Search
Close this search box.

Destin willing to work with military to remove barriers and open up Redneck Beach

At Monday night’s City Council meeting, the topic of the concrete barriers and 10ft fencing that we now see as we head over the Marler Bridge and into Destin was brought up for discussion. Now, City officials plan to ask County Commissioner Mel Ponder for help in resolving this issue along with Mayor Gary Jarvis. […]

At Monday night’s City Council meeting, the topic of the concrete barriers and 10ft fencing that we now see as we head over the Marler Bridge and into Destin was brought up for discussion.

Now, City officials plan to ask County Commissioner Mel Ponder for help in resolving this issue along with Mayor Gary Jarvis.

Background: The popular East Pass Beach Area was closed by 96th Test Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Scott Cain back in May 2020 due to illegal commercial activity happening on the federal property, along with trash being dumped and parking issues.

  • As Council-member Teresa Hebert noted, “he [General] doesn’t want to deal with the vagrancy, the needles and dirty diapers that he found and his people had to clean up. During the pandemic he didn’t have the people to clean it, so he said I got the money to put the fencing up and concrete.”

Areas of concern included:

  • Incompatible and unsafe blend of beach goers and moving vessels along the shoreline.
  • Illegal and unsafe vehicular traffic: Traveling the wrong direction on the shoulder of U.S. Highway 98.
  • Lack of adequate parking control: vehicles parking on the shoulder of U.S. 98 and EPBA
  • Illegal commercial activity taking place by water-bound vendors
  • Inability to fund adequate solutions to safety and liability issues

➡️ At first, cones were placed along the road but that didn’t stop beachgoers from getting around them. Then, the concrete barriers were added and now we see the fencing being erected.

“It gives Destin a black eye,” said Council-member Rodney Braden. The rest of the council agreed.

After a suggestion from Council-member Dewey Destin to work with Commissioner Ponder for help with the matter, it was decided that Mayor Gary Jarvis would speak directly to General Cain about the property and work alongside Commissioner Ponder to see what the base would need to feel comfortable to open the property back up for public use.

  • “The things that the Commander needed can be funded through TDC money,” said Council-member Destin. “The extra enforcement and the clean-up, those are all things that we can do in conjunction with the county and if we have to have a little skin in the game we can do that.”

“Commissioner Ponder is a tremendous leader and representative of our community and I think between me and him we can have that discussion with the commander and then we’ll come up with some solutions,” Jarvis said. “I think the feeling of this council is that the fence is not tenable and that we would like some other types of options to be presented, and we’re willing to put some skin in the game in the process.”

Jarvis added that he would be reaching out to Commissioner Ponder on Tuesday with a message to setup a meeting on General Cain.

Join the conversation...

Continue reading 👇

Community Comments

“I take it that he only did half of 27 years which is 13 1/2 years .He apparently missed his inmate friends. What made him think he could get away...”
Respond
“How can we get this started at Bluewater ? yeah Mrs Crist , still loving and making a difference in children’s lives .”
Respond
“This is such an awesome idea! Ms. Crist was my daughter Valerie's 2nd grade teacher when Valerie attended Bluewater Elementary School! Ms. Crist was born to teach!! Nellie Bogar, Youth...”
Respond
“I have been in the charter industry for nearly 20yrs, I own a successful mulit-boat fishing company, I teach the FISHING CLASS at Destin Highschool and I am also the...”
Respond
“I'm sorry an automobile in a 70 mph crash does not split in half and the parts don't even resemble a car part. They were going much faster than 70.”
Respond
“I'm sorry cars in a crash doing 70 don't look like that. The car was split in half and the remaining parts don't look like they even belong to an...”
Respond
“Ft Walton has a fishing pier, Niceville has a great public fishing pier on Boggy Bayou. Destin has the jetties - which are great fishing but a bit dangerous for...”
Respond
“YES!!! I support this 110%. Get the kids out and away from those game cubes. Get them out to enjoy the beautiful resources we have around here. The fisheries are...”
Respond
“We should NOT feel sorry for these delinquents who are so lucky no one was killed. The drive should serve jail time and the parents that allowed these delinquents to...”
Respond
“I hate the idea of closing my Winn Dixie...been shopping there almost 20 years, loved the courtesy of the wonderful employees, you are making a big mistake. We already have...”
Respond