By DOTTY NIST
Walton County staff have been directed to pursue discussions with the Walton County Chamber of Commerce on the possibility of the county acquiring the chamber’s building located adjacent to the South Walton Annex at the South Walton Governmental and Educational Center.
The Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) so directed at the Aug. 25 BCC regular meeting at the Walton County Courthouse.
Walton County Administrator Larry Jones brought up the matter at that meeting. Previously the commission had requested that Jones look at alternatives for more county employee work space to relieve crowding and allow for expansion.
The South Walton Annex houses staff for a number of county departments, including planning, building, and code enforcement. The Walton County Tax Collector, Walton County Supervisor of Elections and Walton County Clerk of Courts also maintain their south Walton County locations at the annex.
Jones noted that in preliminary discussions with representatives of the chamber, they had indicated that space in their building was in excess of their needs. They had also expressed, he continued, willingness to consider using part of the Walton County District 5 office building in connection with a proposal for the county to acquire their current location.
The District 5 office is located on Logan Lane in Grayton Beach at the former location of Regional Utilities. The building is leased to the county by the utility.
Jones said that the east end of the District 5 building was not being used on a regular basis and could be made available to the chamber.
District 4 Commissioner Sara Comander commented that she was aware that the county owns the land on which the chamber building is located. She asked Jones to also research the history of the chamber building, including how it was financed and whether the chamber or the chamber foundation is the mortgage holder.
Jones agreed to do so and bring back more information to the commissioners.
