Beach vehicle permit ordinance changes

Here is something interesting, from WZEP email news:

Walton County Tax Collector Rhonda Skipper will soon return issuance authority for Beach Driving, Vessel Launch, Charter and Dog on the Beach Permits back to the Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC). Skipper notified Commissioners last week of the decision citing the operational expenses involved with issuing the permits.

The Walton County Tax Collector?s Office is currently the sole issuing authority on behalf of the BCC for the Beach Driving, Beach Vessel Launch, Charter and Dog on the Beach permits. Recent changes to the Beach Permitting Ordinance and the operational costs involved with issuing requirements played a role in Skipper?s decision to no longer serve as the issuance authority.

During an earlier commissioner meeting, employees with the Tax Collector?s Office asked the commissioners to increase the fee slightly to make sure the cost to process applications is covered.

In a release, the Tax Collector says a Primary reason for the business decision was the provision allowing all registered voters in Walton County to apply for a lottery of 150 permits. This provision creates the potential for thousands of applications to be accepted, and each one must be processed, verified, and archived for public records. The Tax Collector says the staff time required to comply with the ordinance is not fiscally sound for the $1,500 annual revenue generated for the Tax Collector?s Office which was already processing beach permits at a fiscal deficit. Transition of the services to a new issuing authority will occur before the renewal period for Beach Driving, Vessel Launch, and Charter permits opens in April.

Tax Collector Rhonda Skipper says recent ordinance changes caused concern about the operational expenses involved with issuing permits in accordance to the new requirements. She says her office is gearing up to begin offering Drivers License services early next year, and says it seemed now would be an appropriate time to discontinue serving as the issuing authority for beach permits.

Skipper expressed to Commissioners that she and her staff would work closely with the County to ensure a smooth transition to the succeeding issuing authority.

Who does the tax collector work for?

Who does the tax collector work for?

uhhhh... the people?
Oh silly me... maybe not s'much.

Skipper came up with a clever way of raising this point as a way of covering the tax collector dept.'s fiscal accountability.

I'm amazed the Tax Collector's office has put up with the beach driving and dog permits as long as they have. Rhonda's office has gone above and beyond.

I'm amazed the Tax Collector's office has put up with the beach driving and dog permits as long as they have. Rhonda's office has gone above and beyond.

I guess I don't understand why the government has to "put up with" the government. Isn't the tax collector a county employee? It sounds like an employee saying they don't want to do part of their job any longer because it got harder. :idontno:

I guess I don't understand why the government has to "put up with" the government. Isn't the tax collector a county employee? It sounds like an employee saying they don't want to do part of their job any longer because it got harder. :idontno:

Politics are politics and exist everywhere... even amongst families & friends.

Can someone give me the Readers Digest version?

I currently have a Permit. Will I have trouble renewing it?

RO if you had a permit last year you are grandfathered and will have no problem with renewal. Those that did not have a permit for 2010 will go into the lottery. Hope this helps.

RO if you had a permit last year you are grandfathered and will have no problem with renewal. Those that did not have a permit for 2010 will go into the lottery. Hope this helps.

Whew! Thanks Franny. Hope to see y'all on Grayton in June :cool:

Tax Collector is a constitutional officer with a myriad of functions they are assigned by the State of Florida. Just like the Clerk, Property Appraiser and Sheriff. They do not work for the BCC. AND they are gearing up to offer DL functions - far more pressing than beach permits. At least IMHO.

Whew! Thanks Franny. Hope to see y'all on Grayton in June :cool:

You betcha!

In regards to driving on the beach. There are several beaches in the area that have handicap and beach wheel chairs so would not that be a better solution? Also, why not pay a small fee--perhaps $1.00 to the life guards or best of all free to launch your boat. Have we looked at how many people have been injured or even killed by some one driving on the beach?

I don't know of anyone hurt or killed recently from driving on the beach. And there aren't any lifeguards there.

There is a whole lot to it besides just easy access for handicapped people - it's a major part of the local culture and how charter boats access the water.

Charter Boats-they are a business- launch the boat and park your truck. Just like everyone else who doesn't have a permit. At least they are not driving up and down the beach. SOWal, needs to be more friendly to part time residents and visitors or they will GO some place else. And let's not forget we already have 1 strike against us the BP Spill.

No offense, but do you know what we are talking about?

Noone is driving up and down the beach except county staff (Sheriff etc.) and BP.

Beach driving by permit holders only is confined to a section of the beach at Grayton - nowhere else.

The charter boats typically DO launch their boat, then take the vehicle off. There is no way for them to launch without driving on the beach.

Visitors aren't going to go elsewhere because of the beach driving policy. I bet 95% of our visitors don't even know it exists.

Charter Boats-they are a business- launch the boat and park your truck. Just like everyone else who doesn't have a permit. At least they are not driving up and down the beach. SOWal, needs to be more friendly to part time residents and visitors or they will GO some place else. And let's not forget we already have 1 strike against us the BP Spill.

Are there lots of beaches around the country that allow part-time residents and visitors to drive onto the beach? :idontno:

Charter Boats-they are a business- launch the boat and park your truck. Just like everyone else who doesn't have a permit.

Are you implying that the businesses launching boats from the beach don't need a permit? If so, you are wrong. If not, what are you implying?

I need Cliff Notes too. If I am a property owner in Walton County and have a Georgia handicapped hang-tag because I have a torn meniscus in my left knee from runner's knee and am frequently on crutches, can I get a beach vehicle permit?

Beach Driving permit

Are there lots of beaches around the country that allow part-time residents and visitors to drive onto the beach? :idontno:

There are other beaches that you can drive on but they do not compare with ours as far as beauty and protection.