TDC Public hearings for final approval of headquarters move to forest

[lazin&drinkin]

I previously posted on the upcoming public meeting on moving TDC to proposed new Taj Mahal at 331/98 intersection in the forest. I believe I misstated the date. Here's the correct information. I believe there is a called TDC meeting either earlier that day at the TDC or perhaps the previous day. I'm out of the country, so a call to the TDC by someone else can avail the TDC called meeting time before BCC on the 10th. Since it's a given that the Council will approve the proposal, all who care about this issue should be present at the BCC. Some emails and calls to the Commissioners and other officials listed below before the meeting would be helpful. This is 4.5 mil that we don't need to waste, and it's some forest we don't need to despoil.


From: Markel Jacquee [mailto:jjwinart@mchsi.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2012 6:49 PM
To: Markel Jacquee
Subject: Request To Relocate the TDC Offices within the Point Washington State Forest
Importance: High

Hi everyone: Just want to make sure everyone is aware of an important upcoming meeting. The TDC is requesting the relocation of their offices & visitor’s center within the Point Washington State Forest. The meeting will be held this Tuesday, April 10th during the regularly scheduled Board of County Commissioner’s meeting. The meeting will be @ the South Walton Annex @ 4pm, in the government center, on 331. This may be your only chance to make your voice heard, locally. Please consider wearing green in support of this valuable resource, and make plans to attend, even if you do not want to speak. It would be great to fill up the room. I am including the email addresses of our County Commissioners, Walton County Administrator, the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture & Florida Director of Forestry. If this issue is important to you, please take the time to let them hear from you, via email, etc. This project is much further along than many of us thought. A simple message will suffice & feel free to use any part of this synopsis. The State Forest belongs to the people & we should have a say in how it is used. You can help to get the word & information out, by posting on your FB pages, Twitter and email lists.


Thanks for your interest in Walton County. If you do not want to receive these emails, just email me to remove your name.


Respectfully,

Jacquee Markel
jjwinart@mchsi.com


1. TDC will request Relocation of their Administrative Offices & Visitor Center

• to 11.9 acres in the Point Washington State Forest

• to be located at the intersection of US Highway 98 & US Highway 331

• The proposed complex will cost $4.5 million

• The deal would lease the land to Walton County for 50 years @ $1 per year



2. Project & Location have not been Fully Vetted in Public

• This may be the only local opportunity for public input

• Although other alternatives are available within the government complex, the TDC seems to be focused only on the 331/98 location.

• While the public has been waiting for information on exactly what the vision is, state representatives and a Washington lobbyist, have already offered their help in getting final approval. We have the right to know the proposed big picture, and have input. It is our land.



3. Point Washington State Forest as Resource, makes Walton County Unique

• NW Florida is one of the “five richest biodiversity hotspots in North America”.

• The PWSF has a unique function in maintaining biological diversity of many ecosystems. Keeping it intact is invaluable.

• While the TDC has other options for location, the forest does not.

• Purchased with Preservation 2000 funds, the PWSF along with our Coastal Dune Lakes, differentiates us from our neighboring counties.

• In 1999 Walton County obtained 420 acres of the PWSF for a government complex and agreed to support conserving the remainder of the PWSF.

• The TDC & Walton County have been talking to Forestry, about several other proposals, that have not yet been publicized.



4. Bed Tax Funds

• There is a question about whether or not Bed Tax Funds can be used for TDC offices or Visitor Center. Bed tax funds can be used for a “Nature Center”.

• Although it started as a request for new offices, it is now being called a “Nature Center” yet the plans show the predominant use will be for administrative offices.



5. Kellog Property

• In 2003 Walton County received through donation, a 10+ acre parcel on the Bay.

• The stipulations of stewardship were to develop a “Nature Center” for educational purposes & use of the public.

• 2004 the TDC accepted the management of the Kellog parcel & spent $266,000 towards fulfilling the specified criteria.

• December 2011, the TDC voted to return management of the parcel to Walton County because it didn’t fit into their mission yet they now want to manage a new “Nature Center”.

__________________________________________________ ____________________________
Walton County Commissioner’s addresses:

Scott Brannon, District 1 Commissioner

(850) 835-4860
Fax (850) 835-4836
Email

Kenneth Pridgen, District 2 Commissioner

(850) 834-6328
Fax (850) 834-6385
Email

Larry Jones, District 3 Commissioner

(850) 892-8474
Fax (850) 892-8475
Email

Sara Comander, District 4 Commissioner

(850) 835-4834
Fax (850) 951-0868
Email

Cecilia Jones, District 5 Commissioner

(850) 231-2978
Fax (850) 231-3872
Email

Walton County Administrator, Greg Kisela
kisgreg@co.walton.fl.us

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Adam Putnam
Adam.Putnam@freshfromflorida.com

Florida Forest Service Director, James Karels
Jim.Karels@freshfromflorida.com
850-488-4274

lazin&drinkin Posts: 64Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2012 9:55 amFav Drink: red wine

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[Dawn]

If we're going to have a TDC they need a building that tourists can actually access. When 98 was 4-laned there was no curb cut to the current building so the only way to get to it is when you are basically leaving the county (or heading west on 98). I think the proposed location is ideal - great accessibility and visibility from 331, and east and west access from 98.

[mputnal3]

We do need to ask the question if this project will benefit our community more than other projects such as the fish nursery, parking on 30A, music ampitheater etc. It would be great if we can do it all but I suspect some projects will be cut.