Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
That's a great idea until someone runs off the road reading a historical marker.
Actually, my idea is much safer, as someone could simply listen to the Historical Marker being read to them. ;-)
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New big blue signs in SoWal
- Thread starter shesgottasurf
- Start date
Actually, my idea is much safer, as someone could simply listen to the Historical Marker being read to them. ;-)
chrisv
Beach Fanatic
Ala the old Lion Country Safari, huh? I remember the attendant giving Dad a portable tape deck that we'd listen to while we drove the old Plymouth station wagon through the 'safari.' It'd educate us about the giraffes, lions and elephants we saw as we drove through while gently reminding us to 'stay within the vehicle.'
I can hear it now: 'as indicated by the large signage, you are now entering the new urbanist town of seaside, please remember to stay off the private beaches or risk the wrath of the agents representing absentee property owners...'
Dave Rauschkolb
Beach Fanatic
I had a very cordial meeting with Sonny Mares, the interim Executive Director of the TDC yesterday at 2:00. Mr. Mares requested I take back my check for $1000 as there is no mechanism yet for accepting donations by the TDC.
He showed me a large book that outlined the process by which the TDC came to this point. He could not give me an exact figure of what had been spent on the 30-A signs but it is not the total amount quoted previously. There are more signs to go up on Hwy 98 as well. The remaining signs that are supposed to go up on 30-A are on hold for now. He and the board hoped there would be some kind of compromise with the existing signs; perhaps lowering them or changing the color.
I expressed our reasons for wanting total removal as stated in my letter. I told him the majority of the folks I spoke with feel that the signs are far too industrial looking for Scenic 30-A. I requested the TDC seriously consider removing them as soon as possible so we may work on a redesign that is complimentary to our Scenic road. I told him it would not be good for the TDC to have a continuing controversy that would only get worse when people with vacation homes arrived in the summer.
He said a lot of mail and calls had been coming into the TDC and acknowledged about 90% of the comments were negative. I have been copied on all the letters from St. Joe, Seaside, Rosemary Beach and Alys Beach and all of them request the removal of the signs.
Mr. Mares told me the best thing for us to do is to come to the next Board Of County Commissioners meeting when the TDC will make a report the Commissioners. The Board of Directors of the TDC will have to advise the Commissioners to remove the signs.
I spoke with Claire Bannerman of the Scenic Corridor Advocacy group and the Friends of 30-A yesterday. Claire and others had already done the groundwork to design a sign plan for 30-A and was disappointed when the TDC did not try coordinate with them on this.
I spoke with Claire about the possibility of the advocacy group and Friends of 30-A spearheading the new design project. It makes sense to have the people who are working to get the scenic designation create the new design. The new design should incorporate the TDC Beaches of South Walton Logo and say Scenic 30-A. Also, simply stating the town is enough, I don't belive we need to be "welcomed" at each town.
There are 19 days before the next BCC meeting to convince the TDC board to remove the signs. If you have not sent a letter to them and the commissioners I strongly suggest you do. Please be polite; the TDC is a great organization and the TDC board is made up of good neighbors who also want the best for our county. I expressed my appreciation for the TDC's outstanding work over the years representing South Walton as a Tourist destination. This should merely be a speed bump in the TDC's history that could be behind them soon. I am very hopeful and optimistic we can get the signs down and get started on a new design.
The Next Board of Commissioners meeting time is below. Please email your out of town Friends who own property here so they may send emails If you live here please attend the meeting.
Thank you for your help. Dave
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
at 4:00 pm
South Walton County Courthouse Annex
Highway 331 Santa Rosa Beach
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Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
I told you that the TDC wouldn't know how to take your money, Dave. That is just whack-O. Nice report, and good job. As you stated, the TDC isn't a bad organization. They just had an OOPS! Listening to the people is vital for such an organization. It will make them even better. In the customer service industry, there are studies that show, when a customer has a negative experience and you can turn their negative experience into a positive one, by correcting the problems, and communicating your apology, and offering to make it better next time, the customer will think more highly of you than if they just had an average experience. It's all about how you handle the OOPS! The TDC needs to handle this OOPS!, and thus far, they seem like they are resisting and that is just upsetting the customers even more.
Andy A
Beach Fanatic
Dave, thank you so much for your leadership in revising the new signage to something more appropriate for Scenic 30A. I have contacted our Commissioners about SoWal's strong objection to the present signage. While I disagree with you on the scenic corridor designation for Hwy 98 (although when initiated it was probably appropriate), I certainly fully support and once again thank you for your individual effort regarding the "Big Blue Signs" on 30A.
Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
I can see why people might disagree with Hwy 98 being designated as a scenic corridor, but when big box stores and fast food places open along hwy 98 in SoWal in the future (and they will), I think we will all be thanking people who made the designation happen. Well, maybe not ALL of us, but many will be.
beach community = neighborhood or major resort/development = subjective. doesn't really matter. community signs probably should be limited to the general areas: grayton beach, blue mountain beach, dune allen beach, seagrove beach, seacrest beach, inlet beach... etc. and if resorts want their own signs, let them do their own. just a thought.
I hope you all will write letters now. thank you so much Dave!
anything is possible in sowal. seriously.
Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
From what I've read in the papers, at least a few people have voiced their feelings about the area which has long been called Seacrest, has suddenly changed to the name of the development, Seacrest Beach. Was Seagrove ever known as Seagrove Beach, prior to these signs? I always called it Seagrove. I agree, toots, about only the areas being labeled on the signs. I'd guess that many of the developments bring in enough bed tax revenues that they might disagree, as long as the signs look agreeable.
Dave Rauschkolb
Beach Fanatic
Adding the word beach is an mechanism for the TDC's "branding" of the beaches of south walton. I think the integrity of the original names should be paramount. Seagrove is Seagrove, Seacrest was a name invented by the residents when I did the original research to place the signs. Grayton Beach has always been Grayton Beach and the same is with Blue Mountain beach. Dune Allen is Dune Allen, not Dune Allen Beach.