By DOTTY NIST
What to do about water tanks displaying the old logo was one decision before the Walton County Tourist Development Council (TDC) at its first regular meeting of 2016.
The meeting was held on Feb. 2 at the South Walton Annex.
This was the first meeting with Walton County District 2 Commissioner Cecilia Jones serving in the board member seat designated for a county commissioner, as approved by the Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) in November. On Dec. 8, the BCC had also voted to have Jones chair the TDC. Accordingly, Tim Norris, previous TDC chairman, turned the gavel over to her at the outset of the Feb. 2 meeting.
TDC officers for 2016
Other TDC officers were voted on during the course of the meeting, with Gary Brielmayer selected as vice chair, and Jennifer Frost and Art Miller agreeing and being approved to continue as secretary and treasurer, respectively.
Financial matters
A financial report by Melissa Thomason, county finance manager, revealed that the loan taken out to finance the county’s share of Walton County’s first large-scale beach nourishment project had just been paid off in full. The project was completed in 2007 along approximately five miles of beachfront on the west end of the county.
Thomason reported $53 million in reserves for the organization and revenues for the year tracking on a normal basis, with December 2015 bed tax numbers showing an increase of more than 14 percent over those of December 2014.
Water tower and tank
Jon Ervin, TDC director of marketing and communications, brought up the matter of the water tower and tank. He noted that the TDC Marketing Committee had unanimously recommended that the council look for a solution to the problem of the TDC’s old logo being on two water tanks.
One of the tanks, an elevated tower, is at Sandestin Resort, and the other is the Regional Utilities ground water tank on U.S. 331 across the highway from the South Walton Annex. This is the logo consisting of the words “South Walton” in a cursive script.
The cursive logo had been instituted in 2011 under a previous tourism council and executive director, prior to most recent director Jim Bagby’s two-year tenure. Following criticism that the logo was difficult to read, and then an involved process of considering what logo should be used, the current logo, known as the “Sun Wave,” had been approved in 2014.
According to a report provided by Ervin, in summer 2012 the TDC paid $144,500 to have the Sandestin water tower repainted to display the cursive logo, with the surface expected to last 10 years and the TDC to be responsible in the future only for redoing of the graphics when needed at a cost of approximately $14,000.
The latter would be the cost to change the logo on that tank, Ervin said, but he noted that the base color of the tank is a tan or buff that is not consistent with the colors of the current logo.
The script logo had previously been displayed on a water tower at Inlet Beach but has since been removed, according to Ervin’s report.
He also noted that the logo on the Regional Utilities U.S. 331 water tank is partly covered up by landscaping along the highway. The price for painting that tank had been much lower, between $6,000 and $7,000 Ervin said.
Art Miller said of the logo on the Sandestin water tower, “I think it’s a total waste…you have to be in a convertible to see it.” The logo on the ground water tank, he continued, is more visible. Miller was of the opinion that the TDC should do something in relation to the latter tank and logo.
One option, Ervin observed, would be to just cover up and obscure the old logo on the Sandestin water tower.
“You can’t see it anyway, why waste any more money on it?” Tim Norris commented.
TDC member Jim Richard was of the opinion that the TDC’s branding should be consistent, whether the old logo was removed from the Sandestin tower or not.
Jennifer Frost suggested looking at and pricing the repainting of the U.S. 331 tank.
Ervin suggested addressing where the logo would be placed on that tank if the landscaping were to be allowed to reach taller.
Staff was directed to do research based on the discussion and bring back information on the matter.
Walton County Hurricane & Storm Damage Reduction Project
Matt Trammell of Taylor Engineering, consultants for the Walton County Hurricane & Storm Damage Reduction (WCH&SDR) Project, provided an update on construction easements sent out to beachfront property owners in connection with the project. Signed easements are required in order for project consultants to go onto beachfront lots for construction of the project. The deadline for easements to be returned for the project had been the weekend before the meeting.
Trammell reported that about half of the easements had been returned, with preliminary numbers showing 10 percent of beachfront property owners in favor of the project and 90 percent either opposed to the project or to the establishment of construction easements on their property.
Trammell said information on the response on the easements would be forwarded to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). USACE is the federal partner for the project. Trammel explained that quality assurance and additional metrics would be performed on the responses and that a final package on the topic would be prepared for presentation to the BCC, with the March 8 regular BCC meeting being targeted as the date for that presentation.
Trammell also commented on bids sought by the county for taking of vibracore samples within the borrow area for the WCH&SDR Project. These plans had been motivated by concern on the part of some members of the public about sand color for the project. Trammell said there had been interest on the part of companies doing this type of work and that bids would close on Feb. 8, with results to be presented to the BCC for final action.
South Walton County resident Bob Hudson came forward to ask for clarification on the easement responses for the WCH&SDR Project. He said his understanding that unreturned easements would be considered as “no’s.” Hudson said that according to information he had received from the county attorney’s office, that would signify approximately 1,100 no’s and 69 yeses.
Trammell confirmed that the USACE had stated that they would not be able to establish a construction easement on any property without the document being agreed to and signed by the property owner.
TDC Letters to the BCC and the state
Other discussion included a report by Stan Sunday, interim TDC director, that letters, one to the Florida Auditor General and one to the BCC and the Florida Department of Revenue, which were approved by the TDC at its last meeting in December, had been signed and sent out. The letters were related to costs of administration charged to the TDC by the Walton County Clerk of Court and other expenses charged to the TDC by the BCC. The letter to the Department of Revenue and the BCC expressed concern about the charges and formally requested for the issues involved to be addressed. The letter to the Auditor General requested assistance in review and determining the appropriate resolution to the matters involved.
Contrary to recent reports to the contrary, Norris said he had not refused to sign the two letters but had indeed signed them as TDC chairman.
In response to a question from Bob Hudson, speaking as director for the Walton County Taxpayers Association, Clay Adkinson, TDC attorney, said it was his understanding that the letters were signed and transmitted on Feb. 1.
Comments from the public
Addressing the TDC members during a public comment period, Suzanne Harris of Edgewater Beach Condominium said she had recently spoken before a legislative committee about a bill under consideration by the state that would apply to the use of TDC funds.
Harris also expressed concern about advertisements by Sandestin Resort regarding special rental rates for “Spring Break savings.” “The only way to get better clientele is to keep our rates up,” Harris emphasized.
Harris also raised concern about Walton County TDC advertising placed in magazines in which the BCC was criticized, as she displayed a recent issue of Tallahassee magazine.
New faces, interviews for TDC director position
In other business, the council members approved the appointment of Phillip Poundstone, a beach vendor, to the TDC Beach Management Committee.
In addition, Gayla Shaefer was welcomed on board to the TDC staff community relations and public relations position.
Sunday noted that four candidates for the vacant TDC executive director position would be interviewed on Feb. 3 by the TDC Executive Director Position Advisory Committee. Applicants to be interviewed included: Julie Morgan of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; David West of Philadelphia, Pa.; Jay Tusa of Mandeville, La.; and Mary Chris Murry of Atlanta, Ga.