Search
Close this search box.

NATHAN BOYLES: Okaloosa County to discuss some type of beach closure

In an email from Okaloosa County Commissioner Nathan Boyles Wednesday afternoon, he details that Okaloosa County has begun to prepare for a likely emergency meeting of the County Commission tomorrow, March 19th. According to the email, the primary purpose of the meeting will be to consider some type of closure of Okaloosa County beaches as […]

In an email from Okaloosa County Commissioner Nathan Boyles Wednesday afternoon, he details that Okaloosa County has begun to prepare for a likely emergency meeting of the County Commission tomorrow, March 19th.

According to the email, the primary purpose of the meeting will be to consider some type of closure of Okaloosa County beaches as a means to reduce travel into the County.

The details of what “some type of closure” specifically mean were not yet laid out in the email.

“County staff and our legal team are working through a number of options to achieve the desired result,” said Boyles. “I expect there will be healthy debate amongst the commission as to the best way to proceed. While this is an exceptionally unfortunate situation for all of us who are supported by the tourism industry, dealing aggressively with the issue now provides us the hope that we can move toward some level of normalcy during our peak summer season. The decision to coordinate an emergency meeting is being driven in part by pending information about additional cases in Northwest Florida related to travel into this area.”

CONFIRMED: 2:35pm

The Okaloosa County board of County Commissioners will have a special meeting March 19th, 2020 regarding additional protectives measure in Okaloosa county related to the COVID-19 Virus

The public is encouraged to watch the meeting via the county’s website, in order to avoid large crowds. 

This story is developing and we will update once the meeting date and time is confirmed.

Join the conversation...

Continue reading 👇

Community Comments

“The Big U! The NMU supplied the unlicensed crew and when we lost this ship and its jobs and when U.S. Lines went bankrupt, we were on our way to...”
Respond
“Highschool is finna be more crowed now. We need another highschool not a middle or elementary school.”
Respond
“This is bittersweet. I spent a wonderful week in Cay Sal Banks on the Pilot in 2006. I will have to go pay her a visit soon....”
Respond
“I agree with Jerome. What will this accomplish since both ends are only 4 lanes?”
Respond
“The parking lot at McGuires would disappear along with the parcel that Destin purchased at the bridge.. Flooding on Okaloosa Island would close an expensive update to 98 , at...”
Respond
“This will not make a difference for traffic passing through the center of Destin along Rt. 98. The smart option is to complete the Brooks Bridge and intersection in Ft...”
Respond
“Doesn’t it still end up with 4 lanes on either end after bridges? Seems more aesthetic than a traffic plan. Which is nice too but does it increase the function?”
Respond
“It would be a money pit let’s sink it for the tourists who we don’t have enough of so more will come”
Respond
“Traffic moves pretty well on that stretch of 98, I don't see the need to waste the money. Maybe do something to deal with the traffic in Destin, and Mary...”
Respond