Okaloosa County League of Cities, Inc.

Executive Board Meeting

Minutes

Monday, March 6, 2006

 

 

CALL TO ORDER

President, Mayor Mike Anderson , called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m. at Two Trees Restaurant in Fort Walton Beach.

 

PRESENT BOARD MEMBERS

Mayor Mike Anderson - Fort Walton Beach (President)

Commissioner Heyward Strong - Valparaiso ( Vic e President)

Commissioner Ricardo Garcia - Shalimar (Secretary/Treasurer)

Mayor Mike Iovieno - Cinco Bayou

Councilman Ellis Conner - Crestview

Mayor Craig Barker – Destin

Councilwoman Fay Miller - Laurel Hill

Councilmember Fay Young - Mary Esther

Councilmember Al Swihart - Niceville

Bill Roberts - Okaloosa County

 

ALSO PRESENT

John Jannazo - Okaloosa County

Tina Smith – Shalimar

 

MINUTES

Commissioner Strong moved to approve the minutes of the January 30, 2006 meeting as written.  Councilmember Conner seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT:  $3111.10 after paying $94.67 for January 30, 2006 lunches and depositing $2700 in dues from all 9 cities for calendar years 2005 and 2006.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

-  Proposed Sales tax - At this point, the Destin City Council still doesn’t feel that they have enough information to make a decision.  They are having a meeting tomorrow evening and County Commissioner Bill Roberts is working with them to answer all of their questions.  If their council doesn’t agree with the league, Commissioner Strong suggests moving forward with only 8 signatures and everyone agreed.

There was some question of the sales tax issue being on the September Primary ballot versus the November General ballot.  After discussion Councilmember Conner moved to keep the issue on the September Primary ballot.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Strong and passed unanimously.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

-  Upcoming meeting and dinner dates - Mayor Anderson noted that the date of the next OCLOC dinner meeting is scheduled to happen on the same night as the Northwest Florida League of Cities Dinner in Port St. Joe.  Commissioner Strong will meet with Tammy Johnson and discuss the schedule conflict with her and get back with everyone.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS FROM CITIES:

Cinco Bayou - The city has 2 new council members that will be sworn in on Thursday.  Dutch Payne gave up his seat but one of their council members will be leaving so their current council is discussing asking Councilman Payne back.

 

Crestview - In the month of February, 79 families moved into the City of Crestview .

 

Destin - attached

 

Eglin AFB -

March 8 - General and Mrs. Carlson will be visiting the base

March 11 at 7:00 p.m. - Tops in Blue will be at the OW Amphitheater

March 16 at 7:30 a.m. - Mayor’s Breakfast will be held in the Bldg. 6 Conference Room

April 25 - Leadership Okaloosa County

May 22 - The Current Wing Commander, Col. Keith, will be retiring.  He will be replaced by the current Vice Wing Commander, Col. Dean Clemmons.

May 22 at 6:00 p.m. - Col. Keith’s retirement party will be held at Eglin’s Officers’ Club

 

Fort Walton Beach -

Construction of Water Tanks

Work to build a 750,000-gallon water tank at the FWB Golf Club and a 500,000-gallon water tank on Hughes and Nicholson St. is nearly complete.  The tower at the Golf Club is currently being painted.  Paint prepping for the Nicholson Street tank will begin in early March. 

 

Waterfronts Public Participation Forum

On Tuesday, March 7th beginning at 5:30 p.m., the City of FWB Waterfronts Florida Program Committee will hold a public participation forum at the Creative Senior Center, 31 Memorial Parkway SW.  This forum will focus on ways to revitalize the area spanning the north and south sides of Highway 98 from Liza Jackson Park to Brooks Bridge. 

 

Heritage Day (formerly Archaeology Day)

Heritage Day will be held at the City of FWB Heritage Park and Cultural Center ( Indian Temple Mound and Museum, Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum and Garniers Post Office Museum ), 139 Miracle Strip Parkway SW , on Saturday, March 18th from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.   The event will feature hands-on learning, historic displays, and entertainment.  For information, contact the Museum Division at 833-9595.

 

Construction Junction Kids Day

The Fort Walton Beach Police Department will present Construction Junction Kids Day on Saturday, March 18th from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds on Lewis Turner Boulevard .  This event features large vehicles and equipment to climb on, a pedal tractor pull, hands-on construction projects, and a giant sand pile.  For information, contact the Community Policing Division at 833-9559.

 

Hurlburt Field - no one from Hurlburt was present

 

Laurel Hill - There are 3 developers currently looking at land in Laurel Hill.  There’s a possibility that these 3 developers could build over 1,000 homes collectively in the near future.

 

Mary Esther

- The City just had the groundbreaking for their library expansion.

-  Grant money is funding some water and wastewater improvements.

 

Niceville

-  The City is in the process of expanding its library by 10,000 sq. ft.

-  They are also preparing to build a new fire station.

 

Okaloosa County

-  The cities and the OCLOC should decide who they want to represent them at the BRAC meetings.  This will go on the April OCLOC agenda.

 

Shalimar

-  The hotel is on track to open on March 8.

-  Shalimar Yacht Basin continues to pursue plans to construct up to 120 condominiums along with commercial enterprises.  Updated plans will be brought to the Commission some time in March.

 

Valparaiso

-  Valparaiso is in their final phase of construction of their new water tank

-  The city had a major break in the water line going across the bridge

-  The election ballot next week will include the library issue and some current elected officials

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

April 3, 2006 -- Executive Board Meeting Lunch

 

ADJOURN – The meeting adjourned at 12:50 .

 

 

 

E-mail comments and questions mail