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Beach Lover

[quote="goodwitch58, post: 660404"]I read in a WZEP News email that the County Commissioners were hearing requests to put the Tourist Development Council under the supervision of the Chamber of Commerce due to the abrupt retirement of the former TDC director...and I heard that the Economic Development office is already under the Chamber.

Does anyone else find this strange?  I thought both the TDC and the EDC were "county" entities that worked on behalf of the County, utilized County funds, employed (in the case of the TDC) personnel who are considered County employees, and the Executive Director reported to the BCC.


And that the Chamber of Commerce is a business association...

so, if the above is correct, then how can the Board of County Commissioners consider putting the TDC under the direction of the Chamber of Commerce?

Can anyone enlighten me? WCTA, maybe?[/quote]

At the BCC meeting last evening a motion was made by Commissioner C Jones to enter into a contract with the Chamber to manage the TDC operations.

We were there and read a resolution from our Executive Committee 
that opposed any move to place the operations in any type of public/private organization.

The original motion and 4-1 vote was rescinded and after taking public input on the issue with about 10-12 people from the Chamber speaking in support and 5 members of the TDC board that expressed a need for autonomy. Some TDC Board members spoke in favor of the Chamber involvement.

The final motion made by Commissioner C Jones was for the legal department to come back with a proposed agreement for the Chamber to manage the operations on a "interim" basis and to begin the process of advertising for a new TDC director on a Regional and National basis. They requested that the agreement be completed in time for presentation at the April 27th BCC meeting in DeFuniak Springs.

THE WCTA also made 4 other recommendations.

1. To conduct a forensic audit of all credit card activity back to 4/2007. ( The BCC is now in the process of retaining Carr, Riggs and Ingram to do exactly that.  This was decided after a review of credit card bills by the Office of Management and Budget found sufficient questionable charges to warrant an outside audit.

2.  Suspend all use of TDC credit cards until a thorough review of the internal control policies was conducted and adequate "oversight procedures" were developed.

3. That a review of all contracts in place be conducted specifically inter-locking ownerships, boards and ownership within contracted services.


4. That a review of the current Board composition be made considering the lack of governance and fiscal due-diligence.

The County created a public/private partnership for Economic Development in Walton County.  It has a separate Board and is under the umbrella of the Walton Area Chamber.

Hope this helps.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="goodwitch58">I read in a WZEP News email that the County Commissioners were hearing requests to put the Tourist Development Council under the supervision of the Chamber of Commerce due to the abrupt retirement of the former TDC director...and I heard that the Economic Development office is already under the Chamber. 
 
Does anyone else find this strange? I thought both the TDC and the EDC were &quot;county&quot; entities that worked on behalf of the County, utilized County funds, employed (in the case of the TDC) personnel who are considered County employees, and the Executive Director reported to the BCC. 
 
 
And that the Chamber of Commerce is a business association... 
 
so, if the above is correct, then how can the Board of County Commissioners consider putting the TDC under the direction of the Chamber of Commerce? 
 
Can anyone enlighten me? WCTA, maybe?</blockquote> 
At the BCC meeting last evening a motion was made by Commissioner C Jones to enter into a contract with the Chamber to manage the TDC operations. 
 
We were there and read a resolution from our Executive Committee 
that opposed any move to place the operations in any type of public/private organization. 
 
The original motion and 4-1 vote was rescinded and after taking public input on the issue with about 10-12 people from the Chamber speaking in support and 5 members of the TDC board that expressed a need for autonomy. Some TDC Board members spoke in favor of the Chamber involvement. 
 
The final motion made by Commissioner C Jones was for the legal department to come back with a proposed agreement for the Chamber to manage the operations on a &quot;interim&quot; basis and to begin the process of advertising for a new TDC director on a Regional and National basis. They requested that the agreement be completed in time for presentation at the April 27th BCC meeting in DeFuniak Springs. 
 
THE WCTA also made 4 other recommendations. 
 
1. To conduct a forensic audit of all credit card activity back to 4/2007. ( The BCC is now in the process of retaining Carr, Riggs and Ingram to do exactly that. This was decided after a review of credit card bills by the Office of Management and Budget found sufficient questionable charges to warrant an outside audit. 
 
2. Suspend all use of TDC credit cards until a thorough review of the internal control policies was conducted and adequate &quot;oversight procedures&quot; were developed. 
 
3. That a review of all contracts in place be conducted specifically inter-locking ownerships, boards and ownership within contracted services. 
 
 
4. That a review of the current Board composition be made considering the lack of governance and fiscal due-diligence. 
 
The County created a public/private partnership for Economic Development in Walton County. It has a separate Board and is under the umbrella of the Walton Area Chamber. 
 
Hope this helps.

GoodWitch58

Beach Fanatic

yeah, it does some....

what I am puzzled by though is why the County Commissioners- elected to run the County, a local [B]government[/B]  entity,  would think it appropriate to place one ( or two) of its Councils into a private business association?

Is there a reasonable explanation for their thinking?

What am I missing here? Is that even legal?  Does the County Commission have that authority? I thought the TDC was governed by statute?  No?

(County tourism promotion agencies are clearly designated county agencies by the terms of s. 125.0104(9), F.S.)

yeah, it does some.... 
 
what I am puzzled by though is why the County Commissioners- elected to run the County, a local government entity, would think it appropriate to place one ( or two) of its Councils into a private business association? 
 
Is there a reasonable explanation for their thinking? 
 
What am I missing here? Is that even legal? Does the County Commission have that authority? I thought the TDC was governed by statute? No? 
 
(County tourism promotion agencies are clearly designated county agencies by the terms of s. 125.0104(9), F.S.)

DuneLaker

That's a lot of money to be flip flopping around.  Anyone know current value of TDC coffers and bed tax take?  What banks would be involved?   Guess this big infusion of cash could possibly help the Chamber's bottom line and any banker friends they have.  Would this open Chamber to complying with open meeting and sunshine laws if they don't already?  I'm sure this will all be explained soon.

That&#039;s a lot of money to be flip flopping around.  Anyone know current value of TDC coffers and bed tax take?  What banks would be involved?   Guess this big infusion of cash could possibly help the Chamber&#039;s bottom line and any banker friends they have.  Would this open Chamber to complying with open meeting and sunshine laws if they don&#039;t already?  I&#039;m sure this will all be explained soon.

maryelizabeth

Beach Crab

[quote="goodwitch58, post: 660404"]I read in a WZEP News email that the County Commissioners were hearing requests to put the Tourist Development Council under the supervision of the Chamber of Commerce due to the abrupt retirement of the former TDC director...and I heard that the Economic Development office is already under the Chamber.
 
Does anyone else find this strange? I thought both the TDC and the EDC were "county" entities that worked on behalf of the County, utilized County funds, employed (in the case of the TDC) personnel who are considered County employees, and the Executive Director reported to the BCC.
 
 
And that the Chamber of Commerce is a business association...
 
so, if the above is correct, then how can the Board of County Commissioners consider putting the TDC under the direction of the Chamber of Commerce?
 
Can anyone enlighten me? WCTA, maybe?[/quote] The Statute allows to promote and advertise tourism in the Stae of Florida and nationally and internationally: however tax revenues ar expended for an activity,service,venue,or event the  activity ,service,venue,or event shall have as one of  its main purposes the attraction of tourist as evidence by the activity,service,venue,or event to tourist: further the tax can fund convention bureaus,tourist bureaus,tourist information centers, and news bureaus as county agencies or by contract with chambers of commerce or similar associations in the county which may include indirect administrative costs for services performed by the county on the behalf of the promotion agency

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="goodwitch58">I read in a WZEP News email that the County Commissioners were hearing requests to put the Tourist Development Council under the supervision of the Chamber of Commerce due to the abrupt retirement of the former TDC director...and I heard that the Economic Development office is already under the Chamber. 
 
Does anyone else find this strange? I thought both the TDC and the EDC were &quot;county&quot; entities that worked on behalf of the County, utilized County funds, employed (in the case of the TDC) personnel who are considered County employees, and the Executive Director reported to the BCC. 
 
 
And that the Chamber of Commerce is a business association... 
 
so, if the above is correct, then how can the Board of County Commissioners consider putting the TDC under the direction of the Chamber of Commerce? 
 
Can anyone enlighten me? WCTA, maybe?</blockquote> The Statute allows to promote and advertise tourism in the Stae of Florida and nationally and internationally: however tax revenues ar expended for an activity,service,venue,or event the activity ,service,venue,or event shall have as one of its main purposes the attraction of tourist as evidence by the activity,service,venue,or event to tourist: further the tax can fund convention bureaus,tourist bureaus,tourist information centers, and news bureaus as county agencies or by contract with chambers of commerce or similar associations in the county which may include indirect administrative costs for services performed by the county on the behalf of the promotion agency

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert

I for one find it very sketchy - especially considering the level of cronyism between those groups.

Here4Good

I'm glad someone brought this up (and that the WCTA has given an explanation); I saw this in today's WZEP news blast and thought it just sounded like the commissioners were being lazy or were being pretty off-handed with a major budget item.

The issues with the credit card spending, along with what has come to light concerning the garbage contracts, leads me to believe that perhaps some parts of our county government aren't as careful as they should be with controls. 

I am glad that the WCTA was there to stop this, and that they know that someone is watching.

I&#039;m glad someone brought this up (and that the WCTA has given an explanation); I saw this in today&#039;s WZEP news blast and thought it just sounded like the commissioners were being lazy or were being pretty off-handed with a major budget item. 
 
The issues with the credit card spending, along with what has come to light concerning the garbage contracts, leads me to believe that perhaps some parts of our county government aren&#039;t as careful as they should be with controls. 
 
I am glad that the WCTA was there to stop this, and that they know that someone is watching.

Who is on the TDC board? I went to the Walton Cty website, and that page is blank.

Eileen West

This stinks to high heaven. There was a well coordinated consortium at the meeting to try to push this through without discussion or citizen input. In fact the first vote was rescinded because there had not been any discussion by citizens. The BCC was asked to vote on an agreement that DOES NOT EXIST. Cecelia Jones made two motions to allow Dawn Moliterno to take over the TDC without the first mention as to how much we, the citizens of Walton Co, were going to pay Ms. Moliterno to manage a county organization that does not need a management company! Larry Jones was the one commissioner who said he wouldn't vote for something he didn't know the details about. What is going on here?

This stinks to high heaven. There was a well coordinated consortium at the meeting to try to push this through without discussion or citizen input. In fact the first vote was rescinded because there had not been any discussion by citizens. The BCC was asked to vote on an agreement that DOES NOT EXIST. Cecelia Jones made two motions to allow Dawn Moliterno to take over the TDC without the first mention as to how much we, the citizens of Walton Co, were going to pay Ms. Moliterno to manage a county organization that does not need a management company! Larry Jones was the one commissioner who said he wouldn&#039;t vote for something he didn&#039;t know the details about. What is going on here?

I asked Ms. Jones, but she didn't answer that question exactly, so I have asked her again. I am not clear on whether they are talking about hiring Dawn Moliterno as interim director, or hiring the Chamber to manage the TDC.

I asked Ms. Jones, but she didn&#039;t answer that question exactly, so I have asked her again. I am not clear on whether they are talking about hiring Dawn Moliterno as interim director, or hiring the Chamber to manage the TDC.

rapunzel

Isn't the TDC managed by the TDC?  It's a council -- the membership of the TDC is spelled out in statute, and there is a position on the Council designated to be filled by a county commissioner.  The Tourist Development Council is a committee, and they hire an Executive Director to oversee day to day operations.  However, the council members are responsible for the TDC operations by statute.  

It seems like there has been a witch hunt at the TDC.  I know a few members of the board have been removed.  The whole "scandal" about Sonny Mares using a black taxi to go from the airport to his hotel in London (one would presume he had bags and didn't know his way around London) and had a $500 dinner at Seagar's while entertaining a consultant to has brought hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal funding to the county.  Was there a policy and procedure in place limiting entertainment expenses?  It seems a bit unfair to scream "gotcha!" when there has been no policy in place.

There seems to be a huge double standard between public and private money.  I recently had a discussion with a conservative friend who claimed to be scandalized by the $500 dinner at Saegar's, but untroubled by FRP Chair John Thrasher's $20,000 bill at a London hotel that was put on a junior staffer's credit card because that was "private money."  Well, the Chamber is a private entity as well.  Are Dawn Moliterno's expenses going to be audited as well?  What policy and procedure is being used by Carr, Riggs and Ingram to determine which expenditures are suspicious?  Will they be going back to look at Chris Titus' expenses to verify this was not standard procedure for the TDC to entertain out of town consultants?  I think this would be particularly important if there are no specific p&p's regarding reimbursable expenses.

Back during the blue sign hubbaloo, it was easy to find a list of TDC members and their budget through a quick google search.  Now, I'm not able to find numbers (or even my post from the spring of 2008 on this forum) for the budget or membership.  I remember the tourist tax generating about $12 million dollars.  That's a pretty substantial budget to entrust to a private, non-elected entity.  And given the position on the Airport board, it might be a bit too much of a concentration of power.

Isn&#039;t the TDC managed by the TDC? It&#039;s a council -- the membership of the TDC is spelled out in statute, and there is a position on the Council designated to be filled by a county commissioner. The Tourist Development Council is a committee, and they hire an Executive Director to oversee day to day operations. However, the council members are responsible for the TDC operations by statute. 
 
It seems like there has been a witch hunt at the TDC. I know a few members of the board have been removed. The whole &quot;scandal&quot; about Sonny Mares using a black taxi to go from the airport to his hotel in London (one would presume he had bags and didn&#039;t know his way around London) and had a $500 dinner at Seagar&#039;s while entertaining a consultant to has brought hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal funding to the county. Was there a policy and procedure in place limiting entertainment expenses? It seems a bit unfair to scream &quot;gotcha!&quot; when there has been no policy in place. 
 
There seems to be a huge double standard between public and private money. I recently had a discussion with a conservative friend who claimed to be scandalized by the $500 dinner at Saegar&#039;s, but untroubled by FRP Chair John Thrasher&#039;s $20,000 bill at a London hotel that was put on a junior staffer&#039;s credit card because that was &quot;private money.&quot; Well, the Chamber is a private entity as well. Are Dawn Moliterno&#039;s expenses going to be audited as well? What policy and procedure is being used by Carr, Riggs and Ingram to determine which expenditures are suspicious? Will they be going back to look at Chris Titus&#039; expenses to verify this was not standard procedure for the TDC to entertain out of town consultants? I think this would be particularly important if there are no specific p&amp;p&#039;s regarding reimbursable expenses. 
 
Back during the blue sign hubbaloo, it was easy to find a list of TDC members and their budget through a quick google search. Now, I&#039;m not able to find numbers (or even my post from the spring of 2008 on this forum) for the budget or membership. I remember the tourist tax generating about $12 million dollars. That&#039;s a pretty substantial budget to entrust to a private, non-elected entity. And given the position on the Airport board, it might be a bit too much of a concentration of power.

I certainly think the BCC and the TDC need to look carefully and think transparency here.

I can not believe there is any good to come from having this entire operation changed in such a cavalier way...

And, I have to question the fact that one person can manage all the jobs...at the same time, when before there apparently was a need for a director of each.

What on earth is going on?

I certainly think the BCC and the TDC need to look carefully and think transparency here. 
 
I can not believe there is any good to come from having this entire operation changed in such a cavalier way... 
 
And, I have to question the fact that one person can manage all the jobs...at the same time, when before there apparently was a need for a director of each. 
 
What on earth is going on?

I know part of it is my perspective, but it seems like we are constantly hearing about suspicious expenditures.

[quote="goodwitch58, post: 660413"]yeah, it does some....

what I am puzzled by though is why the County Commissioners- elected to run the County, a local [B]government[/B]  entity,  would think it appropriate to place one ( or two) of its Councils into a private business association?

Is there a reasonable explanation for their thinking?

What am I missing here? Is that even legal?  Does the County Commission have that authority? I thought the TDC was governed by statute?  No?

(County tourism promotion agencies are clearly designated county agencies by the terms of s. 125.0104(9), F.S.)[/quote]


GOOD QUESTION: What am I missing here? WAY too big a decision to make on such short notice. At one point Cecelia Jones asked that Scott Brannon be given the power to OK the non-existent contract WITHOUT ANOTHER BOARD MEETING. What??????

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="goodwitch58">yeah, it does some.... 
 
what I am puzzled by though is why the County Commissioners- elected to run the County, a local government entity, would think it appropriate to place one ( or two) of its Councils into a private business association? 
 
Is there a reasonable explanation for their thinking? 
 
What am I missing here? Is that even legal? Does the County Commission have that authority? I thought the TDC was governed by statute? No? 
 
(County tourism promotion agencies are clearly designated county agencies by the terms of s. 125.0104(9), F.S.)</blockquote> 
 
GOOD QUESTION: What am I missing here? WAY too big a decision to make on such short notice. At one point Cecelia Jones asked that Scott Brannon be given the power to OK the non-existent contract WITHOUT ANOTHER BOARD MEETING. What??????

[b]Walton counties czar ![/b]

[quote="whaddyasay, post: 660612"]This stinks to high heaven. There was a well coordinated consortium at the meeting to try to push this through without discussion or citizen input. In fact the first vote was rescinded because there had not been any discussion by citizens. The BCC was asked to vote on an agreement that DOES NOT EXIST. Cecelia Jones made two motions to allow Dawn Moliterno to take over the TDC without the first mention as to how much we, the citizens of Walton Co, were going to pay Ms. Moliterno to manage a county organization that does not need a management company! Larry Jones was the one commissioner who said he wouldn't vote for something he didn't know the details about. What is going on here?[/quote]


If you were there you heard the discussion about an agreement that was distributed to at least some of the TDC Board last week.  After making multiple public record requests and being told that no such document existed - a kind soul provide a copy that they received on last Saturday.

Although it is a draft with certain info to be filled in, it shows that those who claimed that the idea to place the TDC under control of the Chamber was in motion, prior to the HR Directors request for guidance and Commissioner C Jones read her written motion.

[U][B]The BCC needs to hire a new script writer - this last episode was poorly written and executed. Every punch was telegraphed.[/B][/U]

The WCTA was repeatedly told no such document or draft existed by the Legal Department, TDC and Chamber.

It appears that we have a [B]CZAR[/B] in Walton County that acts without direction, approval or authority.  That same [B]CZAR [/B]gave County Commissioners free Medical Insurance and simply sent them an email informing them of his action, has now decided to orchestrate an consolidation of additional delivery of key and vital services under the Chamber umbrella all prior to any county commissioner having knowledge of the plan.


[ATTACH]16880[/ATTACH]

Walton counties czar ! 
 
<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="whaddyasay">This stinks to high heaven. There was a well coordinated consortium at the meeting to try to push this through without discussion or citizen input. In fact the first vote was rescinded because there had not been any discussion by citizens. The BCC was asked to vote on an agreement that DOES NOT EXIST. Cecelia Jones made two motions to allow Dawn Moliterno to take over the TDC without the first mention as to how much we, the citizens of Walton Co, were going to pay Ms. Moliterno to manage a county organization that does not need a management company! Larry Jones was the one commissioner who said he wouldn&#039;t vote for something he didn&#039;t know the details about. What is going on here?</blockquote> 
 
If you were there you heard the discussion about an agreement that was distributed to at least some of the TDC Board last week. After making multiple public record requests and being told that no such document existed - a kind soul provide a copy that they received on last Saturday. 
 
Although it is a draft with certain info to be filled in, it shows that those who claimed that the idea to place the TDC under control of the Chamber was in motion, prior to the HR Directors request for guidance and Commissioner C Jones read her written motion. 
 
The BCC needs to hire a new script writer - this last episode was poorly written and executed. Every punch was telegraphed. 
 
The WCTA was repeatedly told no such document or draft existed by the Legal Department, TDC and Chamber. 
 
It appears that we have a CZAR in Walton County that acts without direction, approval or authority. That same CZAR gave County Commissioners free Medical Insurance and simply sent them an email informing them of his action, has now decided to orchestrate an consolidation of additional delivery of key and vital services under the Chamber umbrella all prior to any county commissioner having knowledge of the plan. 
 
 
<a href="https://sowal.com/forum/attachments/16880/">View attachment 16880</a>

[quote="WCTA, post: 660693"]If you were there you heard the discussion about an agreement that was distributed to at least some of the TDC Board last week.  After making multiple public record requests and being told that no such document existed - a kind soul provide a copy that they received on last Saturday.

Although it is a draft with certain info to be filled in, it shows that those who claimed that the idea to place the TDC under control of the Chamber was in motion, prior to the HR Directors request for guidance and Commissioner C Jones read her written motion.

[U][B]The BCC needs to hire a new script writer - this last episode was poorly written and executed. Every punch was telegraphed.[/B][/U]

The WCTA was repeatedly told no such document or draft existed by the Legal Department, TDC and Chamber.

It appears that we have a [B]CZAR[/B] in Walton County that acts without direction, approval or authority.  That same [B]CZAR [/B]gave County Commissioners free Medical Insurance and simply sent them an email informing them of his action, has now decided to orchestrate an consolidation of additional delivery of key and vital services under the Chamber umbrella all prior to any county commissioner having knowledge of the plan.


[ATTACH]16880[/ATTACH][/quote]

Are we citizens of this county really going to stand for this?

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="WCTA">If you were there you heard the discussion about an agreement that was distributed to at least some of the TDC Board last week. After making multiple public record requests and being told that no such document existed - a kind soul provide a copy that they received on last Saturday. 
 
Although it is a draft with certain info to be filled in, it shows that those who claimed that the idea to place the TDC under control of the Chamber was in motion, prior to the HR Directors request for guidance and Commissioner C Jones read her written motion. 
 
The BCC needs to hire a new script writer - this last episode was poorly written and executed. Every punch was telegraphed. 
 
The WCTA was repeatedly told no such document or draft existed by the Legal Department, TDC and Chamber. 
 
It appears that we have a CZAR in Walton County that acts without direction, approval or authority. That same CZAR gave County Commissioners free Medical Insurance and simply sent them an email informing them of his action, has now decided to orchestrate an consolidation of additional delivery of key and vital services under the Chamber umbrella all prior to any county commissioner having knowledge of the plan. 
 
 
<a href="https://sowal.com/forum/attachments/16880/">View attachment 16880</a></blockquote> 
Are we citizens of this county really going to stand for this?

[quote="rapunzel, post: 660648"]Isn't the TDC managed by the TDC?  It's a council -- the membership of the TDC is spelled out in statute, and there is a position on the Council designated to be filled by a county commissioner.  The Tourist Development Council is a committee, and they hire an Executive Director to oversee day to day operations.  However, the council members are responsible for the TDC operations by statute.  

It seems like there has been a witch hunt at the TDC.  I know a few members of the board have been removed.  The whole "scandal" about Sonny Mares using a black taxi to go from the airport to his hotel in London (one would presume he had bags and didn't know his way around London) and had a $500 dinner at Seagar's while entertaining a consultant to has brought hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal funding to the county.  Was there a policy and procedure in place limiting entertainment expenses?  It seems a bit unfair to scream "gotcha!" when there has been no policy in place.

There seems to be a huge double standard between public and private money.  I recently had a discussion with a conservative friend who claimed to be scandalized by the $500 dinner at Saegar's, but untroubled by FRP Chair John Thrasher's $20,000 bill at a London hotel that was put on a junior staffer's credit card because that was "private money."  Well, the Chamber is a private entity as well.  Are Dawn Moliterno's expenses going to be audited as well?  What policy and procedure is being used by Carr, Riggs and Ingram to determine which expenditures are suspicious?  Will they be going back to look at Chris Titus' expenses to verify this was not standard procedure for the TDC to entertain out of town consultants?  I think this would be particularly important if there are no specific p&p's regarding reimbursable expenses.

Back during the blue sign hubbaloo, it was easy to find a list of TDC members and their budget through a quick google search.  Now, I'm not able to find numbers (or even my post from the spring of 2008 on this forum) for the budget or membership.  I remember the tourist tax generating about $12 million dollars.  That's a pretty substantial budget to entrust to a private, non-elected entity.  And given the position on the Airport board, it might be a bit too much of a concentration of power.[/quote]

Maybe it wasn't a witch hunt.

You might find these tax liens interesting.

[ATTACH]16881[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]16882[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]16883[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]16884[/ATTACH]

Owner - none other than the then Treasurer of the TDC.  If I remember correctly MS Brown was promoting an increase in the bed tax,  but fell just a little behind in forwarding those taxes collected by her firm to the State of Florida and TDC.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="rapunzel">Isn&#039;t the TDC managed by the TDC? It&#039;s a council -- the membership of the TDC is spelled out in statute, and there is a position on the Council designated to be filled by a county commissioner. The Tourist Development Council is a committee, and they hire an Executive Director to oversee day to day operations. However, the council members are responsible for the TDC operations by statute. 
 
It seems like there has been a witch hunt at the TDC. I know a few members of the board have been removed. The whole &quot;scandal&quot; about Sonny Mares using a black taxi to go from the airport to his hotel in London (one would presume he had bags and didn&#039;t know his way around London) and had a $500 dinner at Seagar&#039;s while entertaining a consultant to has brought hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal funding to the county. Was there a policy and procedure in place limiting entertainment expenses? It seems a bit unfair to scream &quot;gotcha!&quot; when there has been no policy in place. 
 
There seems to be a huge double standard between public and private money. I recently had a discussion with a conservative friend who claimed to be scandalized by the $500 dinner at Saegar&#039;s, but untroubled by FRP Chair John Thrasher&#039;s $20,000 bill at a London hotel that was put on a junior staffer&#039;s credit card because that was &quot;private money.&quot; Well, the Chamber is a private entity as well. Are Dawn Moliterno&#039;s expenses going to be audited as well? What policy and procedure is being used by Carr, Riggs and Ingram to determine which expenditures are suspicious? Will they be going back to look at Chris Titus&#039; expenses to verify this was not standard procedure for the TDC to entertain out of town consultants? I think this would be particularly important if there are no specific p&amp;p&#039;s regarding reimbursable expenses. 
 
Back during the blue sign hubbaloo, it was easy to find a list of TDC members and their budget through a quick google search. Now, I&#039;m not able to find numbers (or even my post from the spring of 2008 on this forum) for the budget or membership. I remember the tourist tax generating about $12 million dollars. That&#039;s a pretty substantial budget to entrust to a private, non-elected entity. And given the position on the Airport board, it might be a bit too much of a concentration of power.</blockquote> 
Maybe it wasn&#039;t a witch hunt. 
 
You might find these tax liens interesting. 
 
<a href="https://sowal.com/forum/attachments/16881/">View attachment 16881</a> 
 
<a href="https://sowal.com/forum/attachments/16882/">View attachment 16882</a> 
 
<a href="https://sowal.com/forum/attachments/16883/">View attachment 16883</a> 
 
<a href="https://sowal.com/forum/attachments/16884/">View attachment 16884</a> 
 
Owner - none other than the then Treasurer of the TDC. If I remember correctly MS Brown was promoting an increase in the bed tax, but fell just a little behind in forwarding those taxes collected by her firm to the State of Florida and TDC.

Wow.  Mary Brown wasn't the person I was thinking of, but that is truly shocking.  Okay...no witch hunt there.

As for the phantom contract, that is completely unbelievable.  Do the Sunshine laws have no teeth at all?  

Has any Chamber ever taken on the responsibilities of a governmental entity?  And how is this different from the Coastal Vision 3000 group that was thwarted in their attempts to act as an unelected, private group with governmental authority?  

I have nothing against the Chamber or it's director, I just think this situation is too odd to be kosher.  A Chamber advocates for it's paid members not the general citizenry.

Wow. Mary Brown wasn&#039;t the person I was thinking of, but that is truly shocking. Okay...no witch hunt there. 
 
As for the phantom contract, that is completely unbelievable. Do the Sunshine laws have no teeth at all? 
 
Has any Chamber ever taken on the responsibilities of a governmental entity? And how is this different from the Coastal Vision 3000 group that was thwarted in their attempts to act as an unelected, private group with governmental authority? 
 
I have nothing against the Chamber or it&#039;s director, I just think this situation is too odd to be kosher. A Chamber advocates for it&#039;s paid members not the general citizenry.

John R

needs to get out more

[quote="rapunzel, post: 660706"] 

Coastal Vision 3000 group that was thwarted in their attempts to act as an unelected, private group with[B] governmental authority?[/B]  
[/quote]

Can you discuss this with a little more detail?  I was unaware of this part.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="rapunzel">Coastal Vision 3000 group that was thwarted in their attempts to act as an unelected, private group with governmental authority?</blockquote> 
Can you discuss this with a little more detail? I was unaware of this part.

Cecelia Jones provided me with the board members:

Scott Brannon
Don McQuade
Tim Norris
Steven Hilliard
Jennifer Steele Saunders
Ken Gifford
Maurice D. Gilbert
May Jo Tommas
Mike Stange

Their entire budget is $12 million, 31 employees, but I cannot find their specific budget for 2010.

I cannot fathom handing over a $12 million budget on the basis of a page and a half contract.

Oh, wait, we have no attorney right now, so who wrote the contract?

Cecelia Jones provided me with the board members: 
 
Scott Brannon 
Don McQuade 
Tim Norris 
Steven Hilliard 
Jennifer Steele Saunders 
Ken Gifford 
Maurice D. Gilbert 
May Jo Tommas 
Mike Stange 
 
Their entire budget is $12 million, 31 employees, but I cannot find their specific budget for 2010. 
 
I cannot fathom handing over a $12 million budget on the basis of a page and a half contract. 
 
Oh, wait, we have no attorney right now, so who wrote the contract?

I read in a WZEP News email that the County Commissioners were hearing requests to put the Tourist Development Council under the supervision of the Chamber of Commerce due to the abrupt retirement of the former TDC director...and I heard that the Economic Development office is already under the Chamber.

Does anyone else find this strange?  I thought both the TDC and the EDC were "county" entities that worked on behalf of the County, utilized County funds, employed (in the case of the TDC) personnel who are considered County employees, and the Executive Director reported to the BCC.


And that the Chamber of Commerce is a business association...

so, if the above is correct, then how can the Board of County Commissioners consider putting the TDC under the direction of the Chamber of Commerce?

Can anyone enlighten me? WCTA, maybe?

I read in a WZEP News email that the County Commissioners were hearing requests to put the Tourist Development Council under the supervision of the Chamber of Commerce due to the abrupt retirement of the former TDC director...and I heard that the Economic Development office is already under the Chamber. 
 
Does anyone else find this strange? I thought both the TDC and the EDC were &quot;county&quot; entities that worked on behalf of the County, utilized County funds, employed (in the case of the TDC) personnel who are considered County employees, and the Executive Director reported to the BCC. 
 
 
And that the Chamber of Commerce is a business association... 
 
so, if the above is correct, then how can the Board of County Commissioners consider putting the TDC under the direction of the Chamber of Commerce? 
 
Can anyone enlighten me? WCTA, maybe?

TDC and EDC Incorporated into the Chamber of Commerce?

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TDC and EDC Incorporated into the Chamber of Commerce?

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2026 SoWal Sea Turtle Nesting Season Wrapup

After Hurricane Isaias: Photos of South Walton Beaches

Cars of 30A At Alys Beach: Event Highlights & Photo Gallery

Sixth annual Run Watersound At Watersound Town Center October 24, 2026