hard decisions require leaders II

[citeright]

A point that we need to consider: when faced with hard decisions do we do nothing and hope and wait things change or do we try something? I recently heard a planning commission member say that county staff should not be involved in gathering information that might assist businesses with their plans. How do you make a decision without some baseline information such as vacant land available for development or the funding sources for small business?

Decisions should be based on some form of rational thought. This means establishing a base analysis of the resources and issues to be addressed. It appears that many decision makers are not acting in a manner that is consistent with the desires of the community or in the best interest of progress. The community must become more competitive in order to acquire any assistance. The previous mentioned planning commissioner only wanted to leave things as they are and not change the mission of staff. I submit that county staff should be encouraged to develop new plans based on current data and trends. Sitting idle will not achieve success until everyone else has achieved theirs and then maybe some success will spill over.

Simply put it is time to get up and get moving.

 

[TooFarTampa]

I'm confused. Are you saying the county should help potential business owners a) figure out how to get a loan or b) helping them find property to develop? That seems like a waste of county resources and taxpayer dollars.

The way the county planning department should help businesses is by streamlining permitting when possible and offering advice when requested regarding the site, zoning codes and building codes. Do they do this already?

 

[citeright]

I'm confused. Are you saying the county should help potential business owners a) figure out how to get a loan or b) helping them find property to develop? That seems like a waste of county resources and taxpayer dollars.

The way the county planning department should help businesses is by streamlining permitting when possible and offering advice when requested regarding the site, zoning codes and building codes. Do they do this already?

The planning commissioners stated that the planning department should not maintain a list of available land or be involved in assisting business. Just let development occur.

To answer your question, permiting and codes are not hindering business. The planning department does need to be leaner and more proactive in creating the opportunity by have a plan for the future and not sit and wait for things to happen.

The entire nation is competing for funds, business, economic growth, and stablity. we need to develop a strong game plan and prepare to aggressively recruit and improve the community.

 

[Daugette_Matt]

I recently posted a question about what our county commissioners should be doing for their county during this painfully obvious time of need. General consensus was that our commissioners should not do anything. That's good I'd hate for them to have to totally change their business philosophy for our county.

I have not been very involved with the commissioners in the past, but what I have seen and what I continue to see is a middle of the road policy. Rather then pass legislation or form committees to help promote some of the different ways sustainible business, and more importantly year 'round JOBS could find their way here, it seems more important to not upest the delicate balance of no progress with increased tourism taxes.

What has been done is to increase the bed tax. Since we can't make money here we can keep an extra penny from everyone who visits to be used to pick up trach or run magazine ads, which from what I have heard, so far this summer looks VERY light as far as tourists go. I have also seen an increase in beach area residents fighting our #1 industry.....vacation rentals. This will continue, again because of middle of the road policies. If the county truly wants to support tourism, they should take a positive stand on the confusing "don't sit on my private beach" rules. The simple fact that a person could be arrested from the beach for misplacement of their fishing poles or leaving footprints in dry sand is STUPID. I assure you, this summer someone will be arrested for this nonsense and we will make national headlines and again loose tourism $$$. (mark my words, you heard it here first)

What could be done to clear up this and our other issues up ............LEADERSHIP. The simple fact that they are afraid to take a stand that will support the tourist and the owners shows their lack of leadership potential.

It has become very important to not find new ways to support the people of the county. It has already been pointed out that if we end up with too many jobs in the area, than local restraunts will be forced to hire sub-standard wait staff, (a problem none of us want to have to face.) Or all the house keepers and pool cleaners will find $20.00 an hour jobs right here, then what? How can the county support tourism if our people can find better paying jobs nearby.

It would truly be a miracle if your commissioners deceided to lead us into the future and actually promote or encourage new industry, or non-tourism growth. I have already asked for too much. Leadership from county leaders is something I will just have to dream about, I will not find it here. Don't do anything definate just stand there in the middle of the road, you won't get hit.

 

[Susan Horn]

Matt,

Thanks for bringing your questions forward again. THey are important and worth lively discussion. I posted on your original thread, and then that turned into a thread of its own -- Transect based Planning I think is its name. Have you been following that at all? It might be of some interest to you.

It seems that very few people posting here are regular readers of the DeFuniak Springs Herald-Breeze, which is IMHO the best and most reliable source of news about local government, and only costs about $20 per year for a subscription delivered by mail each week. The Herald-Breeze has the county contract for legal notices, and they have reporters at just about every meeting of the BCC, Planning Commission, School Board and other county gov't boards.

An even more direct way to become accurately informed is to actually attend these meetings, and participate in them. Perhaps you are already doing so -- but since so many people on Sowal post anonymously, it's hard to know.

I attend quite a lot of the public meetings, and read the Breeze to fill in the gaps. One important bit I've picked up from the Brreeze is that our BCC Chair Sara Comander is actively and enthusiastically involved in spearheading an Economic Development nonprofit, which is currently seeking a director last time I checked. I also read in the Breeze about a new initiative called ACT Walton that is specifically seeking ways to revitalize the local economy. They meet twice a month I think, once in the north end and once down south.

It's very easy to criticize our county leaders and staff, especially in tough economic times. Over the years I certainly have raised my voice to complain loudly on any number of issues. My experience was that pointing out failures and shortcomings -- no matter how absolutely accurate I might be -- got nothing done, unless you count establishing quite firmly my reputation as a troublemaker. That was not a fun reputation to have.

I am a slow learner, but finally I put together the definition of insanity (doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results) with awareness of my frustrated efforts to make Walton County a better place by complaining. So I have been trying something else the last few years -- looking for what is already good and giving praise where praise is due; looking for and working towards solutions, for areas of agreement, areas where we can move forward positively. While I haven't seen the degree of change I'd like to see in the time frame I'd like to see it in, I am at least seeing SOME movement in better directions. And not quite so many people avoid my calls, or run for cover when they see me walk into a meeting. Can you tell I"ve just learned how to use the little face thingies?

 

[Matt J]

I recently posted a question about what our county commissioners should be doing for their county during this painfully obvious time of need. General consensus was that our commissioners should not do anything. That's good I'd hate for them to have to totally change their business philosophy for our county.

I have not been very involved with the commissioners in the past, but what I have seen and what I continue to see is a middle of the road policy. Rather then pass legislation or form committees to help promote some of the different ways sustainible business, and more importantly year 'round JOBS could find their way here, it seems more important to not upest the delicate balance of no progress with increased tourism taxes.

What has been done is to increase the bed tax. Since we can't make money here we can keep an extra penny from everyone who visits to be used to pick up trach or run magazine ads, which from what I have heard, so far this summer looks VERY light as far as tourists go. I have also seen an increase in beach area residents fighting our #1 industry.....vacation rentals. This will continue, again because of middle of the road policies. If the county truly wants to support tourism, they should take a positive stand on the confusing "don't sit on my private beach" rules. The simple fact that a person could be arrested from the beach for misplacement of their fishing poles or leaving footprints in dry sand is STUPID. I assure you, this summer someone will be arrested for this nonsense and we will make national headlines and again loose tourism $$$. (mark my words, you heard it here first)

What could be done to clear up this and our other issues up ............LEADERSHIP. The simple fact that they are afraid to take a stand that will support the tourist and the owners shows their lack of leadership potential.

It has become very important to not find new ways to support the people of the county. It has already been pointed out that if we end up with too many jobs in the area, than local restraunts will be forced to hire sub-standard wait staff, (a problem none of us want to have to face.) Or all the house keepers and pool cleaners will find $20.00 an hour jobs right here, then what? How can the county support tourism if our people can find better paying jobs nearby.

It would truly be a miracle if your commissioners deceided to lead us into the future and actually promote or encourage new industry, or non-tourism growth. I have already asked for too much. Leadership from county leaders is something I will just have to dream about, I will not find it here. Don't do anything definate just stand there in the middle of the road, you won't get hit.

You and floriga girl should team up and run for county commission. It's easy to point out what someone else can do for you, it's a little more difficult to step up and do it yourself. Whoops there's that silly idea of people doing instead of typing.

 

[Daugette_Matt]

susan,
thank you actually gave me some information I could use. That was a well put together suggestion and I really appreciate it. I now know that something is being done. I cannot attent many meetings, I tend to be quite busy with things, but your suggestion on the paper was excellent. Part of the problem for me is the lack of news coverage in the county, the Sun is ok but mostly fluff, not a lot of news. And the only TV news about us is car wrecks.
Is there somewhere I can get pick up that paper and check it out? I've never seen it.

I was a bit discouraged with the childish responses I received previously, but everyone gets a little pi$$y now and then.
I do not wish to be compared to FLgirl again..........that's just mean, and a little gay

 

[Susan Horn]

Matt,

I'm pretty sure they have the Breeze out front at the Seagrove Village Market. Or go to www.defuniakherald.com It comes out every Thursday, but if you subscribe, it's in your mailbox Wednesday. Subscribing to the Herald-Breeze (and any other independent news sources you can find) is a marvelously positive political act in all kinds of ways: supporting small local businesses (the paper as well as its advertisers), and helping to keep independent journalism from being entirely eradicated by the corporatocracy, are two that leap immediately to mind.

Another couple of news sources I enjoy reading -- though they're international in scope-- give balance to the hype and bad news that dominates mainstream media (and hyped bad news will continue to dominate mainstream media as long as we keep watchig/reading/buying it). These alternate sources are Ode magazine, Yes! magazine and Kosmos journal (you can check out all three on line with a simple google search). All three focus their attention on people and organizations that are making a difference for the better in the world right now. Helps me stay off Prozac.

I keep hearing of a radio station that broadcasts countywide and covers local news, but I've never been able to pick it up where I live (Seagrove). I forget the call numbers at the moment.

 

[citeright]

Why has the code enforcement board been ineffective to stop operations of a mining operation that was deemed illegal and told to receive the proper permits? To this date, a dirt mining operation has been able to operate without regulation or permission. The code board allowed the operation to continue while fining the operator. If the board can not duly administer the code maybe it is time for a special magistrate to handle the code enforcement rulings. They respond by pointing the finger to the planning department.

The current members are not impartial, some are active using the board to gain from real estate deals and expound political views. This same dirt operator actually stole material from an adjacent property owner. How long must we endure the consistent application of the rules in the vain of being nice and business friendly? We the taxpayers are being abused and forced to pay for mistakes of the few.

Here is the suggestion: Dissolve the code board and install a special magistrate to ensure fair and equitable application of the rules.

 

[Matt J]

susan,
thank you actually gave me some information I could use. That was a well put together suggestion and I really appreciate it. I now know that something is being done. I cannot attent many meetings, I tend to be quite busy with things, but your suggestion on the paper was excellent. Part of the problem for me is the lack of news coverage in the county, the Sun is ok but mostly fluff, not a lot of news. And the only TV news about us is car wrecks.
Is there somewhere I can get pick up that paper and check it out? I've never seen it.

I was a bit discouraged with the childish responses I received previously, but everyone gets a little pi$$y now and then.
I do not wish to be compared to FLgirl again..........that's just mean, and a little gay

I'm so sorry that you thought my response was pissy and childish. I guess I just find it a little annoying when someone posts a long diatribe about what to do and then mentions that they are horribly busy and can't do anything. Thus far none of the community organizations that I belong to have we decided that whining on a message board is the answer to our problems.

Have a good day.