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John G

Beach Fanatic

I'm fine with having the TDC spend their bed tax money on this.

However, no resident tax money should be used to fund a transportation system that is designed for and will be used (maybe used) by Tourists.

TDC has millions, let them spend it.

Tourists need to be forced to accept this new "culture" if this is the way we are going to go to "solve" transportation problems.

You force the culture on them by putting in parking meters at all local beach accesses and the surrounding area.  LOCALS get a pass and don't pay a dime to park.  Tourists and non-locals PAY $$$ !!!

You force the culture by having a proactive sheriff's office that TOWS illegally parked vehicles instead of having their female posse member put a 48 hour warning sticker on a car that will be moved in 6 to 8 hours (beach parking).

Kudos to that woman by they way!  She is always out directing traffic at incidents, while uniform patrol people stand idly by.

I&#039;m fine with having the TDC spend their bed tax money on this. 
 
However, no resident tax money should be used to fund a transportation system that is designed for and will be used (maybe used) by Tourists. 
 
TDC has millions, let them spend it. 
 
Tourists need to be forced to accept this new &quot;culture&quot; if this is the way we are going to go to &quot;solve&quot; transportation problems. 
 
You force the culture on them by putting in parking meters at all local beach accesses and the surrounding area. LOCALS get a pass and don&#039;t pay a dime to park. Tourists and non-locals PAY $$$ !!! 
 
You force the culture by having a proactive sheriff&#039;s office that TOWS illegally parked vehicles instead of having their female posse member put a 48 hour warning sticker on a car that will be moved in 6 to 8 hours (beach parking). 
 
Kudos to that woman by they way! She is always out directing traffic at incidents, while uniform patrol people stand idly by.

seabythegrove

lazin&drinkin

Beach Lover

A rent seeker looking to siphon off some tax dollars to enrich himself further. He's been turned down repeatedly by multiple public and private entities, including the TDC for much lesser similar absurd subsidy propositions. The public may not be allowed to speak at length to the TDC about important matters affecting a vast panoply of important public policy issues, but this guy gets all the time in the world to repeatedly try to get tax subsidies for his private business. Cindy needs some help on the BCC to put an end to this kind of garbage.

A rent seeker looking to siphon off some tax dollars to enrich himself further. He&#039;s been turned down repeatedly by multiple public and private entities, including the TDC for much lesser similar absurd subsidy propositions. The public may not be allowed to speak at length to the TDC about important matters affecting a vast panoply of important public policy issues, but this guy gets all the time in the world to repeatedly try to get tax subsidies for his private business. Cindy needs some help on the BCC to put an end to this kind of garbage.

Danny Glidewell

That is a pile of money for a few billboards.

Teresa

SoWal Guide

I do think we need shuttle on Scenic 30A in the summer season. But not sure what the answer is... or at what cost.

Patriot Games

Shot down in flames...........shot down in flames.......ain't it a shame to be shot down in flames.

Shot down in flames...........shot down in flames.......ain&#039;t it a shame to be shot down in flames.

Jenksy

Commissioners rejected a request by Alan Roberts of Sunshine Shuttle in services along 30A for $2,000,000.00 for an advertising paint job on 4 buses.  Roberts presented the request as an advertising project. However, commissioners were skeptical about spending TDC money to advertise to people who already live here.  The action failed for lack of a motion or support.

Bob Hudson

[QUOTE="Bob Hudson, post: 841568, member: 7452"]Shot down in flames...........shot down in flames.......ain't it a shame to be shot down in flames.[/QUOTE]

If you don't at first succeed, try, try again...  (and they did).

[URL="http://www.mypanhandle.com/news/walton-county-proposes-a-shuttle-service/690690385"]Walton County Proposes A Shuttle Service[/URL]

Now there's a second player in town trying to put their hand into the coffers of the TDC...

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Bob Hudson">Shot down in flames...........shot down in flames.......ain&#039;t it a shame to be shot down in flames.</blockquote> 
If you don&#039;t at first succeed, try, try again... (and they did). 
 
<a href="http://www.mypanhandle.com/news/walton-county-proposes-a-shuttle-service/690690385" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">Walton County Proposes A Shuttle Service</a> 
 
Now there&#039;s a second player in town trying to put their hand into the coffers of the TDC...

beachmax

Beach Comber

As these are described as billboards they are illegal along 30-A.

[QUOTE="beachmax, post: 866529, member: 32715"]As these are described as billboards they are illegal along 30-A.[/QUOTE]

Never thought of it that way.  Very good information.

I'm sure a simple BCC edit of the proposal would eliminate the pesky word and replace it with something similar, yet not easy to oppose legally.

A majority of opines and posts all call for the same thing:  LESS TDC Advertising.  Those two that presented on Tuesday are like spoiled kids with wealthy parents and they have every toy known to man and want more, more, more. 

Must be a nice job where you actually create ways to P*$$ away money.  Next they'll want to wrap the WCSO helicopter...

How about Education of the Tourists?  Promote knowledge of our Law, Ordinances and just commonsense.

A life guard on one of the local beaches this weekend commented that the tourists pay no attention to the red flags (this was after he rescued two...).

More and more people, residents and tourists alike are growing tired of the attempts to bring more people here when we cannot adequately service those already present.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="beachmax">As these are described as billboards they are illegal along 30-A.</blockquote> 
Never thought of it that way. Very good information. 
 
I&#039;m sure a simple BCC edit of the proposal would eliminate the pesky word and replace it with something similar, yet not easy to oppose legally. 
 
A majority of opines and posts all call for the same thing: LESS TDC Advertising. Those two that presented on Tuesday are like spoiled kids with wealthy parents and they have every toy known to man and want more, more, more. 
 
Must be a nice job where you actually create ways to P*$$ away money. Next they&#039;ll want to wrap the WCSO helicopter... 
 
How about Education of the Tourists? Promote knowledge of our Law, Ordinances and just commonsense. 
 
A life guard on one of the local beaches this weekend commented that the tourists pay no attention to the red flags (this was after he rescued two...). 
 
More and more people, residents and tourists alike are growing tired of the attempts to bring more people here when we cannot adequately service those already present.

Looks like the Shuttle / Trolley didn't need citizens tax dollars after all...

Seems to be a trend.  Idea shot down by Government, yet somehow the Shuttle will operate anyway.

Makes you wonder why they keep coming back each year looking for a hand out?

[URL="http://www.mypanhandle.com/news/sunshine-shuttle-transit-trolley-rolls-out-plan-without-walton-county-partnership/700883313"]Sunshine Shuttle Transit Trolley Rolls Out Plan without Walton County Partnership[/URL]

Looks like the Shuttle / Trolley didn&#039;t need citizens tax dollars after all... 
 
Seems to be a trend. Idea shot down by Government, yet somehow the Shuttle will operate anyway. 
 
Makes you wonder why they keep coming back each year looking for a hand out? 
 
<a href="http://www.mypanhandle.com/news/sunshine-shuttle-transit-trolley-rolls-out-plan-without-walton-county-partnership/700883313" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">Sunshine Shuttle Transit Trolley Rolls Out Plan without Walton County Partnership</a>

FloridaBeachBum

This is a perfect example that if there is a NEED and a sound financial plan to fill the need can be made, that is profitable, the free market will fill the need.  The Walton BCC and TDC should stick to what governments do; safety, security, and sanitation.  If it’s not safety, security, or sanitation; do NOT tax the people, residents or tourists, and let that money stay in the free market economy.

Unless the government has a business PLAN and a clear way for users to pay for the government service or product, governments should stay out of the free market economy.  The BCC should not base decisions, that costs tax payers money, because the BCC “thinks” it’s a good idea, it feels good, or it’ll get votes; like the BCC has historically done and do.

Governments and elected officials City, County, State and Federal, have proven time and time again they are not business people.  The BCC are not real estate investors, marketing executives for tourist businesses, or judges telling private property owners who can use their private property.  Volusia County-Daytona Beach is not any better at real estate investing than Walton County [URL="http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20170424/volusia-county-daytona-beach-shores-legal-fight-looms"]Volusia County-Daytona Beach Shores legal fight looms[/URL] .  Let’s see, 190 parking spots costs $8,300 per space, loss of tax income on vacant lot $200,000 a year sounds like a bad deal to me.  Sounds like the $7.6 MILLION Grayton Grand parking parcel (3/4 of a mile from the beach?) or $7.4 MILLION Dune Allen beachfront BCC paid about $2,000,000 more than appraised market value last year.

The $20 MILLION annually that the BCC coerce [tax] tourists to pay the TDC would be better spent in the economy than the TDC.  The TDC can enforce the beach activities and pick up the trash tourist leave behind at public beaches but leave the beach works to public works, trash pickup on private property to the property owners, and marketing to the businesses who have a need to market to tourist.  That should save about $18 MILLION in taxes that would be better spent on jobs in Walton.

This is a perfect example that if there is a NEED and a sound financial plan to fill the need can be made, that is profitable, the free market will fill the need. The Walton BCC and TDC should stick to what governments do; safety, security, and sanitation. If it’s not safety, security, or sanitation; do NOT tax the people, residents or tourists, and let that money stay in the free market economy. 
 
Unless the government has a business PLAN and a clear way for users to pay for the government service or product, governments should stay out of the free market economy. The BCC should not base decisions, that costs tax payers money, because the BCC “thinks” it’s a good idea, it feels good, or it’ll get votes; like the BCC has historically done and do. 
 
Governments and elected officials City, County, State and Federal, have proven time and time again they are not business people. The BCC are not real estate investors, marketing executives for tourist businesses, or judges telling private property owners who can use their private property. Volusia County-Daytona Beach is not any better at real estate investing than Walton County <a href="http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20170424/volusia-county-daytona-beach-shores-legal-fight-looms" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">Volusia County-Daytona Beach Shores legal fight looms</a> . Let’s see, 190 parking spots costs $8,300 per space, loss of tax income on vacant lot $200,000 a year sounds like a bad deal to me. Sounds like the $7.6 MILLION Grayton Grand parking parcel (3/4 of a mile from the beach?) or $7.4 MILLION Dune Allen beachfront BCC paid about $2,000,000 more than appraised market value last year. 
 
The $20 MILLION annually that the BCC coerce [tax] tourists to pay the TDC would be better spent in the economy than the TDC. The TDC can enforce the beach activities and pick up the trash tourist leave behind at public beaches but leave the beach works to public works, trash pickup on private property to the property owners, and marketing to the businesses who have a need to market to tourist. That should save about $18 MILLION in taxes that would be better spent on jobs in Walton.

[QUOTE="FloridaBeachBum, post: 867167, member: 32541"]This is a perfect example that if there is a NEED and a sound financial plan to fill the need can be made, that is profitable, the free market will fill the need.  The Walton BCC and TDC should stick to what governments do; safety, security, and sanitation.  If it’s not safety, security, or sanitation; do NOT tax the people, residents or tourists, and let that money stay in the free market economy.

Unless the government has a business PLAN and a clear way for users to pay for the government service or product, governments should stay out of the free market economy.  The BCC should not base decisions, that costs tax payers money, because the BCC “thinks” it’s a good idea, it feels good, or it’ll get votes; like the BCC has historically done and do.

Governments and elected officials City, County, State and Federal, have proven time and time again they are not business people.  The BCC are not real estate investors, marketing executives for tourist businesses, or judges telling private property owners who can use their private property.  Volusia County-Daytona Beach is not any better at real estate investing than Walton County [URL='http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20170424/volusia-county-daytona-beach-shores-legal-fight-looms']Volusia County-Daytona Beach Shores legal fight looms[/URL] .  Let’s see, 190 parking spots costs $8,300 per space, loss of tax income on vacant lot $200,000 a year sounds like a bad deal to me.  Sounds like the $7.6 MILLION Grayton Grand parking parcel (3/4 of a mile from the beach?) or $7.4 MILLION Dune Allen beachfront BCC paid about $2,000,000 more than appraised market value last year.

The $20 MILLION annually that the BCC coerce [tax] tourists to pay the TDC would be better spent in the economy than the TDC.  The TDC can enforce the beach activities and pick up the trash tourist leave behind at public beaches but leave the beach works to public works, trash pickup on private property to the property owners, and marketing to the businesses who have a need to market to tourist.  That should save about $18 MILLION in taxes that would be better spent on jobs in Walton.[/QUOTE]

Interesting article on the parking and an excellent post on this topic.

Perhaps we'll be spared the presentation next year...

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="FloridaBeachBum">This is a perfect example that if there is a NEED and a sound financial plan to fill the need can be made, that is profitable, the free market will fill the need. The Walton BCC and TDC should stick to what governments do; safety, security, and sanitation. If it’s not safety, security, or sanitation; do NOT tax the people, residents or tourists, and let that money stay in the free market economy. 
 
Unless the government has a business PLAN and a clear way for users to pay for the government service or product, governments should stay out of the free market economy. The BCC should not base decisions, that costs tax payers money, because the BCC “thinks” it’s a good idea, it feels good, or it’ll get votes; like the BCC has historically done and do. 
 
Governments and elected officials City, County, State and Federal, have proven time and time again they are not business people. The BCC are not real estate investors, marketing executives for tourist businesses, or judges telling private property owners who can use their private property. Volusia County-Daytona Beach is not any better at real estate investing than Walton County <a href="http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20170424/volusia-county-daytona-beach-shores-legal-fight-looms" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">Volusia County-Daytona Beach Shores legal fight looms</a> . Let’s see, 190 parking spots costs $8,300 per space, loss of tax income on vacant lot $200,000 a year sounds like a bad deal to me. Sounds like the $7.6 MILLION Grayton Grand parking parcel (3/4 of a mile from the beach?) or $7.4 MILLION Dune Allen beachfront BCC paid about $2,000,000 more than appraised market value last year. 
 
The $20 MILLION annually that the BCC coerce [tax] tourists to pay the TDC would be better spent in the economy than the TDC. The TDC can enforce the beach activities and pick up the trash tourist leave behind at public beaches but leave the beach works to public works, trash pickup on private property to the property owners, and marketing to the businesses who have a need to market to tourist. That should save about $18 MILLION in taxes that would be better spent on jobs in Walton.</blockquote> 
Interesting article on the parking and an excellent post on this topic. 
 
Perhaps we&#039;ll be spared the presentation next year...

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Sunshine Shuttle Presentation for the 1/12/2016 BCC Meeting.

Grayton BeachCam

Dune Allen BeachCam

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Miramar BeachCam Majestic Sun

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Sunshine Shuttle Presentation for the 1/12/2016 BCC Meeting.

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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