What's up with the TDC Board?

[Zebraspots]

I am offended that you call it a catfight.

Dawn has been wasting money on vendettas and getting rid of anyone who disagrees with her, but an elected official who points out major incompetence is unprofessional and catty?

 

[Bob Hudson]

‘Communication lines will be open’: Newly elected commissioner takes on TDC in first meeting

By Molly Mosher | The Sun
Published: Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 16:19 PM.

New District 5 Commissioner Cindy Meadows was anything but quiet at Tuesday’s BCC meeting.

She seemed to focus in on operations at the Walton County TDC, especially concerning applications for TDC advisory council members.

“I think what she was looking for was more time for a thorough review of the applications,” said TDC Executive Director Dawn Moliterno. “I can appreciate that.”

There are four open seat appointments, and the BCC has the final say on which of the 11 applicants would fill each.

The commission, which includes three new elected officials who were sworn in Nov. 20, were scheduled to vote on TDC applicants at the Nov. 27 meeting. But that didn’t happen. Moliterno said the applications were submitted to the county Nov. 20 to give each commissioner plenty of time to look each application over.

Apparently, Meadows did not receive hers until Nov. 26, and in the time she had to review it, some of the applicants raised a red flag, as far as their meeting all of the qualifying criteria.

“Somebody in your shop needs to pay much better attention to detail,” Meadows told Moliterno.

One main qualifier is that the applicant must be a registered voter in Walton County, a criterion Meadows said the TDC overlooked.

“They’re all qualified,” Moliterno later told The Sun. But, “there is an individual who is currently not a ... Walton County registered voter. The commission will be asked to just not include that applicant in their voting.”

The applicants must also be “in good standing,” and Moliterno had written a note on one application for attorney Clay Adkinson to define the term. Adkinson said the phrase may point to a business owner who might be delinquent in bed tax remittances.

He said it has nothing to do with an individual being in litigation with the county.

While she had the ear of Moliterno, Meadows moved the conversation to general TDC operations, especially concerning an incident when a bed tax collector approached the TDC for reservations help.

“The bed tax collector was told to never contact the TDC again for reservations,” said Meadows.

Moliterno immediately wrote that off as misinformation, replying, “We've never said that. I have no idea who stated that.”

District 4 Commissioner Sara Comander piped in, “May I suggest you two get together?”

The two women agreed to speak about these issues at a later date.

“Communications lines will be open, I assure you of that,” said Meadows.

“I welcome that,” replied Moliterno.

Meadows, who served on the commission previously from 2004 to 2008, apologized for so openly airing her problems with the TDC, but added, “I feel that people should know what is going on at the TDC.”

The commission granted itself an extension for the TDC Advisory Council applications, and will vote on the four seat appointments Dec. 11.

Below is a cut and paste from the Application that was originally posted on the TDC website.

I have received the TDC Advisory Council Guidelines and hereby agree to adhere to all the terms as stated above. As a member of the TDC Advisory Council I will remain in good standing (Clay should we define this? Like paying bed tax, someone that is suing the county, etc) with the BCC and understand that I must meet all of the requirements necessary to carry out this responsibility.

Signed By: ______________________________________________________
Print Name: _____________________________________________________
Company: _______________________________ Title: __________________
Date: __________________________________________________________

This appears to be a direct contradiction of statements made by the TDC Attorney and TDC Director.

This is the entire "original posting" of the application (Click below)

 

[Teresa]

I am offended that you call it a catfight.

Dawn has been wasting money on vendettas and getting rid of anyone who disagrees with her, but an elected official who points out major incompetence is unprofessional and catty?

No need to be offended as it wasn't directed at you...
My comment was only half serious (based on what I read, it made me wonder what the heck).

secondly, please don't put words in my mouth. My comment wasn't directed at one or the other but the whole process. The way our officials interact with one another in public meetings sometimes makes me squirm. Both women are hard workers, like them or not. I respect both and I appreciate their hard work on the behalf of our community.

I have high hopes that our County will move forward in a positive way. Progress is hard work. If anyone can help lead us in the right direction I believe it is Cindy.

The bottom line is that Walton County is a work in progress. We have some good leaders, committed people at the TDC and BCC, and very active citizens. I believe its all going to be fine. This county is interesting to say the very least. But South Walton is awesome.

 

[BeachSiO2]

From the TDC Connection..

TDC Advisory Council Meeting Moved
Don't forget the Walton County TDC Advisory Council meeting has been moved to December 10, 2012. The meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m. at 30A Suites, Celebration Hall, West Highway 30A in Santa Rosa Beach. The agenda of important items will be posted on our partner site by Monday December 3, 2012. Topics always include ongoing marketing, agency updates, various initiatives and upcoming business priorities which impact the destination. If you have any questions please contact Stacey by email or at (850) 267-1216.

 

[j p nettles]

Do we really need a TDC?

 

[Andy A]

I, and many others, have also ask that question. I have come to the conclusion after attending meetings such as the one on Dec. 3, that there is a need but the direction and scope of the TDC is in need of re-evaluation. From all that is observed recently this appears to be underway.

 

[mputnal]

Andy A I am wondering what functions of the TDC are needed? I am not spinning this question in either direction but simply would like to know how this high budget government agency helps all citizens and businesses in Walton
County. You seem to be a fiscal conservative which means in part that you expect getting an equal value back for money that is spent (balanced budgets). I believe that the TDC's scope has good intentions but the problem with big budgets is that money sometimes get spent just because it's there. We know that our South Walton community has issues with clean water, traffic, parking, helping our small businesses (backbone of our community and nation), growth and many other infrastruture problems associated with growth including basic maintenance. The infrastructure necessary for growth is probably the new direction of the TDC that most of us would agree on but these problems are neither glamorous or exciting to discuss or advertise. At some point you would think our community leaders would ask the question how much growth can South Walton support. I am not complaining about anything but just would like to know the answer to that question. I have noticed a "surprising" number of home/rentals new constructions. Do we have infrastructure to support that? I own a business that will benefit from this new construction but I love this "community" more than I do the money I make from it. Not every community has a TDC and we are fortunate to have this well funded agency looking out for you and me or are they?

 

[Andy A]

Andy A I am wondering what functions of the TDC are needed? I am not spinning this question in either direction but simply would like to know how this high budget government agency helps all citizens and businesses in Walton
County. You seem to be a fiscal conservative which means in part that you expect getting an equal value back for money that is spent (balanced budgets). I believe that the TDC's scope has good intentions but the problem with big budgets is that money sometimes get spent just because it's there. We know that our South Walton community has issues with clean water, traffic, parking, helping our small businesses (backbone of our community and nation), growth and many other infrastruture problems associated with growth including basic maintenance. The infrastructure necessary for growth is probably the new direction of the TDC that most of us would agree on but these problems are neither glamorous or exciting to discuss or advertise. At some point you would think our community leaders would ask the question how much growth can South Walton support. I am not complaining about anything but just would like to know the answer to that question. I have noticed a "surprising" number of home/rentals new constructions. Do we have infrastructure to support that? I own a business that will benefit from this new construction but I love this "community" more than I do the money I make from it. Not every community has a TDC and we are fortunate to have this well funded agency looking out for you and me or are they?

mputnal3, your question is a good and valid one. First of all, may I suggest you look at the "Seaside is the best family beach" thread under All About SoWal and read Kurt's response as to why we need the TDC. It is well done and right to the point.

I am not a lover of tourism but the other side of the coin is that it is the major economic factor prevalent in SoWal. Our area would attract visitors with or without the TDC and that is a given. I think the TDC mission should be mainly services for those visitors and not advertising. This area advertises itself. It is how we came to live here. The beaches here in BMB, even at the height of the season, do not appear to me to be overly crowded. It is true that they will only support so many visitors at any given period but I do not think we are anywhere near that capacity level as yet. Should we plan for the future through expansion of our infrastructure? Sure! But I nor do I believe anybody else, has an answer to the question, "How many is too many".

You are right in your assessment that I am a fiscal conservative. When the money is generated by those who have a stake in the game and is used to support their efforts, the only thing to be asked is that it be used wisely and judiciously. Simply stated, it is my belief the TDC can put better use to their money than they have recently.

 

[BeachSiO2]

Andy A I am wondering what functions of the TDC are needed?

I am not AndyA, but here are a few of the functions they have performed and/or are currently involved in that most residents would approve of: beach cleaning, beach safety and education (including paying for current lifeguard program), beach and bay access development and maintenance, coastal dune lake park maintenance, beach and dune monitoring and restoration, financial and monitoring assistance to SW Turtle Watch group, and serving as contact for hurricane and storm damage recovery for beaches.

 

[mputnal]

I completely agree with those functions and I understand that there is very tight budget for these things. These functions are vital for the protection of our resources and would be funded with or without the TDC.

I apologize but I am confused about the TDC mission, tourism capacity and funding. Is the mission to advertise a resource that not enough people already know about. I realize I am old fashioned but word of mouth is the best advertising so can we take care of the visitors we have already so that visitors will pass on good will? I am also a fiscal conservative and I find it hard to justify the expense of wining and dining travel agencies to get media coverage however I do agree that it was worth it in this instance because Seaside deserves that rating. I am conserned about a tourist returning to their home community with the impression that our water quality is poor or that parking and traffic was horrendous.

Don't we all have a "stake in the game"? Regardless of where the funding comes from every person or business that lives or works in Sowal is affected directly or indirectly by the TDC. The number of people "visiting" gives us jobs and uses our resources requiring a very important balance. We have to know how many are too many! I operate my business in part from experience and instinct and my experience is that if you do not have enough supply (product and equipment) to take care of demand then it is the beginning of a very serious problem. Supply side economics will not work in this community because we do not have unlimited capacity to take care of more and more people. The TDC must have an awareness of capacity before increasing these demands on our infrastructure. The name must change to the Tourist Management Council before we reach our capacity not after. We are but one even average disaster away from understanding that this game of media relations can be a two edged sword.

se things are necessary with or without the TDC.