New big blue signs in SoWal

What a large turn out. I was a little shocked at Mary Brown's complaint that prior to the signs it drove people into her business.

Excellent observation.

Guys, I want to caution we only need to be celebrating at about 70%. Because it was Mary Brown of Beach Rentals of South Walton's resolution that passed, and only calls for taking down the 8 or 9 "Welcome to" community signs, not the other 30 or so wayfinding signs that were included in the motion Ken Gifford clap: Great Public Servant) made to take down all the signs on 30-A, our work is far from over. We have to maintain our current level of interest. I want to caution people to remember that she also asked that the signs be lowered and "improved" in the meantime. Why spend the money on that if we do indeed intend for this to be a temporary measure? Leaving them up for the season turned into leaving them up until new signs were placed. After the crowd dispersed, Mary Brown had a pointed exchange with Dave Rauschkolb trying to put him on the spot to speak for the community about paying for the signs. There is no money budgeted for the signs, though Ken Gifford did attempt to address that later in the meeting. My point is, folks, that the first batch of signs took seven years. I will write a longer meeting report later this evening and include the things that happened after the crowd left.

I'm not trying to rain on the parade, but we do need to be cautiously optimistic, celebrate, and get right back to work tomorrow. If public interest wanes, the signs will be with us for a long time to come. It's not over -- but we did win an important victory today!

Wow! How incredibly cool is that!!!!! I'm doing the happy dance in my chair!!!!!

Thanks to everyone's very hard work, mindfulness & cohesiveness in pulling this one off!!!!

Do the Scenic Pride Initiative approved signs get to replace or are there other plans!

You guys rock! I was sending my energy that way, while chasing the little ones. I am proud to be a part of such a great community!

Excellent observation.

Guys, I want to caution we only need to be celebrating at about 70%. Because it was Mary Brown of Beach Rentals of South Walton's resolution that passed, and only calls for taking down the 8 or 9 "Welcome to" community signs, not the other 30 or so wayfinding signs that were included in the motion Ken Gifford clap: Great Public Servant) made to take down all the signs on 30-A, our work is far from over. We have to maintain our current level of interest. I want to caution people to remember that she also asked that the signs be lowered and "improved" in the meantime. Why spend the money on that if we do indeed intend for this to be a temporary measure? Leaving them up for the season turned into leaving them up until new signs were placed. After the crowd dispersed, Mary Brown had a pointed exchange with Dave Rauschkolb trying to put him on the spot to speak for the community about paying for the signs. There is no money budgeted for the signs, though Ken Gifford did attempt to address that later in the meeting. My point is, folks, that the first batch of signs took seven years. I will write a longer meeting report later this evening and include the things that happened after the crowd left.

I'm not trying to rain on the parade, but we do need to be cautiously optimistic, celebrate, and get right back to work tomorrow. If public interest wanes, the signs will be with us for a long time to come. It's not over -- but we did win an important victory today!

You answered my questions! Thanks, Punzy, so much for everything!

Just know that there are those of us that can't make physically to meetings, but are willing to write letters, make phone calls & volunteer in a zillion other ways.

I'd be remiss if I didn't give a breakdown of the votes.

The first resolution to take down all the signs on 30-A, put forward by Ken Gifford and seconded by Maurice Gilbert, was defeated 4-3.

Ken Gifford, Maurice Gilbert, and Mike Stange voted yea.

Mary Brown, Mary Jo Tommas, Tim Norris, and John Gillis all opposed.

Scott Brannon (yet again) and Don McQuade did not show up for the meeting.

Mary Brown's resolution to take down the community signs, but leave up the wayfinding signs and spend more money and resources to lower them until new signage was in place passed 4-3.

Mary Brown, Mary Jo Tommas, Tim Norris, and John Gillis voted yea.

Ken Gifford, Maurice Gilbert, and Mike Stange voted nea.

The difference was one vote. TDC boards, by Florida law, only have one seat alloted to represent the community -- the one seat designated for a BCC member. Our community representative, Commissioner Scott Brannon, has missed both TDC meetings and the workshop. He represents the east end of 30A, and his vote could have made all the difference.




Scott Brannon
brascott@co.walton.fl.us

Thanks for the clarification, punzy. That is how I had read the first post, so I was a bit confused. One step at a time.

.......................... My point is, folks, that the first batch of signs took seven years. I will write a longer meeting report later this evening and include the things that happened after the crowd left.

I'm not trying to rain on the parade, but we do need to be cautiously optimistic, celebrate, and get right back to work tomorrow. If public interest wanes, the signs will be with us for a long time to come. It's not over -- but we did win an important victory today!

Thanks for the "heads up"!


.

I'd be remiss if I didn't give a breakdown of the votes.

The first resolution to take down all the signs on 30-A, put forward by Ken Gifford and seconded by Maurice Gilbert, was defeated 4-3.

Ken Gifford, Maurice Gilbert, and Mike Stange voted yea.

Mary Brown, Mary Jo Tommas, Tim Norris, and John Gillis all opposed.

Scott Brannon (yet again) and Don McQuade did not show up for the meeting.

Mary Brown's resolution to take down the community signs, but leave up the wayfinding signs and spend more money and resources to lower them until new signage was in place passed 4-3.

Mary Brown, Mary Jo Tommas, Tim Norris, and John Gillis voted yea.

Ken Gifford, Maurice Gilbert, and Mike Stange voted nea.

The difference was one vote. TDC boards, by Florida law, only have one seat alloted to represent the community -- the one seat designated for a BCC member. Our community representative, Commissioner Scott Brannon, has missed both TDC meetings and the workshop. He represents the east end of 30A, and his vote could have made all the difference.

Scott Brannon
brascott@co.walton.fl.us

If they have $$ to lower the signs, then they have $$ to use towards new, less expensive signs that the communities want.


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Let's do as Punzy says & keep the initiative going. Rita, you are right, because spending that money to prolong the blue signs' lives shows that they might be trying to get us to get lazy & let the issue go.

The key right now seems to be getting Mr. Brannon involved also. Already popped off my email to him, expressing my thoughts.

Even if Mr. Brannon had attended and voted yea or nay resulting a tie, what is the tie breaker?

Even if Mr. Brannon had attended and voted yea or nay resulting a tie, what is the tie breaker?

A mob of SOWALers with pitchforks and torches.

Even if Mr. Brannon had attended and voted yea or nay resulting a tie, what is the tie breaker?

His job is to represent his constituents; their rights and interest. He could have done his job and argued for the desire of the voters who put him there to be rid of the signs. Then maybe, just maybe, he could have swayed one of the four negative votes over from the dark side to make a majority in favor of taking the signs down.

He cannot do any of that when he is not there. :angry:

There is a difference between PUBLIC property and PRIVATE property, my friend. Stop trolling for a fight. Or start you're own thread. This one is celebration mode!!

you made my point...I have always believed the beach and beach front to be public...Thanks my friend.

In many cases, yes they are IMO. Get off the beach property owner's case. They have enough to worry with answering th FDEP, the Fish and Wildlife Commission, the US Dept. of Civil Engineers and a myriad of other "concerned" citizens and agencies. A lot of the beach front owners were here long before you were and have done nothing but contribute to the esthetics value and useablity of the beach.

and the Gulf was here before any of us my friend.. We should all do a better job taking care of it... that is all I am saying.

Walton TDC recommends to remove blue signs



By Andy Meinen

Wednesday April 9th, 2008

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SANTA ROSA BEACH ? The blue signs are goners.

The Walton County Tourist Development Council voted 5 ? 2 Wednesday morning to remove the community and wayfinding signs along County Road 30A that have caused such an outcry form locals.

The recommendation will have to be approved by the Walton County Commission at its next meeting on April 22.

If the commissioners approve the measure then the community signs that welcome drivers to the various neighborhoods along CR 30A will be pulled out, said TDC Interim Executive Director Sonny Mares. Many of the directional signs that show motorists where to go will be left up until the community and the TDC can agree on replacements.

The TDC?s regular meeting was packed with more than 50 people. Attendees applauded loudly when the TDC voted to remove the signs.

Claire Bannerman, who worked with the Scenic Pride Initiative to get the signs removed, said she?s happy with the meeting's outcome. She, along with other community members, will now work with the TDC to find new signage that will fit with the ?natural look? of the road and that will ?build community pride.?

So glad you all got your way. As always the cry babies get their way regardless of the cost to the community. Personally I hope that every tourist who visits this summer stops at your home or business and ask directions and which community they are in, just need directions they don't want to buy anything or eat in your restaurants. I really hate that I have a job and have to work during these meetings, but I'm sure I would have been tarred and feathered if I had voiced my opinion. I will make it a point to be at the next meeting just to see the sad collection of people who live in this beautiful area that have no life.

Walton TDC recommends to remove blue signs



By Andy Meinen

Wednesday April 9th, 2008

Comment on this Story | Read Comments

SANTA ROSA BEACH ? The blue signs are goners.

The Walton County Tourist Development Council voted 5 ? 2 Wednesday morning to remove the community and wayfinding signs along County Road 30A that have caused such an outcry form locals.

The recommendation will have to be approved by the Walton County Commission at its next meeting on April 22.

If the commissioners approve the measure then the community signs that welcome drivers to the various neighborhoods along CR 30A will be pulled out, said TDC Interim Executive Director Sonny Mares. Many of the directional signs that show motorists where to go will be left up until the community and the TDC can agree on replacements.

The TDC?s regular meeting was packed with more than 50 people. Attendees applauded loudly when the TDC voted to remove the signs.

Claire Bannerman, who worked with the Scenic Pride Initiative to get the signs removed, said she?s happy with the meeting's outcome. She, along with other community members, will now work with the TDC to find new signage that will fit with the ?natural look? of the road and that will ?build community pride.?

You know they could have saved themselves a whole lot of trouble and allowed me and my merry band of thieves dressed as Georgia Beach Tourists, tear them down.... you try to do some folks a favor !


Dave: Many thanks for your hard work. Personally I was hoping for you top represent all of us in your "Borat" persona. But... you did fine nonetheless.

You know they could have saved themselves a whole lot of trouble and allowed me and my merry band of thieves dressed as Georgia Beach Tourists, tear them down.... you try to do some folks a favor !


Dave: Many thanks for your hard work. Personally I was hoping for you top represent all of us in your "Borat" persona. But... you did fine nonetheless.

So glad you all got your way. As always the cry babies get their way regardless of the cost to the community. Personally I hope that every tourist who visits this summer stops at your home or business and ask directions and which community they are in, just need directions they don't want to buy anything or eat in your restaurants. I really hate that I have a job and have to work during these meetings, but I'm sure I would have been tarred and feathered if I had voiced my opinion. I will make it a point to be at the next meeting just to see the sad collection of people who live in this beautiful area that have no life.

I agree!

I don't know how in the world the tourists are supposed to find their way through the labyrinth that is 30A. South: Gulf of Mexico. North: Not the beach. East: Panama City. West: Sandestin. Everything else is within sight of 30A, or it's a residential area. It's not like those are big blue Hospital signs.

(Those look like this, by the way



Even in my early days as a tourist there, I was able to find what I needed without any giant theme-park looking signs.

So glad you all got your way. As always the cry babies get their way regardless of the cost to the community. Personally I hope that every tourist who visits this summer stops at your home or business and ask directions and which community they are in, just need directions they don't want to buy anything or eat in your restaurants. I really hate that I have a job and have to work during these meetings, but I'm sure I would have been tarred and feathered if I had voiced my opinion. I will make it a point to be at the next meeting just to see the sad collection of people who live in this beautiful area that have no life.

Your board name is very apropo.

Rapunzel is absolutely right. Personally, I sense a smoke screen here. I firmly believe the part of the TDC board wanting to remove only the community signs hopes this will all be figured to be settled by the community and no one will make any further protest. Be aware!

So glad you all got your way. As always the cry babies get their way regardless of the cost to the community. Personally I hope that every tourist who visits this summer stops at your home or business and ask directions and which community they are in, just need directions they don't want to buy anything or eat in your restaurants. I really hate that I have a job and have to work during these meetings, but I'm sure I would have been tarred and feathered if I had voiced my opinion. I will make it a point to be at the next meeting just to see the sad collection of people who live in this beautiful area that have no life.

Funny- I thought you WERE there! After reading your post, I assumed that you were the plant that stood up and talked passionately about our new international airport and the throngs of foreign visitors that are going to flood our area when they get a closer airport- and how they need signs to follow when they get here.

Oh yeah- for those of you that couldn't be here- when he mentioned the huge number of European vacationers that will be flocking here, the whole room was belly laughing and snickering, including all but 2 of the TDC board members.

Also, it sounds like you don't need to live in a tourist town. We are all more than happy to give directions to visitors, and if a business owner has a problem with that, then they should open up shop somewhere off 30-A.

How in the hail we ever found our way around 30A without signs, I'll never know. :roll:

To the dawgs... I don't believe most people are against a modicum of signs, it was the unfortunate design and color that was disturbing.

Rapunzel is absolutely right. Personally, I sense a smoke screen here. I firmly believe the part of the TDC board wanting to remove only the community signs hopes this will all be figured to be settled by the community and no one will make any further protest. Be aware!

Fear not. We won't rest until the last of the wayfinding(directional) signs are down later in the season. This issue will not go away until they are replaced with with more suitable designs that are in harmony with the Scenic route and feeder roads.

There is a need for directional signs and it won't hurt to endure them for a handful of months longer. We will be working right away (next week) with the TDC on creating a joint task force to reach consensus on signage for the bike path, town designation and wayfinding signs. The important thing right now is the TDC agreed to take all of them down within the year and believe me, we won't let this issue die; how could we? We have to look at the damn things every day we ride down the road.

Dave Rauschkolb

How in the hail we ever found our way around 30A without signs, I'll never know. :roll:

To the dawgs... I don't believe most people are against a modicum of signs, it was the unfortunate design and color that was disturbing.

Fear not. We won't rest until the last of the wayfinding(directional) signs are down later in the season. This issue will not go away until they are replaced with with more suitable designs that are in harmony with the Scenic route and feeder roads.

There is a need for directional signs and it won't hurt to endure them for a handful of months longer. We will be working right away (next week) with the TDC on creating a joint task force to reach consensus on signage for the bike path, town designation and wayfinding signs. The important thing right now is the TDC agreed to take all of them down within the year and believe me, we won't let this issue die; how could we? We have to look at the damn things every day we ride down the road.

Dave Rauschkolb

Really? For once, I'm not trying to be a smart-aleck (so enjoy it while you can.) I always thought the signs that said "Welcome to Blue Mountain...Santa Rosa...etc." were interesting, but I can't say that they were crucial to tourist survival. My beginnings in SoWal were at Gulf Trace. If I needed to go to Goatfeathers, the name "Dune Allen" never came up. It was "Go west on 30A, and it's on the right, down a ways." Stinky's is further west on 30A. Flip Flops is past Seaside on the left, going east. The only time tourists I know give a cat butt about where they are is when they tell their friends back home, "Oh...I stayed in Blue Mountain/Seacrest/Rosemary Beach/Whatever." (It was only in the last few years we didn't call all of SoWal "Destin." Seriously.)

To me, a dumb tourist, those signs are pure fluff. In the case of the Big Blues, they're ugly fluff. At least the old ones were quaint.

But this is just my humble, dogmatic opinion. I'm open to other opinions on the matter.