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Secret Sub-Committee of Code Enforcement Board ?

Bob Hudson avatar
Bob HudsonBeach Fanatic
2,836 views
This was forward to me this morning. Does anyone know about this secret committee or know of who the members are ?


From: <DinebyDesign@aol.com>
Date: Wed, May 25, 2011 at 6:51 AM
Subject: (no subject)
To: comsara@co.walton.fl.us, brascott@co.walton.fl.us, joncecilia@co.walton.fl.us, prikenneth@co.walton.fl.us
Cc: tom@thossteininc.com, hmcdestin@earthlink.net, victorsea@aol.com, cgc2oaks@aol.com, richard@austindouglas.net, irealty@aol.com, wrobertnelson@gmail.com, dave@adlovell.com, bwyrough@embarqmail.com

May 25, 2011

To: Sara Comander, Scott Brennan, Cecelia Jones, Larry Jones, Kenneth Pridgen,Thomas Stein, Alan Newsome, Victor Bowman, Charlotte Flynt, Richard Fowlkes,David Kramer, Robert Nelson, Dave Lovell, William E. Wyrough:

It has come to my attention that there now exists a citizen sub-division of the Code Enforcement department. I am profoundly troubled by this (once again) behind-closed-doors decision and have several questions as a result:

1. Can you confirm this? Does such a group exist?

2. Who are they? What are their names, and what qualifies them for this position?

3. What is their charter? Do they have decision-making power regarding compliance and fines?

4. To whom are they responsible? Do they answer to the commissioners? The citizens of Walton County?

5. Who assigned these people to this position?

6. In the interest of fairness and justice, why is it that – to my knowledge – there is not a single wedding industry professional on this board?

7. Why, as a citizen of Walton County was this not made public to me and why did I not have a right to sit on the board as well?

Again, as I asked in my email of 5/23/11, the contents of this ordinance need to be made public. If I am being affected by it, I have the right to know what it includes.

Please do not ignore this letter as you have my last. I am a tax payer, I am a citizen of this county, I am deeply suspicious of these events and I have a right to answers. It’s high time you displayed some intestinal fortitude and integrity.

Sincerely,
Kim Pitchford
Dine by Design Catering, LLC

Replies

13
Bob Hudson avatar
Bob HudsonBeach FanaticAuthor
#3
I don't think so because she included each Code Board member in the email.
Andy A avatar
Andy ABeach Fanatic
#4
Sara Comander's office received her email but indicated they had no idea what she was talking about. I can only gather that she feels it is OK to ignore the land use code and hold events for commercial gain in venues that are designated "residential only". I am a taxpayer, resident and citizen of Walton County as well and do not like to see our land use codes ignored and misused.
Danny Burns avatar
Danny BurnsBeach Fanatic
#5
There is NO secret "citizen sub-division of the Code Enforcement department"...period. All members of the Code Enforcement Board are publicly appointed by the Walton County Commissioners.

The board consists of professionals from MANY fields of expertise. These people are architects, contractors and other building, legal and zoning experts (no wedding industry professionals!) that take complaints from citizens and attempt to resolve particular issues. This is NOT always done with fines. Most issues are resolved through negotiations with the offenders and are done simply to bring them into compliance with current county and state laws...not to punish them.

To state that "It’s high time you displayed some intestinal fortitude and integrity" is insulting to these professionals and the incredibly difficult job they do in this rapidly growing area. This letter was "ignored" because it is about something that doesn't exist and makes no sense.

Paranoia and ignorance are a dangerous combination. Let's try to get your own ship together before you go rocking someone else's boat.

And, the Code Enforcement Board meetings are held at 6pm on the third Thursday of every month at the South Walton Courthouse Annex in Santa Rosa Beach. They are always open to the public.

Edited

scooterbug44 avatar
scooterbug44SoWal Expert
#6
Is the "citizen subdivision" rumor somehow related to the "community volunteer" (or whatever it says) Sheriff's vehicle?:idontno:
TheZohan avatar
TheZohanBeach Lover
#7
No there just parking and crossing guards. Think metermaid
Em avatar
EmBeach Fanatic
#8
I'm not sure what types of enforcement is being handled by the "Volunteer Citizens Patrol," but I saw one last week with flashing lights which had a car pulled over on Hwy 98. My understanding was that the Volunteer Citizens Patrol would be used to handle parking tickets for the wedding houses, which seems to fall under code enforcement and Sheriffing duties. My best guess is that this is what the writer was referring to in her letter.
Douglas the Intrepid avatar
Douglas the IntrepidBeach Fanatic
#9
Sounds like a great idea! Having the volunteer citizens patrol giving parking tickets for wedding houses frees the real police for real emergencies and real police work while still enforcing the existing land use codes! Win/Win situation if you ask me! 😉
wrobert avatar
wrobertBeach Fanatic
#10
I'm not sure what types of enforcement is being handled by the "Volunteer Citizens Patrol," but I saw one last week with flashing lights which had a car pulled over on Hwy 98. My understanding was that the Volunteer Citizens Patrol would be used to handle parking tickets for the wedding houses, which seems to fall under code enforcement and Sheriffing duties. My best guess is that this is what the writer was referring to in her letter.

Since a traffic stop is about the most dangerous activity, other than domestic disturbances, that a LEO undertakes, would not be more likely that someone was broken down and they stopped to assist?
Andy A avatar
Andy ABeach Fanatic
#11
I think they would be a great help in patrollling the beach for litterers and dogs not on a leash or not permitted. We had one stop and poop on ours just the other day and the owner did not pick up after it. Totally irresponsible on the owner's part. They should know better, the dog doesn't.
WaltonIsOneBeach Lover
#12
This letter was "ignored" because it is about something that doesn't exist and makes no sense.

Paranoia and ignorance are a dangerous combination.

Citizens (paranoid and uninformed ones or otherwise) are better served by county government when their letters or pleas for explanations are not "ignored". Govt employees should not ignore letters or e-mails on the basis that they are seen as "insulting" or nonfactual.

If that is how Walton County government should work, then we do not need any government employees, all we need is a post office box and electronic mail box for each department that simply fills up with mail from citizens that is then never answered.

At the least, someone from the county govt should contact the person who wrote the letter, try to understand what question the citizen is really asking, and try to seek an answer to the citizen's actual question.

I mean the Sheriff's department did not "ignore" the 960 people who locked themselves out of their cars last year as stated in the Sheriff's Annual Report. Many would all agree that it makes "no sense" to lock oneself out of one's car. But the county Sheriff did respond to the calls of these citizens. One wonders how much did that cost the taxpayers last year?

Edited

Andy A avatar
Andy ABeach Fanatic
#13
Yes, WIO, there should be a response. It should be you're letter, email, etc. has been received and reviewed. We find it to be without merit.
wrobert avatar
wrobertBeach Fanatic
#14
Citizens (paranoid and uninformed ones or otherwise) are better served by county government when their letters or pleas for explanations are not "ignored". Govt employees should not ignore letters or e-mails on the basis that they are seen as "insulting" or nonfactual.

If that is how Walton County government should work, then we do not need any government employees, all we need is a post office box and electronic mail box for each department that simply fills up with mail from citizens that is then never answered.

At the least, someone from the county govt should contact the person who wrote the letter, try to understand what question the citizen is really asking, and try to seek an answer to the citizen's actual question.

I mean the Sheriff's department did not "ignore" the 960 people who locked themselves out of their cars last year as stated in the Sheriff's Annual Report. Many would all agree that it makes "no sense" to lock oneself out of one's car. But the county Sheriff did respond to the calls of these citizens. One wonders how much did that cost the taxpayers last year?
While just a volunteer board member, I did email them back and asked them to explain further since I did not know what they were talking about. I never got a response back though.

Edited

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