The latest BCC meeting

[Truman]

Walton County Small Business Association members showed up an hour early for Thursday night's meeting, a tactic they thought would intimidate the Commission.


For weeks SBA members have been discussing with Commissioners individually about forming a Blue Ribbon Committee, after a proposed parking ordinance was brought to their attention.


At Thursday’s meeting all boundaries were broken.


"We want to make solutions, but the way things are going about, that isn't happening,” said Gary Shipman, Spokesperson for the SBA.


Shipman gave his speech on the benefits the Blue Ribbon Committee could have for the county and community.


But Commissioner Cindy Meadows was not convinced.


"I think a committee narrows it down and limits it to a select few which we are trying to get away from,” said Commissioner Cindy Meadows. “Those select few have may have an agenda and for what they are pushing for and it goes on and on."


From there it became a battle between business owners, and Commissioner Meadows.


"Ninety percent of you in this room, I have never seen before on any other issue pertaining to the community,” said Commissioner Meadows.


"This is what is right for this county,” said Shipman.


After minutes of bickering back and forth, the Commissioners decided to push the issue onto the next meeting’s agenda.


In the meantime, they have decided to table the parking ordinance.

 

[Truman]

Walton County Commissioner Cindy Meadows faced down well over 100 members of a newly formed organization calling itself the Walton County Small Business Association on Thursday.


Its leadership tried — and failed — to establish a blue-ribbon committee with a voice in the formulation of county ordinances.


Formed three weeks ago, the association had already retained a land planner and an attorney, Gary Shipman.


Shipman spoke on behalf of the group, whose members filled the commission meeting room and spilled into the hallway of the county’s South Walton complex.


Shipman said his members had questions about recently discussed changes to the county’s parking ordinance, outdoor event ordinance, business license ordinance and code enforcement policies.


He said a formal committee would give small businesses a seat at the table with the Sheriff’s Office, Tourist Development Council, Chamber of Commerce and others. There, they could debate not only the specifics of county ordinances but also larger issues such as parking, public transportation and creating feeder roads linking to the crowded coastline on County Road 30A.


“If you put smart people with an interest together you’re going to come up with a way to solve problems,” Shipman said.

Meadows informed those gathered that she hadn’t seen many of them at previous commission meetings and asked why a full-blown committee, which would be required to abide by the Sunshine Law and absorb county staff time, was needed when workshops could suffice.


“You can’t think outside the box in your workshop system,” Shipman responded.


While Commissioner Sara Comander motioned to begin the process of establishing the blue-ribbon committee, Meadows again objected.


A few in the crowd took Meadows’ side. Resident Jacquee Markel said she’s tried for years to get the ear of the County Commission but has been largely ignored. She said for a single group, newly formed, to have such a request considered was “a slap in the face.”


In the end, Comander’s motion died and the commission decided to postpone consideration of forming a committee to study South Walton development issues.


It also agreed not to finalize any decisions on the ordinances brought up by the Small Business Association without further input from the group.

 

[Truman]

WHat makes a committee a "Blue Ribbon" committee?

Did they win a prize?

 

[Bob Hudson]

The designation "blue-ribbon" is often made by the appointing authority, and may be disputed by others who might see the panel as less independent, or as a way for an authority to dodge responsibility ....

"A committee that keeps minutes and loses hours". Milton Berle

 

[j p nettles]

WHat makes a committee a "Blue Ribbon" committee?

Did they win a prize?

Probably a committee of the people who finance the campaigns of the local holders of public office.

 

[30A Television]

WHat makes a committee a "Blue Ribbon" committee?

Did they win a prize?

The intent is to include civic leaders of the community. A committee comprised of The Sheriff, TDC, SWFD, Chamber of Commerce, SWCC and 150+ businesses that employ hundreds of not thousands looking to solve problems should be considered a ribbon for the county, no matter the color.

 

[Bob Hudson]

So the intent is to form a "any color" committee made up of approximately 165 people.

That would be a hoot.

 

[incredible1]

The intent Mr Bob is to solve problems. The small business association may have 150+ members but represents many more employed by them.
That aside, why would anyone be opposed to a committee formed to address serious issues include The Sheriff, TDC, SWFD, Chamber of Commerce, SWCC and Walton County Taxpayers Association ?
Doesn't matter what its called, the purpose is provide solutions for the good of the county and visitors and residents.

 

[Eileen West]

Mistaken Identity

It seems a new special interest group calling themselves the Walton County Small Business Association wants a special committee approved and appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. This group all of a sudden popped out of the woodwork in September when the BCC stepped up to the plate to address the parking and traffic problem in south Walton. Where have they been for the past 10 to 15 years when all the decisions were made that created the problems?

I have very little sympathy for this new organization since many of these same people are responsible for the mess they themselves have created in south Walton. I do have a great deal of sympathy and empathy for the permanent and part-year residents, and short term tourist who have to put up with the mess created by selfish special interest developers.

It's well known these problems have been exacerbated by the county government making poor decisions favoring development sometimes in violation of their own rules and regulations.Homes and businesses have been squeezed into small spaces without regard to long term planning and any negative fallout on neighborhoods. The result has been a mix-mash of conflicting development design with inadequate roads,drainage and parking space. The failure to adequately plan for traffic control and parking facilities has brought about a crisis in some minds.

Now that the county has woke up and is trying to take some positive steps to address the issues we hear some of the same perpetrators of the mess crying wolf. It seems some of the business supported past actions that were once wonderful have now created a backlash of negative issues and the ox has been gored..

For years individuals and neighborhood representatives have sounded the alarm on what was happening to south Walton. They knew exactly where the community was headed but were stiff armed by the Board of County Commissioners of the past. The BCC acted in favor of pure developer greed. Homes and businesses were crammed into small spaces with inadequate parking and drainage. This situation was created long before the current 'new' county commission came about.

Everything was hunky dory so long as developers got what they wanted. Now all of a sudden what they wanted has turned out to be an albatross around their necks. So they come up with a 'blue ribbon committee' idea to help fix the problem. Give me a break! We have already seen what one sided special interest has done!

Commissioner Cindy Meadows is absolutely right on using the workshop process. This allows the public full access to the development of rules that apply to everyone. As with any ordinance a set of rules and procedures can usually be improved through a public workshop.

A statement reported in a local daily newspaper quoted hired spokesman Gary Shipman saying: "You can’t think outside the box in your workshop system".
Obviously Mr. Shipman has very little experience with the workshop system in Walton County.They work very well indeed! Contrary to Shipman's assertion public workshops,especially in south Walton, are heavily attended by the public and believe you me more often than not many folks do think outside the box and make no bones about it!

If was very clear at the last BCC meeting when the WCSBA spokesman presented the idea the political wheels had been greased. However, the unexpected happened. Commissioner Meadows and a citizen advocate spoke about the committee composition. There was nothing presented by Shipman that was inclusive to the whole community, just special business interest.

While the Walton County Small Business Association may be a legitimate organization with their own interest the question is should they attempt to impose their interest on the entire population by having special access to the Board of County Commissioners through a Blue Ribbon Committee? In my opinion the answer is absolutely not! They can put forth their interest just like other organizations, small groups, and individuals in a public workshop.

Walton County does not need another sanctioned special interest committee. What we do need is a County Commission that will once and for all give credence to those public voices who have been speaking for years. Their alarm about congestion, traffic, parking, and development in general deserves a significant seat at the table of public opinion and the political process.. The BCC can provide that opportunity in as many workshops as it takes to come to a reasonable solution.


J. B. Hillard
DeFuniak Springs, FL

Mr Hillard I think you are confusing the big developers with the people who formed the organization. The big guys have iron clad DORs that protect them from the BCC's ordinances. It is truly small businesses who are made to bear the financial losses associated with these new ordinances. Instead of responsible infrastructure and planning, the BCC wants a short term solution and since it can't make the big developers help with the mess created long ago, small businesses get gouged. We just want to present ideas that will solve the problems long term and make our area accessible to residents and visitors. I don't see how that hurts anyone.

 

[Eileen West]

Irony

Probably a committee of the people who finance the campaigns of the local holders of public office.

If that were the case they didn't spend their money wisely. It is those very politicians who oppose small businesses having a voice in the regulations that affect them. No taxation without representation!