County Commissioners allowing commercial gains on county property!!!!!

**boater** · 05-11-2011, 02:14 PM

My family enjoys boating in the bay and we often use the county dock on the east side of Hwy 331 but if we go out on the weekends then we cannot use the dock because of the big boat selling shrimp is docked there the entire weekend. After not being able to pick up my sister and nephew from the dock because of the shrimp boat I decided to call the code enforcers to complain and was amazed at what was going on. The code enforcement office instructed me to call county commissioner Scott Brannon so I did: the first call I was told that they were very aware of it and they were having an meeting with the code enforcement to have the boat removed from the county dock, one week later I called and this time was told that they had made an arraignment with the boat to allow them to stay there until they could build them another access to their boat? Why would they allow anyone to make money off of a county dock that is paid for by tax payers? After weeks of getting nowhere with the commissioner or enforcement I got in touch with the DEP and then I was made aware of how and why this boat can make commercial gains on a county dock. The DEP agent was very aware of the Cheri Dawn and had sent out several citations to have it stopped from selling on state owned property and had even destroyed the temporary dock that the Cheri Dawn had made. The reason it is still being allowed is because of the contacts that Billy McClain the boat owner has, who is Billy McClain? What do you know he is an ex-commissioner himself! The DEP agent stated that she is trying to fix the problem but every time she tries the county commissioners tells the enforcement agents to let the boat stay. After calling Scott Brannon’s office it is very obvious that this is what is going on. If you or I tried to sell hotdogs off of a county facility then we would be fined but not the well-connected Cheri Dawn. If this upsets you as much as it does me then call the commissioner’s office or the DEP office in Pensacola and let them know.

**scooterbug44** · 05-11-2011, 03:41 PM

Lovely.

Next I suppose the taxpayers will be footing the bill for the DEP citations.

**GoodWitch58** · 05-11-2011, 04:34 PM

and the lawyer/consultant they will call in...

**scooterbug44** · 05-11-2011, 05:41 PM

And I am just shocked that Brannon is in any way involved with something shady like this.

**lms47** · 05-11-2011, 06:02 PM

No surprise here----good ole' boys at work!

**Smiling JOe** · 05-11-2011, 06:07 PM

My question is, does the cheri dawn shrimp boat have license to sell shrimp to the public? Isn't there some rule about commercial fisherman not being able to sell to the general public?

**scooterbug44** · 05-11-2011, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

My question is, does the cheri dawn shrimp boat have license to sell shrimp to the public? Isn't there some rule about commercial fisherman not being able to sell to the general public?

That is a good question - I always thought it was sort of cool to have a shrimp boat there selling direct to the public and assumed because of the prominent location it was legal.

Didn't realize that they prevented others from docking there and were in violation.

**idlewind** · 05-11-2011, 06:35 PM

As Walton County Turns, episode 200000000000. If you take the time to connect the dots you will always find something like this. And yet we continue to re-elect them.

**Smiling JOe** · 05-11-2011, 06:47 PM

remember that most local gov't offices are closed on the weekend, such as sanitation inspection. Have you ever seen the Cheri Dawn set up on the weekdays, other than late Friday?

**kurt** · 05-11-2011, 06:57 PM

And all the fuss is because you want to sell hot dogs?

**ShallowsNole** · 05-11-2011, 09:03 PM

The shrimp boats owned by the McLean and Brown families have been selling shrimp from the 331 causeway for at least 25 years, possibly longer (or at least that is how long I've been buying shrimp from them; I know my parents bought shrimp from them before that). So a shrimp boat parked at the causeway is suddenly an issue?

That reminds me...I need ten more pounds...

**Smiling JOe** · 05-11-2011, 09:11 PM

Shallows, I can see how it has only recently become an issue. Up until about a month ago, they had been parking at their own pilings. Then, suddenly, they began taking up the entire public dock.

**Snerd** · 05-11-2011, 09:12 PM

I don't think selling shrimp is the issue at all. It's the fact there is a public dock that is unusable because someone is running their business from it. I drive by there daily and when the boat is in, there is not a single car around that dock. When the boat is not around, there are people launching boats and fishing there. On the drive home I always enjoy seeing people having fun at the bay and around the causeway. Just tonight I noticed a man and 4 kids fishing off that dock. If the big shrimp boat was there, they wouldn't have been.

**boater** · 05-11-2011, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by scooterbug44

That is a good question - I always thought it was sort of cool to have a shrimp boat there selling direct to the public and assumed because of the prominent location it was legal.

Didn't realize that they prevented others from docking there and were in violation.

DEP stated that it is illegal to sell anything from state land without a lease like the people who rent jet skis on the beach, they said that Walton County would have to lease it from them and then allow the boat to sell shrimp. The code enforcers even said it was not legal to sell goods on the dock, after he stated that I said well great then please do something about it... then he changed his story and said he really didn't know and he would have someone call me back does know, never heard back from anyone.

**boater** · 05-11-2011, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by kurt

And all the fuss is because you want to sell hot dogs?

No I don't have any interest in selling hot dogs and I don't have any interest in selling shrimp either. I have a problem when I can not use a boat dock that I helped to pay for because someone is selling something on the dock. Also it bothers me that it is not legal for the everyday person to do something but when someone with connections wants to do it then the commissioners not only ignore it they instruct the enforcement department to allow it. To add more to it think about the other local seafood markets that have to pay for insurance, licenses, permits, rent, taxes etc..that this boat doesn't.

**kurt** · 05-11-2011, 10:00 PM

A story which seems funny now is when a Point Washington shrimper who kept his boat at the 395 dock made Truman pay him big bucks to move it so a fancy ferry landing could be built for the show.

Run Truman RUN!

**boater** · 05-11-2011, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by ShallowsNole

The shrimp boats owned by the McLean and Brown families have been selling shrimp from the 331 causeway for at least 25 years, possibly longer (or at least that is how long I've been buying shrimp from them; I know my parents bought shrimp from them before that). So a shrimp boat parked at the causeway is suddenly an issue?

That reminds me...I need ten more pounds...

I respect what your saying and I am not out against anyone making money but it is just the fact that it shouldn't be OK for one person and not another. Do you think it would be OK if Hwy 331 is lined with vender's and no one would be allowed to enjoy the bay or its county facilities?

**idlewind** · 05-11-2011, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by boater

I respect what your saying and I am not out against anyone making money but it is just the fact that it shouldn't be OK for one person and not another. Do you think it would be OK if Hwy 331 is lined with vender's and no one would be allowed to enjoy the bay or its county facilities?

Touche' Think I'll get my grill and sell burgers there this weekend. Wonder how long I can get by without a ticket? Better call and clear it with Brannon first.

**Smiling JOe** · 05-12-2011, 06:47 AM

Just make sure your roadside stand isn't on the south side of the bridge, because then, according to the ordinances, you will need a roadside vending license.

Here is an idea if you have some spare time. Go park your boat on the dock about 3pm on Fridays, and make the Cheri Dawn have to find a new spot for the weekend.

**WaltonIsOne** · 05-13-2011, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

Just make sure your roadside stand isn't on the south side of the bridge, because then, according to the ordinances, you will need a roadside vending license.

Here is an idea if you have some spare time. Go park your boat on the dock about 3pm on Fridays, and make the Cheri Dawn have to find a new spot for the weekend.

Smiling Joe, you are a genius. Excellent idea.

Maybe we all can get together and throw a shrimp boil this afternoon on the dock at the same time and turn it into a fun event. Of course, we will need to buy some shrimp. :)

And of course, we would have to get an event permit from the county.