By DOTTY NIST
Recognition of two county commissioners attending the last meeting of their terms headlined the Nov. 7 Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) meeting at the South Walton Annex, with decisions on major agenda items ending up being put off for later.
District 3 Commissioner Bill Imfeld and District 5 Commissioner Cindy Meadows were applauded for their service and received many thanks. They were presented with plaques of appreciation.
Bob Hudson, executive director for the Walton County Taxpayer’s Association (WCTA), while conveying thanks to
and complimenting the two commissioners on their efforts, publicly broke the news about a new career path for Imfeld, who has been hired to serve as executive director for the Walton County Economic Development Alliance.
Commenting on how extremely honored she felt to have served as District 5 commissioner, Meadows also expressed her eagerness to become a private citizen once more.
Decisions on several meeting agenda items of interest to the public will remain for a future date.
The Dalton Drive Commercial development proposal was continued due to illness of the attorney representing the applicants. The continuation of the quasi-judicial hearing on that proposal is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 10 at the South Walton Annex.
Selection of members to serve on the soon-to-be-created Customary Use Advisory Committee was postponed, as well, with direction provided to Walton County Administrator Larry Jones to bring forward recommendations at the next BCC meeting on members to serve on the committee. Over 25 applications have been submitted by the public for committee membership.
Also postponed was a report and recommendations by Jay Tusa, Walton County Tourist Development Council (TDC) executive director on properties available for purchase by the county for beach access and parking. The report and recommendations are scheduled for 3 p.m. on Dec. 13, prior to the BCC meeting at the South Walton Annex on that date. Over 40 properties offered for purchase by the county are under consideration and review.
There was a lengthy hearing on the potential construction of a neighborhood public beach access and walkover at Headland Avenue in the SeaHighland subdivision. This was a proposal that had been brought up six months earlier and which had been voted down at that time, with Meadows presenting it again for BCC consideration.
Discussion on the beach access concluded with Walton County Commission Chair Sara Comander expressing concerns about roadway safety issues associated with the access that had been presented and moving to put off a decision to allow time for Walton County Public Works to research those and bring forth recommendations. Her motion was approved 4-1, with Meadows voting no.
Look for more on the Nov. 7 BCC meeting in the Nov. 17 Herald/Breeze.