business licences

I'm more curious about your idea of limiting the number of rental units. Tell us why you think that is a good idea, and what is the right number of units to have?

I do not think it is a good idea to limit the rental units. In fact, it is my position that accessory apartments should not be limited to family members and that this homes should be allowed for affordable housing and not count against the density of the lots.

In other words, allow short term rentals for any one but monitor or list the units with the county. Maybe limit these units to the moderate income households. This could help with affordable housing in south walton, increase rental units in the area, allow some revenue, and help attact more visitors.

Many people do not like and do not want service industry people in there neighborhood and are vocal about it. The concept of monitoring is to correct some current issues and possibility eliminate some conflicts.

The orginal question was can we find out how many businesses and rental units are available in south walton.

Thanks, wrobert, for confirming who I should consider responsible for knowing the rules and regulations.

I do not have much confidence in the planning department or code board.

Yes, I would pay a small fee to know that everyone was be entitled to the same protections and yes, regulations.

I think that the public should be able to know who and what is going in the the building next to them.

The future and the economy is very shaky please do not consider my comments as being intrusive but only a means of fleshing out issues.

Can we resolve to limit government and cut back just a bit on its involvement in our lives this year?

I do not have much confidence in the planning department or code board.

Do you even have an idea of how the code board is established and what the function of the board is?

We are set up by Florida statute. We are volunteers, and they need an engineer to volunteer to fill a current opening. We hear evidence and interpret the codes and work to find a way for people to come into compliance. We do not work for the county, nor do we work against the citizens. If you have no confidence in something that the code board has failed to do, then apply to be on the board and you can then make the decision yourself.

As for the planning department, have you expressed your concerns to your county commissioner? Code enforcement currently works under planning so they would also have to answer your complaints about them.

Okay so citeright is crossing the line of too much government and over burdening business by asking for $5.00 a year, but it's somehow cheaper for a FF or EMS to ride around aimlessly in a vehicle burning your gas? Seriously wrobert do you even reread what you've typed before you hit the button below? :roll:

I do not think it is a good idea to limit the rental units. ...

The orginal question was can we find out how many businesses and rental units are available in south walton.

In your very first post on this thread, you state, "I would like to see a system of registering rental units to limit or monitor the number of rentals and possibly limit illegal renting of accessory apartments."

Can you see the confusion in your statements?

Regarding the businesses, what does it matter how many businesses are in South Walton? Why do you need to know this? Typically, the only reason why gov't wants people/businesses to get licenses is so that gov't can attempt to control what you do.

Leave it fire and Ems to ride around and find them? The very same people that think it is senseless for them to change beach flags, hmmm... Maybe just one person can do this as well...Good luck with that.

Is disagree with the point that it is not anyones business to know what your business is. Businesses provide service/benefits to our community and those owners should be able to earn a profit from this effort. However, those that shop and patronize any of these establishments sould have some confidence in the fact that they operating within the bounds of the rules and regulations that already exist (not additional government...) to include public safety. Are exits marked and free to do so, if they cook, use solvents/chemicals to clean or operate their business is there extinguishers, etc.? In some respects those that have businesses or live near them should feel confident and safe as well. In an area with explosive growth over the last ten years it would seem that there has been no real system of keeping up with how many businesses there are, (YES, that should be known).

On the issue of code enforcement I saw the word "we" being used a lot. What is is that you people do? How about addressing and enforcing what is already in place?

You support charging an additional fee to people not breaking the law?

I do not believe the code board cares. We hear and adjudicate complaints. Current government employees are free to census as they wish. FF and EMS would be great at this.

Government has no need to know anyone's 'business practices'. It is not their business.

The code board addresses complaints brought by code enforcement. Code Enforcement is under the planning department. You need to talk to Pat Blackshear about your concerns.

The planning department is free to operate any registry they wish. But why should I have to show my 'papers' to be in business? I thought someone tried that in the thirties.

There is no such as a minimal fee. All paperwork has to be handled, increasing costs which either lower profits and reduce tax revenue or increase prices to the end consumer for worthless information. But since you have no problem with it, how about sending the government $10 every year for the heck of it.

Wrobert,
Please tell me again how it is none of governments business about a type of business. I'll venture to guess you would want govt. to be aware of a hazardous situation or business in your neighborhood. Maybe a strip club would not bother you, but it would me, to regulate for public safety is not a bad idea, to regulate for community standards is not a negative. Lets take a look at Destin and their current intervention to keep a strip club out of their town. If you are on code enforcement maybe you should start seeing what the community wants. As for F/F's knowing their areas, I feel we have that covered, as to the hazards that are located within the buildings I have had some business owners in the past that were reluctant to even allow us to look, my safety is mine and your concern as is the publics who shop and frequent these businesses, we should have some regulation, ie name of owner and contact info, type of business and appropriate safety, aisle width, exit signs and lights and fire extinquishers. Enforcement with fines and right to close for unsafe practices.

Do you even have an idea of how the code board is established and what the function of the board is?

We are set up by Florida statute. We are volunteers, and they need an engineer to volunteer to fill a current opening. We hear evidence and interpret the codes and work to find a way for people to come into compliance. We do not work for the county, nor do we work against the citizens. If you have no confidence in something that the code board has failed to do, then apply to be on the board and you can then make the decision yourself.

As for the planning department, have you expressed your concerns to your county commissioner? Code enforcement currently works under planning so they would also have to answer your complaints about them.

I do know what a tough job, it is for the volunteers to act on a thankless board. But limiting government to the point of no regulation or the basic monitoring of businesses or uses leads to the current questions about our financial system.

Government has steadily expanded over the last thirty years regardless of the political party in office. My personal distrust goes toward all government including political operatives.

The orginal question was do you feel it is possible to esrtablish some methods of understanding our community and its economic trends.

No, your original question was do we regulate rentals and businesses to keep 'reliable owners and taxpayers from having to compete with illegals and sham artists'. :roll:

If there is a business you feel is in violation or operating illegally, report them - another buraeucracy and fee is not the answer.

Leave it fire and Ems to ride around and find them? The very same people that think it is senseless for them to change beach flags, hmmm... Maybe just one person can do this as well...Good luck with that.

Is disagree with the point that it is not anyones business to know what your business is. Businesses provide service/benefits to our community and those owners should be able to earn a profit from this effort. However, those that shop and patronize any of these establishments sould have some confidence in the fact that they operating within the bounds of the rules and regulations that already exist (not additional government...) to include public safety. Are exits marked and free to do so, if they cook, use solvents/chemicals to clean or operate their business is there extinguishers, etc.? In some respects those that have businesses or live near them should feel confident and safe as well. In an area with explosive growth over the last ten years it would seem that there has been no real system of keeping up with how many businesses there are, (YES, that should be known).

On the issue of code enforcement I saw the word "we" being used a lot. What is is that you people do? How about addressing and enforcing what is already in place?

I'm pretty sure it works best to have the enforcement of the fire safety regulations of existing businesses under the jurisdiction of the Fire Department. Code enforcement under the Building/Planning Dept's and Health Code under the jurisdiction of the Health Department. There must be plenty of existing rules and mechanism's to update same on the books.

An occupational license is a tax, pure and simple. Do we really want to increase taxes, particularly in a bad economy?
Regulations hamper business and increase the cost of doing business. This has an adverse effect on the availablity of jobs and the wages of those who have them. Do we really want to go there?

We all need to learn that every action has consequences, good and bad. Too often we only talk about the good when contemplating the action and fret over the bad after it is too late.

I have never found there to be a lack of bureaucracy or local laws, rules, and regulations - efficiency of said bureaucracy and lack of ENFORCEMENT of said laws is another story. :roll:

I have never found there to be a lack of bureaucracy or local laws, rules, and regulations - efficiency of said bureaucracy and lack of ENFORCEMENT of said laws is another story. :roll:

There's the point, and a good one. There's so much regulation on the books at this time that we can't enforce it all. I think it would be wise to cut some of this back, adjust and improve what's already present and enforce it. Purging and scaling back to manageable is not a bad thing.

I have never found there to be a lack of bureaucracy or local laws, rules, and regulations - efficiency of said bureaucracy and lack of ENFORCEMENT of said laws is another story. :roll:

I agree, but let the system starting enforcing and watch what happens

Okay so citeright is crossing the line of too much government and over burdening business by asking for $5.00 a year, but it's somehow cheaper for a FF or EMS to ride around aimlessly in a vehicle burning your gas? Seriously wrobert do you even reread what you've typed before you hit the button below? :roll:

Rarely. I just try to keep the thread going so I can get my post count up.

Leave it fire and Ems to ride around and find them? The very same people that think it is senseless for them to change beach flags, hmmm... Maybe just one person can do this as well...Good luck with that.

Is disagree with the point that it is not anyones business to know what your business is. Businesses provide service/benefits to our community and those owners should be able to earn a profit from this effort. However, those that shop and patronize any of these establishments sould have some confidence in the fact that they operating within the bounds of the rules and regulations that already exist (not additional government...) to include public safety. Are exits marked and free to do so, if they cook, use solvents/chemicals to clean or operate their business is there extinguishers, etc.? In some respects those that have businesses or live near them should feel confident and safe as well. In an area with explosive growth over the last ten years it would seem that there has been no real system of keeping up with how many businesses there are, (YES, that should be known).

On the issue of code enforcement I saw the word "we" being used a lot. What is is that you people do? How about addressing and enforcing what is already in place?

Your argument seems to be that we need this so EMS and FF will know what they are dealing with. So let them go find out when they are not responding to emergencies. Even I would agree that we would get a lot better service with emergency persons more familiar with the area.

I am under the impression that south Walton fire has some sort of inspection program in place. At least that is what I understood when I spoke to the Chief about this issue several months ago.

Solvents and hazardous chemicals are already governed. Businesses are suppose to complete small quantity hazardous waster generator forms, file them with emergency management and fire units, keep records of disposal, of course those requirements did nothing to get a north walton business to comply. I imagine neither would an occupational TAX. Especially since the owner is on record opposing such regulation.

We as in I am a member of the code enforcement board. The code enforcement division or whatever they call it that works for the county is in charge of enforcement.

Wrobert,
Please tell me again how it is none of governments business about a type of business. I'll venture to guess you would want govt. to be aware of a hazardous situation or business in your neighborhood. Maybe a strip club would not bother you, but it would me, to regulate for public safety is not a bad idea, to regulate for community standards is not a negative. Lets take a look at Destin and their current intervention to keep a strip club out of their town. If you are on code enforcement maybe you should start seeing what the community wants. As for F/F's knowing their areas, I feel we have that covered, as to the hazards that are located within the buildings I have had some business owners in the past that were reluctant to even allow us to look, my safety is mine and your concern as is the publics who shop and frequent these businesses, we should have some regulation, ie name of owner and contact info, type of business and appropriate safety, aisle width, exit signs and lights and fire extinquishers. Enforcement with fines and right to close for unsafe practices.

This county already has regulations in place that do all of this. So does the State and Federal Government. Why not follow the rules that we currently have and see if that does not solve the problem and answer everyone's questions before we go and pass additional rules?

Businesses have to report generated hazardous waste. They have to report stored waste. Unless I missed something and some environmental laws were repealed. The county emergency management division gathered this information on a regular basis and compiled it. I believe it was the Community Right to Know Act that came into place. Copies of this information use to have to be on file at the public libraries. But I have not worked at the county in years, I am just going by what we did when I worked there. We even had tied this information into the 9-1-1 system so we could advise responding personnel of hazards. All of this is already a Federal law. So we need an occupational TAX to do what again?

I agree, but let the system starting enforcing and watch what happens

I agree. And that is what we need to work on. When you start enforcing current regulations you are going to catch the bad guys. Passing new regulations that the good guys are going to comply with is not going to solve the problem in the long run.

I agree, but let the system starting enforcing and watch what happens

A conspiracy theorist?

Leave it fire and Ems to ride around and find them? The very same people that think it is senseless for them to change beach flags, hmmm... Maybe just one person can do this as well...Good luck with that.

What exactly do fire and ems do when they are waiting on the next tragedy to occur?

$5.00 would be rather negligible even for a small business. The benefits would be a more accurate data collection for the reasons stated above, not to mention the benefit of public safety (fire/EMS) to pre-plan in the event of a hurricane or any other emergency to help protect the community and the business.

I would think that the whole thing is relative. If you are selling lemonade for a dime a cup, then five dollars would have a significant effect on your bottom line.

So in a store, lets say a computer store, that hazardous waste info is available to me if I walk in and ask for it, or if I was an employee it would be located where I could readily access it if need be?

Your argument seems to be that we need this so EMS and FF will know what they are dealing with. So let them go find out when they are not responding to emergencies. Even I would agree that we would get a lot better service with emergency persons more familiar with the area.

I am under the impression that south Walton fire has some sort of inspection program in place. At least that is what I understood when I spoke to the Chief about this issue several months ago.

Solvents and hazardous chemicals are already governed. Businesses are suppose to complete small quantity hazardous waster generator forms, file them with emergency management and fire units, keep records of disposal, of course those requirements did nothing to get a north walton business to comply. I imagine neither would an occupational TAX. Especially since the owner is on record opposing such regulation.

We as in I am a member of the code enforcement board. The code enforcement division or whatever they call it that works for the county is in charge of enforcement.

I encourage every single FF and EMT to head on over to wroberts puter store at the same time, dress up, take your axes, apparently he won't mind you guys just wandering around his store. Have funn.

So in a store, lets say a computer store, that hazardous waste info is available to me if I walk in and ask for it, or if I was an employee it would be located where I could readily access it if need be?