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POLITICS
City Council Candidates identify ‘number one issue facing Destin’ during Forum
Candidates vying for seats on the Destin City Council tackled a crucial question during a recent forum: What is the number one issue facing Destin today? Their responses highlighted a variety of challenges facing the coastal Florida community, with each candidate offering unique perspectives on Destin’s most pressing needs.
- The forum, hosted by the Destin Chamber of Commerce and Emerald Coast Association of Realtors, featured seven candidates competing for five open council seats in the upcoming November 5 election.
Several candidates pointed to infrastructure as a key issue. Councilman Kevin Schmidt emphasized the urgent need to address “renewal and replacement” of aging facilities.
“Destin’s a little town with big town problems,” Schmidt said. “We are stuck in the old ages on so much stuff around here. Our parks are falling apart, our medians are falling apart, our buildings are falling apart. We have to fix it.” Schmidt also stressed the importance of public safety and making streets safe for families and children.
Councilwoman Teresa Hebert identified budget constraints as the major challenge. “We struggle every year to try and get our budget in line,” Hebert said. “We have projects that we can’t get finished. We have infrastructure areas that need working.”
She cited specific examples, such as the community center needing repairs and the Morgan Sports Center requiring new lights at a cost of $1 million.
Growth management was highlighted as an ongoing issue by incumbent Dewey Destin, who helped write the city’s original charter. “We’re still outrunning our infrastructure and approving projects, high density projects that have 50 to 100 units investment without really understanding how we’re going to manage that growth,” Destin said.
- He also raised concerns about the city’s debt management, warning about potential over-borrowing for various projects.
Sandy Trammell focused on maintenance, repair, and safety. “We need to clean, renew and repair everything we’ve got,” Trammell said. She emphasized the need to address safety in residential areas, questioning why major highways have 30 mph speed limits while some compact residential areas don’t have lower limits.
Trammell also stressed the importance of improving infrastructure, noting it’s “not pretty because you don’t see it, but I think it’s most important.”
Rodney Braden pointed to multiple issues, stating there wasn’t just one primary concern. He highlighted code compliance as a major problem, describing his recent personal experiences with the issue. Braden also mentioned the need to revamp the city’s multimodal transportation plan.
Lance Johnson emphasized preserving natural resources and parks, noting their critical role in the local economy. “Nearly all of our economy is based on our natural resources and we need to take a more active role in making sure that those are preserved for the next generation and generation after that,” Johnson said.
He also stressed the importance of quality development and redevelopment to enhance residents’ quality of life.
Councilman John Stephens highlighted local infrastructure as the top issue, particularly focusing on traffic congestion and the need for better parking solutions. “We have traffic congestion. We need to figure out some better parking solutions,” Stevens said. He suggested exploring alternative transportation options, such as water taxis in the Harbor District.
While the candidates identified different top priorities, they largely agreed on the range of challenges facing Destin. The forum provided voters with insights into each candidate’s perspectives and proposed solutions as they prepare for the upcoming election.
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TRAVEL
Okaloosa Commissioners advocate for passenger railroad expansion in North Florida
The Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to send a letter to top Florida officials, urging the state to join the Southern Rail Commission (SRC) and explore the restoration of passenger rail service through the Florida Panhandle.
- The letter, addressed to Governor Ron DeSantis, Senate President-Designate Ben Albritton, and House Speaker-Designate Daniel Perez, outlines potential benefits of passenger rail development in North Florida.
These include economic growth, enhanced regional connectivity, traffic relief, and improved quality of life for residents.
Paul Mixon, chairman of the Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners, signed the letter, which emphasizes the SRC’s role in promoting “the safe, reliable, and efficient movement of people and goods to enhance economic development along rail corridors.”
The SRC, formed in 1982 through an Interstate Rail Compact, currently consists of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Florida, as a contiguous state, is eligible for membership.
- The letter highlights a recent Federal Railroad Administration proposal for a passenger rail route from Dallas to Miami, with stops in eight Florida cities. Commissioners argue that SRC membership could help Florida secure federal funding for such projects.
The board’s decision comes as the SRC has shown success in obtaining federal grants for passenger rail initiatives. In September 2023, the commission helped secure $178 million for a new route between New Orleans and Mobile.
County officials stated they are ready to collaborate with state leaders, the Florida Department of Transportation, and other stakeholders to advance this initiative.
TRAFFIC
City of Destin clarifies purpose of speed studies amid privacy concerns
The City of Destin has released a comprehensive fact sheet to address recent misunderstandings about its speed study program.
- The document aims to clarify the purpose and methods of these studies, which have been the subject of misinformation on social media platforms, with some residents expressing concerns about privacy.
According to the fact sheet, speed studies help identify areas where vehicles are exceeding the speed limit or where traffic calming solutions may be necessary to improve safety for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. The city regularly conducts these studies in specific areas shown on a detailed map included in the document.
“Speed Studies help identify areas where vehicles are exceeding the speed limit or where traffic calming solutions may be needed to enhance safety for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists,” the fact sheet states, underlining the program’s primary focus on public safety.
The document emphasizes that the collected data is used to assess traffic conditions and ensure that speed limits are appropriate for safety, traffic flow, and community needs. It also notes that the city conducts targeted speed studies in other areas as part of the assessment required under the Speed Hump Program when homeowners petition for speed bumps or other traffic calming devices in their neighborhood.
To address concerns about data collection methods, the fact sheet provides a detailed explanation of the technology used. The studies employ a Traffic Data Collector, which uses the “Doppler Effect” to measure vehicle speeds. This device emits high-frequency, low-power radar waves that reflect off vehicle surfaces to determine speed and direction.
- The city stresses that these devices do not have cameras and exclusively record data from vehicle-sized moving objects, addressing privacy concerns.
“The collected data provides insight into traffic patterns, informing decisions for speed regulation and roadway improvements,” the fact sheet states. It also emphasizes that the data contains no personal identifying information on drivers, pedestrians, or the surrounding area.
The document outlines the criteria for implementing traffic calming measures. If the data indicates that the 85th percentile speed in a given area is 11 MPH or above the posted speed limit, traffic calming measures may be considered if deemed appropriate and necessary to ensure public safety.
The city has also made significant efforts to ensure transparency in this process. All data collected from these studies is made publicly available on the City of Destin website. The fact sheet includes QR codes linking to more information about the Speed Hump Program and the data collected from completed Speed Studies.
Residents seeking more information about the City’s Speed Study Program are encouraged to call (850) 654-1119 Option 2 or email the City’s Engineering Division at Engineering@cityofdestin.com. The city emphasizes that this outreach is part of its commitment to transparency and public awareness regarding traffic safety initiatives.
TRAFFIC
Brooks Bridge project takes shape with new pier construction
Construction crews are continuing to work on the first new pier for the Brooks Bridge Replacement Project, a major infrastructure initiative in Fort Walton Beach, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced Wednesday.
- The project, valued at $171 million, aims to replace the existing four-lane bridge, which has been in service since 1966, with two new parallel bridges that will expand capacity to six travel lanes.
A recent aerial photograph taken above the Santa Rosa Sound, looking east toward Okaloosa Island, reveals several key components of the pier taking shape. The image shows a reinforced concrete slab, referred to as the pier “footing,” constructed at the waterline atop a group of foundation piles. This structure serves as the bridge’s foundation.
The photograph also captures two vertical pier columns rising from the foundation. These columns will support the bridge spans and transfer loads from the pier “cap” to the foundation below.
In addition to the concrete elements, the image shows a steel form that crews have erected on top of the new vertical columns. This form will be used to construct the concrete pier “cap,” a crucial component of the bridge’s support structure.
- The Brooks Bridge Replacement Project is scheduled for completion in summer 2027. The project represents a significant upgrade to the area’s transportation infrastructure, doubling the number of travel lanes from the current four to six upon completion.
As construction progresses, local residents and travelers can expect to see more visible changes to the bridge structure.
GIVING BACK
Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation to host BBQ and Bingo fundraiser
The Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation is preparing for its 4th Annual BBQ and Bingo fundraising event, scheduled for Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at the Clubhouse Grill in Fort Walton Beach.
- The event, which supports local students and teachers, will begin with a social hour at 5:00 p.m., followed by bingo from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Attendees can also participate in a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle.
Tickets are priced at $40 per person, which includes dinner and two bingo tickets. The foundation encourages community members to attend, emphasizing that all proceeds will directly support classroom activities and student scholarships.
As a 501c3 non-profit organization, the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation focuses on extending educational opportunities for all students within Okaloosa County. One of its primary initiatives is the Take Stock in Children (TSIC) scholarship program, which currently provides two-year college scholarships and one-on-one mentoring for 64 academically deserving high school students from low-income families.
The foundation has set an ambitious goal to increase the number of scholarship recipients to 100 students over the next five years. Each scholarship requires a $3,900 investment from the foundation, which is then matched dollar for dollar by the Florida Prepaid Scholarship Program, effectively doubling the impact of local contributions.
- In addition to supporting TSIC, the BBQ and Bingo event helps fund mini-grants for local teachers and promotes overall student success through various initiatives.
The Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation continues to play a crucial role in enhancing educational opportunities for local students and supporting innovative teaching initiatives in Okaloosa County.
BUSINESS
WM opens $30 million state-of-the-art recycling facility in Fort Walton Beach
WM unveiled its new $30 million single-stream recycling facility in Fort Walton Beach on Thursday, marking a significant investment in sustainability infrastructure for the Gulf Coast region.
- The 109 Ready Avenue NW plant, capable of processing up to 76,000 tons of recyclable materials annually, aims to increase the capture and potential reuse of materials across a wide swath of the southeastern United States.
At a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local officials and industry representatives, WM executives highlighted the facility’s role in advancing recycling efforts and material circularity in an area that has historically lacked robust recycling infrastructure.
“Recycling in this area has been a challenge, but this facility will hopefully overcome that,” said Michael Beedie, WM senior manager of government affairs, in his opening remarks. “Everyone in this audience is a partner of ours, and we’re going to all work together to make this happen.”
The plant, which began operations two months ago, employs advanced automation to sort and process recyclable materials from residential and commercial sources. It will serve communities from Tallahassee, Florida, to Jackson, Mississippi, providing a local solution for sustainability efforts.
Brandon Shaw, WM Gulf Coast area vice president, emphasized the facility’s importance to the region. “As you look at the infrastructure around this part of the state, there’s not a real local viable solution for sustainability, and that’s what this facility provides,” Shaw said. “We’re so proud to be able to offer services from Tallahassee to Biloxi, Mississippi, and as far north as Jackson, Mississippi, for all your sustainability services.”
The Fort Walton Beach facility is part of WM’s broader $1.4 billion investment in recycling infrastructure across North America, according to Brent Bell, WM vice president of recycling. Bell highlighted the company’s focus on keeping materials in the domestic supply chain, partnering with local manufacturers to turn recyclables into new products.
- “We keep all of our plastics here domestically,” Bell said, noting partnerships with companies like KW Plastics in Troy, Alabama, which turns recycled plastics into new packaging and paint cans.
Bell also addressed common questions about the recycling process. “One of their first things that they want to know is, what happens to my materials? Once I put it in the recycling bin, that seems to be a little bit of confusion on recycling,” he said.
To address this, Bell emphasized the importance of proper recycling practices. “At WM, we like to keep recycling simple: paper, cardboard, bottles and cans go in all of your bins,” he explained.
Local officials praised the facility as a boon for the community and a step forward in environmental stewardship. Paul Mixon, Okaloosa County Commission chair, acknowledged past challenges with recycling programs in the area and expressed optimism about the new plant’s impact.
- “Now we can guarantee to our citizens that their recycled materials are being recycled right here in our southeast region,” Mixon said. “They’re being repurposed so that we can reuse them.”
Fort Walton Beach Mayor Dick Rynearson highlighted the facility’s fit within the city’s Commerce and Technology Park and its potential to educate residents on proper recycling practices.
“The City of Fort Walton Beach has been recycling for many years but we haven’t always done it in the proper way,” Rynearson said. “We’re going to learn about that and the city’s going to undertake an education process with WM’s support.”
Rynearson also praised the advanced technology employed at the facility. “They have got this down beyond being a science. It is absolutely amazing how they can take those things that we’re throwing in the recycle bin, how it gets here and it all gets separated, everything going its own separate direction.
State Rep. Patt Maney emphasized the economic impact of the facility, which is expected to create up to 40 jobs when operating at full capacity. Maney also stressed the importance of public education in ensuring the facility’s success.
- “Our community really needs this facility,” Maney said. “And part of our job is going to be to educate the public on what they can put in and what they can’t put in because it can gum up the machines literally.”
The opening event featured tours of the facility, giving attendees a firsthand look at the advanced sorting technology in action. Mayor Rynearson, who had previously toured the facility, encouraged everyone to take advantage of the opportunity. “The tour will fascinate you and will be well worth every minute you spend on the tour,” he said.
WM has partnered with several local communities to process their recyclables, including Okaloosa County, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Cinco Bayou, Destin, Mary Esther, and Shalimar. Company officials expressed interest in expanding these partnerships to other municipalities across the region.
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