Walton County Commissioner Brannon accused of ethics violations

[Alan Osborne]

Alan, when you say someone violated the law, that is the same as calling them a crook IMHO. I am not offended, but I bet those named sure are.

Well if those named, did what I quoted in the above statute in this thread. They should be offended, either by their actions or the advice somebody gave them on the actions they were dealing with.

I'll move forward towards getting a fair, complete and open hearing on the Driftwood issues that have come to light. Testimony that was given to the BCC, the County and State courts, that put our homeowners in this situation has been "tainted" IMHO. We are going to be allowed to present this information or we'll have to see why ethically we can't seem to get a open discussion on this out in the "Sunshine" .
I think June will be five years the Driftwood owners have been dealing with this. We are still in the same place as far as "compliance" from a MAJOR development order, We have SUBSTANTIALLY deviated it and nobody wants to admit it. The system is "BROKE" and I'm sick of it.

 

[seagrovegirl]

Alan....keep up with your mission! Myself and others became so frustrated with the county system that we gave up and caved in....which I regret, but it is so hard to live day to day being consumed by anger, dismay and frustration because of the unfairness. I applaud you and your tenacity...please don't give up!

 

[Lynnie]

It's not the first time a Co. Commissioner for Walton Co. has been caught in real estate transactions. I had a near miss with one a few years ago......poor guy literally went under.

Nothing wrong with having real estate dealings, but when a Commissioner uses (or, it appears) his/her position on the Board to benefit their real estate development dealings, that's unethical.

 

[joho]

Tim Pauls combined 3 interior residential lots with a commercial building on 30A,
sold it as a developement for lots of $$$$$$ and the dump remains an abandoned eyesore to this day.............:angry:

 

[idlewind]

Well if those named, did what I quoted in the above statute in this thread. They should be offended, either by their actions or the advice somebody gave them on the actions they were dealing with.

I'll move forward towards getting a fair, complete and open hearing on the Driftwood issues that have come to light. Testimony that was given to the BCC, the County and State courts, that put our homeowners in this situation has been "tainted" IMHO. We are going to be allowed to present this information or we'll have to see why ethically we can't seem to get a open discussion on this out in the "Sunshine" .
I think June will be five years the Driftwood owners have been dealing with this. We are still in the same place as far as "compliance" from a MAJOR development order, We have SUBSTANTIALLY deviated it and nobody wants to admit it. The system is "BROKE" and I'm sick of it.

Could you define "fair, complete and open" hearing? After five years of talking to the BCC, I would think complete and open have been achieved. As to fair, that probably is in the eye of the beholder.

I don't have a direct interest either way, but throwing names around with no proof tends to chill participation in the political process, and I have a problem with that. This should have went to the State Ethic Board prior to being discussed in a BCC meeting. They have no jurisdiction anyway. The whole exercise smells of grandstanding.

It seems to me that Okaloosa people knew of wrongdoing and did nothing ( see today's NWFDN where one developer said " we all knew something was going on") and in Walton County people are throwing officials under the bus on a whim. Can't we achieve some balance here?

 

[Smiling JOe]

Alan, when you say someone violated the law, that is the same as calling them a crook IMHO. I am not offended, but I bet those named sure are.

How the heck do you come to that conclusion? It doesn't work 100%, though in some cases where the violation is theft, it would apply. I get your point, but I think you are using the word "crook," too loosely.

 

[Alan Osborne]

Could you define "fair, complete and open" hearing? After five years of talking to the BCC, I would think complete and open have been achieved. As to fair, that probably is in the eye of the beholder.

I don't have a direct interest either way, but throwing names around with no proof tends to chill participation in the political process, and I have a problem with that. This should have went to the State Ethic Board prior to being discussed in a BCC meeting. They have no jurisdiction anyway. The whole exercise smells of grandstanding.

It seems to me that Okaloosa people knew of wrongdoing and did nothing ( see today's NWFDN where one developer said " we all knew something was going on") and in Walton County people are throwing officials under the bus on a whim. Can't we achieve some balance here?

I won't belabor the point and turn this into a personal debate between you and I. I know how you feel and you know how I feel. I respect your right to disagree with me.

The Conditions

But give me this. The residents and myself all know that we have a serious problem in Driftwood, we live it every day. We are part of a HIGH Density neighborhood that doesn't conform to county standards, the County uses a State level comp plan (DRI) as the excuse. We are bound to covenents and restrictions put in place as a part of Sandestin, They were written by Sandestin, our roads are bonded at the request of Sandestin by the county. A MSBU we paid for! The residents pay dues for Capital Contributions to maintain common area's. Yet they don't have the right to set foot on them according to Sandestin, and the County seems to think we don't have a right to full compliance with a development order. How do I acheive balance in that?

Solution

I left this part simple, You don't like my Solution, so given the above conditions please fill in the answer under the solution block to the above problem.

Here's my answer

A. Make both Sandestin and the Developers follow the the rules they both wrote and they agreed to with the State and the County. The fullest possible compliance.

I'll await your answer and the people of sowal can put thank you's under the answer they most agree with. Fair enough?

 

[30ashopper]

But give me this. The residents and myself all know that we have a serious problem in Driftwood, we live it every day. We are part of a HIGH Density neighborhood that doesn't conform to county standards, the County uses a State level comp plan (DRI) as the excuse. We are bound to covenents and restrictions put in place as a part of Sandestin, They were written by Sandestin, our roads are bonded at the request of Sandestin by the county. A MSBU we paid for! The residents pay dues for Capital Contributions to maintain common area's. Yet they don't have the right to set foot on them according to Sandestin, and the County seems to think we don't have a right to full compliance with a development order. How do I acheive balance in that?

That's the first time I've heard that Alan. What are your quarterly contributions per homeowner?

 

[Lynnie]

Tim Pauls combined 3 interior residential lots with a commercial building on 30A,
sold it as a developement for lots of $$$$$$ and the dump remains an abandoned eyesore to this day.............:angry:

Yeah, this was an instance in my 'being a day late' was the Universe totally looking out for me! Then, his dealings really started unfolding - is he still around in Walton Co., BTW?

 

[Matt J]

Yeah, this was an instance in my 'being a day late' was the Universe totally looking out for me! Then, his dealings really started unfolding - is he still around in Walton Co., BTW?

Yes, he built Topsail Village over on the West end of 30A. It's a dump that will most likely never be completed. His wife runs it like her very own personal kingdom. Once the owners who got royally screwed buying those dumps get wise she'll probably be getting a visit from the DBPR.