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Good morning!
Here’s what we’re covering today:
Walton County law enforcement cracks down on street racing with multiple arrests, while Fort Walton Beach explores several initiatives – from a new mooring field to a fire services study. The city is also preparing for upcoming council elections with a candidate forum.
- ELECTION DAY TODAY: Voters in Northwest Florida will head to the polls Tuesday for a special primary election to determine which Republican candidate will compete for Matt Gaetz’s former congressional seat. In Okaloosa, polling locations will operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the winner advancing to the special general election scheduled for June 10.
POLITICS
Candidate Forum set for upcoming Fort Walton Beach City Council election
Seven candidates vying for 3 seats on the Fort Walton Beach City Council will participate in a public forum featuring a meet-and-greet session followed by a question-and-answer period.
- The forum, scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 4 at The Venue on Brooks Street in Fort Walton Beach, will begin with a meet-and-greet at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Q&A session at 6:30 p.m.
Candidates running for election include:
- Travis Smith (incumbent)
- Brandon Bishop
- Logan Browning
- Debi “Debra” Riley
- Benjamin Merrell
- Sonya Faison-Vazquez
- Jason Harwell
In a separate race, Councilman David Schmidt ran unopposed for the two-year seat previously held by former councilman Larry Patrick, who resigned in August 2023. Councilman John Mead currently holds the seat, having served since September 2023.
Additionally, Councilman Nic Allegretto will become the next mayor of Fort Walton Beach after running unopposed in the qualifying period that ended on January 3 at noon.
- The event is jointly hosted by the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors, Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce and Beach Weekend.
Residents unable to attend in person can watch the forum via live stream at EmeraldCoastTV.com, where the recording will also be available for viewing after the event.
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NEWS
Fort Walton Beach considers development of new mooring field
The Fort Walton Beach City Council will discuss plans for a potential mooring field at its Regular Meeting on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, following a detailed memorandum from city attorneys outlining the project’s requirements and timeline.
- The proposed mooring field would create a designated area in the Santa Rosa Sound or near Garniers Beach Park where up to 100 vessels could be securely moored to permanent anchors using mooring buoys. The project says it aims to improve vessel mooring regulation and protect local marine habitats.
While the field would allow for regulated mooring within its boundaries, city attorneys note that Florida statute prevents the city from regulating vessel anchoring outside the mooring field, except for live-aboard vessels.
The project requires multiple regulatory approvals, with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) permit being the most demanding. The FDEP requires evidence that the mooring field complies with public navigation rights and sovereign submerged lands regulations.
- The city must provide land-based support facilities including parking, restrooms, showers, and pump-out services. These facilities must be located near the mooring field itself – the memo specifically notes that a facility in Cinco Bayou could not support a mooring field in Santa Rosa Sound.
Required engineering studies include bathymetric surveys, geotechnical analysis, benthic inventory, vessel class determination, and navigation assessment. The project timeline estimates 8-12 months for planning and public engagement, followed by 12-18 months for permit acquisition.
The council will consider the recommendation at its January 28 meeting at 6pm.
POLITICS
Fort Walton Beach City Council to review new fire services study proposal
The Fort Walton Beach City Council will consider a proposal from AP Triton, LLC for a fire services consulting study at their regular meeting Tuesday, January 28.
- The Wyoming-based consulting firm emerged as the top choice among three companies that submitted proposals for the study, according to Fire Chief Jeremy Morgan’s report to the City Council. Matrix Consulting Group of California and McGrath Consulting Group of Tennessee also submitted bids.
If approved, the study would take approximately nine months to complete and would be funded from the city’s 2024-25 General Fund Fund Balance. The cost remains unknown, as the sealed fee schedules will only be opened if the council awards the bid.
The scope of the new study differs from previous attempts, following the council’s October 2024 directive to remove predetermined outcomes and instead examine all potential strategies for cost savings and service efficiencies in the Fort Walton Beach area, including consolidation options.
Earlier versions of the study focused on three specific consolidation scenarios: merging under Ocean City-Wright Fire Control District’s management, combining under Fort Walton Beach’s leadership, or creating an entirely new district. In September, the council rejected a $57,000 bid from Matrix Consulting Group with a 4-3 vote.
The city initially sought to share the study’s administrative and financial burden with Ocean City-Wright to avoid potential bias and reduce costs for Fort Walton Beach citizens. However, in June 2024, Ocean City-Wright Chief Wagner informed the city his district would not participate. The district’s union leadership also expressed disinterest in the study.
Fire Chief Morgan previously expressed concerns about consolidation challenges, citing complications with combining debt services, equipment, personnel, pay plans, and pension plans.
- “We’ve been around since the 1940s. We have a lot of retirees on pension plans that the city will have to keep paying until they pass away,” Morgan told Get The Coast in a previous interview.
AP Triton representatives are expected to be at Tuesday’s meeting to give a presentation and answer council questions, according to city documents. The council will then decide whether to proceed with the study, which would examine current fire protection system operations, response capabilities, staffing, and other resources necessary for service delivery.
Any potential consolidation would require legislative action, as the Ocean City-Wright Fire Control District was created through legislation.
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Mid Bay ENT opens comprehensive care practice, same-day appointments in Niceville
Dr. Sean McWilliams, a board-certified ENT specialist with 21 years of experience in Northwest Florida, has opened Mid Bay ENT in Niceville, offering comprehensive ear, nose and throat care including same-day appointments and a full-service allergy clinic.
- The practice, which opened in February 2024, features advanced procedures and technology for treating chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, and airway obstruction.
McWilliams is joined by Clara McNamara, a specialized ENT physician assistant, enabling the practice to handle a broader range of conditions including hearing loss, vertigo, and thyroid issues.
Located at 4566 US Highway 20 East near the Mid Bay Bridge, the practice serves patients from Florala to Panama City and accepts all TRICARE and VA insurances. While referrals are required for sinus cases with Dr. McWilliams, patients can schedule directly with McNamara for all ENT conditions by calling 850-622-5148.
PUBLIC SAFETY
10 arrested in Walton County street racing crackdown
A joint operation between the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol resulted in 10 arrests and 30 traffic citations during a street racing crackdown Saturday evening.
- Operation Burnout, which ran from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., involved 15 WCSO deputies and four FHP officers who conducted 110 traffic stops along Highway 98 in Miramar Beach. Law enforcement targeted various unsafe driving behaviors, including street racing, speeding, and driving under the influence.
Six individuals were arrested for street racing (4 juveniles), with four vehicles impounded for 30 days. Additional arrests included one for driving under the influence, one for driving without a license, and one for reckless driving.
During the operation, a juvenile suspect reportedly driving his girlfriend’s mother’s car fled through the Silversands Outlet Mall parking lot before crashing into a WCSO deputy’s vehicle while attempting to exit onto Highway 98. No injuries were reported from the incident.
- The operation follows the implementation of Florida Senate Bill 1764, which took effect July 1, 2024, establishing stricter penalties for street racing and roadway takeovers. The enforcement effort addressed increased street racing activity reported in southern Walton County in recent months, according to the WCSO.
“Drivers be warned, if you are caught racing on Walton County roadways you will be without your vehicle for a month,” Sheriff Michael Adkinson said. He thanked the Florida Highway Patrol for their assistance in the operation.
Among those arrested was a 17-year-old from Fort Walton Beach, who faces charges of fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, and racing on a public highway. Other arrests included multiple Fort Walton Beach and Miramar Beach residents ranging in age from 17 to 48 years old.
The operation also resulted in arrests for various offenses including DUI, driving without a license, and additional street racing charges, with some individuals charged as passengers in racing vehicles.
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