lifeguard and flagpole update

From the Walton Sun:

Beach safety issues, including the placement of flagpoles and lifeguards, are being resolved in Walton County.
Twenty out of the 29 flagpoles that were destroyed as a result of recent storms should be installed by the end of the weekend, Brad Pickel, Director of Beach Management for the Tourist Development Council, said.
?We have been working diligently,? manager of beach maintenance for the TDC David Sell said.
Out of the nine remaining poles to be installed, Pickel said that four will be in place after walkovers have been reconstructed. Seawalls constructed along the coast are hampering the installation of the remaining five.
?It shouldn?t take very much longer,? Pickel said.
Sell explained that from a constructability standpoint, there were a multitude of reasons reinstallation took so long, including recent storms, an unusually high water table, exposed peat and missing beach accesses.
?Good location, highly visible, that?s the key,? Pickel said about pole placement. ?We try to keep them out of the storms way, but try to keep them visible.?
According to Walton County?s Beach Activities Director Leslie Campbell, all easements for placements of the poles have been obtained. Sandestin, Seaside, Watersound and Topsail have yet to sign the contract enabling the county to install the poles.
?It should be done within this next week,? she said.
According to Pickel, the lifeguard program should be prepared for the Board of County Commissioners approval by late November or early December.
At the Walton Board of County Commissioners meeting Sept. 27, the TDC was directed to formulate a plan to post lifeguards at six regional beach accesses.
?It?s moving right along,? Pickel said.
In addition, the TDC is installing beach safety information kiosks at beach accesses.
?The trick is in finding locations (for the kiosks). It?s the last piece of the puzzle,? Pickel explained.
?Our goal is beach safety. We?ll continue working
as expediently as possible,? Sell said.