Story by JEFFREY POWELL
Freeport, Fla. — The Freeport City Council held its first regularly scheduled meeting of the month on June 14, 2016. Approximately 20 citizens attended the 2 and 1/2 hour gathering, which was held at Freeport City Hall. Councilwoman Elizabeth Brannon was not in attendance for the 9 a.m. meeting.
The meeting began with a short presentation by Restore Act Coordinator Billy Williams and outgoing Economic Development Alliance (EDA) Director Steve Yeager. The pair discussed the approximately $400 million BP Triumph money which is earmarked to greatly impact the Panhandle, and more specifically Walton County, if all goes well in the next legislative session. Williams urged Freeport City Council members to prioritize upcoming U.S. 331 projects so as to take full advantage of the funds. Expanding water and sewer service to the 331 corridor appeared to be the city’s top priority. Williams also urged that Freeport, DeFuniak Springs and Paxton work in concert with Walton County so that everyone benefits from the financial windfall.
Freeport City Planner Latilda Hughes Neal advised the Council that land Owned by the EDA in Freeport was in need of a zoning change to light industrial. The parcel had previously been part of Owl’s Head and if all goes well will be the site of an industrial laundering service. The project is hoped to create 15 jobs for the Freeport area. Hughes Neel asked the city to waive all application fees for the project which came to just over $7,000. The Council approved the proposal and the motion carried.
Under legal matters attorney Clayton Adkinson briefed the Council that reinstating the fire assessment tax within the city may need to be put off until next year due to a hardship placed on the Tax Collector’s office. Adkinson said the timing would require two bills to be generated rather than one. Council members suggested that they had followed the timeline alloted and did not want to pay the $155,000. Council members voted to press forward with returning the tax to citizens with Councilwoman Jennifer Laird voting no.
Mayor Russ Barley briefed the Council that several instances of damage to the community center had been discovered after the building had been rented. He suggested raising the damage deposit and considering renting only to Freeport organizations. The Council agreed to look more closely at the rental agreement and make suggestions at a later time.
Councilman Farris reiterated the need to prioritize the city’s upcoming projects and suggested drafting a letter to the county to ensure everyone was on the same page. Preble-Rish Project Engineer Anna Hudson pointed out that the entire U.S. 331 project is a priority and that perhaps the city could prioritize each phase of the project for this application. A workshop was proposed to further discuss the matter.