POLITICS

FWB Council begins nomination process to fill vacancy, 6 nominees so far

During Tuesday night’s Fort Walton Beach city council meeting, council members discussed the process for appointing a candidate to fill the vacant seat left by Council Member Larry Patrick’s recent resignation due to health reasons.

• The city charter states that in the event of a vacancy, the open seat should be filled by a majority vote of the remaining council members. Prior to any appointment, nominations must be accepted over the course of at least two general meetings. 

Prior to nominating anyone, members of the public spoke before the council, sharing who they would like to see nominated. There was an overwhelming number of supporters who spoke in favor of Debi Riley, including support from former candidates.

After hearing from the public, Council Member Nic Allegretto reflected on what former city council-member Dr. Scott Smith expressed when there was a vacancy on the council years ago.

• “He said, ‘I want to nominate everyone that wants to be on this council so that we can have an open discussion, hear from the public, and hear who’s interested in the position,” said Allegretto, recalling the words of Dr. Smith. 

Allegretto then went on to nominate six potential candidates: 

• Debi Riley (former candidate)
• John Meade (former council-member)
• Ryan Hartman (former candidate)
• Brandon Bishop (former candidate)
• Jason Harwell (former candidate)
• Sharon Trenary

After the first round of nominations were over, the council went on to unanimously approve the process of selection by way of a scoring system. Each Council-member will rank their top three candidates via ballot using 1 for the top ranked candidate and 3 for the third ranked candidate.

• The ballots will be tallied, and the top three candidates will be revealed. Once the list is narrowed to the top three candidates, Council-members will complete a second ballot by selecting their preferred candidate only.

Go deeper: Continue reading about the scoring selection process.

TRAFFIC

The long-awaited Brooks Bridge Replacement Project officially breaks ground in FWB

After years of planning and anticipation, the highly anticipated groundbreaking ceremony for the Brooks Bridge replacement project finally commenced on Wednesday morning at 10am. 

• The $171 million endeavor to construct two new parallel bridges over the Santa Rosa Sound in Fort Walton Beach officially kicked off with remarks from key officials and a ceremonial shovel photo opp. 

The aging four-lane Brooks Bridge that opened in 1966 will be replaced by two new three-lane bridges, providing six total travel lanes with shoulders that can serve as refuge lanes during accidents. The new bridges will also feature a barrier-separated shared use path for bicyclists and pedestrians to accommodate the average annual daily traffic count of 66,000 vehicles. 

Tim Smith, Director of Transportation Development for FDOT District 3, welcomed attendees and emphasized how the project will “ensure the mobility of people and goods and enhance economic prosperity, and preserve the quality of our environment and really connect our communities.”

Jared Perdue, Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation, proudly remarked on the project, noting his personal connection to the panhandle area after being raised locally in the area and spending most of his professional career with FDOT District 3, which covers Northwest Florida. 

“This is going to be a beautiful project,” Perdue said. “One thing that’s really important to know is when we touch infrastructure here in Florida, we build it back more resilient. And this bridge is no exception to that.”

When asked about the significance of the groundbreaking after so many years of advocating for the project, Okaloosa County Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel remarked, “I worked hard, but many people have worked hard to make this a reality. This has been a complete effort of our entire Okaloosa team.” 

Commissioner Ketchel went on to thank each of her fellow commissioners, Senator Doug Broxson, Representative Patt Maney, everyone at FDOT, and the Chambers of Commerce for their work to get here.

• “For over 35 years, everyone has known that this bridge needs to be replaced and it’s taken a long time,” she said. 

Ketchel praised Senator Broxson’s rise to Appropriations Chair as instrumental in securing funding and also acknowledged the many calls she expects to field about construction impacts over the next few years. She asked locals for patience and encouraged residents to look ahead to the benefits of the completed project.

Go deeper: Continue to read more on the future bridge.

NEWS

Beloved Fort Walton Beach lab-tech killed in vehicle crash, driver arrested for DUI

On August 22, 2023, at approximately 8:59pm, the Fort Walton Beach Police Department responded to a vehicle crash with injuries at the intersection of Wright Parkway NW/Holmes Blvd NW. 

According to the FWBPD, a gray Ford pickup truck operated by 48-year-old Benjamin Raser of Fort Walton Beach was traveling north on Wright Parkway when it collided with a white Acura sedan. The sedan was operated by 52-year-old Demetrius Thomas of Fort Walton Beach as he was traveling East on Holmes Blvd NW. 

Lifesaving efforts were attempted by Officers and FD/EMS, but Thomas was pronounced deceased on scene. 

• The passenger of the gray pickup truck was transported to HCA Fort Walton-Destin Hospital where he was listed in critical condition.

Benjamin Raser was transported to HCA Fort Walton-Destin Hospital and was medically cleared. However, after further investigation, he was arrested on charges of DUI Manslaughter and DUI Serious Bodily Injury, according to the report.

Beloved lab-tech at Magnolia Medial Center

Demetrius Thomas worked as a lab-tech at Magnolia Medical Clininc in Fort Walton Beach. This morning, as the news broke of the crash, Magnolia closed their office and made time to come together as a staff and mourn the loss of their beloved co-worker.

“Magnolia lost our friend and brother, Demetrius Thomas, last night and words are inadequate at this time to capture that loss,” said Dr. Chris Pappas, Senior Physician at Magnolia. “We spoke to his mother, Joanne Thomas, this morning, and she told us “he loved the Magnolia Clinic, the staff, and the patients.”

Dr. Pappas told Get The Coast that during a staff gathering this morning that two quotes stood out to him:

“Each day is a gift from God.”

“Everyone needs a Demetrius in their life.”

He concluded by saying, “We are diminished. He was a key family member of Magnolia and what made us special.”

The Fort Walton Beach Police Department Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating this case, according to FWBPD. 

If you have any information pertaining to this incident, please contact MPO M. Montgomery or Detective M. Stirling at 850-833-9546.

ART+CULTURE

Fort Walton Beach holds groundbreaking ceremony for Indian Temple Mound Museum addition

The city of Fort Walton Beach held a celebratory groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday afternoon for a new addition to the popular Indian Temple Mound Museum located at Heritage Park and Cultural Center. 

• The new two-story, 4,800 square foot building will front U.S. Highway 98 and provide much-needed space for a new museum gift shop, administrative offices, storage, and programming areas.  

“This was a long time coming,” said Museum Manager Gail Meyer during the event. “Chris Gibson, a former dedicated Friend of the Museum and previous owner of the property where the former Blue Water Zoo resided, generously gifted the adjacent land to the Museum after her passing in 2017. She had two visions for the future of the property: the Museum having a significant presence and entrance along busy Highway 98 to increase visibility and generate greater revenue.”

The $800,000 project cost will be funded by $390,000 from the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council and the remaining $410,000 from the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency budget. The building addition will have a storefront on the bottom floor facing Highway 98 and the second story will house the needed office space and storage areas.

City Manager Jeff Peters expressed gratitude to the architect (Jason Floyd with JDF Architecture), contractor, and Tourist Development Council for helping make the vision a reality, along with the Gibson Family.

• “This is an exciting day for us. This is a project that the museum has dreamed about for a while. This addition will give the museum an anchor spot on Highway 98 and increase visibility,” he remarked.

Museum Director Gail Meyer shared the rich history of the museum and the decades-long vision to ultimately expand the gallery and programming areas.

“Chris Gibson saw the potential for our little museum to grow, but also recognized its space limitations. Her generous gift of the property and willingness of her family to work with the city has finally brought us to where we proudly stand today,” Meyer explained. 

The existing Indian Temple Mound Museum will remain fully open and operational during the anticipated one year construction project. 

“We are really looking forward to seeing a beautiful new building downtown,” said Ashley Sukalski, Downtown Merchants Association. “We have confidence that this important addition to the museum will improve the presence of the corner at Florida Place and 98 as well as be a welcoming addition for families, tourists and those who walk around downtown. There’s a lot going on so pick a time to rediscover Downtown!”

The Heritage Park and Cultural Center currently houses four unique museums including the Indian Temple Mound Museum, Camp Walton Schoolhouse, Garnier Post Office, and Civil War Exhibits. It is located at 139 Miracle Strip Parkway SE in the heart of downtown Fort Walton Beach.

Click here to see renderings of the new building.

NEWS

Changes coming to vendors at Crab Island in Destin. Here’s what we know.

Major changes could soon be on the horizon for the vendors operating at the popular Crab Island in Destin, Florida.

Crab Island, located north of the Destin bridge, has long been a destination for boaters, both locals and tourists. Over the years, a bustling scene of roving vendors selling food, drinks and souvenirs has sprung up on the shallow waters of the submerged sandbar. 

• However, this lively mix of small businesses may face an uncertain future due to an upcoming change from the National Park Service (NPS).

The NPS, which claims jurisdiction over Crab Island as part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, is currently developing a Commercial Services Strategy and Environmental Assessment that could overhaul how vendors are allowed to operate in the area, and what services or goods would be permitted.

In an interview with WEAR Channel 3, Congressman Matt Gaetz and Destin Mayor Bobby Wagner both voiced strong opposition to the “proposed” changes, arguing that the plan could be detrimental to the local vendors and pose safety risks to visitors.

In their interview at Crab Island, Gaetz said that under the NPS strategy, at least 88 independent vendors could be replaced by a single concessionaire contract. While vendors would still be permitted to operate, many would likely have to move from the shallow inner sandbar to deeper waters along the perimeter, outside of the Crab Island zone.

• Gaetz and Wagner have cautioned that this relocation could endanger visitors due to the stronger currents and uneven depths of the outer waters. He said the change could lead to more drowning incidents.

Mayor Wagner says that switching to a single contracted vendor would harm the diversity of businesses at Crab Island. He emphasized the importance of the small, family-run operations that have made Crab Island a beloved destination for residents and tourists alike. 

Congressman Matt Gaetz voiced these concerns in a letter to the Department of the Interior, asking them to reconsider the NPS plan. He said management of the vendors should remain in local hands rather than being dictated by federal oversight.

• Mayor Wagner echoed many of Gaetz’s criticisms, arguing that Crab Island has been successfully self-regulated by the city and county along with the vendors themselves. 

In an interview, Wagner said Crab Island has evolved into a major economic engine for the area, attracting droves of visitors who patronize the floating restaurants, souvenir shops and activity rental businesses.

He believes this commercial activity is best managed collaboratively by the local municipalities and vendors who know the area best. Wagner criticized the federal government for interfering with a system that was already working well under local oversight. 

The Mayor worries that switching to a single NPS concessionaire contract would dramatically alter the special ambiance of Crab Island. He said families and first-time boaters would no longer be able to grab forgotten items like sunscreen, floats and snacks from the small vendors scattered across the sandbar.

• Wagner said many vendors have built livelihoods and supported families for years through their Crab Island ventures. He said they now fear losing everything if the NPS plan goes through. 

In a resolution passed on August 21, 2023, the Destin City Council formally aligned themselves with Gaetz in opposing unilateral federal control over Crab Island vendors. The council emphasized that any changes should be made collaboratively with local input. 

The resolution states “the City of Destin and Okaloosa County are privileged to have the Crab Island Area, a significant recreational hub that has attracted countless visitors, promoting local diversity and economic progress.” It goes on to say safety and commerce at Crab Island are best managed by the local community. 

Crab Island is part of a national park

NPS Superintendent Darrell Echols confirmed in an interview that under federal law, the National Park Service has sole jurisdiction over commercial activities within national parks. He said the upcoming Commercial Services Strategy will follow mandated policies for concessions management.

He explained that under the 1998 Concessions Management Improvement Act, commercial activities in national parks must go through an extensive approval process. The NPS evaluates whether proposed ventures are “necessary and appropriate” for each park’s specific nature and purpose.

For small operations making under $25,000 annually, parks can issue Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs). However, for larger concessions making over $25,000, the NPS must conduct a competitive bidding process for concessions contracts.

This contract bidding process involves first developing a detailed “prospectus” outlining the services to be offered. The prospectus is then put out publicly for 60-90 days for companies to place bids. A national NPS panel evaluates the proposals, with final approval either regionally or from the Washington office.

Echols stressed that the NPS has no choice but to follow these mandated policies for larger concessions operations in national parks. However, he said they are trying to balance public input as they finalize the Crab Island strategy.

Echols said the NPS has flexibility in terms of the geographic scope and services covered in a concessions contract. For instance, they could potentially allow some services under a concessionaire and others under CUAs.

• But he emphasized that the NPS cannot permit commercial activities that are not deemed “necessary and appropriate” under their guidelines. This legal obligation limits how much the Crab Island strategy can be tailored based on public feedback.

When it comes to the “necessary and appropriate” criteria, Echols explained that selling bottled water isn’t necessary for the public to enjoy the park or to preserve the natural and cultural resources in the park. However, in contrast, something like a snorkel tour, is designed to bring the public to the park in a way that they wouldn’t be able to see or experience without a tour. He says that would be considered necessary because it furthers the purpose of the park. 

He went on to say that if a business meets all the appropriate criteria, it would then be determined to be appropriate. And so, if a commercial venture can be determined to be necessary and appropriate, it could be something that the park would entertain allowing. 

• If it’s not necessary or not appropriate, then NPS would not, by law, be able to allow it, according to Echols.

Go deeper: Continue reading about the new steps for this proposal.