Okaloosa County League of Cities, Inc.

Executive Board Meeting

Minutes

Monday, March 2, 2009

CALL TO ORDER

President Craig Barker called the meeting to order at 12:00p.m. in the Cinco Bayou Town Hall Chambers.

Swear in Mayor Craig Barker as President of the Okaloosa County League of Cities, Inc. - Secretary/Treasurer Nick Chubb swore Mayor Barker in.

PRESENT BOARD MEMBERS

Craig Barker (President) - Destin

Heyward Strong (Vice-President) - Valparaiso

Nick Chubb (Secretary/Treasurer) - Cinco Bayou

Linda Parker - Crestview

Mike Anderson - Fort Walton Beach (left at 1:00)

Chuck Bolton - Mary Esther

Bill Smith - Niceville (left at 1:23)

Gary Combs - Shalimar (left at 1:15)

ALSO PRESENT

Col. Bruce McClintock - Eglin AFB

Marie Vanover - Eglin AFB

Tina Smith - Shalimar

MINUTES - Councilman Smith moved to approve the minutes of the January 12, 2009 Special Meeting and the January 20, 2009 Dinner Meeting.  The motion was seconded by Mayor Anderson and passed unanimously.

TREASURER’S REPORT:  The Balance equals $3360.26 after paying $69.96 for the January Special Meeting Lunch, $70.00 to the Division of Corporations and $21.52 to the Post Office for stamps to mail out the Legislative Agendas and receiving $1450.00 in dues/lunch fees from all 9 cities and Okaloosa County.  Councilman Smith approved the Treasurer’s Report.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Strong and passed unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS:

-  Green Awareness Task Force Meetings (Chubb) - Councilman Chubb acknowledged that there is a Task Force Meeting tomorrow (March 3) at 8:15 a.m.  The meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of every month.

NEW BUSINESS:

-  Valparaiso lawsuit against the Air Force - Commissioner Strong handed out the Air Force Record of Decision (ROD) and a letter that Valparaiso mailed out to their residents regarding the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).  Member Strong explained that Valparaiso’s attorney told their City Council that they will only have 60 days to challenge the ROD.  Valparaiso’s legal team won’t file anything until the 60-day challenge period is almost up and hopes that the Air Force will work something out before then.  Valparaiso believes that the current ROD DB level baseline will destroy their city.  Mayor Bolton moved that the Okaloosa County League of Cities, Inc. join with other organizations (Okaloosa County, Economic Development Council, etc.) and require Valparaiso to drop their lawsuit against the Air Force.  Mayor Barker seconded the motion for discussion.

-  Mayor Combs declared that he disagreed and felt that this is Valparaiso’s fight, one that no other entity has a right to get involved in - Valparaiso may feel that this is their only option.

-  Mayor Anderson stated that he would like to discuss this issue with his City Council before speaking for them.

-  Mayor Barker believes there are merits to both sides of the argument.  He doesn’t feel that a lawsuit or countersuit will solve anything.  He also stated that he would support a resolution that asked Valparaiso to exhaust every and all options before filing their lawsuit but nothing that disparaged another city or their council/commission.

-  Mayor Bolton stated that the lawsuit is founded on unrealistic expectations.

-  Col. McClintock explained that on advice of Air Force attorneys, many meetings, briefings and discussions have been stifled since Valparaiso’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit.

Mayor Barker withdrew his second to Mayor Bolton’s motion.  He will not agree to an “attack” resolution.  Mayor Bolton moved that the Okaloosa County League of Cities, Inc. sign a resolution that suggests to The City of Valparaiso that they consider all other options before filing an injunction or lawsuit against the Air Force.  Mayor Barker seconded the motion and it passed 5-1 with Commissioner Strong voting nay and 0 abstentions.  Mayor Bolton has agreed to draft the Resolution.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

-  April 21, 2009 - OCLOC Dinner hosted by Destin - Mayor Barker explained that Destin is shoring up some last minute details regarding the dinner.  As soon as they have the information, they’ll send out the invitations.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS FROM CITIES:

Cinco Bayou - The city plans to use CDBG money for underground utilities.

Crestview - Crestview had nothing to report.

Destin - attached

Eglin AFB

-  March 18 at 0730 - Community Leaders’ Breakfast at the Eglin Enlisted Club

-  April 30 - May 2 - 33^rd Fighter Wing Reunion

-  May 1 - Change of Command Ceremony

-  March 26 - Proposed Ground Breaking for 7^th Special Forces

Fort Walton Beach - Mayor Anderson left the meeting before this agenda item came up.

Hurlburt Field - No one from Hurlburt Field was present.

Laurel Hill - No one from Laurel Hill was present.

Mary Esther - Mary Esther had nothing to report.

Niceville - Councilman Smith left the meeting before this agenda item came up.

Okaloosa County - No one from Okaloosa County was present.  

Shalimar - Shalimar had nothing to report.

Valparaiso - Commissioner Strong left the meeting before this agenda item came up.

ADJOURN:  The meeting adjourned at 1:31p.m.

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