Public meeting access

[Smiling JOe]

or a bunch of new walkovers when the next storm comes.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

Thanks for posting this report and kudos to Kevin if he is the one who reported it. Very good job

I'm amazed that the TDC is behaving in such an arrogant fashion concerning the civic rights of Florida citizens during what is supposed to be a public meeting. They need to answer for such behavior.

 

[30A Skunkape]

Hey, maybe the TDC will be hiring (how much did that cost?) Opinion and Research to conduct another poll on the signs using the names and contact info for those who showed up? Isn't that just as valid a sample as snowbirds who stop at the TDC building? I will be waiting by the phone...:roll:

 

[TooFarTampa]

Thanks for posting this report and kudos to Kevin if he is the one who reported it. Very good job

I'm amazed that the TDC is behaving in such an arrogant fashion concerning the civic rights of Florida citizens during what is supposed to be a public meeting. They need to answer for such behavior.

I commend any and all journalists and everyone here at SoWal who makes an effort to shine a light where for many years there has been none. Please correct me if I am wrong, but it appears that many many government officials have been used to operating however they see fit, because of the small amount of oversight that generally occurs in sleepy little counties.

Maybe one of these wonderful reporters will pull some public records and figure out exactly where that $9 million has gone, and how much more is on its way? It seems that the TDC budget over the past five years needs to be examined thoroughly. This is par for the course in two-newspaper, four-TV station markets like mine. Every single important governmental budget is hashed over by various people. It is the kind of oversight that is essential so the taxpayers don't get hosed. In Walton County it has become especially important because of the huge $$$ that has been sloshing into the coffers as development has surged, combined with the large percentage of non-resident taxpayers.

Thank you for starting this thread WGOP! I agree that this is an extremely important matter and absolutely should be a separate discussion from the blue sign issue.

 

[30A Skunkape]

One more thing-Somebody needs to encourage the TDC to hold their April meeting somewhere else besides their usual spot or be prepared to make accomodations that comply with the sunshine laws. The same room at the library will suffice as many souls such as myself will not be able to make it (because our existence is not funded by a bed tax). Future evening meetings will best be held in South Walton High's gym!

 

[chrisv]

One more thing-Somebody needs to encourage the TDC to hold their April meeting somewhere else besides their usual spot or be prepared to make accomodations that comply with the sunshine laws. The same room at the library will suffice as many souls such as myself will not be able to make it (because our existence is not funded by a bed tax). Future evening meetings will best be held in South Walton High's gym!

Skunky, you've hit upon one of the reasons that the TDC has operated in relative obscurity all these years. A public meeting on Wednesday mornings at 9am is a good place to hide. Those of us that work for the man cannot always take the time off work to attend, and they know this.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

I commend any and all journalists and everyone here at SoWal who makes an effort to shine a light where for many years there has been none. Please correct me if I am wrong, but it appears that many many government officials have been used to operating however they see fit, because of the small amount of oversight that generally occurs in sleepy little counties.

Maybe one of these wonderful reporters will pull some public records and figure out exactly where that $9 million has gone, and how much more is on its way? It seems that the TDC budget over the past five years needs to be examined thoroughly. This is par for the course in two-newspaper, four-TV station markets like mine. Every single important governmental budget is hashed over by various people. It is the kind of oversight that is essential so the taxpayers don't get hosed. In Walton County it has become especially important because of the huge $$$ that has been sloshing into the coffers as development has surged, combined with the large percentage of non-resident taxpayers.

Thank you for starting this thread WGOP! I agree that this is an extremely important matter and absolutely should be a separate discussion from the blue sign issue.

 

[wrobert]

Okay there was 125 people signed in. And I would guess 30 that did not there at the end. So not a bad turn out for an issue.

 

[DuneLaker]

I thought 30A Skunkape's count of around 175 on another thread seemed pretty close. The crowd was so overwhelming, guess some folks slipped by the nametakers. For folks that make their living in restaurants, work at night, etc., the 3 plus hours required to attend this meeting (plus a lot more for speakers) was a huge amount of time to sacrifice for the good of the community. The quality of the public's response shined even up against the seemlingly unlimited TDC budget.

 

[Jdarg]

Skunky, you've hit upon one of the reasons that the TDC has operated in relative obscurity all these years. A public meeting on Wednesday mornings at 9am is a good place to hide. Those of us that work for the man cannot always take the time off work to attend, and they know this.

And the TDC seemed shocked that some of us showed up at that last 9 am meeting, didn't they?