BCC Emergency Meeting April 15, 2011 10AM

[kurt]

You are hereby notified of an Emergency Special Meeting to be held Friday, April 15, 2011 beginning 10:00 A.M., or soon thereafter, to allow the Walton County Board of Commissioners to discuss and act upon the following two agenda items:

1. Tourist Development Council BP Claims – offer to settle
2. Presentations from the top 3 firms that responded to RFP 011-014 for

Specialized Legal Services BP Claims

1. 1. Matthews, Jones, Hawkins
   2. Nix Patterson & Roach
   3. Beasley Allen

This meeting will be held at the Walton County Courthouse located at 571 US Highway 90, DeFuniak Springs, FL in the Commission Meeting Room.

In accordance with Section 286.26, Florida Statutes, whenever any board or commissioner of any state agency or authority, or of any agency or authority of any county, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision, which has scheduled a meeting at which official acts are to be taken receives, at least 48 hours prior to the meeting, a written request by a physically handicapped person to attend the meeting, directed to the chairperson or director of such board, commission, agency, or authority, such chairperson or director shall provide a manner by which such person may attend the meeting at its scheduled site or reschedule the meeting to a site which would be accessible to such person.


In accordance with Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, all persons are advised that, if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the board, agency, or commission with respect to any matter considered at such meeting or hearing, he or she will need a record of the proceedings, and that, for such purpose, he or she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.


Please be advised accordingly.

[Bob Hudson]

The BCC board just passed a resolution accepting a proposed 2.4 million settlement from BP for loss of bedtax revenue for the first 8 months since the spill occurred. Dollars were place in reserves and the settlement does not preclude future claims for the future.

[SWGB]

If it doesn't preclude future claims and that's the short fall due to the oil spill is there a reason it couldn't have been done at a regular BCC meeting?

[Bob Hudson]

If it doesn't preclude future claims and that's the short fall due to the oil spill is there a reason it couldn't have been done at a regular BCC meeting?

My understanding from the discussion was that the actual incurred loss in bedtax during the 8 month period covered was approx. 1 million dollars. (TDC request was 2.5 million)

The actual settlement was 2.4 million with a provision that it must be accepted within a 24-48 hour time span (can't remember which it actually was), hence the "emergency meeting".

I sat next to Dawn and she stated to me and the Commissioners that the settlement did not block further claims.

[scooterbug44]

Did I read that correctly?

We only lost $1 million, yet got BP to give us $2.4 million WITHOUT RELINQUISHING FUTURE CLAIMS/LAWSUITS?

That doesn't seem right - from a math, karma, or legal perspective.

Many locals have claims that are being denied/stagnating, yet BP pays 2.5X what we could prove and doesn't require future legal indemnity?!?

And why are we asking for WAY more than what we actually lost?

[SWGB]

Nothing says up front and clear like a high pressure legal offer.

Bob, what department would you request a copy of this settlement from?

[Bob Hudson]

The legal Dept I assume, but sometimes its Admin.

[idlewind]

Did I read that correctly?

We only lost $1 million, yet got BP to give us $2.4 million WITHOUT RELINQUISHING FUTURE CLAIMS/LAWSUITS?

That doesn't seem right - from a math, karma, or legal perspective.

Many locals have claims that are being denied/stagnating, yet BP pays 2.5X what we could prove and doesn't require future legal indemnity?!?

And why are we asking for WAY more than what we actually lost?

I smell a rat.

[Bob Hudson]

Let me clarify my wording. I should have said for future claims outside the 8 month period the original claim was filed for. ( for loses since December 2010). I think they are SOL for any further claims during the 8 month period.

If SWGB doesn't get the actual settlement - I will "do my homework" and post it.

Within the past week the TDC has received 10.4 million dollars in unanticipated revenue. The 2.4 million accepted today will go into unrestricted reserves and the remaining 8 million can only be used for advertising (what that means is debatable).