Walton County Tourist Development Council (TDC) Executive Director Jim Bagby brought forward a recommendation on behalf of the TDC to move forward with filling new positions funded in the 2015-16 fiscal year budget.
After discussion, the commissioners voted to approve filling just one of the three administration positions that were part of the TDC request. This was the director of communication positions that Bagby indicated would be the most important at this time. Part of the BCC approval was for five other positions related to beach operations and beach code enforcement.
Bagby’s last day in his position was to be Oct. 16. BCC discussion indicated that the new director to be hired would be responsible for recommending personnel to fill the other two administrative positions funded in the budget or could opt not to fill the positions.
In other TDC-related action, the commissioners voted unanimously to go ahead with advertising to fill Bagby’s position. This is despite an accompanying decision to look at different options for the structure of the TDC, including privatization. This was to provide for someone “at the helm” of the organization during the time that organizational structure was under research and to provide for time for any transition in structure to take place.
A workshop to examine options for the TDC was scheduled for 3 p.m. on Nov. 10, to precede the regular BCC meeting at the South Walton Annex.
Tabled and continued items
The proposed Coastal Dune Lake Protection Zone Land Development Code Ordinance was tabled. This was due to the 1000 Friends of Florida and the Florida Wildlife Federation having petitioned the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings in opposition to the accompanying Walton County Comprehensive Plan (CP) ordinance approved by the BCC on Sept. 8.
Continued to the Nov. 10 BCC meeting were two development proposals, the Artisan Square Planned Unit Development (PUD), proposed for Point Washington, and Gulf Place Lots 19 and 20, which includes a 50-room hotel and condominiums.
Despite the continuance, testimony was taken from members of the public on the latter proposal, who were also represented by counsel. Some speakers opposed the continuance, stating that there was no need, since new information on the Gulf Place PUD showed that the PUD was “built out” with no entitlements available.
District 5 Commissioner Cindy Meadows commented that the commissioners had just received the new information and needed time to review it. “We need the opportunity to have a quasi-judicial hearing that enters it all into the record,” she said.
The Nov. 10 BCC regular meeting is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. at the South Walton Annex.