets documents.
[1:39:03] And I think with good
intent and goodwill.
[1:39:07] And I think somehow
we got sideways
[1:39:10] because there's a
thought that there's
[1:39:12] backrooms, cigar smoke filled
rooms that are meetings
[1:39:14] that are happening.
[1:39:17] And there just are not.
[1:39:19] We are very early
in this process.
[1:39:21] But again, going forward,
what I need from this board
[1:39:26] is, are we using the state's
definition of conservation?
[1:39:28] I think the answer
on state land is yes.
[1:39:33] And so we've got to talk
with the city of Destin
[1:39:36] about what that means and what
that means to our property.
[1:39:39] Are we contemplating
approaching the state
[1:39:40] and asking them to
tear down the Marina?
[1:39:43] I think my answer is no.
[1:39:45] I would not support that.
[1:39:46] And given that, if we're
to operate the Marina
[1:39:49] as a public recreational
Marina, what does that mean?
[1:39:51] What are the bounds
within which we can work?
[1:39:54] And then how do I then
negotiate with the city
[1:39:57] a positive outcome with that?
[1:40:00] Because I think right now I'm
being asked to have these talks
[1:40:03] and have these
negotiations, and I
[1:40:05] have no tools with which
to do that because I
[1:40:08] don't understand--
[1:40:07] I don't know the
opinion of this board,
[1:40:10] and I'm one of five
votes, and I can bring you
[1:40:15] something that suggests a
disaster because I'm not
[1:40:16] considering your opinions.
[1:40:17] And this is the only time that I
have to collect those opinions.
[1:40:21] Unless you guys want to have
10-hour-long public workshop
[1:40:22] as an opening.
[1:40:26] I would rather--
again, I would rather
[1:40:28] have a pretty solid plan
together to say, hey,
[1:40:30] I think this is acceptable.
[1:40:32] I think this is the
will of the board,
[1:40:34] and I think this is
in keeping with that,
[1:40:36] and we have worked
with the public,
[1:40:38] and we have worked
with the city,
[1:40:39] and we think we have a
fairly mature product.
[1:40:41] We're on third base and we're
ready to take this home.
[1:40:44] Let's have a public workshop.
[1:40:45] Let's get everybody's input, and
then we can come one more time
[1:40:48] or however many more times
it takes with this board
[1:40:50] and say, hey, here's our plan.
[1:40:52] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Chairman.
[1:40:54] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[1:40:55] Commissioner Ketchel then--
well, Commissioner Cox,
[1:40:57] were you complete?
[1:40:59] I know that was--
[1:41:01] COMMISSIONER COX: I'm good.
[1:41:02] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: OK.
[1:41:02] Commissioner Ketchel and
Commissioner Mixon, and I'll
[1:41:04] defer my input to
the end, obviously.
[1:41:08] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
The good news
[1:41:12] is we don't need any
clearcutting out there.
[1:41:14] There's one lone
little pine tree.
[1:41:15] [LAUGHTER]
[1:41:16] COMMISSIONER
KETCHEL: I did notice
[1:41:19] that when I walked out there.
[1:41:21] I don't really know how we got
here, to be honest with you.
[1:41:24] There was a letter
that went out.
[1:41:25] We voted to possibly oversee
this, with a $5 million
[1:41:28] mention in it, which
I found appalling.
[1:41:31] I'm just going to say that, I
didn't vote on that $5 million.
[1:41:36] But what I'd like to see
is this land conserved.
[1:41:39] It's beautiful and it's
not going to last anyway.
[1:41:42] I'm sorry.
[1:41:44] The big hurricane that comes
will take this piece of land
[1:41:47] out.
[1:41:48] So from my point of
view, less is better,
[1:41:51] and I've talked with
staff about that.
[1:41:53] I can see another set
of bathrooms there.
[1:41:57] I'm not so excited about
commercial undertaking.
[1:42:00] You brought up a
very good point,
[1:42:02] the same guy that got us
into this mess got the--
[1:42:05] has already got a
Marina out there
[1:42:08] and there's no boats
in it, on the sound.
[1:42:13] So I'd like to see less.
[1:42:15] If we do have
commercial activity,
[1:42:17] perhaps a good place
to put it would be
[1:42:21] to split anything with Destin.
[1:42:22] I'm just saying.
[1:42:23] I mean, why do we
have to have it all?
[1:42:26] And maybe we don't
need to manage this.
[1:42:29] Just have a beautiful
park where people
[1:42:31] can go visit with bathrooms.
[1:42:32] It doesn't have to be parking.
[1:42:35] Yeah, a little bit of parking.
[1:42:37] Not a lot of parking.
[1:42:38] For me, 100 or less is fine.
[1:42:40] There were some excellent
points brought up earlier
[1:42:43] by some of the folks
that live out there.
[1:42:45] I can see why they
feel that way.
[1:42:47] So those are my thoughts,
but it's such a--
[1:42:49] I said this early on, we
developed Women's Veterans Park.
[1:42:55] We don't need a concrete
everything in our area.
[1:42:58] Old Florida is disappearing.
[1:43:00] Just those are my thoughts.
[1:43:03] So--
[1:43:03] [APPLAUSE]
[1:43:04] COMMISSIONER
GOODWIN: Mr. Hofstad?
[1:43:10] COMMISSIONER MIXON: Sure.
[1:43:11] So, Mr. Palmer, I agree.
[1:43:13] Commercial activity
needs to be defined.
[1:43:15] Sounds like there's
a big difference.
[1:43:17] I'm not familiar with the idea
of tearing out the Marina.
[1:43:21] That sounds very extreme.
[1:43:21] OK, good.
[1:43:24] So I'd love to hear how
that goes, where that goes,
[1:43:27] why in the world you
would tear it out.
[1:43:31] The $5 million was listed in
the letter that we all approved.
[1:43:35] and it was unanimous when
we took consensus for that.
[1:43:38] It did not define
where money would go.
[1:43:41] It gave a no more than idea, if
I recall right from the letter.
[1:43:46] I don't have it before me.
[1:43:50] But it was each
one of us, but it
[1:43:52] did not-- of course,
that would come back
[1:43:53] many more times for approval
before any dollar was spent.
[1:43:56] That was just in
showing interest to say,
[1:43:59] here's how we could partner.
[1:44:02] The management plan-- has
there been a management plan
[1:44:07] submitted to the state?
[1:44:08] COMMISSIONER COX: [INAUDIBLE]
[1:44:11] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Is that the next step?
[1:44:13] Mr. Coffey?
[1:44:16] CRAIG COFFEY: The
first step is a lease,
[1:44:19] and then that's
followed by management.
[1:44:20] COMMISSIONER MIXON: OK.
[1:44:21] CRAIG COFFEY: Several
leases actually.
[1:44:22] You got a submerged land
lease and a regular lease
[1:44:24] of the property.
[1:44:25] Two different leases.
[1:44:25] COMMISSIONER MIXON: So that's
the phase we're in now?
[1:44:28] CRAIG COFFEY: Yeah.
[1:44:29] We would wait on a
lease from the state.
[1:44:31] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: You said
something about that $5 million.
[1:44:37] We did not vote on that figure.
[1:44:39] We did not vote on that figure.
[1:44:40] We voted on managing.
[1:44:41] COMMISSIONER MIXON: That figure
was written into the letter.
[1:44:43] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: But
did we vote on that letter?
[1:44:45] Did we?
[1:44:45] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: We did.
[1:44:46] We all spoke--
[1:44:47] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Lynn,
did we vote on the letter?
[1:44:49] On that January letter.
[1:44:51] We voted on management.
[1:44:53] Anyway.
[1:44:54] COMMISSIONER MIXON: We did.
[1:45:00] So we're in the stage of--
[1:45:03] at least from the state-- and
then what's the next step?
[1:45:06] CRAIG COFFEY: Following
a lease with the state,
[1:45:10] you would then enter
into-- you would then
[1:45:12] develop a property
management plan that you
[1:45:13] submit to the state.
[1:45:16] This is a four
acre site, which is
[1:45:18] kind of an abbreviated process.
[1:45:19] You have to have
a public hearing.
[1:45:21] You go through a process
there and there's
[1:45:23] plenty of input in
that process as you go.
[1:45:26] COMMISSIONER MIXON: Yes.
[1:45:26] And just prior to
this, the property
[1:45:31] was slated to be 100%
taken up with development.
[1:45:36] So now, I agree
with you on parking.
[1:45:42] Parking is important.
[1:45:43] I didn't know until
this week that it's
[1:45:46] $20 for four hours to park.
[1:45:51] So if I were to give a
parameter, I would say,
[1:45:55] yes, citizens of Okaloosa
County definitely
[1:45:56] should be able to park
somewhere without having
[1:46:00] a exuberant, or at least a
fee that matches someone's
[1:46:04] if there has to be a fee, but
I'd rather there be no fee.
[1:46:10] I don't want to see this
touch general revenue
[1:46:11] dollars by any means, so tourism
would have to be the route,
[1:46:15] but the preference
would be that this
[1:46:18] didn't become a yearly burden
on the tourism fund either.
[1:46:20] So it's got to produce its
own income to some extent.
[1:46:25] How can it do that?
[1:46:28] It has a Marina.
[1:46:28] If there's ways to be able
to do something, sure.
[1:46:31] To turn that into a
new side of the harbor
[1:46:34] would be interesting as
far as the enterprise set.
[1:46:38] So there's much more studying
that has to go into this.
[1:46:43] In my opinion, none
of the government's
[1:46:44] terrible about
studying everything,
[1:46:45] but in something like this,
we want to see the impacts.
[1:46:49] We want to see--
[1:46:50] we know what it
was intended for,
[1:46:52] at least when it was developed.
[1:46:54] So now how do we best
use that to move forward?
[1:46:56] The site is beautiful and
it helps the site next to it
[1:47:00] for preservation.
[1:47:01] I enjoy that, but what I
noticed at the site next
[1:47:05] to it is the trails and the
opportunities that it has,
[1:47:08] you can't pull your boat
up anymore, so that's fun.
[1:47:12] But the trails and
the opportunities
[1:47:14] that it has, to
be able to enhance
[1:47:16] that, sure, to be able to have
some more bathrooms, sure.
[1:47:19] To build Dollar General at the
end, I think is a terrible idea.
[1:47:23] [CHUCKLING]
[1:47:23] COMMISSIONER MIXON: So,
I mean, I agree, we're
[1:47:25] sending you to a meeting
giving you nothing,
[1:47:28] but hopefully from this,
you can pull some kind
[1:47:30] of negotiating points.
[1:47:33] I'm not sure--
[1:47:34] I don't know, like, I'm not
sure why we're in a negotiation
[1:47:39] at all.
[1:47:40] A collaborative
meeting would be great.
[1:47:42] Coming up with ideas of
saying, tear out already,
[1:47:45] that's frightening to me.
[1:47:49] I wasn't up to date on that.
[1:47:53] COMMISSIONER PALMER:
Just quickly,
[1:47:54] as I understand the
negotiation that I'm to have,
[1:47:57] because you're right,
just otherwise,
[1:47:58] we're just floating ideas.
[1:47:59] What my understanding is, how
do we get to an interlocal?
[1:48:03] What is something that's
acceptable to both bodies?
[1:48:05] That's my understanding of the
direction of this board to me.
[1:48:09] And Ms. Hoshihara is
to try to develop that.
[1:48:11] Am I understanding
that correctly?
[1:48:13] If that's the case, then as
we're talking about interlocal,
[1:48:16] I need to know what this board's
definitions-- whose definitions
[1:48:21] this board wants me to use.
[1:48:25] Do they want me to use
the state's definition,
[1:48:27] or do they want me to
use the city's definition
[1:48:30] of conservation and commercial?
[1:48:31] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Outside of the--
[1:48:33] May I continue, sir?
[1:48:34] Outside of the state's purchase,
not the county's-- thankfully,
[1:48:36] we're not buyer and seller,
outside of the state's purchase,
[1:48:41] is there a conceptual plan
outside of that the state has
[1:48:45] provided or that we've--
[1:48:46] COMMISSIONER PALMER:
The only thing
[1:48:49] is that we are to
operate the Marina
[1:48:52] as a public recreational Marina.
[1:48:53] COMMISSIONER MIXON: OK.
[1:48:53] OK, so we have--
[1:48:55] COMMISSIONER PALMER:
Which in our definition,
[1:48:55] in the definition of what a
public recreational Marina is,
[1:48:59] does include the ability to
do short-term rentals that
[1:49:01] are open to the public.
[1:49:04] We can't do any rentals
for slip rentals
[1:49:06] beyond 12 months that are
automatically renewable.
[1:49:08] So it would have to be
every time it comes up.
[1:49:14] And I'm not contemplating
us doing long-term rentals,
[1:49:15] I'm just saying those
are some of the things
[1:49:17] that-- the requirements.
[1:49:18] COMMISSIONER MIXON: Some
of the definitions given.
[1:49:20] OK.
[1:49:20] Should we concern ourselves more
with getting to a lease first?
[1:49:26] I think those are the
elementary steps, that we
[1:49:34] try to get to at least first.
[1:49:36] With the city in
partnership, how do we--
[1:49:38] COMMISSIONER
PALMER: And Ms. Cox,
[1:49:39] I don't mean to
keep skipping you,
[1:49:41] I completely agree with you that
that's-- but where we are is
[1:49:44] that, we have an engaged public,
we have an engaged city that I
[1:49:49] think that we owe at least
some communication with,
[1:49:53] and that's what I've
been trying to do.
[1:49:57] It's just I think
that we feel like--
[1:49:58] I feel like, that we
don't-- right now,
[1:50:02] we don't have any ability to
satisfy some of the concerns
[1:50:08] because I don't what
definition are we going to--
[1:50:13] Because I'm coming into these
meetings with the understanding
[1:50:16] that it's a terrible idea
to tear down the Marina.
[1:50:19] That was something that was
floated by some residents in, I
[1:50:22] believe, the city.
[1:50:23] I don't know if there
was a vote on that,
[1:50:26] but I think that was what
the city had contemplated,
[1:50:27] was tearing down the Marina.
[1:50:30] So I think that's-- so I'm going
into these meetings with two
[1:50:33] understandings, is that I want
free and sufficient parking
[1:50:35] for county residents, because
this is not a neighborhood park.
[1:50:38] This is a state park that's
being managed by the county,
[1:50:43] and so I want free
and sufficient parking
[1:50:45] for county residents,
and the Marina
[1:50:46] must stay and must be operated
as a public recreational Marina.
[1:50:52] If we operate it free of
charge, the Marina itself,
[1:50:55] then that's a continuing
and significant cost.
[1:50:58] I agree with you.
[1:51:00] I don't want to
engage general funds.
[1:51:02] I don't want it to become
a burden to TD dollars.
[1:51:06] We need this to feed itself.
[1:51:10] So those are the two things
that I'm coming into these talks
[1:51:15] with, is that Marina is saying,
we're going to operate it
[1:51:17] as a public recreational Marina,
as per the Florida cabinet,
[1:51:19] and we need sufficient and free
parking for county residents.
[1:51:23] Beyond that, I'm open.
[1:51:24] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Mr. Chairman,
[1:51:25] in the pursuit of a
lease, which I guess
[1:51:28] that's the best way to say where
we are, the pursuit of a lease,
[1:51:32] could we come up with
a soft conceptual
[1:51:34] so we can see to scale
what it would look
[1:51:36] like to have parking on there?
[1:51:37] The map that was passed out
by the Councilwoman, boy,
[1:51:40] that's huge.
[1:51:41] If we could do something
just that simple
[1:51:44] to see what that might for our
simple minds and conservation
[1:51:47] to see what it gives us.
[1:51:49] But then, Commissioner
Palmer, I think
[1:51:50] to be able to enhance the
remainder of the point
[1:51:56] there that the County
gave the city years ago,
[1:51:59] that the city is just wrapping
up the development of,
[1:52:02] I think that would
be tremendous to see
[1:52:04] how we can best enhance that.
[1:52:06] And then as we
have our discussion
[1:52:09] about guarded beaches,
we'll know more
[1:52:10] about having folks
swim on that side.
[1:52:12] It's dangerous.
[1:52:14] COMMISSIONER PALMER: And
we have-- to be clear,
[1:52:18] you guys know this, but we have
engaged no professional services
[1:52:21] with this.
[1:52:21] So all the drawings were
us with our crayons.
[1:52:23] The thing that was handed
out by the Councilwoman, that
[1:52:28] was the developers.
[1:52:30] That was what was already
approved by the city.
[1:52:33] So that was the
developer's own drawings.
[1:52:36] And the intent of handing
that to the city council
[1:52:39] members and Mayor
as they visited,
[1:52:41] although the mayor brought
his own much larger drawings,
[1:52:45] but the intent of having
them work on those
[1:52:48] was specifically to understand
how different what you're doing,
[1:52:53] what you're putting
on that paper
[1:52:57] is from what was
already approved,
[1:52:59] which is a much reduced
encumbrance of that property
[1:53:02] from a development standpoint.
[1:53:04] And so we've got a
couple of drawings
[1:53:07] that we've worked on that have
been scanned into public records
[1:53:11] that you guys could take a
look at and understand some
[1:53:16] of the things that
we're talking about,
[1:53:19] but it's nothing, nothing--
nowhere close to what
[1:53:22] the Councilwoman handed out.
[1:53:23] And that was my fault.
There was clearly
[1:53:26] a misunderstanding when I was
speaking with her about that.
[1:53:29] Thank you.
[1:53:30] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[1:53:31] COMMISSIONER COX:
So, Mr. Tomecek,
[1:53:33] I would be interested in
pursuing a public opinion poll
[1:53:37] from our citizens about--
all of our citizens,
[1:53:44] about what the most beneficial
use of this property,
[1:53:47] how they see this shaping--
[1:53:53] taking shape to best serve
Okaloosa County citizens
[1:53:56] needs and the potential
tourists affected.
[1:53:59] I mean, most of us have
family members that
[1:54:04] come to visit from other areas.
[1:54:05] I think that would give at least
a little bit of a sampling that
[1:54:09] would be beneficial.
[1:54:10] I mean, I know that Commissioner
Mixon, Commissioner Ketchel, I
[1:54:15] myself have people
who come to this area
[1:54:20] to visit that specific stretch.
[1:54:22] And so although we cannot
canvas all of Kentucky,
[1:54:27] we can't canvas
Illinois visitors,
[1:54:29] we can't canvas the Eastern
seaboard visitors and what have
[1:54:32] you, I would feel more
comfortable making a decision
[1:54:34] from behind this dais that
affects our citizens as a whole,
[1:54:39] elected at large.
[1:54:41] I mean, our citizens are
at large in this room.
[1:54:44] There's not one particular
district represented more than
[1:54:47] the other, other than
about this parcel.
[1:54:50] I would be interested, if we can
get consensus on it to have you
[1:54:56] and your team
conduct a study that
[1:55:02] asks for that opinion
from the public.
[1:55:07] Is that something
that we can agree on?
[1:55:10] [APPLAUSE]
[1:55:11] COMMISSIONER PALMER:
I agree with that.
[1:55:15] I think it's great to hear
an opinion of the public.
[1:55:19] I would like it to
be a scientific poll,
[1:55:20] an online poll can obviously
be, who's most concerned
[1:55:24] or who shares it the most?
[1:55:28] Where I'd like it to be
whether it be a telephone,
[1:55:31] like an actual poll of
the county residents,
[1:55:32] I think that would be a
fantastic thing to do.
[1:55:36] COMMISSIONER MIXON: And Mr.
Chair, can we just give that
[1:55:38] to our liaison for this
and let he and Mr. Tomecek
[1:55:41] work out the parameters?
[1:55:44] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: I
was just going to say,
[1:55:46] from experience, polling
like that is expensive.
[1:55:48] So that seems to me that
would be a TDD expense.
[1:55:52] It's not coming out of
general fund with my vote.
[1:55:56] [CHUCKLING]
[1:55:56] SPEAKER 7: Yeah,
I was just going
[1:55:58] to say that we had already
set up an email account
[1:56:01] and we've received a lot
of input from those folks,
[1:56:06] mostly from the folks on there.
[1:56:09] Directing it towards an
audience outside of our area
[1:56:12] would be a little
bit more difficult,
[1:56:14] and I believe it would
take some money to do that.
[1:56:17] COMMISSIONER COX: Well,
for clarification,
[1:56:19] I just want our citizens polled.
[1:56:21] I mean, I'm confident that our
visitors, like our citizens
[1:56:24] visitors, will give feedback
if needed or if asked,
[1:56:27] I mean, by our county residents.
[1:56:29] But.
[1:56:29] to be clear, for a
point of clarification,
[1:56:32] I just want our citizens
polled for this.
[1:56:34] SPEAKER 7: Yeah, I
mean, we could certainly
[1:56:36] work up an additional
poll in addition
[1:56:37] to what we've already
done and all the input,
[1:56:40] if that's the will of the board.
[1:56:43] COMMISSIONER
KETCHEL: You can also
[1:56:44] put it out through the
Chamber of Commerce.
[1:56:45] All four of them.
[1:56:46] That's a good way to
get some input too.
[1:56:48] SPEAKER 7: Yeah, cool.
[1:56:50] I can work with
Commissioner Palmer.
[1:56:52] We can come up with something.
[1:56:54] COMMISSIONER PALMER: [INAUDIBLE]
[1:56:54] [LAUGHTER]
[1:56:55] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[1:56:58] Other input for
Commissioner Palmer
[1:57:00] before I take a
stab at my thoughts?
[1:57:03] All right, so a lot
of good discussion,
[1:57:06] a lot of good sunshine.
[1:57:09] It's warm.
[1:57:10] Might be getting a tan up here.
[1:57:12] I don't want to get
a sunburn though.
[1:57:14] [CHUCKLES] So I'll
just tell you,
[1:57:15] and certainly, I understand
the request about a poll.
[1:57:21] Nothing wrong with that.
[1:57:22] Public input is good.
[1:57:24] I'll tell you, I've done
polling the old fashioned way.
[1:57:26] I've walked and knocked doors
in different neighborhoods,
[1:57:30] and I can get a pretty
good sense of what
[1:57:33] people think by doing that.
[1:57:33] And I can get a
pretty good sense
[1:57:36] by the communications
I hear from people,
[1:57:38] by the communications I hear
from the local residents, most
[1:57:42] local representatives,
for instance,
[1:57:45] from cities and city
council members.
[1:57:48] And I think I know
where I am on it.
[1:57:53] And a little bit of
this, we're starting
[1:57:56] to get into the granular
and some of the questions
[1:57:59] about how do we define things.
[1:58:00] That's probably, to
some extent, going
[1:58:03] to need to be a Lynn Hoshihara
and Kim Kopp question and less
[1:58:07] about a policy decision,
because now all of a sudden,
[1:58:10] you're starting to
lawyer the thing.
[1:58:11] And I can see another lawyer
in the room, Mr. Deitch,
[1:58:14] over here, shaking his head.
[1:58:15] He knows exactly what
I'm talking about.
[1:58:17] And that can get-- it can get--
it would almost be impossible.
[1:58:21] We could end up being
paralyzed in the process
[1:58:24] if we tried to do it up here.
[1:58:26] But we can certainly lay out
vision and policy from up here.
[1:58:29] And I'll tell you
what I would say.
[1:58:32] I'll start with the first thing.
[1:58:34] My position is, what this
can never be is a land based
[1:58:38] Crab Island.
[1:58:40] If there are blow
ups and bounce houses
[1:58:43] and rental skis running
over people and all
[1:58:46] of that absolute
nonsense, I will fight it
[1:58:49] with everything I've got.
[1:58:52] But I don't think that means a
park can never generate income.
[1:58:56] I don't think those have
to be mutually exclusive.
[1:59:00] I think what it means is, if you
generate income from your park,
[1:59:05] or even if you don't, if you
want a successful project,
[1:59:07] you need to have tight
controls and tight enforcement.
[1:59:11] And so that's where I start.
[1:59:14] I feel that way
about all our parks.
[1:59:18] I want them fenced, I
want them monitored,
[1:59:19] and I want enforcement when
people break the rules,
[1:59:22] because the people that
aren't breaking the rules
[1:59:24] deserve to go
there and enjoy it.
[1:59:26] But I don't mind
charging for something
[1:59:29] that somebody is
willing to pay for.
[1:59:31] In fact, when it
comes to the parking,
[1:59:33] I'm not even at
the position that I
[1:59:35] have to have free parking
for county residents.
[1:59:37] I want county residents to be
in parity with city residents.
[1:59:41] If city residents are free, I
want County residents for free.
[1:59:45] If city residents
get a discount,
[1:59:46] give county residents
the same discount.
[1:59:48] If we don't want to give
anybody a discount, that's fine.
[1:59:52] Have parity.
[1:59:53] As far as the Marina
goes, I won't--
[1:59:58] I say won't, I don't
foresee myself ever voting
[2:00:01] to tear down the Marina because
I view that as economic waste.
[2:00:07] So I won't do that.
[2:00:09] But I've envisioned this.
[2:00:10] When I think of
it, I think of it
[2:00:14] as, those are nothing
more than RV pad
[2:00:16] spots at Topsail on the water.
[2:00:21] Topsail manages it with the
state of Florida just fine.
[2:00:25] People pay, people go.
[2:00:27] Some people bring
a $10,000 camper.
[2:00:29] Some people bring
$1 million Prevost.
[2:00:32] Everybody can have a good
time and enjoy the beauty
[2:00:36] that the good Lord has provided
for us here in Okaloosa County
[2:00:39] and across the Emerald Coast.
[2:00:43] I think the idea of--
[2:00:45] that you have to
have strict controls.
[2:00:47] You cannot have somebody
parking out there for 12 months.
[2:00:50] You can't have somebody
parking out there for 30 days.
[2:00:54] The last thing you want is
what Fort Walton went through,
[2:00:57] and had all those junk
sailboats with two stroke
[2:01:00] generators sitting
on the front of it
[2:01:02] that they got at Harbor
Freight, and they're out there
[2:01:04] drinking beer on the bow,
yelling at people all day
[2:01:07] as they try to go to the park.
[2:01:09] We're not doing that.
[2:01:10] I will fight that
with everything I've
[2:01:11] got, because that's a
ridiculous waste of resources.
[2:01:14] But I don't actually think that
there isn't something inherently
[2:01:18] bad about a family that wants
to bring their cabin cruise
[2:01:23] chaparral and park over
there for a weekend.
[2:01:27] I don't think then--
[2:01:29] I don't think that's
necessarily bad.
[2:01:30] I don't think they're
a per se bad element.
[2:01:34] So I'm not trying to
exclude those kind of folks.
[2:01:38] But we make people-- we
charge for it because it
[2:01:41] has to generate some income.
[2:01:43] I don't think it's a place to
have fuel sales, personally.
[2:01:46] I don't want to get into
the fuel sales stuff,
[2:01:50] because guess what?
[2:01:50] We have a problem, now all of
a sudden the state looks at us.
[2:01:54] You had a leak, now you got DEP,
you got EPA, and the state says,
[2:01:57] well, you're the tenant.
[2:01:58] You did it.
[2:01:59] You fixed it.
[2:01:59] You pay for it.
[2:02:00] I don't want to get into it.
[2:02:02] Go somewhere else.
[2:02:02] There's plenty of other
places that'll sell fuel.
[2:02:04] We don't need to sell fuel.
[2:02:06] We don't necessarily
need a pump out.
[2:02:08] I don't know if Destin's
got a pump out boat,
[2:02:11] but a lot of places
do, and people can
[2:02:12] pay for that if they want it.
[2:02:13] I think reasonable
things is kind
[2:02:14] of like you do on a campsite.
[2:02:17] You need power, you need water.
[2:02:18] You need rules, you
need trash collection.
[2:02:20] You need trash
collection, whether people
[2:02:24] stay at the Marina or not,
so that just makes sense.
[2:02:27] You're going to
need some parking.
[2:02:28] It'd be ridiculous
not to have parking.
[2:02:30] It would be ridiculous not
to have sufficient parking.
[2:02:33] But how much is the
right amount of parking?
[2:02:35] I don't know.
[2:02:36] That's not for us.
[2:02:37] It's certainly not for me.
[2:02:39] There's plenty of
civil engineers
[2:02:41] out there that can
give us great guidance
[2:02:44] on the correct balance of the
number of parking spots we need,
[2:02:47] how to design them,
and how to map it
[2:02:49] out so that it's
not oversaturated,
[2:02:51] and it's not underserved.
[2:02:54] It's not a decision I need to
make sitting here, or tell you,
[2:02:58] hey, I want 148--
[2:02:58] I'll need 148 parking spots.
[2:02:59] That's a waste of time.
[2:03:01] It could be wrong.
[2:03:02] It could be too many, it could
be too little, I don't know.
[2:03:06] So those are some of the
basics where I start from.
[2:03:09] Do I think there's
anything wrong
[2:03:10] with having some type
of retail sales there
[2:03:12] and even some food sales?
[2:03:18] No.
[2:03:19] No, they do it at--
[2:03:21] they do it at state
parks all over the place.
[2:03:24] Federal parks.
[2:03:26] But does that mean we have food
trucks and carnival concessions?
[2:03:29] No, but I mean, you can have
a sundries store that's small,
[2:03:37] run by camp Rangers.
[2:03:40] I mean, I've been to many,
many parks where they have it.
[2:03:44] They're not offensive.
[2:03:44] In fact, people enjoy it.
[2:03:46] It's not a t-shirt shop with
offensive things hanging
[2:03:50] in the window.
[2:03:52] It's reasonable.
[2:03:53] And in fact, you can
put things in there
[2:03:56] that are location specific.
[2:03:56] Stickers that say, I
visited Destin, Florida.
[2:03:59] People like that kind of stuff.
[2:04:02] They'll stick it on their boat,
go back wherever they came from
[2:04:05] and say, I can't wait
to go back to Destin,
[2:04:07] because they had a good
time with their kids
[2:04:08] and their family,
and nobody got hurt.
[2:04:10] Nobody was acting crazy.
[2:04:12] Because we're going
to have rules,
[2:04:16] I foresee, in place
that won't allow it.
[2:04:18] We're not going to allow people
to sit out there and blast music
[2:04:22] to the middle of the night,
or even during the day.
[2:04:26] We can crack down on
that kind of stuff
[2:04:28] because it will be
things that we control.
[2:04:31] That's how I foresee it.
[2:04:33] But exactly what the--
[2:04:34] I can't sit right here
and articulate for you
[2:04:38] what that rule book
is going to look like,
[2:04:41] but I can tell you what I
want to accomplish with it,
[2:04:43] and I know there are people
that are a lot smarter than me
[2:04:46] that can help figure out
what those rules are.
[2:04:47] But I think it's--
[2:04:48] so, I guess, really from
a basic starting point,
[2:04:51] no, I don't want to
tear down the Marina,
[2:04:54] and no, I don't want
people living out there.
[2:04:55] Absolutely not.
[2:04:56] And do I think that
there should be
[2:04:58] some reserve slips that are
day, kind of transient use?
[2:05:01] Yeah, the city of Destin
has some transient slips.
[2:05:05] And guess what?
[2:05:06] They are very nice to have.
[2:05:07] When I say transient,
that's day use,
[2:05:13] I don't mean homeless
people living there.
[2:05:15] But the Marina's there.
[2:05:19] It'd be-- I'm just too much of a
conservative mind to go in there
[2:05:23] and rip the thing out.
[2:05:24] But I think if we
manage it correctly,
[2:05:27] it won't be an offensive thing.
[2:05:28] As far as trying to have
this treated as conservation,
[2:05:32] whether we use a city
definition, the state
[2:05:36] definition, I say we use
a practical definition.
[2:05:39] No, we don't want the
whole thing paved.
[2:05:43] No, we don't want a saturation
of vertical development.
[2:05:45] Does there need to be, probably,
some landscaping and some ADA
[2:05:50] accommodations and
things like that?
[2:05:52] Absolutely.
[2:05:53] Like I said, there's going
to have to be some parking,
[2:05:56] but can you conserve
or try to, actually,
[2:06:00] restore to some extent, some
of the natural elements?
[2:06:05] Sure, I'd love to
see that baked in.
[2:06:09] I don't think people
are going to come
[2:06:12] to that facility for
an entertainment venue.
[2:06:13] It's going to be like
when they go to Alabama
[2:06:17] and want to go to
Gulf State Park.
[2:06:19] They're enjoying the
beauty of what's there.
[2:06:20] That's my vision of it.
[2:06:22] Is there are people that
don't agree with me?
[2:06:24] Absolutely.
[2:06:24] I talk to people that don't
agree with me every day.
[2:06:28] It starts when I first get
out of bed in the morning.
[2:06:30] But that's kind
of my take on it.
[2:06:32] I can't really go have coffee
with Commissioner Palmer
[2:06:35] and tell him that.
[2:06:36] That's the level of
input I think he needs.
[2:06:40] I don't think he needs me
to tell him, well, take out
[2:06:43] pier one, but leave pier three.
[2:06:44] That's not for today.
[2:06:45] That's just where I am.
[2:06:48] Don't get into the fuel.
[2:06:50] Let's use pump out boats,
don't run sewer lines
[2:06:54] because then they breach
and then there's a spill
[2:06:58] and then it's all this
stuff that's bad from it.
[2:07:00] You want to come, you
need your boat pumped out,
[2:07:03] pay somebody to pump it out.
[2:07:05] That's fine.
[2:07:05] We'll give you water,
we'll give you electricity,
[2:07:07] so you don't have a dead
battery, because we definitely
[2:07:10] don't want boats sitting there
that can't start and get out
[2:07:12] when they're supposed to go.
[2:07:12] We're going to
need a park ranger.
[2:07:14] I think there needs
to be a guard shack.
[2:07:16] I think there needs
to be a guy or a gal
[2:07:20] out there with a uniform on that
lets them know, I'm your park
[2:07:23] liaison, park ranger.
[2:07:23] It needs to be monitored.
[2:07:25] It needs to have security.
[2:07:26] It needs cameras.
[2:07:27] It is going to have
to have some lighting.
[2:07:30] Obviously, it's got to be
turtle friendly and respectful
[2:07:32] of the neighbors, but
you've got to have
[2:07:34] some lighting for security
because there will be times
[2:07:36] that people are out
there after dark,
[2:07:38] especially if there's Marinas.
[2:07:39] But you're going to have rules.
[2:07:41] You're going to
have rules in place.
[2:07:42] People break it, they're
gone, they're banned.
[2:07:44] You got to have enforcement.
[2:07:45] Anyway, I don't know if that's
helpful at all, Commissioner,
[2:07:48] but that's my perspective.
[2:07:49] COMMISSIONER PALMER:
Yes, sir, I think it is.
[2:07:51] And I appreciate your input.
[2:07:52] And if anybody else has input,
I would be excited to hear it.
[2:07:56] I think you're starting
where I am starting.
[2:07:59] You didn't say anything
that is like, oh, wow.
[2:08:03] I think we're kind on
the same page here.
[2:08:05] And I think that's where we need
to start with our discussions
[2:08:09] with the city.
[2:08:10] When we're talking
about interlocal.
[2:08:11] Like, these are the things that
we as a board are contemplating.
[2:08:14] I think you're
absolutely right, we
[2:08:15] don't want it to
be a crab Island.
[2:08:18] We don't want it to be, bounce
houses and that sort of thing
[2:08:21] out there, but
it's going to be--
[2:08:22] I just want a nice place for
families to have a nice time.
[2:08:26] And I think you and I
may disagree a little bit
[2:08:30] on the parking.
[2:08:30] I do like the idea of Crestview
residents or Baker residents
[2:08:34] being able to come down
there and park for free.
[2:08:39] I think that's important
when we're spending money
[2:08:40] on behalf of the county.
[2:08:42] That's one thing that I--
[2:08:44] but I do, I appreciate your
parity is a minimum, right?
[2:08:48] Parity is a minimum.
[2:08:49] But I do appreciate that input.
[2:08:51] And I think it gives us a place
to start, where, at least,
[2:08:55] now the city understands where
the board is coming from.
[2:08:57] And I think that
helps our discussions.
[2:09:00] COMMISSIONER COX: I have just
a point of clarity, if I may.
[2:09:05] And I know this
is highly unusual,
[2:09:06] but if Councilman Bagby,
can you answer this for me?
[2:09:08] Because I think I'm off of page
or missing a page on the Marina.
[2:09:14] It sounds very much like the
majority of your citizens
[2:09:18] do not want the Marina in
place as it currently exists.
[2:09:22] However, the city
of Destin is who
[2:09:27] approved the plans and the
construction of the Marina
[2:09:30] as it currently exists.
[2:09:31] Is that correct?
[2:09:33] JIM BAGBY: Yes.
[2:09:34] COMMISSIONER COX: OK.
[2:09:34] So that's really already
been approved and addressed.
[2:09:38] And that really shouldn't
even be an issue for us,
[2:09:41] because we're--
[2:09:43] I mean, first of all,
we don't have a lease,
[2:09:46] and secondly, we're not
the landowners, right?
[2:09:47] The state owns the land,
and they have not also
[2:09:50] suggested the removal
of the Marina.
[2:09:52] JIM BAGBY: Yes, ma'am.
[2:09:54] And I like getting in
trouble with the lawyer.
[2:09:56] So I'm going to preempt
her, and then she's
[2:09:58] going to clean up my mess here.
[2:10:00] The docks were approved as part
of the residential condominium
[2:10:02] approval.
[2:10:05] Without the docks-- or
without the condominium,
[2:10:08] the docks would not exist.
[2:10:10] And they were tied to that as
part of their development order
[2:10:14] so that when the docs
are there-- and we did
[2:10:17] have a council member mentioned
who's our representative.
[2:10:20] Well, we could just
remove the docs
[2:10:23] and somebody would probably
take the materials and do that.
[2:10:27] Council didn't vote on that.
[2:10:29] COMMISSIONER COX: OK.
[2:10:30] JIM BAGBY: OK.
[2:10:30] So this is kind of
little red herring
[2:10:32] that keeps getting
bounced around up here
[2:10:33] is, oh, Destin wants
to remove the docs.
[2:10:36] No, but what we do realize,
being a fishing community,
[2:10:39] is that the docs, as
currently constructed,
[2:10:42] were built for 75
foot and larger boats
[2:10:44] because those were
the people that
[2:10:48] were going to buy the
multi-million dollar
[2:10:50] condominiums.
[2:10:50] Those docs will not fit the
chaparral or the little 23 foot
[2:10:55] center console fishing boat
that somebody brings over
[2:11:00] from Niceville or Poquito
Bayou or whatever.
[2:11:03] And even your own
staff has admitted,
[2:11:06] well, we'll just pay
to retrofit those.
[2:11:09] OK, well, that's a cost
that nobody's anticipated.
[2:11:12] Certainly, the state
didn't anticipate that.
[2:11:14] But you're absolutely
right, those docs
[2:11:17] were approved as part
of the development order
[2:11:20] because they are
allowed to be tied
[2:11:22] to the residential units that
were in those condominiums.
[2:11:25] OK, you can get
me out of trouble.
[2:11:29] COMMISSIONER COX:
And that's correct--
[2:11:30] KIMBERLY KOPP:
Thank you very much.
[2:11:30] Great job, council member Bagby.
[2:11:31] But I want to give you
all just a little bit more
[2:11:35] of the legal background
on the development orders
[2:11:36] and the city's position
on that based on what
[2:11:38] I've heard from the council.
[2:11:40] First of all, the docs are
a separate development order
[2:11:44] from the condo.
[2:11:47] And the condo was
approved decades ago.
[2:11:49] I don't remember the
exact year offhand.
[2:11:54] I want to say 2009.
[2:11:55] OK, decades ago.
[2:11:57] In that development order,
docs were not contemplated.
[2:12:01] So when the prior property
owner came in and applied
[2:12:06] for the second
development order,
[2:12:09] the city was very clear about
why that would be approved
[2:12:13] and what the limitations
were going to be.
[2:12:17] And like I mentioned
at a council meeting,
[2:12:20] that you may not have
seen a lot of those
[2:12:22] conditions were not just
in there, but bold caps.
[2:12:24] It was a main purpose
of the city council
[2:12:26] to restrict the
use of the docks.
[2:12:28] Keep in mind, the
condo had the parking.
[2:12:32] The city owns in fee simple the
right of way into Noriega point,
[2:12:37] and that was also going
to serve the condominium.
[2:12:42] So we added public
parking there.
[2:12:44] And I've not heard from
anyone on this council
[2:12:47] that we would not want to treat
the North and South with parity.
[2:12:51] So I don't think you're going
to have a problem with that.
[2:12:54] I think if Destin
residents are not
[2:12:55] charged for parking,
what I've heard
[2:12:57] from my client in
public meetings,
[2:12:59] is they're happy to have
the North also not pay.
[2:13:03] But the development order also
specifically says not only does
[2:13:08] it say no commercial use.
[2:13:11] That's not all it says.
[2:13:12] It says, no non-residential use.
[2:13:13] No non-residential
use, no renting
[2:13:15] of the slips, no
intensity and frequency
[2:13:18] of boats coming and going.
[2:13:21] That is not typical for a
residential neighborhood.
[2:13:23] So I understand
that it might not
[2:13:26] be feasible to take
down the docks.
[2:13:30] And I think that was a little
bit of an extreme example
[2:13:33] coming, because I know that
we did have conversations
[2:13:35] with Commissioner Palmer where
we talked about other options,
[2:13:39] such as public transient
use of one of those docks,
[2:13:42] fishing off of one
of those docks,
[2:13:45] and there are other
ways to use them.
[2:13:48] So I don't want the
city to be portrayed,
[2:13:50] and I'm not saying that was your
intent, Commissioner Palmer,
[2:13:52] but I don't want the city to
be portrayed as an extremist.
[2:13:55] Like, nothing can be
done here and the docks
[2:13:58] must be torn down, because
that's not the city's position.
[2:14:00] This interlocal that
we are requesting--
[2:14:01] and thank you for the
time, I'm going to wrap up,
[2:14:06] but this interlocal we are
requesting would just be to say,
[2:14:08] we are all going to
talk to each other.
[2:14:12] I think it's too
early for the county
[2:14:14] to opine on the uses
on the property,
[2:14:16] because we've never talked about
it with the public, with you,
[2:14:20] with each other.
[2:14:21] I mean, I agreed with you,
Commissioner Cox, on that.
[2:14:23] That was a really good point.
[2:14:26] So just getting back
to the interlocal,
[2:14:27] ours just recognized, hey, the
county doesn't have a lease yet,
[2:14:32] but when you do, we'd
like to talk to you.
[2:14:34] And based on my conversations
with the county attorney,
[2:14:36] I understand the sticking point
to be that our version said
[2:14:40] both the city council
in the BCC have
[2:14:44] to approve a management plan
before it goes to the state.
[2:14:48] And I think the
county's concern is
[2:14:50] that if the city never
agrees to a plan,
[2:14:52] we're going to stop everything.
[2:14:54] But I believe that
there is language
[2:14:56] that Lynn and I could work
out to address that concern,
[2:14:59] whether we put time limits
on it, a termination clause,
[2:15:02] we can work that out.
[2:15:03] So please, if we could just
stick to the step that we're at
[2:15:07] and not go forward.
[2:15:09] And last comment.
[2:15:10] Just when we talk about
all these other state parks
[2:15:13] and what's allowed in them
and what's reasonable in them,
[2:15:16] keep in mind that this one
is in a residential area
[2:15:19] next to a conservation park,
and there's one road in and out,
[2:15:23] and all these
people are affected.
[2:15:25] So, thank you for your time.
[2:15:27] Thank you, Councilor.
[2:15:28] [APPLAUSE]
[2:15:28] COMMISSIONER PALMER: Kim?
[2:15:30] Ms. Kopp?
[2:15:30] Ms Kopp?
[2:15:33] Ms. Kopp?
[2:15:34] Can I ask you, yeah,
just a quick question,
[2:15:37] because you mentioned that
non-residential use is
[2:15:39] what was prohibited.
[2:15:41] Are Airbnbs considered
residential use,
[2:15:43] as per the city's Definitions?
[2:15:46] KIMBERLY KOPP: Airbnbs are
considered residential.
[2:15:49] However, the development
order for the condominium
[2:15:52] was predating the statute
on short-term rentals,
[2:15:56] so it was able to prohibit that.
[2:15:59] COMMISSIONER PALMER:
And again, I'm
[2:16:00] just working with what I have.
[2:16:01] KIMBERLY KOPP: Absolutely.
[2:16:01] COMMISSIONER PALMER: When
I look at the definitions
[2:16:03] of these things, weekly
short-term rentals
[2:16:05] are considered residential
use, not commercial use.
[2:16:08] KIMBERLY KOPP: That's correct.
[2:16:10] COMMISSIONER PALMER:
And so I'm just
[2:16:12] trying to understand where
we're going to start.
[2:16:14] KIMBERLY KOPP: Agreed.
[2:16:15] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: I think we
probably neared the point where
[2:16:18] we're not making any
additional progress,
[2:16:19] but I think we made a
ton of progress today.
[2:16:22] And if anybody
wanted a workshop,
[2:16:23] we've just about had one,
which is good, right?
[2:16:25] And so I'm glad we were able
to have this discussion.
[2:16:29] This will not be
the last discussion.
[2:16:31] There will be discussions
that, like we mentioned,
[2:16:33] we'll have liaisons,
we'll have lawyers,
[2:16:36] we'll have things brought back.
[2:16:38] We'll have it discussed.
[2:16:39] It'll probably be a
couple rounds of that
[2:16:41] because nobody's ready to start
building anything right now.
[2:16:43] Let's be clear.
[2:16:44] But I'll tell you,
from my perspective,
[2:16:47] I know we can get into the
codes and the legalese and all
[2:16:53] that stuff.
[2:16:55] And I'll just tell you
where I start from.
[2:16:58] I don't start with those
things as boundaries.
[2:17:00] Where I start is I'm looking
at the piece of property,
[2:17:03] I need to figure out
where, as a board,
[2:17:05] we can get from a
policy perspective,
[2:17:07] and where the city council can
get from policy perspective,
[2:17:10] and let's figure out what
that looks like together.
[2:17:12] And then I'll leave it to the
lawyers that do this kind of law
[2:17:16] to figure out how to
document that correctly.
[2:17:17] Development orders
about condos that
[2:17:20] aren't getting built, I
mean, I think what happens
[2:17:23] is we could further go
back towards paralysis
[2:17:25] if we're not careful.
[2:17:27] And I don't want to do that yet.
[2:17:29] I think we've got
some momentum, we've
[2:17:30] got some things to talk about,
and I feel like we'll get there.
[2:17:34] So we should probably move on.
[2:17:37] I don't think we need
action at this point.
[2:17:39] I think we had a consensus and I
think Commissioner Palmer asked
[2:17:43] a question.
[2:17:44] You got some answers.
[2:17:45] COMMISSIONER PALMER: I did.
[2:17:46] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: And
so a very good discussion.
[2:17:48] I also am going to put us
into a 10 minute recess
[2:17:52] before we start
the public hearing.
[2:17:55] That will allow folks
to get a small break.
[2:17:59] And if you don't have
any further business,
[2:18:02] obviously, you can go on
about your day as well.
[2:18:05] So we're in a 10 minute recess.
[2:18:08] [GAVEL STRIKES]
[2:18:09] [CHATTER]
[2:29:16] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And our first item
[2:29:24] will be the public hearing
regarding the surtax.
[2:29:27] Mr. Autrey, if you
could present this item.
[2:29:31] Of course, this is
a public hearing,
[2:29:33] so we will have an
opportunity for public input.
[2:29:36] And because it's a hearing,
the county attorney
[2:29:39] can, I believe on this
one, swear any witnesses
[2:29:42] that need to be sworn.
[2:29:45] Is that right?
[2:29:45] LYNN HOSHIHARA: [INAUDIBLE]
[2:29:46] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
No, no, we don't have to.
[2:29:48] It's not quasi-judicial.
[2:29:47] JASON AUTREY: You're
free to leave, Lynn.
[2:29:50] Thank you.
[2:29:49] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
There you go.
[2:29:50] [LAUGHTER]
[2:29:50] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Run while you can.
[2:29:52] All right, Mr. Autrey.
[2:29:53] JASON AUTREY: Good morning.
[2:29:54] Jason Autrey, Deputy
County Administrator
[2:29:55] for Development Services.
[2:29:56] As this commission
knows, we have
[2:29:59] a local infrastructure--
local option infrastructure
[2:30:00] surtax that's in place.
[2:30:03] We're currently in the
midst of the seven years.
[2:30:05] So we've still got
a little bit of time
[2:30:07] until this thing tapers out,
but we're looking ahead.
[2:30:09] The needs for
infrastructure to continue
[2:30:10] to exist in Okaloosa County, but
we have found this past program
[2:30:15] to be remarkably successful,
not only for Okaloosa County,
[2:30:16] but for our municipalities
and for our public safety
[2:30:20] element as well.
[2:30:21] In order to-- the
current surtax has
[2:30:23] a sunset that is in 10 years.
[2:30:26] So in December 31
of 2028, it will
[2:30:28] ceasefire to be implemented
unless it is extended.
[2:30:31] And this ordinance that's
presented before you
[2:30:33] allows us to put it back in
front of the voting public
[2:30:39] again in the regular
election in November.
[2:30:40] To follow this certain timeline
that we have for notification,
[2:30:44] we have to do an audit
through the state,
[2:30:46] and then we go and see what
the public has to say about it.
[2:30:50] So this is a public hearing
to propose putting language
[2:30:52] on the ballot in November
for the extension
[2:30:55] of the infrastructure surtax
to begin January 1, 2029,
[2:30:58] for another 10 year program.
[2:31:01] I'd be happy to answer any
questions you may have on this.
[2:31:04] And Lynn as well, since she has
been very gracious in helping me
[2:31:07] out with the ordinance.
[2:31:08] But that's what we
have for you today.
[2:31:10] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[2:31:11] Very good.
[2:31:12] Any questions before we
open the public comment?
[2:31:14] COMMISSIONER COX: I do.
[2:31:15] I just want you to tell us
one more time how much of that
[2:31:19] local option surtax is
paid for by our visitors?
[2:31:22] JASON AUTREY: Yeah, so the
safe number that we have is
[2:31:26] that year round, the
average is about 33% of it.
[2:31:28] A third of it comes
from our tourism.
[2:31:30] And in the peak season, we
see it at 50% or greater
[2:31:33] comes from the tourists that
provide input into this.
[2:31:35] COMMISSIONER COX: OK.
[2:31:36] Thank you.
[2:31:36] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Very good.
[2:31:38] COMMISSIONER PALMER: And may I
just ask something real quick?
[2:31:40] This is another
softball, but how much
[2:31:40] have we been able to partner
outside money with this surtax
[2:31:44] to the benefit of our community?
[2:31:47] COMMISSIONER COX:
Very round numbers.
[2:31:48] Our current expenditure
is about $136 million,
[2:31:50] of which we've turned into about
$270 million for the project.
[2:31:55] So it's basically
a 2 to 1 ratio.
[2:31:57] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[2:32:00] We'll open now
our public comment
[2:32:02] portion of the public hearing.
[2:32:05] What's that?
[2:32:05] Oh, thank you.
[2:32:07] I turn the microphone off.
[2:32:09] We'll open the public comment
portion of the public hearing.
[2:32:13] First speaker is Alan Jowers.
[2:32:25] ALAN JOWERS: Good
morning, Chairman
[2:32:32] and the board of
County Commissioners.
[2:32:34] My name is Alan Jowers.
[2:32:37] I am the incoming chair
for the Fort Walton Beach,
[2:32:40] Greater Fort Walton
Beach area Chamber
[2:32:42] of commerce and
Bonnie Barlow is here,
[2:32:44] and she is the current chair for
the Greater Fort Walton Beach
[2:32:49] chamber of Commerce.
[2:32:49] BONNIE BARLOW: Thank you
for having us this morning.
[2:32:53] And on behalf of the Board of
the Greater Fort Walton Beach
[2:32:56] Chamber of Commerce, we
support this ordinance 100%.
[2:32:59] And that is for all
of our board as well.
[2:33:05] And we're so excited to
be able to do what we
[2:33:09] can to promote this ordinance.
[2:33:11] So thank you.
[2:33:13] ALAN JOWERS: Thank you.
[2:33:14] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank
you both for being here.
[2:33:17] Next speaker is Sandra Wilson.
[2:33:28] SANDRA WILSON: Good
morning, Chairman Goodwin.
[2:33:35] Commissioners,
thanks for having me.
[2:33:37] I'm Sandra Wilson,
and I'm only here
[2:33:39] on behalf of the
Crestview Chamber,
[2:33:41] but we can only echo what Fort
Walton Beach Chamber is saying.
[2:33:44] We are in strong support
of continuing this surtax.
[2:33:47] I think Crestview has seen a
tremendous amount of money being
[2:33:51] put into our
infrastructure that we all
[2:33:53] know is all about
economic development,
[2:33:54] and we need safe roads, we need
dependable stormwater systems
[2:33:58] and our public
safety facilities.
[2:34:01] I know the Sheriff's
Department has
[2:34:05] had a great benefit
of those surtaxes,
[2:34:07] so I know infrastructure
may not be glamorous,
[2:34:09] but neither are potholes.
[2:34:11] And we all know that we
don't notice infrastructure
[2:34:14] when it's working, but you
definitely notice when it's not.
[2:34:18] And anybody that's left
Crestview at 6:00 AM
[2:34:20] in the morning and try to
come back after 4:00 PM,
[2:34:24] has seen what it does.
[2:34:26] And because it's a
tourist driven county,
[2:34:27] a portion of this
investment, as we just heard,
[2:34:31] is shared by our visitors,
which helps us a lot.
[2:34:34] And I feel like
it's really killing
[2:34:35] two stones with one bird, and
having the tourists help us
[2:34:38] with that.
[2:34:39] And being able to raise some
more funds to match the dollar.
[2:34:43] So where businesses
look to invest
[2:34:45] in our community and the
predictable infrastructure
[2:34:48] funding sends a clear message
that this is a good place
[2:34:52] to come for business.
[2:34:53] So thank you for putting
this on our ballot,
[2:34:55] letting our citizens decide.
[2:34:56] We in the Crestview
Chamber help to make sure
[2:34:59] that people understand
what's on their ballot.
[2:35:01] Thank you.
[2:35:02] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.
[2:35:04] Next speaker, Melissa, with
the Emerald Coast Association
[2:35:06] of Realtors.
[2:35:08] MELISSA SKONIECKI: You
got two Melissa's today.
[2:35:16] This is Melissa Garza, our
government affairs director.
[2:35:18] And my name is
Melissa Skoniecki.
[2:35:21] I'm here on behalf of the
Emerald Coast Association
[2:35:24] of Realtors, representing
more than 5,000 members.
[2:35:26] We respectfully request that you
place the renewal of the 10-year
[2:35:30] half-cent surtax on the
November 2026 ballot,
[2:35:33] covering January 2029
through December 2038.
[2:35:36] ECAR was an original supporter
of the surtax in 2018
[2:35:42] because we believe
strong in infrastructure,
[2:35:44] responsible planning and a
high quality of life that
[2:35:48] are essential to our healthy
community and stable real estate
[2:35:52] market.
[2:35:52] Since taking effect
in 2019, the surtax
[2:35:55] has delivered
measurable results.
[2:35:57] As you know, most
importantly, it
[2:35:59] has allowed the
county to maintain
[2:36:01] a millage rate of under 4%.
[2:36:03] Predictable, stable
tax rates are
[2:36:05] critical for housing
affordability, homeownership,
[2:36:07] and long-term economic
competitiveness.
[2:36:10] Beyond the fiscal
stability, as you
[2:36:13] know, the surtax has funded
over 18 road projects,
[2:36:16] improved traffic
mobility, strengthened
[2:36:18] the stormwater and
water quality systems,
[2:36:21] it's enhanced public
safety, and upgraded
[2:36:23] pedestrian infrastructure.
[2:36:25] These improvements directly
impact property values,
[2:36:28] buyer confidence, and
neighborhood desirability.
[2:36:31] As realtors, we serve
as trusted advisors
[2:36:35] to families and
investors choosing
[2:36:37] to call Okaloosa County home.
[2:36:40] Strong infrastructure and
sound fiscal management
[2:36:42] matter to them, and the
long-term resilience
[2:36:45] of our great community.
[2:36:47] For these reasons,
ECAR respectfully
[2:36:49] supports placing the renewal
of the half-cent surtax
[2:36:52] before voters in 2026.
[2:36:54] Thank you very much
for your consideration.
[2:36:57] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.
[2:37:00] All right.
[2:37:02] Our next speaker, Nathan Sparks.
[2:37:03] NATHAN SPARKS: Mr.
Chairman, commissioners,
[2:37:09] great to be with
you this morning.
[2:37:11] It is still morning, right?
[2:37:13] [CHUCKLING]
[2:37:13] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
A little while.
[2:37:16] NATHAN SPARKS:
Folks, you know this,
[2:37:18] building community requires
intentional action,
[2:37:19] and you all have taken
intentional action consistently,
[2:37:23] just as you did back in 2018,
in allowing the resolution
[2:37:27] to come forward to put the
surtax, the infrastructure
[2:37:31] surtax, before the voters,
and we see the fruits of that.
[2:37:35] Building community also
requires resources,
[2:37:37] and that's exactly what
the surtax has provided.
[2:37:40] I go to a lot of economic
development meetings,
[2:37:45] as you would expect, and I
hear regularly the importance
[2:37:48] of infrastructure.
[2:37:49] Infrastructure really
is ranked right there
[2:37:51] with education and workforce in
terms of economic development
[2:37:54] success.
[2:37:56] But you know it's
also, infrastructure
[2:37:57] is also catalytic.
[2:37:58] Last night, I took a
look at the numbers.
[2:38:01] In 2019, when the infrastructure
surtax took effect.
[2:38:03] According to the US Bureau
of Economic Analysis,
[2:38:07] Okaloosa County's GDP was
$13 billion. $13 billion.
[2:38:10] In 2024, five years
later, which is
[2:38:17] the year that-- the
most recent year
[2:38:20] for which data is available.
[2:38:21] So five years later, the GDP
of our county was $19 billion.
[2:38:24] $6 billion growth in
our GDP over five years.
[2:38:29] That's a 46% increase.
[2:38:31] So how does that compare
to the previous five years
[2:38:35] when we didn't have the
infrastructure surtax?
[2:38:36] So if you look at 2014, our
GDP was a mere $10 billion.
[2:38:40] And we increased, in 2019, to
$13 billion, as I mentioned.
[2:38:47] So we went up 30% in that
five-year time period in which
[2:38:51] we did not have a surtax.
[2:38:53] So I firmly believe--
[2:38:54] I'm not saying the surtax is the
panacea that solves everything,
[2:38:57] and it's certainly
not the source that
[2:39:00] provided all of that
economic growth,
[2:39:02] but it provided the framework
for that economic growth.
[2:39:04] The reality is, people
invest in communities
[2:39:07] that invest in themselves.
[2:39:08] And we've heard that
time and time again
[2:39:11] when we've met with clients
considering our community.
[2:39:12] They value that
this commission has
[2:39:14] done the hard things to position
our community for growth.
[2:39:19] And so, certainly,
we're in favor of it
[2:39:22] on behalf of our nearly
200 members at 1 Okaloosa
[2:39:25] EDC and our board.
[2:39:26] We stand in firm support,
and certainly, we'll
[2:39:28] do anything we can to help
message it accordingly.
[2:39:32] Thank you.
[2:39:32] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.
[2:39:34] All right.
[2:39:35] That's the last speaker card I
have for this public hearing.
[2:39:38] So we'll close the public
comment portion of the meeting.
[2:39:40] I do want to bring up
one housekeeping issue.
[2:39:43] I think Ms. Hoshihara has
a version of the proposed
[2:39:45] ordinance that has one
additional clarification in it.
[2:39:50] Ms. Hoshihara, do you
want to let the board
[2:39:55] know what that is to determine
if the board wants to use
[2:40:00] the clarified version or not?
[2:40:01] LYNN HOSHIHARA: Sure.
[2:40:04] The clarified version adds
the words land acquisition
[2:40:06] specifically within the ballot
language such that it reads,
[2:40:12] Shall the county continue
to levy a half-cent sales
[2:40:15] surtax on taxable
transactions countywide
[2:40:16] for 10 years effective
January 1, 2029,
[2:40:19] for funding critical needs,
including essential law
[2:40:23] enforcement, public
safety facilities.
[2:40:24] And included land acquisitions,
reduced traffic congestion,
[2:40:28] construction, repairing of
roads, bridges, and sidewalks,
[2:40:32] flood control and water
quality improvements,
[2:40:34] associated equipment, and to
construct other public facility
[2:40:37] improvements and paid
debt subject to oversight
[2:40:40] by a citizens committee.
[2:40:41] So specific inclusion of
the term land acquisition
[2:40:44] is proposed to be included
in the ballot language,
[2:40:49] if that's the board's
desire to do so.
[2:40:51] COMMISSIONER COX: Do we
need a consensus on that?
[2:40:55] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Well, I think
[2:40:57] it would be part of the motion.
[2:40:59] COMMISSIONER PALMER: Yeah.
[2:41:00] COMMISSIONER
GOODWIN: If anybody--
[2:41:01] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Chairman,
I'll be glad to make the motion,
[2:41:03] as Ms. Hoshihara just stated--
[2:41:05] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: OK.
[2:41:06] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
--and I'll put a comment
[2:41:08] when I get a second.
[2:41:09] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[2:41:10] Do we have a second?
[2:41:10] OK, we have a
motion and a second.
[2:41:12] As clarified with Ms.
Hoshihara's discussion.
[2:41:13] All right, Commissioner Ketchel.
[2:41:16] COMMISSIONER
KETCHEL: So first, I
[2:41:17] want to commend everybody
who sat through 2.5 hours.
[2:41:20] This is how important it was
for the chambers and ECAR,
[2:41:23] that they stayed and,
of course, thank you.
[2:41:27] I just can't thank Nathan
Sparks enough for all
[2:41:30] that he has done for our
community and our county.
[2:41:34] This surtax was a game changer.
[2:41:37] I literally probably would
have run for years and stopped.
[2:41:40] I've said that to many people.
[2:41:42] Because everybody
would call and say,
[2:41:43] I've got this huge
pothole in my--
[2:41:45] literally, I could put
a Volkswagen in it.
[2:41:48] And I'd have to say,
I'll put you on the list,
[2:41:50] and I'd call Mr. Autrey and he'd
say, I'll put it on the list
[2:41:53] probably next seven
or eight years.
[2:41:53] And that is no joke.
[2:41:55] That's how far behind we were
in infrastructure projects
[2:41:58] in this county.
[2:41:59] And I am so grateful
to the voters
[2:42:02] that they gave us this
10 years, and I only
[2:42:04] hope that they will
give us another 10
[2:42:06] years so that we can continue
the great work of this county.
[2:42:09] It has made a huge difference.
[2:42:11] It was a game changer.
[2:42:12] And we have so many pressing
projects in front of us
[2:42:15] yet, which I won't
go into today,
[2:42:18] but there's a long list of them.
[2:42:20] And without this, all work would
ceasefire within about a year.
[2:42:23] So thank you very much and
thank you all for being here.
[2:42:27] It made a huge difference.
[2:42:27] And I mean that.
[2:42:28] COMMISSIONER
GOODWIN: Mr. Palmer.
[2:42:28] COMMISSIONER PALMER:
Thank you, Chairman.
[2:42:31] I'd like to echo
that I deeply, deeply
[2:42:33] appreciate the involvement
of the Chambers of Commerce
[2:42:36] and our ECAR and our
Economic Development team.
[2:42:40] This is such an important thing.
[2:42:46] The question that I
asked to start this was,
[2:42:49] how much have we been able to
impact our community with this?
[2:42:54] And so although I've been
guilty in the past of saying
[2:42:58] that 50% is paid
by our visitors,
[2:43:01] however, understanding
it's only--
[2:43:05] one third of it is
paid by the visitors.
[2:43:08] But then when you
couple that with how
[2:43:10] we've been able to leverage
that into partnering money,
[2:43:12] and we can say that
this money that we're
[2:43:16] spending on infrastructure
is only one third
[2:43:17] paid by our residents, which
is an amazing statistic.
[2:43:20] And I thank you for the
work that you do on that.
[2:43:24] I thank you for those
who are supporting it.
[2:43:26] When this was
originally envisioned
[2:43:27] and when this was originally
approved, all we had was
[2:43:31] promises that we would go
and spend this money wisely
[2:43:34] and positively
impact our community,
[2:43:36] and now we have proof.
[2:43:39] And I think the proof
is shown by those
[2:43:41] who are now supporting
it and are out there
[2:43:44] and pushing this for us.
[2:43:45] So thank you very much for-- and
thank you all for being here.
[2:43:48] JASON AUTREY: If I may add to
that, I do want to point out,
[2:43:51] this agenda item has
a good bit to it.
[2:43:53] And one of the things that, I
think, proves successful to this
[2:43:56] was that we had a projects list.
[2:43:57] We will do that
exact same process.
[2:43:58] And it has a Citizens
Advisory committee,
[2:44:00] we will do that
exact same process.
[2:44:02] So I want it to be
clear, this is really
[2:44:05] looking to be a
continuation of what
[2:44:06] we view as the successful
effort we've had to this point.
[2:44:09] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Commissioner Cox?
[2:44:11] COMMISSIONER COX: Thank you.
[2:44:12] Thank you, Chairman.
[2:44:13] So I just wanted to speak for
a moment on something that
[2:44:17] may seem off topic, but
very on topic for me
[2:44:20] because of the other
hat that I wear
[2:44:22] in a group of highly engaged
citizens whose interests are
[2:44:25] usually on whether or not
taxes are constitutional.
[2:44:28] I had the privilege to speak
to them recently about this,
[2:44:32] that this is, just for
the public's benefit,
[2:44:34] the most constitutional
form of a tax
[2:44:37] that you could possibly access.
[2:44:39] It's a tax that's voted
on by the citizens.
[2:44:42] It is a tax that you
have the choice, finally,
[2:44:45] to say this is how
much I want to pay.
[2:44:49] This is not how
much I want to pay.
[2:44:51] And it is equally shared by
ourselves and our visitors.
[2:44:53] Not to say that it's 50-50,
that is to say that as a visitor
[2:44:59] comes to our area, they are
incurring that tax the same way
[2:45:02] that you would in the grocery
stores, in the restaurants,
[2:45:06] wherever they visit.
[2:45:07] On our streets, on our beaches,
in our lakes and rivers
[2:45:10] and what have you, they're
incurring the same taxes
[2:45:13] that you are.
[2:45:15] So for me, it's an
easy, yes, because this
[2:45:18] is the fairest application
of taxing our citizens,
[2:45:21] and with the largest benefit
that I've seen so far.
[2:45:25] So that's all I had
to say about that.
[2:45:28] Thank you.
[2:45:28] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[2:45:29] Very good.
[2:45:30] Anyone else?
[2:45:30] COMMISSIONER MIXON: Sure.
[2:45:33] Two departments are
very heavy in surtax.
[2:45:35] It's great to see Public Works'
tremendous efforts to continue
[2:45:39] keeping the projects going.
[2:45:42] And then you wouldn't be able
to see that if it wasn't for IT.
[2:45:47] And IT does a great
job with the website.
[2:45:48] JASON AUTREY: Yup.
[2:45:49] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
How Interactive
[2:45:49] it is, to be able to see who
sits on that board, which
[2:45:54] does a tremendous job.
[2:45:55] I've seen some citizen boards
that are merely advisory,
[2:45:58] and they're able to take
that to the extreme.
[2:46:02] And really, it becomes just
a show and a rubber stamp.
[2:46:06] And our citizen advisory board
for this is not that way.
[2:46:11] They do tremendous work.
[2:46:13] My representative on
there, Larry Ward,
[2:46:15] does tremendous work,
continues to keep
[2:46:18] pushing things both
for our district
[2:46:20] and on the public safety side.
[2:46:22] It's great to see, and that
that's open for anybody,
[2:46:25] to go to the website and see
what projects are happening,
[2:46:29] where they are, look at
the map interactively,
[2:46:31] go in, see where it is,
what stage the project's in,
[2:46:34] and the meetings are open.
[2:46:36] So if anybody had
questions about this,
[2:46:37] I would encourage to dive in
while you still have time,
[2:46:40] because it's tremendous to see.
[2:46:41] This is how our property taxes
are able to stay at the rate
[2:46:45] where they are towards
the bottom of the scale
[2:46:48] in comparison to the state.
[2:46:50] JASON AUTREY: And on
that, I'd be remiss
[2:46:53] if I didn't thank Clark
Embry, because their staff is
[2:46:55] the one that provides the data
that goes on to that web page.
[2:46:59] And without their
assistance, we couldn't
[2:47:00] get the data that's out there.
[2:47:02] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Very good.
[2:47:05] All right, further comment?
[2:47:06] All right, those in favor,
please signal by saying Aye.
[2:47:09] COMMISSIONER COX: Aye.
[2:47:10] COMMISSIONER MIXON: Aye.
[2:47:10] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And those opposed.
[2:47:11] That passes unanimously.
[2:47:12] JASON AUTREY: Thank you.
[2:47:13] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Thank you, Mr. Autrey.
[2:47:14] All right.
[2:47:15] That concludes our
public hearings.
[2:47:17] And now we're on to department
business with Ms. bird
[2:47:21] from Human Resources.
[2:47:22] MS. BIRD: I'm here today with--
[2:47:28] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Will you hit the button?
[2:47:29] Sorry.
[2:47:28] MS.BIRD: It was on.
[2:47:30] Sorry.
[2:47:30] I'm here today with Kyle
Stoeckel, our broker.
[2:47:32] You guys are probably used
to seeing Paul Dawson.
[2:47:36] Paul was retiring, and
this is his replacement.
[2:47:37] And he's going to
take good care of us.
[2:47:40] In response to market
increases a couple of years
[2:47:43] ago, the board implemented
a layered property structure
[2:47:45] to keep costs down, and
that's been very successful.
[2:47:49] A couple of years
ago, the county
[2:47:52] took a significant step
toward self-insurance
[2:47:53] by assuming the responsibility
of one of the carriers.
[2:47:56] That has also been
very successful,
[2:47:59] and we are seeing further
savings than we did last year
[2:48:03] on this, at almost $128,000
from that piece of the premium.
[2:48:07] Staff recommends keeping
this structure and approach,
[2:48:11] and continuing to designate to
a property reserve allocation
[2:48:14] of $300,000 this year,
just like we did last year.
[2:48:18] We have to prove to FEMA, as we
take that self-insurance quota
[2:48:23] share portion, that we
are preparing for that.
[2:48:25] There's currently $800,000
in that account right now.
[2:48:29] Due to the softening
of the market,
[2:48:33] we're renewing with
a rate reduction.
[2:48:34] The rate of $100 of
insured value is at $0.30,
[2:48:37] which is a reduction
from $0.37 last year.
[2:48:41] This is well below the rates of
our fellow counties around us.
[2:48:45] Escambia, Walton and Santa
Rosa, some of those are near $1.
[2:48:50] The property
insurance premium is
[2:48:52] based on a total insured value
this year of $410 million,
[2:48:56] which represents $63 million
increase from last year.
[2:49:00] And that is due to
the fact that we've
[2:49:04] been successful in getting
the majority of our properties
[2:49:06] appraised.
[2:49:07] They had not been
appraised in some time,
[2:49:10] and we were afraid that we
would have to pick and choose
[2:49:13] what we put on there in order to
be able to afford the property
[2:49:16] insurance, but because of
the softening of the market,
[2:49:17] we're able to go
ahead and absorb that.
[2:49:19] In addition, because of the
way the market is right now,
[2:49:22] we're able to add some
things that we were not
[2:49:25] able to in the past.
[2:49:27] For instance, there's an
extra expense coverage
[2:49:29] that was $1 million.
[2:49:30] We're able to get $5 million.
[2:49:32] And what that would do is
if we did have a storm,
[2:49:35] it would pay for
rental of facilities.
[2:49:36] Also, if we had to expedite
a part or something in order
[2:49:40] to get us back in
business quicker,
[2:49:42] we can use that
expense for that.
[2:49:44] And we also have blanket
replacement cost, which
[2:49:47] is the biggest improvement.
[2:49:48] We had 110% margin costs.
[2:49:51] So now if we had a
$5 million building
[2:49:54] and it was underreported and
it is actually $7 million cost,
[2:49:58] it would be--
[2:50:01] we can replace it
as we needed to.
[2:50:04] So we're asking that you
approve this approach,
[2:50:07] keeping us with the
self-insured portion,
[2:50:11] and also that you would allocate
$300,000 to the property
[2:50:15] reserve.
[2:50:16] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Commissioners, questions,
[2:50:20] action?
[2:50:22] MS.BIRD: Motion to
approve with discussion.
[2:50:24] - Second, with discussion.
[2:50:27] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right,
we have a motion and a second.
[2:50:30] Commissioner Cox?
[2:50:30] COMMISSIONER COX: I just wanted
to say welcome aboard, and thank
[2:50:33] you so much to you and your
department for all that you do.
[2:50:38] I know that probably nobody,
least of all the taxpayer,
[2:50:40] realizes how much a human
resources department is
[2:50:44] doing behind the scenes.
[2:50:46] I know I don't on the regular
realize how much you're doing
[2:50:49] and how busy you guys
are behind the scenes
[2:50:51] getting all this
stuff done in addition
[2:50:53] to addressing payroll concerns
and staffing shortages
[2:50:55] and what have you, that we
have, in every department
[2:51:00] throughout the county.
[2:51:02] We really appreciate all
the hard work that you do.
[2:51:05] I mean, it's evident
when you come forward.
[2:51:06] I know you're not asking for
praise, but this is me saying,
[2:51:09] we really appreciate
you working so
[2:51:10] hard to reduce the impact
on Okaloosa's taxpayers.
[2:51:12] MS. BIRD: Thank you.
[2:51:15] And we appreciate
the staff so much.
[2:51:17] Terrance Lane is our
newest addition to RISK,
[2:51:20] and he worked really hard to
get these properties appraised,
[2:51:24] and has worked very
hard on the renewal.
[2:51:26] So thank you for that.
[2:51:27] COMMISSIONER COX: Well,
thank you, Terrence.
[2:51:28] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[2:51:30] Commissioner Ketchel, did
you have something to add?
[2:51:32] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
I echo those thoughts.
[2:51:33] Ms. Bird, you brought
total professionalism
[2:51:34] to this position.
[2:51:36] Thank you so much for
all the hard work.
[2:51:38] But I also want to give a shout
out to Representative Nathan
[2:51:41] Boyles.
[2:51:42] I mean, he was the one--
[2:51:44] I was very nervous when he
suggested self-insurance,
[2:51:45] but he was right,
and it has paid off.
[2:51:49] And we've been blessed not to
have hurricanes and storms.
[2:51:52] So I hope he hears these kind
words that I'm saying about him,
[2:51:55] because we would
spar up here a lot.
[2:51:58] But anyway, it's good.
[2:51:59] Welcome, and I know you'll
be a good advisor too.
[2:52:02] It's been great.
[2:52:03] Thank you, Ms. Bird.
[2:52:04] MS. BIRD: Thank you.
[2:52:05] We're appreciative
of Nathan Boyles too.
[2:52:06] He made us sharper.
[2:52:08] [CHUCKLES] He made us
sharper, and this board
[2:52:10] makes us sharper by the
questions that we get.
[2:52:13] So we appreciate that.
[2:52:14] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Very good.
[2:52:14] Further discussion,
commissioners?
[2:52:15] All right, those in favor,
please signal by saying Aye.
[2:52:19] COMMISSIONER COX: Aye.
[2:52:19] COMMISSIONER PALMER: Aye.
[2:52:20] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Those opposed?
[2:52:20] All right, that
passes unanimously.
[2:52:21] Thank you.
[2:52:22] Next department business.
[2:52:24] Jeff Peters.
[2:52:25] Lovingly known as Mr. Parks.
[2:52:29] JEFF PETERS: Or whatever
you can come up with.
[2:52:33] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Or something else.
[2:52:34] I heard another
one, but your mom
[2:52:35] said not to say it
in a public meeting.
[2:52:37] JEFF PETERS: That's right.
[2:52:38] Thank you, Chairman,
members of the board.
[2:52:40] Before you today is
a dredging contract.
[2:52:41] Single source with Viking
Dredging in the amount
[2:52:44] of $275,000.
[2:52:45] It's at Meigs Park.
[2:52:48] This project was
designed, submitted
[2:52:50] for permitting a few years ago.
[2:52:52] We did receive word
back in November of '25,
[2:52:56] just a few months ago,
that it was approved.
[2:53:00] We were fortunate enough
that the Noreaga Point
[2:53:02] area was being dredged and
utilized a single source
[2:53:05] contract to recommend to
the board today for approval
[2:53:09] to save quite a bit of money on
the mobilization fees and stuff.
[2:53:13] So if approved today, it would
be looking to start about May 1
[2:53:18] here in the next
couple of months,
[2:53:20] and it would take about
two weeks to complete.
[2:53:22] About 600 cubic yards of sand.
[2:53:24] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Ms.
Ketchel, it's your district.
[2:53:26] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
Yes, it's my district,
[2:53:28] and I'm so grateful
that this is happening.
[2:53:29] I want to thank Mr. Coffey.
[2:53:31] He's done a lot of
work on this, and this
[2:53:33] will be a very welcome
to the residents who
[2:53:35] claim they can't get many of
their even small boats out right
[2:53:39] now through John Boats.
[2:53:40] So thank you.
[2:53:41] So I'll make a
motion for approval.
[2:53:43] COMMISSIONER MIXON: Second.
[2:53:43] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
All right, we
[2:53:44] have a motion to
approve with a second.
[2:53:46] Do we have further discussion?
[2:53:47] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Who's-- the dredging,
[2:53:50] we're getting this price
because they're in the area.
[2:53:54] Who's paying for the
dredging of the harbor?
[2:53:57] JEFF PETERS: It was a split.
[2:53:59] The county paid for
about half of it.
[2:54:01] I believe it was a $650,000.
[2:54:02] Craig may know
that. $650,000-ish,
[2:54:05] and the county put up
about half of that.
[2:54:08] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: OK.
[2:54:09] COMMISSIONER PALMER: We came
up with a metrics on that
[2:54:12] a few years ago
with the cost share
[2:54:14] because we have a boat
launch at that location.
[2:54:16] So we have a vested interest
in keeping that channel open.
[2:54:21] But you also have a
number of property owners
[2:54:23] that are situated
on that lagoon.
[2:54:24] So it was a long process,
but everybody's contributing
[2:54:28] to the overall cost of that.
[2:54:30] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: I think
there's an MSBU in place.
[2:54:32] Am I right, Mr. Coffey?
[2:54:33] Did we put an MSBU in place?
[2:54:35] CRAIG COFFEY: Yeah,
the MSBU is in place.
[2:54:37] It was based on a
certain dollar amount.
[2:54:38] We may have to revisit
that, but the idea
[2:54:41] was the county was going
to do the initial project,
[2:54:43] and then over time, they
were going to, essentially,
[2:54:45] save away, sock away money
for the future project.
[2:54:47] And that was the plan.
[2:54:49] And right now, we have
the three funding sources
[2:54:52] that came in a
little bit higher,
[2:54:54] but I think this is probably
our best option as far
[2:54:56] as to avoid the mobilization.
[2:54:57] COMMISSIONER MIXON: And
this would be appreciated
[2:54:59] by the residents of Lake Clyde.
[2:55:01] It's turned into a
good partnership.
[2:55:03] It didn't look that
way in the beginning,
[2:55:05] but it did evolve into that.
[2:55:06] And I think it's going to
be a great path forward.
[2:55:10] My question was geared
towards the harbor.
[2:55:11] Since we're doing it
under the same purview,
[2:55:13] I wanted to see how the
split was in paying for that.
[2:55:16] I remember we had
some involvement,
[2:55:17] I just wasn't sure where it is.
[2:55:20] CRAIG COFFEY: The harbor
was up to $400,000.
[2:55:22] Our contribution up to 50%, not
to exceed $800,000 total project
[2:55:26] any above that.
[2:55:28] It came in under that.
[2:55:30] The project is already done.
[2:55:31] I'm sure the city is going to
be sending us a bill for that,
[2:55:35] but that's an interlocal
we worked on just fine.
[2:55:36] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: If I may
say one more thing, Chairman.
[2:55:39] So a little bit like what
Commissioner Palmer's
[2:55:41] going through now, I had some
very angry citizens around Lake
[2:55:44] Clyde.
[2:55:45] That was quite a few town hall
meetings, but we got there
[2:55:48] and we worked through it.
[2:55:50] So I know we'll work through
this Noriega thing as well.
[2:55:53] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[2:55:53] Further discussion?
[2:55:54] Those in favor, please
signal by saying Aye.
[2:55:57] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Aye.
[2:55:57] COMMISSIONER PALMER: Aye.
[2:55:58] COMMISSIONER COX: Aye.
[2:55:58] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Those opposed?
[2:55:58] All right.
[2:55:58] That passes unanimously.
[2:55:59] Thank you, Mr. Peters.
[2:56:01] All right.
[2:56:02] Next department business.
[2:56:04] Craig Coffey.
[2:56:05] CRAIG COFFEY: Thank
you, Commissioners.
[2:56:10] It's my pleasure to bring you
yet another project that's
[2:56:13] partnering with
cities in our county.
[2:56:16] And in the staff write-up,
I talked about Destin,
[2:56:20] Fort Walton Beach, Mary Esther,
Cinco Bayou, and Shalimar
[2:56:22] are all projects
interlocals we've done.
[2:56:24] I've been involved in all
the Destin interlocals,
[2:56:27] the last five years,
every single one of them.
[2:56:30] So I'm proud of that fact.
[2:56:31] And I think we
will get there too.
[2:56:33] This property in
particular, this
[2:56:35] is a kind of building off
another project that we've
[2:56:38] worked on with the
town of Shalimar.
[2:56:40] If you recall, we worked on
the other corner, the Southeast
[2:56:44] corner of the bridge, and we
entered into an interlocal
[2:56:46] with that.
[2:56:48] We did that in 2023.
[2:56:49] We bought that property
for about $900,000.
[2:56:51] And I will tell you, that
property was an eyesore
[2:56:56] for many, many years.
[2:56:56] We've cleaned it
up a lot already.
[2:56:59] Just removing-- there
was foundations there,
[2:57:00] and I even found some
old pictures there
[2:57:03] before that
structure burnt down.
[2:57:04] It has a very interesting
and checkered history,
[2:57:06] that property.
[2:57:08] What this would propose is
buying the property, essentially
[2:57:11] a sister parcel on
the Northeast corner,
[2:57:13] and it would, essentially,
coming forward,
[2:57:15] we would propose to remove
the town of Shalimar
[2:57:19] out of that other
interlocal and essentially
[2:57:21] enter into a new
interlocal with them.
[2:57:23] How are we going
to pay for this?
[2:57:25] What's the purchase price?
[2:57:25] The purchase price is proposed
to be about $3 million,
[2:57:28] with about $50,000 of closing
costs and some conceptual stuff.
[2:57:31] We propose to pay for it with
a variety of contributors
[2:57:35] to this in the park.
[2:57:37] Building the park, the
park-- any park today--
[2:57:39] and we got into discussion
even on the Destin,
[2:57:42] why put a dollar
amount in there?
[2:57:44] I will tell you, any park
today, you're probably
[2:57:46] looking at about $3 million.
[2:57:47] Whether it's the one in Mary
Esther or the one in Shalimar,
[2:57:51] just to get off the
ground between design,
[2:57:52] between construction
and anything
[2:57:53] you've got to do with it.
[2:57:55] We've estimated the
total cost of the project
[2:57:57] would be a little bit
over $6 million total
[2:57:59] between acquisition and
development across the way.
[2:58:01] We've asked for $1.5 million
from the legislature,
[2:58:05] and we'll see if
that comes through.
[2:58:09] We made that a contingency of
the purchase sale agreement.
[2:58:12] We've asked for $1.5 Million
from the town of Shalimar.
[2:58:14] There's more work
to be done there.
[2:58:16] And again, that would
be partly tourism money.
[2:58:17] And I think the mayor had
some other great ideas
[2:58:21] on how to work with us on that.
[2:58:23] This property, I'll
talk in general,
[2:58:25] compared to our other
property, other property
[2:58:29] has a large billboard next door.
[2:58:31] 50 foot of public right of way.
[2:58:33] This property has
an adjoining parcel
[2:58:35] that the town owns that's
essentially parallel
[2:58:37] to Highway 85.
[2:58:39] It has plenty of trees.
[2:58:42] It has water sewer,
electric already to the site
[2:58:45] because there was a house
there before it burnt down.
[2:58:47] So it has a lot of--
[2:58:49] plus, it has a shoreline
that has a seawall.
[2:58:51] Now, it's a homemade seawall.
[2:58:53] I'm not going to say it
was engineered fully,
[2:58:55] but it has lots of
broken concrete,
[2:58:56] and I think that will actually
save us money in-- considering
[2:59:00] how we've had to pay
for those in the past,
[2:59:03] it might need rebuilding
at some point,
[2:59:04] but I would say that it
might save us money and allow
[2:59:08] us to get the park off
the ground quicker.
[2:59:09] It dead ends with
Clifford Drive.
[2:59:12] And-- I'm trying to think
of any other questions I
[2:59:16] can answer for you.
[2:59:17] You've heard the
mayor of the town
[2:59:22] speak passionately about it.
[2:59:24] And it would be a great
project, great addition
[2:59:28] to join our other park.
[2:59:29] So I'll entertain any
questions you have.
[2:59:30] I'm not going to go into the
PowerPoint bore you with that,
[2:59:34] but that concludes
my presentation.
[2:59:34] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Motion
for approval with discussion.
[2:59:39] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: We have a
motion to approve with a second.
[2:59:43] Commissioner Ketchel?
[2:59:43] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: So
this is a once in a lifetime
[2:59:46] opportunity.
[2:59:46] This would, I'm sure,
go to condos and houses
[2:59:48] if we don't do this.
[2:59:50] It's an absolutely
beautiful parcel.
[2:59:51] I've been assured by
Trumbull, he's working hard
[2:59:54] to get the $1.5 million,
and Representative Maney
[2:59:58] was in my ear before I even had
a chance to bring this forward.
[3:00:03] He really wants this as well.
[3:00:04] And I think you all have
heard from him, maybe,
[3:00:07] or know about that.
[3:00:07] So looking forward to
possibly seeing this
[3:00:10] become a really beautiful
entryway into Shalimar.
[3:00:13] And I thank the mayor
for sitting through all
[3:00:17] of this today and being here.
[3:00:19] It's really kind of you.
[3:00:20] I could go on and
on about the parcel.
[3:00:24] I think the fact
that we're going
[3:00:25] to name it after the
original owner who sat up
[3:00:28] on this dais for
20 years, I think
[3:00:30] that's a real tribute
to the family.
[3:00:32] So--
[3:00:32] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[3:00:35] Commissioner Palmer, did
you have anything to add?
[3:00:38] All right.
[3:00:38] COMMISSIONER MIXON: I
just have some questions.
[3:00:40] How was the--
looking through this,
[3:00:42] I see that an appraisal would
come, but there's not one yet.
[3:00:47] How was the price gained?
[3:00:49] How did we come to that?
[3:00:52] We're taking some heat
over another parcel,
[3:00:53] and that's because there's
underlying disagreement with how
[3:00:56] they came to a price, and they
came to a price per their packet
[3:01:00] with appraisals.
[3:01:01] I don't see any
appraisals on this,
[3:01:03] and we've come to
a price that's more
[3:01:05] elevated than any other
vacant piece in its area.
[3:01:07] And so I just--
[3:01:08] fiscal stewardship
is still our job.
[3:01:11] I want to be sure that we're
moving in the right direction,
[3:01:15] and that's expensive.
[3:01:16] CRAIG COFFEY: Yeah, so
let me try and address
[3:01:22] that a little bit.
[3:01:23] You're right, an appraisal is
required as part of our process
[3:01:26] and per state law.
[3:01:27] So we have to get that done.
[3:01:29] There's a value that is required
to meet the purchase price,
[3:01:32] or it's required to
be brought back here.
[3:01:33] I think we actually
put 90% of the value.
[3:01:35] We typically do that
in case it's close,
[3:01:38] but it's not quite there.
[3:01:40] And I tried to put some
rationale in our staff report.
[3:01:43] And the way I tried
to rationalize it was,
[3:01:46] this is about 2 and 1/4 times
the size of the other parcel we
[3:01:50] bought in 2023.
[3:01:50] Now, granted, property values
have leveled off, probably.
[3:01:54] I mean, they weren't
really crazy after COVID,
[3:01:57] but waterfront, obviously
they're not making any more.
[3:02:01] This is an opportunity.
[3:02:03] It's there.
[3:02:04] But if you multiply just the
2.2 and 1/4 times $900,000.
[3:02:07] What we paid in '23, that
gets you over $2 million.
[3:02:11] Then you start dragging
in some other things,
[3:02:14] like the riprap
along the seawall.
[3:02:16] Granted, it's a homemade wall.
[3:02:19] It's not perfect.
[3:02:20] And I'm hoping-- it probably
wasn't a permitted seawall.
[3:02:22] Hopefully, we can use that.
[3:02:24] But then the property in
general is just much nicer.
[3:02:27] It has the utilities there.
[3:02:28] It has the trees there.
[3:02:30] It has the other
things I mentioned.
[3:02:31] Not a big giant
billboard next to it.
[3:02:34] So there's some of
those things there.
[3:02:36] How we got to the
price, obviously,
[3:02:38] it's always a negotiation
with the owner.
[3:02:39] This owner owns a lot
of other properties.
[3:02:42] This owner is an attorney.
[3:02:43] The son of a 40-year
county attorney.
[3:02:45] So we tried to appeal to naming
the park after his father
[3:02:51] and that was our appeal to him.
[3:02:54] But I will tell you that
developers, once the house
[3:02:57] burnt down over the
last several months,
[3:03:00] we're competing with the
private market a little bit.
[3:03:02] They come knocking because
what does that happen?
[3:03:04] It gets parceled up and
chopped into individual lots.
[3:03:07] And the case we made
was, yeah, you could sell
[3:03:10] and you can make money and you'd
potentially make more money.
[3:03:13] It might price higher, it
might price a little lower.
[3:03:15] Who knows?
[3:03:16] But I said, your dad's legacy is
not going to be saved that way.
[3:03:19] It's going to be houses and
it's going to be someone else's.
[3:03:22] Your kids can't
come back and visit
[3:03:23] the park and your
grandkids, and he's
[3:03:25] got all those sentiments
wrapped up into that,
[3:03:27] and he's had huge
discussions with his family.
[3:03:29] We tried to negotiate
back and forth.
[3:03:31] He actually wanted
more than this.
[3:03:34] He's stuck at $3 million.
[3:03:36] We wanted to keep going down,
but it was a good back and forth
[3:03:41] discussion.
[3:03:40] And it's always, the beauty
is in the eye of the beholder
[3:03:45] and the market Bears.
[3:03:46] But it's not--
[3:03:47] COMMISSIONER MIXON: So
the back and forth, we
[3:03:49] do have a signed copy?
[3:03:51] The copy in our
packet is not signed.
[3:03:53] CRAIG COFFEY: I do not
have a signed copy.
[3:03:55] I have a commitment
that he's agreed
[3:03:56] to the terms and conditions.
[3:03:57] So I will have a signed copy
after following the meeting.
[3:03:59] COMMISSIONER MIXON: OK.
[3:04:00] So what level would
this come back to us
[3:04:03] before we follow
through with any action?
[3:04:06] CRAIG COFFEY: Well, I think
it wouldn't necessarily
[3:04:09] come back to you unless
some of the contingencies
[3:04:12] couldn't be met.
[3:04:13] For example, if the
appraiser didn't come in
[3:04:15] within the parameters
we put in the pre-sale.
[3:04:16] If the legislature, if we
didn't get $1.5 million
[3:04:19] from the legislature
and there was money
[3:04:20] to be made up the product.
[3:04:21] If the town of Shalimar didn't
come up with the $1.5 million.
[3:04:24] All those would be
contingencies that we'd
[3:04:25] have to come back and bring
that back to the board,
[3:04:28] because then we can't
quite put it together,
[3:04:30] and it's a reconsideration
of does this make sense?
[3:04:33] And we tried to up that.
[3:04:36] Initially, we asked--
and we included,
[3:04:37] I think, the Senate request,
initially, $1 million.
[3:04:39] And not having a price
point, you're right.
[3:04:42] We don't have
appraisal, we were doing
[3:04:44] the best we can based on
market and other properties
[3:04:46] out there that we bought or
we know that's on the market.
[3:04:49] So there was a little bit
back and forth on that.
[3:04:53] And so all that
to come to say, we
[3:04:54] have contingencies
to protect us,
[3:04:56] that if we get down this road.
[3:04:58] And we delay closing, really,
till up to October 31.
[3:05:00] So any expenses
that we're facing
[3:05:02] will be baked into next
year's budget as well.
[3:05:05] We'll probably close in
the October time frame,
[3:05:07] provided we got the legislative
money, and the town of Shalimar,
[3:05:10] we'd be back probably in
the next meeting or two
[3:05:13] with their interlocal as well
with those same contingencies.
[3:05:15] COMMISSIONER MIXON: Seawalls
can be very, very expensive.
[3:05:18] CRAIG COFFEY: Yes, sir.
[3:05:20] We found that--
[3:05:21] COMMISSIONER MIXON: Has
anyone looked at that one?
[3:05:23] CRAIG COFFEY: We
have not done any--
[3:05:24] that's part of our due
diligence process too.
[3:05:25] And if we feel we can't use
it for some reason, that
[3:05:29] might be a big thing
too, because that's
[3:05:31] a value added that
we're counting,
[3:05:32] that's been there
for a long time.
[3:05:35] And if it turns out we can't
use that for some reason,
[3:05:39] then that may be
change the mechanics,
[3:05:40] the financial
parameters of the deal.
[3:05:42] Because I will tell you that
in working with Mary Esther,
[3:05:45] and that project Crystal Ball
Landing, there was $1 million
[3:05:49] worth of seawall and it was a
shorter shoreline than this.
[3:05:54] We didn't have
anything to work with.
[3:05:57] We had some old seawalls
we could have kept,
[3:05:59] but they were like wood
frame and framed up,
[3:06:01] and they were much worse
than what we think is here.
[3:06:04] But I think this has kept the
property intact with storms
[3:06:09] and stuff so far the
seawall that's there.
[3:06:13] There has not been
any major erosion.
[3:06:15] There's no wetlands on the site.
[3:06:17] Whereas the other one,
we have no seawall,
[3:06:20] we had concrete
foundations and stuff.
[3:06:21] And we actually would
have to build a seawall
[3:06:24] on the other Shalimar project,
the one we already bought.
[3:06:27] And that's going to be-- that's
a major expense of that project.
[3:06:31] And that project is going
upwards of $4 million
[3:06:32] because of things like a seawall
that's not there, that we
[3:06:35] got to build from scratch.
[3:06:38] COMMISSIONER MIXON: So I
think it's a great parcel.
[3:06:40] I got to ride my bike
there as a kid many times.
[3:06:47] Tremendous, tremendous
memories there.
[3:06:48] Great parcel.
[3:06:50] If it appraises, I feel
much more confident
[3:06:55] in what we're doing.
[3:06:58] I would love to
see a better number
[3:07:00] on what it's going to
cost to make it a park.
[3:07:04] I'm not opposed to moving
forward on it today.
[3:07:06] I am opposed to today being
the end of all decisions
[3:07:09] from the commission
moving forward.
[3:07:11] I don't think
that's wise for us.
[3:07:15] There's much that could come.
[3:07:17] Comparing it to the
other side of the bridge,
[3:07:20] there's some zoning differences.
[3:07:20] There's a parking difference,
there's a traffic signal,
[3:07:23] there's direct access
to the highway.
[3:07:25] It's not apples to apples.
[3:07:26] But looking at this for
the future of the county
[3:07:29] and to have another resource
there, it's wonderful.
[3:07:32] It would be great.
[3:07:34] I can't write off the
idea of a blank check.
[3:07:38] I like the contingencies
of a million and a half
[3:07:42] from the state, and
a million and a half
[3:07:44] from Shalimar,
because that puts us
[3:07:46] in at 50% both of
them in at 25%.
[3:07:48] That's still going
to be a lot of money,
[3:07:52] but if that seawall is
irreparable or no good,
[3:07:54] that's going to
go up incredibly,
[3:07:57] and it's going to go up fast.
[3:07:59] So it may have lasted
storms in the past, that
[3:08:02] doesn't mean it would
pass everything today
[3:08:04] in standards of construction.
[3:08:06] And so we need to be sure
due diligence is done.
[3:08:09] I would love to see--
[3:08:11] if there's appetite for
this, to see this come back
[3:08:14] after those due diligence
items have taken place,
[3:08:17] just to give the
confirmation that,
[3:08:19] hey, we're moving in
a great direction.
[3:08:21] It appraised appropriately.
[3:08:22] That we were able to see that
the seawall is going to make it,
[3:08:27] or at least it's going
to cost a number that's
[3:08:29] within your budgeted window.
[3:08:29] And I know that's just a sketch
on a piece of paper so far,
[3:08:34] but utilizing experts
in those fields
[3:08:34] is going to help me
feel more confident
[3:08:38] in the fiscal stewardship of
the decision we're making.
[3:08:41] So I'd love to see us
move forward on it today,
[3:08:45] but have a time
where you come back
[3:08:47] as you check some of
those boxes in the future.
[3:08:49] CRAIG COFFEY: I think you raised
some very valid points, which
[3:08:52] you try when you enter
an agreement to think
[3:08:55] of everything.
[3:08:55] And we'd be happy to report back
on some of those items for sure.
[3:08:59] And I will tell you that
the development of the park,
[3:09:04] we got some huge numbers for
the development of the Southern
[3:09:10] portion, which kind of
shocked us a little bit,
[3:09:13] and we'd be moving
elements away.
[3:09:15] We think this is a better
development to parcel,
[3:09:17] but I will tell you at
the Colonel Bud Day Park
[3:09:22] that we worked hand in hand
with Commissioner Goodwin on,
[3:09:24] we are-- and we're actually
doing a Patriot Park.
[3:09:26] I think we're using that
model a little different.
[3:09:29] We're going to
build some things,
[3:09:31] and then we're going to
contract out a bunch of things.
[3:09:35] But this idea of--
[3:09:35] even the ball fields up at BAYA,
and the ball fields in Shalimar.
[3:09:40] We're getting away from
trying to do one mass thing,
[3:09:45] because what we're finding is
those prices are coming back
[3:09:48] in the millions, when
we can do a hybrid,
[3:09:50] and it's actually coming
together much more affordable,
[3:09:53] and we're actually
getting better product
[3:09:56] and it's working out great.
[3:09:58] And that's the model Jeff and
his team we've been working on.
[3:10:01] And I think that's
what we're going
[3:10:04] to be trying to apply that a lot
more to some of these projects.
[3:10:07] COMMISSIONER MIXON: If you're
moving things from the South
[3:10:09] Side, would that mean
some of the-- what
[3:10:11] some would interpret as
commercial activities.
[3:10:12] CRAIG COFFEY: We are
not proposing any--
[3:10:17] we did talk about a bait shop
there or something like that.
[3:10:21] We're not proposing
that to come up here,
[3:10:23] but I'm talking
about more dockage
[3:10:25] to have some day use where you
pull up and not camping, not
[3:10:30] staying there.
[3:10:31] Just pull up, enjoy the
park and go back off there.
[3:10:34] But pavilions and
trails and stuff
[3:10:35] like that, we probably envision
this as more of just a pier
[3:10:39] park play.
[3:10:40] Commercial activity,
we haven't really
[3:10:42] thought of anything for that.
[3:10:45] I don't want to mention the
nasty word of food truck,
[3:10:50] but you could have a food
truck every once in a while.
[3:10:53] COMMISSIONER MIXON: I don't mean
to sound as the doomsdayist,
[3:10:55] but the legislature is
discussing what they're
[3:10:57] doing with property taxes.
[3:10:59] CRAIG COFFEY: Yeah.
[3:11:00] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
And it's been
[3:11:01] mentioned before that
tourism tax would be touched.
[3:11:03] And we have to look at
this with clear eyes.
[3:11:06] If we buy a piece of land
and we have to maintain that
[3:11:09] as an essential
function of government,
[3:11:11] sometimes it needs to be able
to make its own resources,
[3:11:15] or you have to put it
back out to the market
[3:11:20] because you can't
afford to have it.
[3:11:21] And if we lose property
taxes from rental homes,
[3:11:23] from everything every, every or
none, it's going to make a hit.
[3:11:27] And if it hits the ballot,
I'm afraid we will.
[3:11:31] And so I just want us to be
aware of that on the front side.
[3:11:34] And Mayor Marks,
this is a great thing
[3:11:37] and I look forward to
the partnership with it.
[3:11:40] We've had some tremendous
partnerships in the past.
[3:11:41] We loaned one municipality
$10 million with no interest.
[3:11:44] We bought a municipality
multiple sites on the Gulf front
[3:11:47] to be able to partner
with them on parks,
[3:11:50] put the property in their name,
and now we're bad partners.
[3:11:53] I mean, it really begins
to deteriorate in a hurry,
[3:11:55] and I want to be sure
from the beginning,
[3:11:59] we're having good
open communication
[3:11:59] and that we're not leaving
out any possibilities of what
[3:12:02] the future could hold.
[3:12:04] CRAIG COFFEY: And I
would pride myself
[3:12:06] on having good open
communications with all
[3:12:09] the partners we've had.
[3:12:10] We've had some great
interlockers, like I said.
[3:12:12] I will tell you that you
raise a very valid point,
[3:12:15] and I think we are looking
at that in a broader sense.
[3:12:19] I know the property I brought
to you at the last meeting,
[3:12:22] I think, the 1323 acres
we're working with the state,
[3:12:24] I think that has the
opportunity for some revenue
[3:12:27] potential in the form of camping
and some stuff like that.
[3:12:30] Obviously, the Destin piece
has a limited, at least
[3:12:32] to cover cost.
[3:12:33] So you have parks that at
least can cover the cost,
[3:12:36] but some of those
parks can actually--
[3:12:37] that revenue could be more
in a broader pot, a park pot.
[3:12:41] And we even talked about paid
parking, which was a champion.
[3:12:44] And direction by this board,
we're working through that.
[3:12:47] That will-- essentially,
could create a pot of money
[3:12:50] that helps eliminate some of
the burden on the general fund
[3:12:54] if some of those parks are
generating parking revenue
[3:12:58] from non-county residents.
[3:12:59] Let's clarify that again.
[3:13:01] So there is that
potential, and I think
[3:13:04] we're always looking at that.
[3:13:08] Because of the
size of this one--
[3:13:10] But I mean there's probably
some things I'm not
[3:13:14] missing that someone
can share with me,
[3:13:15] I'd be happy to
consider all options
[3:13:17] in working with the town.
[3:13:19] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Chairman.
[3:13:20] [INAUDIBLE] So you've
been here a long time
[3:13:22] like I have, and I
know Mayor Franks.
[3:13:26] And that property, oddly, is
higher than the other side
[3:13:28] and doesn't take on water.
[3:13:30] So that's been one good
thing in terms of flooding
[3:13:33] when there's a hurricane.
[3:13:34] Even though we lost half of the
Shalimar Bridge during Opal,
[3:13:38] I think it was, that particular
parcel stayed high and dry.
[3:13:41] There is such an
interest in this,
[3:13:46] that when I went
back to Trumbull
[3:13:48] and asked for more than
$1 million, he said,
[3:13:50] I'll do $1.5 million.
[3:13:51] And when I talked
to Maney, he said,
[3:13:53] I'm going to try to find
more money than that.
[3:13:56] So let's see what we get.
[3:13:57] And I think that today is an
indication to the legislature
[3:14:01] that we want to move forward.
[3:14:02] If everything blows up, we
bring it back and it blows up.
[3:14:06] But I'm encouraged
right now that this
[3:14:07] is a once in a
lifetime opportunity,
[3:14:09] and I really want us
to see that we try.
[3:14:11] And this is such a
beautiful piece of property
[3:14:15] that if in a couple of years
it doesn't work for us,
[3:14:19] we can sell it and be ahead
of the game anyway, I think,
[3:14:21] because like you say, they're
not making any more waterfront
[3:14:24] property.
[3:14:24] But I hope that
we never have to.
[3:14:26] I hope it becomes the most
beautiful entrance to Shalimar.
[3:14:29] So thanks for consideration.
[3:14:30] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Commissioner Cox.
[3:14:34] COMMISSIONER COX:
Thank you, Chairman.
[3:14:36] I had a question and then
something to share, but--
[3:14:39] so do you happen to know
off the top of your head
[3:14:43] how many linear feet
of waterfront this is?
[3:14:45] CRAIG COFFEY: Oh, I would not
be able to give you an accurate
[3:14:51] answer.
[3:14:51] I think it is much greater
than across the way
[3:14:54] at the other park, because the
other is just a straight shot,
[3:14:59] whereas this is a straight
shot, it's actually,
[3:15:01] I think, longer and
then it wraps around.
[3:15:03] So it's like the
whole point there.
[3:15:05] COMMISSIONER COX:
But it's a lot.
[3:15:08] I mean, I can see
that it's a lot.
[3:15:11] And it's quasi improved
property, right?
[3:15:11] It's already sort of
fitted to be able to use.
[3:15:16] CRAIG COFFEY: Right.
[3:15:18] COMMISSIONER COX: Which
brings forth half of what I'm
[3:15:21] about to say, and
that is that I would
[3:15:24] hate for us to lose our
footing in the bidding
[3:15:26] process toward this
property because I
[3:15:30] do think it's a
unique opportunity
[3:15:32] to acquire a piece of land
for our citizens to enjoy,
[3:15:37] for visitors to enjoy,
that we're not going
[3:15:39] to have a lot more of these.
[3:15:43] And yes, there will be property
tax issues moving forward
[3:15:46] if property tax
reform passes, but I
[3:15:48] feel like that's
maybe even more onus
[3:15:52] to act-- to strike
while the iron is hot,
[3:15:55] while we have the ability to
partner with the legislature
[3:15:59] and the town of Shalimar
to acquire something
[3:16:01] like this, of this size and
magnitude and already quasi
[3:16:05] approved.
[3:16:07] I think it's something
to not wait on,
[3:16:09] but I'll segue into
the other part of this.
[3:16:13] Representative
Maney talked to me,
[3:16:15] that you called me the other
day and right off the bat,
[3:16:20] just because he's a high
integrity individual, says,
[3:16:22] I'm calling as a
concerned constituent.
[3:16:24] I'm not calling as
your representative.
[3:16:27] [CHUCKLES] To say
that, as somebody
[3:16:28] who's lived here for
a very long time, who
[3:16:32] has served us in so many ways.
[3:16:33] He served us publicly.
[3:16:35] He served his nation.
[3:16:36] He served his country.
[3:16:37] He serves still, right?
[3:16:38] Retired many times over.
[3:16:41] Doesn't have to serve, but
he does so for about $29,000
[3:16:45] a year, just so the public knows
what they're getting in exchange
[3:16:48] for public service at the state
level as a representative.
[3:16:51] It's not much, right?
[3:16:52] field, probably the
same amount of tomatoes
[3:16:54] that we do up here on the dais.
[3:16:56] And he was very,
very vested in this.
[3:16:58] He reiterated and we agree that
this is a unique opportunity
[3:17:03] to provide something
for our citizens
[3:17:06] that we may not
come across again.
[3:17:07] And for that reason, I would
very much like to move forward
[3:17:12] today on this in whatever
capacity we need to.
[3:17:16] Thank you.
[3:17:18] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Other discussion.
[3:17:22] All right.
[3:17:24] Then I'll weigh in with
some of my thoughts.
[3:17:26] So first of all, the
idea of partnering
[3:17:28] with the town of Shalimar
for a park at that location
[3:17:34] is very appealing.
[3:17:37] I really like it.
[3:17:40] It is a rare
opportunity for Shalimar
[3:17:41] to have a really
robust entry visual,
[3:17:47] and I think it does
a couple of things.
[3:17:54] I kind of joked with the mayor.
[3:17:56] I said, well, Chief
Jacobs won't have
[3:17:58] anywhere to tuck his car and run
radar if we clear all the stuff.
[3:18:02] But it's OK, he'll
find another spot.
[3:18:03] And we love you, Jacobs.
[3:18:06] But in fact, I
honked at him today
[3:18:10] as he was out in front
of Shalimar Elementary
[3:18:13] waving to folks.
[3:18:15] So good for your town.
[3:18:17] But back to this parcel.
[3:18:18] So there's a couple things.
[3:18:22] One, I am concerned about
some of the due diligence.
[3:18:25] And obviously, we take the
due diligence very seriously.
[3:18:32] You talk about the seawalls,
I haven't walked the parcel.
[3:18:36] I've watched the parcel
over many years of my life.
[3:18:39] I haven't seen seawall work
out there that I can remember,
[3:18:43] not as an adult at least.
[3:18:46] And so what that
tells me is that is
[3:18:48] a most likely wooden seawall
with some riprap in front
[3:18:51] of it, most likely.
[3:18:53] I don't know that for sure.
[3:18:55] Might even be
creosote, it's so old.
[3:18:57] But I don't know, the dock
looks like it's creosote piles.
[3:19:01] If it's creosote, it's
probably in better shape
[3:19:05] than if it's just
pressure treated,
[3:19:06] but regardless,
it creates issues.
[3:19:07] If it's pressure treated,
the seawall is probably junk.
[3:19:11] To the extent the
water has touched it,
[3:19:14] I'm just going to tell you
guys, over the past 20 years,
[3:19:17] the shipworms have gotten
so bad in our community,
[3:19:19] it is unbelievable
what they do to wood.
[3:19:22] That's as our
salinities come up.
[3:19:24] I'm not a scientist, don't
know what I'm talking about.
[3:19:27] I'm just telling you
what I've observed.
[3:19:28] So we're probably going
to have to do a seawall.
[3:19:31] If you want to know
what seawall cost,
[3:19:32] just go look at the boat basin,
that'll give you an idea.
[3:19:35] But that doesn't mean
projects should be paralyzed,
[3:19:37] because we think that it's going
to be expensive to do it right.
[3:19:42] So that's not a
stopping point for me,
[3:19:44] it's just something we're
going to have to work through.
[3:19:47] And we may get some additional
tools, funding and things
[3:19:50] like that.
[3:19:52] All that will get worked out.
[3:19:54] We'll inspect it,
we'll kick the tires
[3:19:57] and figure out what's
going on with it.
[3:20:01] The issue that Commissioner
Mixon brought up, I think
[3:20:06] is something we could bake
into the contract right now.
[3:20:10] And since it's not
signed by the other side,
[3:20:14] obviously, we've got
a motion and a second.
[3:20:16] But if it were appealing,
we could easily
[3:20:18] amend it to make sure that
those contingencies, the due
[3:20:21] diligence, and I can't tell
you I've got them memorized
[3:20:25] because I don't have
a photographic memory,
[3:20:27] but they've got things in there
like appraisal, condition,
[3:20:30] suitability, whatever it says,
whatever lens looked at and said
[3:20:33] is reasonable.
[3:20:35] I would hope we.
[3:20:38] We could add to
that contingency,
[3:20:41] that the contingencies are
only relieved after they've
[3:20:43] been brought back, the
board has been briefed,
[3:20:46] and the board has agreed
that the contingencies have
[3:20:48] been satisfied.
[3:20:49] That would give us
the second bite,
[3:20:51] I think we can bake it in now.
[3:20:53] I mean, John could
come back and say--
[3:20:55] I'm saying John, Mr. Dowd
could come back and say, oh,
[3:20:58] that's not what I told you.
[3:21:00] Why would you send this to me?
[3:21:02] At this purchase
price, I don't think
[3:21:04] it's going to kick
back too hard, frankly.
[3:21:06] And that kind of brings
me to the second thing.
[3:21:11] So I guess before I
leave that I'll say,
[3:21:13] I'd really love to see that
as a friendly Amendment
[3:21:16] that the board gets to vote on
whether the contingencies have
[3:21:18] been satisfied.
[3:21:19] I really think that's important.
[3:21:22] Now the price.
[3:21:24] The price is a little bit--
[3:21:28] is a little bit on the
aggressive side in my opinion,
[3:21:33] but I am not a
property appraiser,
[3:21:35] I am not a real
estate broker, I'm
[3:21:38] not even a real estate agent.
[3:21:39] So what I'm telling--
what I'm saying comes
[3:21:42] from my general
layman's perspectives
[3:21:44] on valuation, which are
not evidence of value,
[3:21:48] it's just my feeling
based on my observations.
[3:21:52] It seems high.
[3:21:54] Now there was a question about
how much waterfront there is.
[3:21:58] There's a lot, and
that makes this unique.
[3:22:00] In fact, and I'll
just be honest,
[3:22:02] I've had a discussion
with some folks
[3:22:04] over at the town of
Shalimar, and we were
[3:22:06] kind of kicking back around.
[3:22:06] They have the price, but
then where do you find this?
[3:22:09] And so it makes actually
finding comps on it difficult,
[3:22:12] and I think we'll find
our appraisers have
[3:22:15] that same challenge.
[3:22:16] They'll probably
include something
[3:22:17] about that in their
narrative when
[3:22:19] they give us their appraisals.
[3:22:21] That it's not like you can
find 10 of these and say,
[3:22:24] well, you average out
the price of the last 10
[3:22:26] of these things that sold in the
last 18 months, and here you go.
[3:22:30] It's not going to be that easy.
[3:22:32] It does have, according to Matt
Busby, our property appraiser,
[3:22:34] 235 foot of linear
water frontage.
[3:22:37] That's significant.
[3:22:40] And so I think that
really makes it
[3:22:44] prime for a water-based
park like this.
[3:22:45] I really do like that.
[3:22:50] But on the price, the thing
that's giving me consternation
[3:22:54] is a couple things.
[3:22:58] So I have the opportunity to
sit on the value adjustment
[3:23:01] board for a number of years
as Commissioner Mixon.
[3:23:04] And many of those
years, Mr. Dowd
[3:23:07] has challenged Matt
Busby's valuation,
[3:23:10] saying that Matt Busby's
valuations were far too high.
[3:23:14] However, I look at Matt Busby's
valuations on this parcel
[3:23:19] and it's $1.5 million.
[3:23:20] I know that that's typically
coming in less transaction
[3:23:26] costs, so you can--
[3:23:28] I think the rule of thumb is you
can take what Matt Busby says,
[3:23:32] divide it by 0.85 and
get what you would think
[3:23:35] is a true market sales price.
[3:23:36] That gets you to $1.76 million.
$3 million is a big lift.
[3:23:40] Now, if I'm not paying
it, not my money,
[3:23:45] I can get everybody else to buy
it for me, maybe that's fine.
[3:23:50] But it does cause me a little
bit of heartache on the, well,
[3:23:55] even if it's not my money,
if it's anybody's money
[3:23:59] that was generated
from tax revenue,
[3:24:00] am I supposed to
be a good steward?
[3:24:03] I have to wrangle with that.
[3:24:05] At the same time,
you've got this idea,
[3:24:06] I don't want to lose it.
[3:24:09] So this is where
I would be on it.
[3:24:11] If I've got the backstop of the
appraisal, the due diligence
[3:24:16] and some discretionary
exit ramps
[3:24:18] for this board in the contract,
that brings it back to the board
[3:24:25] to let me get off the train
if I decide this is not
[3:24:29] the right deal, then
I would be comfortable
[3:24:30] going forward at this number.
[3:24:35] And let me explain.
[3:24:36] I made those comments about
Matt Busby and his price.
[3:24:39] I mean, Mr. Dowd does a
good job for his clients.
[3:24:42] He does exactly what
he's hired to do.
[3:24:43] I'm not suggesting--
I'm just saying,
[3:24:44] Matt Busby's valuation
isn't a junk number.
[3:24:47] It's got something.
[3:24:49] It's not necessarily
a sales price,
[3:24:51] but usually you're going to see
20%, 30%, something like that.
[3:24:54] I mean, this is close to double.
[3:24:58] Which could happen.
[3:24:59] I'm not saying it
couldn't happen.
[3:25:00] Just a little unusual.
[3:25:02] That's why I would
like a little bit
[3:25:04] more protection for the board
to come and take a look at it.
[3:25:07] I recognize it's unique.
[3:25:07] I recognize that three million
might turn out to be justified,
[3:25:11] and that we can get the
funding sources to do it,
[3:25:14] and I can wrap my mind
around that for sure.
[3:25:16] But I think I'd be dishonest
to myself and to those
[3:25:22] I serve if I didn't express
some concerns about the purchase
[3:25:27] price, and making sure that
we've got those protections
[3:25:30] in place moving forward.
[3:25:32] So as the motion sits,
it's not my favorite,
[3:25:35] if it were amended to
give the board the ability
[3:25:39] to weigh in on the
contingencies at another time,
[3:25:42] I'd be very, very
inclined to vote yes.
[3:25:45] But that's just where I am.
[3:25:47] COMMISSIONER PALMER:
Mr. Chairman,
[3:25:48] may I just ask a
very quick question,
[3:25:50] because I'm agreeable to
amending my second if--
[3:25:52] but first, I wanted to say,
wouldn't the contingencies
[3:25:56] already be something
that would have
[3:25:58] to be met in order for this
contract to move forward?
[3:26:01] CRAIG COFFEY: That's correct.
[3:26:02] And--
[3:26:02] COMMISSIONER PALMER: So I don't
know that it's necessary--
[3:26:04] CRAIG COFFEY: But he's
talking about bringing it back
[3:26:06] to the board, which is a
little bit of a twist on that.
[3:26:08] And I will say that I know that
Mr. Busby's probably assessment
[3:26:10] of it as a single
family lot like it's
[3:26:15] been for 40 or 50 years.
[3:26:17] I'm not sure it takes into
account highest and best use,
[3:26:19] which would be parceling that up
into waterfront lots and stuff
[3:26:22] like that.
[3:26:23] I think that would be a much
different number than what
[3:26:26] we're talking about.
[3:26:26] And the last thing
I'd caution the board
[3:26:28] or mention to the board,
that if we go forward today
[3:26:31] and the legislature were able
to allocate $1.5 million,
[3:26:33] it would be hard for us then to
say, hey, we're just kidding.
[3:26:39] Don't take the money.
[3:26:41] I just say that for a
specific-- the reason
[3:26:45] it's being brought today
and not-- it was rushed,
[3:26:48] but it was why session
was still in play.
[3:26:52] So that if the board said
no, we could go to them
[3:26:55] and not have egg on our
face and say, pull this out.
[3:26:58] But the idea of us
bringing it today
[3:27:00] is that we bring it
to the legislature
[3:27:01] and say, include it in
the governor's budget
[3:27:03] and follow it through.
[3:27:04] That's going to be a challenge
for us if we pull out later.
[3:27:09] I'm just saying.
[3:27:09] And the due diligence
will be 90 days.
[3:27:12] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Per the packet, it
[3:27:14] went to the legislature
on January 5.
[3:27:15] CRAIG COFFEY: That's correct.
[3:27:17] And that was correct.
[3:27:19] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
This is March.
[3:27:21] CRAIG COFFEY: Right.
[3:27:22] I understand that was at the
request of Commissioner Ketchel.
[3:27:25] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Ms. Cox?
[3:27:29] COMMISSIONER COX: So I
appreciate you bringing that up
[3:27:31] because representative
Maney mentioned
[3:27:34] that he's going to take
another swing at asking
[3:27:38] for these funds for this parcel.
[3:27:41] And if-- I mean, we know that
they have allocations, yes?
[3:27:45] So do we understand that money
has not been secured as of yet?
[3:27:52] CRAIG COFFEY: That's baked
in the contingency, correct.
[3:27:56] We understand where
the budget sits.
[3:27:58] We understand that is a
contingency because it's not
[3:28:01] a given, there's a
lot of horse trading
[3:28:04] that occurs between now and
the end of session for sure.
[3:28:06] COMMISSIONER COX: But
for sure, in order for us
[3:28:08] to move forward and request
that the legislature fund this,
[3:28:10] we need to approve this today.
[3:28:15] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Correct.
[3:28:15] COMMISSIONER COX: That
is the understanding.
[3:28:16] Do we all understand that?
[3:28:18] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Correct.
[3:28:19] That is correct.
[3:28:21] And the other thing is that if
the $1,5 million or $2 million,
[3:28:24] that they might be able
to pledge towards this,
[3:28:27] we then would owe a million
plus the closing cost.
[3:28:30] So I feel very
comfortable with this,
[3:28:32] and I think our
constituents would
[3:28:36] be thrilled in the long
run, because they're
[3:28:38] going to see the beauty
of this park as opposed
[3:28:40] to whatever else
would replace it.
[3:28:41] But if that's the
only way, I think
[3:28:44] we've got the votes to go
forward, I can count to three.
[3:28:48] But if you want me to add that
for a safeguard, Chairman,
[3:28:52] I'll consider it.
[3:28:54] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Well, and I know
[3:28:56] you're addressing my comments.
[3:28:57] That's all I'm looking for, is
safeguards and exit ramps for--
[3:29:00] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
Exit ramps, yeah.
[3:29:03] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: --for
safety, not for leverage.
[3:29:05] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Right.
[3:29:07] So, if it didn't come through,
if the legislative money didn't
[3:29:10] come through, we would not want
to come up with $3 million.
[3:29:13] So I get that.
[3:29:14] OK, so in that case,
I'll amend my motion
[3:29:17] to go along with what you're
suggesting, the contingency.
[3:29:19] COMMISSIONER PALMER: [INAUDIBLE]
[3:29:21] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Further
discussion or are we ready to--
[3:29:26] COMMISSIONER
KETCHEL: I just want
[3:29:27] to thank Mr. Coffey for
his unbelievably long hours
[3:29:30] and work on this.
[3:29:31] It's not easy.
[3:29:32] The first parcel that we bought,
we went after it every five--
[3:29:36] every year, I would call the
owner, every single year.
[3:29:39] And I said to Judy, it's
time to call her again.
[3:29:44] And we couldn't get her.
[3:29:45] So Judy called her husband
and she died the day before,
[3:29:48] and he lowered the price so
that we could get that property
[3:29:53] on the other side.
[3:29:53] Now, this one is--
[3:29:54] that one was going
for close to--
[3:29:57] I think she asked for
$1.5 million, wasn't it?
[3:30:00] So this one's a larger parcel
and a higher piece of land.
[3:30:03] And beautiful trees.
[3:30:04] And the other one
doesn't have it so.
[3:30:08] And we will not clearcut those.
[3:30:09] COMMISSIONER COX: So is the--
[3:30:11] I'm sorry, just
for clarification,
[3:30:12] if I may Chairman.
[3:30:13] So this is to approve the
item with the contingencies
[3:30:17] that we get funding
from the legislature,
[3:30:25] or it's that the
property meets appraisal?
[3:30:28] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: It
comes back to the board.
[3:30:31] LYNN HOSHIHARA:
But both are listed
[3:30:35] as contingencies in the
purchase and sale agreement.
[3:30:37] COMMISSIONER COX: OK.
[3:30:38] CRAIG COFFEY: We actually
have the appraisal,
[3:30:42] the legislative money in
our local town of Shalimar,
[3:30:45] plus a due diligence, which I
think Commissioner Mixon touched
[3:30:48] upon, which would be
inspecting the seawall
[3:30:51] and investigating the site
for any other problems
[3:30:54] or creosol posts
or whatever, we'd
[3:30:55] look at those kind of things.
[3:30:58] LYNN HOSHIHARA: Yes, in addition
to the section on contingencies,
[3:31:00] there's also a provision about
suitability and feasibility.
[3:31:02] CRAIG COFFEY: Correct.
[3:31:04] LYNN HOSHIHARA: To make sure--
[3:31:05] CRAIG COFFEY: For
almost any reason.
[3:31:05] LYNN HOSHIHARA: Right, for
the county's use, and then
[3:31:07] with Commissioner
Goodwin's Amendment,
[3:31:08] which was to include that those
contingencies and requirements
[3:31:11] be later approved by the board
as having been satisfied.
[3:31:16] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Yeah, just to clarify,
[3:31:18] and I'll use an example
to make it clear.
[3:31:21] We've got some suitability
and condition studies.
[3:31:23] I don't want-- I'm not
asking Craig to decide
[3:31:28] if he likes the seawall.
[3:31:29] Ask us if you like the seawall.
[3:31:31] That's what I'm saying.
[3:31:33] And well, within reason,
based on his inspection,
[3:31:35] he'll show it to us.
[3:31:37] We'll say, yeah, we
think that's fine.
[3:31:38] We want to move forward.
[3:31:40] Keep going or not.
[3:31:40] Those in favor.
[3:31:47] COMMISSIONER MIXON: Aye.
[3:31:48] COMMISSIONER COX: Aye.
[3:31:48] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Aye.
[3:31:49] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Those opposed.
[3:31:49] All right.
[3:31:50] That passes unanimously.
[3:31:51] Good job, Craig.
[3:31:53] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Mr. Chairman.
[3:31:54] Mr. Chairman, just
procedurally, I'd
[3:31:56] like to ask a question as
you move to the next item.
[3:32:00] I saw the packet, I saw the
addition of the application
[3:32:04] within the packet, but
it didn't make our state
[3:32:08] legislative agenda.
[3:32:09] Should we have formally added
that as an action of the board?
[3:32:14] COMMISSIONER
GOODWIN: It probably
[3:32:17] would have been stronger.
[3:32:19] COMMISSIONER COX:
What was the question?
[3:32:21] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Well, we submitted--
[3:32:22] I'm sorry.
[3:32:23] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
No, go ahead.
[3:32:24] COMMISSIONER MIXON: We submitted
an application for that funding
[3:32:26] from the state as a board, but
the board, to my knowledge,
[3:32:29] and I may just not be
remembering that, never took
[3:32:34] public action to submit that.
[3:32:35] But we've got to see it today.
[3:32:39] And it was submitted
back in January,
[3:32:40] but it wasn't
something we all did.
[3:32:42] It sounds like it was something
singularly on all of our--
[3:32:45] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Craig,
can you speak to that?
[3:32:48] CRAIG COFFEY: Just there was a
deadline associated with that.
[3:32:54] I was asked to put
something like that in.
[3:32:57] I've been asked in the past from
other commissioners to do that.
[3:32:59] I remember some from
Commissioner Boyles
[3:33:01] back when I was doing
legislative items.
[3:33:03] And it wasn't ripe
to bring forward yet
[3:33:05] because we didn't think it was.
[3:33:10] But Commissioner Mixon
raises a good point.
[3:33:11] And that's one of the things
that was a challenge for us.
[3:33:15] Anytime we have a one
individual in the board.
[3:33:17] COMMISSIONER MIXON: This
is the fifth meeting
[3:33:19] since that was submitted.
[3:33:20] And--
[3:33:22] CRAIG COFFEY: Yes, sir.
[3:33:24] COMMISSIONER MIXON: --I
think it's very inappropriate
[3:33:25] that it was submitted
as though the five of us
[3:33:28] were moving forward on an
item that the five of us
[3:33:30] were not informed of,
or not in knowledge of.
[3:33:34] Definitely didn't
have an opportunity
[3:33:36] to speak to it publicly.
[3:33:38] And it sounds like a lot
of work went into it.
[3:33:40] I just think we can do better
as a group, working as a group.
[3:33:44] Thanks.
[3:33:45] LYNN HOSHIHARA: All right.
[3:33:47] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Point taken, Mr. Coffey.
[3:33:49] Does that make sense?
[3:33:50] CRAIG COFFEY: Yes, sir.
[3:33:52] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[3:33:53] CRAIG COFFEY: Yeah.
[3:33:54] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.
[3:33:55] All right, Mr. Autrey.
[3:33:58] JASON AUTREY: Good afternoon.
[3:34:02] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Hello.
[3:34:02] JASON AUTREY: Good afternoon.
[3:34:04] Jason Autrey.
[3:34:04] I have a wonderful item here.
[3:34:06] So I would like to
recognize the city manager
[3:34:08] for Niceville, Dave Deitch.
[3:34:10] He's hung in there like
a hair in a biscuit,
[3:34:13] to use a wonderful Southern
expression for this item.
[3:34:14] We are working on Meigs Park
in the city of Niceville.
[3:34:18] This is a special needs
park that back when
[3:34:20] President Ponder
was on the council,
[3:34:21] he was a huge advocate for,
and we have an allocation
[3:34:24] from the state to build a
special needs park in Niceville.
[3:34:28] The city of Niceville has kindly
offered up a piece of property,
[3:34:31] and we've received our bids in.
[3:34:33] They came in a little
bit higher than expected,
[3:34:35] and what we've got is an
interlocal agreement Amendment
[3:34:37] for the funding
towards this project.
[3:34:39] In total, this is a $3.4 million
project that we're constructing.
[3:34:43] It's a special needs ball field.
[3:34:46] It's got a special needs
playground, has some pavilions
[3:34:47] and restrooms area out there,
some open fields as well,
[3:34:50] along with stormwater and
parking improvements out there.
[3:34:52] It's a phenomenal facility.
[3:34:53] In fact, just yesterday,
David sent an email to me
[3:34:56] regarding a citizen that has
a child with special needs
[3:34:59] that has offered to put a sign
out there that's a picture
[3:35:03] board that allows that child
to communicate with parents
[3:35:07] and other children
that are out there.
[3:35:09] Really excited to see
this move forward.
[3:35:10] We've extended the agreement to
add additional funds and its TDD
[3:35:13] based on our side.
[3:35:14] The city has found funds
to put into it as well.
[3:35:17] We'd like to execute this
interlocal agreement so that we
[3:35:19] can move forward with the
construction of this fantastic
[3:35:21] park with the city of Niceville.
[3:35:23] COMMISSIONER MIXON: Make
a motion to approve.
[3:35:25] COMMISSIONER COX: Second.
[3:35:26] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Wow, that was fast.
[3:35:28] I'm going to give that one to
Commissioner Cox on the second.
[3:35:31] So motion and a
second to approve.
[3:35:33] Further discussion.
[3:35:34] All those in favor, please
signal by saying Aye.
[3:35:38] COMMISSIONER COX: Aye.
[3:35:39] COMMISSIONER MIXON: Aye.
[3:35:39] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Aye.
[3:35:40] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
And those against.
[3:35:41] All right.
[3:35:41] That passes unanimously.
[3:35:42] JASON AUTREY: Again, thank
you to City Manager Dietch
[3:35:45] for his help with
this effort as well.
[3:35:46] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[3:35:47] So it's our final public
comment opportunity.
[3:35:49] I've got four cards.
[3:35:51] First speaker, Mr.
Nicholas Smith.
[3:36:07] NICHOLAS SMITH: Good afternoon,
Chairman, Commissioners.
[3:36:15] Thank you all for allowing
us to speak today.
[3:36:18] I can't help but acknowledge--
[3:36:21] I understand that there are
policy and procedure and decorum
[3:36:24] that this board has to
enforce, but I stood back there
[3:36:27] for 15 minutes
with my hand raised
[3:36:29] on an item up on
the consent agenda
[3:36:32] that I turned in my speaker
card before the public comment
[3:36:36] segment occurred and before
that first public comment
[3:36:39] segment ended, but you
all just looked at me
[3:36:43] like I wasn't even there.
[3:36:48] What representation does
the people of this county
[3:36:51] have that would just sit
there and look at a citizen
[3:36:55] and not even acknowledge.
[3:36:56] Sir, we see you.
[3:36:59] Just hold on a
little bit longer.
[3:37:04] Yes, Chairman?
[3:37:06] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Pause this time.
[3:37:07] Did you not talk to Ms.
Sharon about that issue?
[3:37:12] I thought we did make contact
because we did see you.
[3:37:17] NICHOLAS SMITH: Chairman,
that was 10 to 15--
[3:37:20] it felt like 10 to
15 minutes later.
[3:37:22] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: But
we did contact you about it
[3:37:27] and I'm asked--
[3:37:28] I'm looking at our PIO, he's
saying he didn't have the cards.
[3:37:32] I get the cards from him.
[3:37:33] I don't-- there's no
gamesmanship, I promise.
[3:37:35] We get the cards,
we got to stop it
[3:37:38] at some point, that's why we'll
open the second opportunity.
[3:37:41] It's not meant to quiet
anybody's voice, I promise.
[3:37:44] NICHOLAS SMITH: I
understand, Mr. Chairman.
[3:37:45] There's nothing in
your 2017 Policy
[3:37:47] and Procedures
regarding the meetings.
[3:37:50] There's nothing in the
2022 version of the Policy
[3:37:53] and Procedures
governing the meetings
[3:37:55] that establishes a cutoff time.
[3:37:57] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: OK well, I
appreciate you bringing that up.
[3:38:00] Nick, will you get with
Lynn and let's look at that
[3:38:03] and make sure that it's clear.
[3:38:03] I agree with you,
we need clear rules.
[3:38:05] And if there's
something that's missing
[3:38:06] on what the procedure is,
thank you for bringing that up.
[3:38:09] We'll make sure that
everything's clear,
[3:38:10] because it needs to be clear,
just like you point out.
[3:38:13] NICHOLAS SMITH: Thank
you, Mr. Chairman.
[3:38:15] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Yes, sir.
[3:38:16] All right.
[3:38:17] And when you start, Nick
start your time back.
[3:38:20] I didn't want to burn your
time on what I was saying.
[3:38:23] NICHOLAS SMITH: Thank
you, Mr. Chairman.
[3:38:25] I'm not irritated or frustrated,
it's just a repeated--
[3:38:27] repeated events, that
it's not the first time
[3:38:32] that I've been ignored
by members of this board.
[3:38:37] Today is March 3, 2026.
[3:38:40] On January 17, I submitted
a request to this board
[3:38:46] to every member, but I still
have not heard anything back.
[3:38:50] And still to this
day, I don't know
[3:38:53] why I'm still sitting here
hearing agendas being put forth.
[3:38:55] Hey, the only voice
that's being represented
[3:38:59] are the people or the
organizations that have money.
[3:39:03] And please forgive me for the
term that I'm about to use,
[3:39:08] but that is piss-poor
representation.
[3:39:09] You have families in this county
who are being falsely arrested,
[3:39:16] and you sit here and respond
about dogs, about pigs running
[3:39:20] around on private property.
[3:39:23] You have families, careers
that are being torn apart.
[3:39:26] You have citizens being falsely
accused of trespass with friends
[3:39:32] by the elected Sheriff
of this county,
[3:39:36] and neither one of the board--
of the members of this board
[3:39:40] have addressed that.
[3:39:42] Why wouldn't you want to
address the harm being
[3:39:45] done to your constituents?
[3:39:47] I'm even going off
of script here,
[3:39:52] but I definitely think that
it's OK and that it's warranted.
[3:39:56] We have war going on
with Iran right now,
[3:39:58] but there's war going
on in Okaloosa County,
[3:40:01] and I am appalled that you all
would sit here and bring forth
[3:40:05] upon the citizens talking
about water contamination
[3:40:07] from Alabama, talking
about dogs and pigs.
[3:40:12] But you have this gentleman in
the back that has brought forth
[3:40:18] a clear concern
about his life being
[3:40:21] put in jeopardy at
your jail, but yet he
[3:40:25] has been cut off from
explaining what happened to him.
[3:40:30] And I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman,
that I'm going over time,
[3:40:34] but when are you going to
inspect your hearts to represent
[3:40:38] the people of this county?
[3:40:45] I'm not a millionaire.
[3:40:48] I don't have money.
[3:40:50] My credit score is probably
below 500 right now.
[3:40:53] My house might be repossessed.
[3:40:57] I might have to
sell my vehicles.
[3:41:00] And you know why I
might have to do that?
[3:41:03] Anybody want to take a guess.
[3:41:05] Commissioner Mixon?
[3:41:05] No?
[3:41:07] November 20 of 2023,
I went to Toyota
[3:41:10] of Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
[3:41:14] And would you guess
what happened?
[3:41:16] The finance manager,
Timothy James Webster,
[3:41:18] forged my signature on an
auto loan pre-approval check
[3:41:21] from Navy Federal Credit Union.
[3:41:23] And would you like to
guess what happened
[3:41:26] when I reported it to the
Okaloosa County Sheriff's
[3:41:28] Office?
[3:41:28] The responding deputy,
Deputy Jill Hagen.
[3:41:31] I am thankful he did
an outstanding job.
[3:41:34] So I would like to
give a public shout out
[3:41:38] to Deputy Andrew Jill Hagen.
[3:41:40] But the next morning, I took
it upon my own initiative
[3:41:45] to go to the Okaloosa County
Sheriff's Office headquarters
[3:41:48] and request a preliminary
report of the investigation.
[3:41:52] And that's when investigator
Michael Watts came down.
[3:41:56] Investigator Michael Watts
never went to the dealership
[3:42:00] to review the security
camera footage.
[3:42:02] He never spoke to anybody
at the dealership.
[3:42:05] But what he did do was review
the evidence that I submitted,
[3:42:11] the forged signature evidence.
[3:42:14] He reviewed the
body cam footage.
[3:42:16] And would you like to
know what else he did?
[3:42:19] COMMISSIONER MIXON: Not really.
[3:42:20] This is not within the purview
of the County Commission.
[3:42:22] I appreciate you being able
to get it all off your chest.
[3:42:25] I'm just really confused as to
why the chairman is continuing
[3:42:27] to allow you to go on.
[3:42:28] NICHOLAS SMITH: And
I'm respectfully
[3:42:28] saying that article
125, Subsection S,
[3:42:31] allows the County Commission
to investigate County affairs.
[3:42:36] This is within your county.
[3:42:39] It is selective Non-enforcement.
[3:42:41] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: No.
[3:42:43] NICHOLAS SMITH:
And I emailed you
[3:42:44] about it, Commissioner Mixon,
but you deleted the email.
[3:42:46] I'm wondering why.
[3:42:47] Because you already knew.
[3:42:48] COMMISSIONER MIXON: Because
you send group emails
[3:42:50] and that violates the sunshine.
[3:42:51] NICHOLAS SMITH: It does not.
[3:42:52] COMMISSIONER MIXON: OK.
[3:42:53] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Hang on.
[3:42:54] NICHOLAS SMITH: It makes sure
that every member is aware.
[3:42:55] Commissioner, I
appreciate your time,
[3:42:56] and it's about time that
you all get a backbone
[3:42:59] and stand up for your community.
[3:43:00] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[3:43:01] NICHOLAS SMITH: Thank you.
[3:43:02] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[3:43:03] Ms. Watkins.
[3:43:18] PAT WATKINS: My
name is Pat Watkins.
[3:43:26] I live at 6087 Bud Moulton
Road in the county.
[3:43:29] I was going to speak
about item number two
[3:43:34] in the consent agenda,
but you all pulled it.
[3:43:38] Thank you very much.
[3:43:40] So now I have to go to plan B.
[3:43:42] [CHUCKLING]
[3:43:42] Thank you to
Commissioner Ketchel
[3:43:44] and to Commissioner Palmer
for responding to my emails.
[3:43:48] I wrote to every one of you
and those two responded.
[3:43:53] Thank you for removing
item 2 from the agenda.
[3:43:57] Commissioner Ketchel
and many citizens
[3:44:00] have repeatedly
called for an end
[3:44:03] to unrestricted clearing
of land in our county,
[3:44:06] i.e. clearcutting, which is what
this item 2 would have allowed
[3:44:11] to occur in our county.
[3:44:16] I find it difficult to believe
that land that has been clear
[3:44:21] cut for development, did
not contain protected trees,
[3:44:23] at least one as defined in our
land development code 6.05.03.
[3:44:29] Since you pulled
this item number 2,
[3:44:36] now is an opportunity to work
together with the citizens
[3:44:39] and amend this land
development code.
[3:44:43] Perhaps a committee of
commissioners and citizens
[3:44:46] can meet and work together.
[3:44:51] This topic needs
clarification so that everyone
[3:44:54] will be on the same
page concerning
[3:44:58] clear cutting and
protection of trees,
[3:45:01] and our precious environment.
[3:45:06] We the citizens half standing
and want to work with you.
[3:45:10] We have standing in how our
county is being developed.
[3:45:15] So please form a committee
with citizens and you
[3:45:18] all so that we can
work on clarification
[3:45:23] of this land development code.
[3:45:25] Thank you.
[3:45:26] I did not use my three minutes.
[3:45:28] Bye.
[3:45:28] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.
[3:45:30] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Chairman,
may I just say one quick thing?
[3:45:32] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: OK.
[3:45:32] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: I
know it's been a long day.
[3:45:34] Ms. Watkins, thank you for
continuing to advocate for this.
[3:45:36] I recently learned
that Leon County--
[3:45:38] I think I'm correct.
[3:45:40] --they have a tree
ordinance that allows
[3:45:43] that trees are not clear cut.
[3:45:45] And if that's true, I'd like
to look at that, Ms. Hoshihara,
[3:45:48] and see about maybe modeling it.
[3:45:50] I know we're all over
the board on this.
[3:45:53] There's some that are for clear
cutting and others who are not,
[3:45:56] but I'd like to look
at it because they have
[3:45:59] gorgeous trees in Tallahassee.
[3:45:59] They're old trees that have
been there for a long time.
[3:46:03] What I call legacy
trees, not just dogwood,
[3:46:04] but the beautiful old live oaks.
[3:46:07] PAT WATKINS: You're
absolutely right,
[3:46:08] Tallahassee and Leon County
does have gorgeous trees.
[3:46:10] So does Gainesville
and Alachua County.
[3:46:13] Those counties have
tree ordinances,
[3:46:15] and I think that maybe we can
read them and if not, model
[3:46:20] our land development
code after them.
[3:46:27] Maybe.
[3:46:28] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Well, let me--
[3:46:30] I appreciate that and
we'll look at it but--
[3:46:32] and I understand
what you're saying.
[3:46:33] But I'm going to
tell you something.
[3:46:35] This is my perspective.
[3:46:36] If we start modeling our code
after Alachua County and Leon
[3:46:39] County, they'll be
commissioners gone quicker
[3:46:41] than you can say goodbye.
[3:46:43] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
I mean, I know
[3:46:44] we're on polar opposites on
that issue, Chairman, but I--
[3:46:47] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: If
we joined forces on that,
[3:46:51] we'll be out of here.
[3:46:52] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: Well,
we can find middle ground.
[3:46:53] We always do.
[3:46:54] We always do.
[3:46:54] I mean, I know that Leon is--
[3:46:56] what he's implying is Alachua
and Leon are very Democratic
[3:47:00] and we're very Republican.
[3:47:01] I get it, red and--
[3:47:02] but still, trees, to
me, fall somewhere
[3:47:04] in between all of that.
[3:47:07] I mean, they're beautiful.
[3:47:08] And I hate when you have
these gorgeous woods
[3:47:11] and they're just flattened.
[3:47:12] PAT WATKINS: Exactly.
[3:47:13] Thank you very much.
[3:47:15] Have a good day.
[3:47:16] COMMISSIONER
GOODWIN: But let me--
[3:47:18] and Ms. Hoshihara
brought something up.
[3:47:20] She reminded that SB
180 is still there.
[3:47:23] Let's be clear, I think I kind
of got my point across earlier
[3:47:27] with the speaker.
[3:47:28] I think we're talking
about two different things.
[3:47:31] One, clear cutting
for new subdivisions
[3:47:33] versus clearing land that's
not going to be subdivided.
[3:47:37] They're two different things.
[3:47:39] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Versus a tree ordinance.
[3:47:41] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Versus a tree ordinance.
[3:47:43] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
Telling a neighbor what
[3:47:44] tree they can trim, what
tree they can't, what
[3:47:45] tree they can move, What tree--
[3:47:46] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Right.
[3:47:47] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
We're getting
[3:47:47] into dangerous territory.
[3:47:47] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Correct.
[3:47:48] COMMISSIONER MIXON:
This was too vague.
[3:47:50] Thankfully, it was removed
today and it'll have more study.
[3:47:52] 18 months, it was mentioned
earlier, is too short.
[3:47:54] Anybody that's going to buy
property can wait 18 months.
[3:47:57] After they clear it, we
don't want to see that.
[3:47:59] We need a longer period of time.
[3:48:01] But there's got to be
a lot more work that's
[3:48:03] put into it than just
what we were presented.
[3:48:04] Thankfully, it was pulled
and I know it'll come back
[3:48:07] and we'll have
those discussions,
[3:48:07] and they'll be
great discussions.
[3:48:09] But if I go out
and decide I want
[3:48:11] to take a portion of our
land and put some trees,
[3:48:13] I want to be able to do that
for agriculture purposes.
[3:48:16] At the same time, I don't
want my neighboring property
[3:48:18] that I don't own to
be able to do that,
[3:48:22] just to hold for 18 months, to
be able to put a subdivision
[3:48:24] and make it easier in
their development process.
[3:48:25] We can't just trust in
the moral fibers of man
[3:48:28] because they're missing a
lot of their moral fibers.
[3:48:30] And so we have to be able to
have some rules and regulations
[3:48:34] that do allow that, but we've
got to stay very cautiously away
[3:48:36] from Leon and Alachua
and the tree ordinance,
[3:48:39] because they go very far into
what you can do and what you
[3:48:43] can't.
[3:48:43] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: I
know what you're saying,
[3:48:44] but the subdivision that
your parents and I live
[3:48:46] in, it was not clear cut.
[3:48:48] And those beautiful
old oaks are what
[3:48:50] made me buy there 40 years ago.
[3:48:52] And I love it.
[3:48:53] And it's beautiful.
[3:48:54] And I would hope that we
can find a compromise.
[3:48:56] And I do understand
what you're saying.
[3:48:57] And I'm not a Democrat.
[3:48:59] And I'm not a tree hugger, I
just think some of these trees
[3:49:02] are beautiful.
[3:49:02] I know the implication men.
[3:49:03] [CHUCKLING]
[3:49:04] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Some
of us just have a chainsaw
[3:49:10] in the garage and feel the need
to use it every now and then.
[3:49:14] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL:
Private property, have at it.
[3:49:15] [LAUGHTER]
[3:49:15] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Mr. Perry.
[3:49:18] PAT WATKINS: One second.
[3:49:21] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Well, hold on.
[3:49:22] PAT WATKINS: I just hope we
can come to a happy medium
[3:49:26] and save some of
our heritage trees
[3:49:27] and not clearcut everything on
every residential subdivision
[3:49:30] that we--
[3:49:33] that we see today.
[3:49:34] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: I
think everybody is probably
[3:49:36] on board with that.
[3:49:38] We don't want to-- there's
trees everybody wants to save,
[3:49:40] but the last thing we want
to do is have somebody
[3:49:43] with a measuring tape
and a pocket protector
[3:49:44] telling us that we can't
take down that little scrub
[3:49:50] thing over there.
[3:49:50] So anyway, Mr.
Perry [INAUDIBLE].
[3:49:52] STEVE PERRY: Well,
it's been a long time,
[3:49:55] and I watched two weeks ago, and
it was extremely long then, too.
[3:49:58] So I'm going to
shorten what I wanted
[3:50:00] to say and try to keep
it as short as possible,
[3:50:03] cause I want to get
out of here too.
[3:50:04] [LAUGHTER]
[3:50:03] So one thing I want to say
about the consent agenda,
[3:50:07] I'm all in support of item
19 with the artificial reef
[3:50:10] application and what
you guys do there.
[3:50:11] [CLAPS] I'm all for that.
[3:50:13] You know what I'm against, which
is the reefing of the SS United
[3:50:16] States, and the reasons why.
[3:50:17] And I've made that clear.
[3:50:19] I do want to point out
just one thing that--
[3:50:22] I'm not going to quote and
read anything from the book.
[3:50:24] It's just you guys had
a long day already,
[3:50:26] and it's not necessary.
[3:50:27] But I do want to say
in this, and remember,
[3:50:30] I've given you my contact
information at many meetings.
[3:50:32] I've come up and asked, is there
any questions that I can ask?
[3:50:36] And the answer is always no.
[3:50:37] All this information
is available
[3:50:40] and I have a lot of it.
[3:50:42] And your team over the last
year could have asked me.
[3:50:45] I'm not asking to be hired
or add work as a consultant,
[3:50:47] but I could have
informed you something
[3:50:48] about all this stuff that
you're finding out now
[3:50:51] that you're going to have
to deal with and everything.
[3:50:53] So with that said, one
thing I do want to--
[3:50:55] I guess I'm going to take
a little bit of credit
[3:50:58] and pat myself on the back.
[3:50:58] In the December 10 or 9
meeting that Mr. Fall gave
[3:51:01] his presentation everything,
all those issues he brought up,
[3:51:05] I'm just wondering, would he
have brought those items up
[3:51:09] if myself and my team had not
brought up the bomb disposal
[3:51:13] off the shore, hexavalent
chromium, all these things that
[3:51:15] have been addressed, would any
of that stuff been looked at?
[3:51:18] Because again, what you guys
have done is sinking boats.
[3:51:20] Sinking a ship
with zinc chromate,
[3:51:23] and hexavalent chromium
is something different.
[3:51:25] And no disrespect to Mr.
Coffey, but when he said we've
[3:51:28] sunk everything that's zinc
chromate, that is not true.
[3:51:31] I can honestly say, 40 years in
the business of building ships,
[3:51:34] operating ships and everything.
[3:51:36] And I'll give you one
brief example of that.
[3:51:38] Of course, during World War II,
we built nearly 2,700 liberty
[3:51:42] ships.
[3:51:42] They were designed to last
five voyages, that's all.
[3:51:44] But we didn't have time to
coat them and protect them
[3:51:47] with zinc chromate during that,
we had to get them in the water
[3:51:50] to fight a war.
[3:51:51] This ship probably has
more zinc chromate,
[3:51:53] containing hexa
chromium, probably
[3:51:54] than any ship constructed.
[3:51:56] None of those Essex-class
carriers have that.
[3:51:58] We had to get them into--
[3:52:00] constructed to fight a war.
[3:52:01] The Oriskany was
the only one that
[3:52:03] was completed after the war,
where they could do that.
[3:52:06] We weren't in a rush.
[3:52:07] So that's important
for you to know.
[3:52:08] Lots of information, and I'm
willing to share this to you.
[3:52:11] You just have to be willing to
allow a discussion about it.
[3:52:15] So with that said, another
thing that he brought up,
[3:52:19] there will be
galvanic corrosion.
[3:52:21] Because all the
stuff you've sunk
[3:52:23] is either steel
vessels, aluminum.
[3:52:24] When you have steel and
aluminum in the same vessel,
[3:52:27] you have a thing called galvanic
corrosion, and that will occur.
[3:52:29] So you have to take that--
[3:52:32] you have to be wary of that.
[3:52:34] The Oriskany does not have
aluminum on it, regardless
[3:52:35] of what some people say.
[3:52:37] Yes, it's aluminum
planking on the after deck,
[3:52:38] but the flight deck
is still steel.
[3:52:41] The World Trade
centers were steel.
[3:52:42] They were covered in
aluminum sheathing
[3:52:43] to make them look good.
[3:52:45] They weren't built
out of aluminum.
[3:52:47] So when people go around and
say, oh, it has aluminum,
[3:52:50] it's not a problem.
[3:52:51] You have to use a
little bit of depth
[3:52:53] in your discussion on that.
[3:52:55] So with all that said, I wanted
to bring up just one more quick
[3:52:59] item--
[3:53:00] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[3:53:01] STEVE PERRY: --and we'll
make it quick and get out.
[3:53:04] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Yep.
[3:53:06] All right, Steve, 10 seconds.
[3:53:08] Do it.
[3:53:09] STEVE PERRY: All right.
[3:53:10] Back in the 2000s, the army or
the Air Force had to get rid
[3:53:14] of some F-11s.
[3:53:18] They were buried out in Utah
due to environmental concerns.
[3:53:21] The primary reason the F-11
fleet was buried and scrapped,
[3:53:23] environmental health
concerns, hexavalent chromium
[3:53:25] being the major factor.
[3:53:27] Not the liquid state,
the solid state.
[3:53:28] Which is what you have
on the United States.
[3:53:31] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[3:53:32] Ms. Lewis needs to speak now.
[3:53:34] STEVE PERRY: All right.
[3:53:35] Thank you.
[3:53:34] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Thanks, Diane Lewis.
[3:53:42] DIANE LEWIS: Mr.
Chairman, commissioners,
[3:53:49] thank you for giving me
an opportunity to talk.
[3:53:52] I just wanted to bring up--
[3:53:54] My name is Diane Lewis.
[3:53:55] I am a resident of Destin and a
property owner on Holiday Isle,
[3:53:59] and I just want to make
a couple of quick points.
[3:54:03] At the last board
meeting, the board
[3:54:05] demonstrated in
extraordinary capacity
[3:54:08] on projects I had never
heard about before.
[3:54:13] For collaboration and
cooperation and managing nuance
[3:54:16] and respect for property
history on something
[3:54:23] as small as rezoning a single
parcel, and something-- a
[3:54:27] project as large as the
Fairground redevelopment.
[3:54:31] It was amazing, and it
was obvious how much
[3:54:35] work and effort had gone
into those kinds of things.
[3:54:38] Regarding Holiday Isle
and the state property,
[3:54:41] I would just offer
three considerations.
[3:54:44] The first was what's
already been brought up.
[3:54:48] The original approval for the
Marina was very, very specific.
[3:54:51] That the Marina could-- nothing
could happen at the Marina
[3:54:57] until there was a
certificate of occupancy
[3:55:00] for those residential condos.
[3:55:01] The people who did
that, who executed
[3:55:05] that process were
like you, elected
[3:55:07] officials who were
very, very deliberative,
[3:55:10] very thoughtful about it.
[3:55:13] To now ignore that
residential element of it
[3:55:16] because it happened a long
time ago, I don't think
[3:55:21] demonstrates the same
degree of respect
[3:55:24] that you guys showed
last year, but I
[3:55:27] would offer for you to
revisit that in the same vein.
[3:55:30] There's a lot of
discussion about the state
[3:55:37] and the county and the city.
[3:55:38] There's not as much
consideration for people who
[3:55:41] are residents of Holiday Isle.
[3:55:44] There are HINI.
[3:55:46] We have PCNRs, that
all of us, when
[3:55:49] we decided to purchase
property on Holiday Isle,
[3:55:54] agreed to abide by.
[3:55:57] Again, I think, to come in
and write a set of rules
[3:56:02] for things that can happen
at the state property
[3:56:06] and ignore what everyone
else has to abide by
[3:56:13] doesn't demonstrate the
same level of respect.
[3:56:18] Again, those are
things that were
[3:56:22] put in place with
thoughtful consideration,
[3:56:24] and I would just ask that all
of that process be respected.
[3:56:29] And I would say you're
worried about $5 million,
[3:56:35] most of the property
owners on Holiday Isle
[3:56:39] have a lot more than $5
million invested under what
[3:56:42] they considered rules.
[3:56:44] I wouldn't have
bought a property next
[3:56:46] to a park, a public park.
[3:56:49] So I would just say before you
spend a lot of time writing
[3:56:56] rules, also recognize, if
you're willing to override
[3:56:57] all of the other
deliberative property
[3:57:00] processes of former
elected officials,
[3:57:03] I wouldn't spend a lot
of time on the rules
[3:57:07] because somebody else
can just override them.
[3:57:08] And that's--
[3:57:09] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.
[3:57:11] DIANE LEWIS: So you also
cannot take into account--
[3:57:13] you can't be--
[3:57:15] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: You're
using up Mr. Scott's time.
[3:57:17] Sorry.
[3:57:17] DIANE LEWIS: You can't
compensate anybody
[3:57:20] for loss of property value
on Holiday Isle either.
[3:57:23] - Mr. Scott.
[3:57:27] JOHN SCOTT: Hi, I'm John Scott.
[3:57:35] We spoke before, and I
just wanted to spit off
[3:57:38] a bunch of facts real quick.
[3:57:39] So on November 9,
2023, I was arrested,
[3:57:41] and it was a wrongful arrest.
[3:57:48] The officer made an
investigative stop,
[3:57:49] and then the three of them
shut their body cameras off.
[3:57:53] They identified that
they had seized evidence
[3:57:55] without having a warrant,
and then they delivered me
[3:57:58] to the county jail.
[3:58:00] Oh, I should backtrack.
[3:58:02] On November 11,
2022, I was arrested
[3:58:03] and I was taken to
the county jail,
[3:58:06] and I wasn't provided
insulin as a type I diabetic
[3:58:09] through my entire stay.
[3:58:10] On November 29, 2022, I
went to the Board of County
[3:58:13] Commissioners and
informed you all
[3:58:14] that I was not
provided insulin, which
[3:58:17] is necessary for life
as a type I diabetic,
[3:58:19] and I was told that an
investigation would be performed
[3:58:22] and if any issues were found,
they would be corrected.
[3:58:25] And if I expected
any sort of relief,
[3:58:27] I would need to file a federal
lawsuit against the County.
[3:58:30] So then we'll fast forward
a year to November 11, 2023,
[3:58:33] where I was wrongfully arrested
and the booking officer verified
[3:58:36] that I was not
guilty of any crimes
[3:58:39] during the booking
process, and it was later
[3:58:42] confirmed by the
director of corrections
[3:58:43] that that's the standard
practice of the Okaloosa County
[3:58:46] Board of Corrections,
and that's how it works.
[3:58:48] If somebody is innocent, when
they're brought to the jail,
[3:58:52] the jail just incarcerates
innocent people.
[3:58:53] That's how Okaloosa County
County Jail operates.
[3:58:56] So let's be quick.
[3:59:00] So on December 5, 2023, I
spoke with Chelsea Sharon.
[3:59:03] That was your
assistant, and she let
[3:59:08] me know that she needed an
email dictating everything.
[3:59:11] I contacted her on
December 11, 2023
[3:59:14] to let her know I was
sending her that email.
[3:59:17] On January 16.
[3:59:18] I contacted her
to ask her if she
[3:59:21] was going to reply to any of
the emails I had sent her.
[3:59:24] I contacted the board and
approached them and addressed
[3:59:26] them in March of
2024 and let them
[3:59:28] know that nothing had
come from the meetings
[3:59:33] with your assistant,
Mr. Goodwin,
[3:59:35] regarding the criminal neglect I
experienced at the county jail,
[3:59:39] and that an investigation
would be unfolding.
[3:59:43] Lynn Hoshihara then
let me know she
[3:59:45] was going to perform an
investigation, which contained
[3:59:48] more medical information than
the official medical records
[3:59:51] from the Okaloosa County Jail.
[3:59:54] And I was curious as to how the
Board of County Commissioners
[3:59:57] were able to perform an
official investigation
[3:59:58] and get more actual
medical information
[4:00:01] than the medical records from
the Okaloosa County Jail.
[4:00:05] That seemed weird.
[4:00:06] So we were supposed to have a
conference call, Ms. Hoshihara,
[4:00:10] to discuss a settlement.
[4:00:12] And that was supposed
to occur on February 13,
[4:00:14] 2024 per the email you sent me,
your outlook and the Zooms type
[4:00:18] software was not
functioning and you
[4:00:22] weren't able to make that call.
[4:00:25] You never reached out
to me to reschedule.
[4:00:27] So I've repeatedly
reached out to this board.
[4:00:29] Finally, the last big one was
when Nolan Weeks came up here
[4:00:33] and admitted that his
corrections officers were not
[4:00:35] responsible or obligated to do
anything when someone is proven
[4:00:39] to be innocent when
brought to your jail,
[4:00:42] and that their responsibility
is to incarcerate people.
[4:00:45] So again, I would ask the
Board of County Commissioners
[4:00:49] to address the criminal
operations of their jail
[4:00:51] and, again, ask that they
offer some sort of settlement,
[4:00:54] since I have established
beyond any reasonable doubt
[4:00:57] that my rights were
criminally violated.
[4:01:00] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Thank You, Sir.
[4:01:01] JOHN SCOTT: Thank you.
[4:01:03] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[4:01:05] I have no more speaker cards.
[4:01:07] We're closing the public
comment portion of the meeting.
[4:01:09] Commissioners a
minute, if you dare.
[4:01:13] Commissioner Cox.
[4:01:14] COMMISSIONER COX:
Thank you, Chairman.
[4:01:19] I just want to
thank the public who
[4:01:22] have been fully vested in
the legislative process here.
[4:01:23] It's a lot.
[4:01:27] I understand that it's a lot.
[4:01:29] It's a lot on us too.
[4:01:30] Commissioner
Palmer, I appreciate
[4:01:30] you being professional when
addressing some of the concerns.
[4:01:33] I have plenty of constituents
who don't agree with the job
[4:01:37] that I do up here
sometimes as well.
[4:01:41] And I hope to serve
everybody in my district
[4:01:44] and the other districts
we're elected at large.
[4:01:46] Your input is
absolutely necessary.
[4:01:47] We don't know what the feedback
is from you without you saying,
[4:01:52] right?
[4:01:52] Not a single one of
us, I don't think,
[4:01:55] is going to be able to
respond to every inquiry,
[4:01:58] every feedback,
every time, but we
[4:02:01] hope to when we bring those
concerns up here to the dais.
[4:02:05] I mean, I want you to know that.
[4:02:08] Our hearts are with
you or we wouldn't
[4:02:10] run for these positions.
[4:02:11] Amen.
[4:02:12] And to our county staff, thank
you for the additional work
[4:02:15] that you do that
is brought forth
[4:02:17] because of us behind the dais
and also because of the concerns
[4:02:21] of our citizens.
[4:02:21] I mean, we recognize that you
are working for us, working
[4:02:25] for them, and we
appreciate every one
[4:02:27] of you and the extra efforts
that you put into that process.
[4:02:31] So thank you.
[4:02:31] That's all I have.
[4:02:32] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Thank you.
[4:02:34] Commissioner Mixon.
[4:02:35] COMMISSIONER MIXON: No!
[4:02:36] No, sir.
[4:02:37] [LAUGHTER]
[4:02:37] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN:
Thank you, sir.
[4:02:39] Commissioner Palmer.
[4:02:41] COMMISSIONER PALMER:
I just wanted
[4:02:43] to say, pray for our troops
that are in harm's way.
[4:02:47] Obviously, there's a lot
going on in the world.
[4:02:48] And then happy birthday
to my wife, Jody.
[4:02:50] That's all I got.
[4:02:51] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: Awesome.
[4:02:51] Very, very, very well
said on both points, sir.
[4:02:54] Ms. Ketchel.
[4:02:55] COMMISSIONER KETCHEL: I just
have to briefly comment.
[4:02:58] Thank you to Jeff Peters and his
entire staff for the Shalimar
[4:03:01] Little League Park.
[4:03:02] Saturday morning was
a glorious morning.
[4:03:04] We had flyovers from all
the Ospreys and Eagles,
[4:03:07] and we had a beautiful
park to unveil
[4:03:09] for all those sweet
little children,
[4:03:11] and the parents were
so appreciative.
[4:03:13] Also, I just want
to say, the thing
[4:03:16] that I've enjoyed
most about being
[4:03:18] up here over the
last decade has been
[4:03:21] that when we get off the dais,
there's no hard feelings.
[4:03:25] In other words, we
all vote the best
[4:03:27] we can to serve
our constituents.
[4:03:28] And I don't envy Mr.
Palmer's position right now,
[4:03:31] but I've been where
he is, so thank you.
[4:03:34] I just wanted to say that.
[4:03:36] COMMISSIONER GOODWIN: All right.
[4:03:37] Very good.
[4:03:38] Well, I have nothing to add.
[4:03:39] So we are adjourned.
[4:03:41] [GAVEL STRIKES]
[4:03:41]