Testing the sand for Customary Use

You are obviously another entitled beach front owner like Mr. Huckabbe that is trying to ruin our beach community

so the dry sand is vacant - left only for you..

pathetic

My opinion! So let me get this straight...someone goes out of their way to leave their own backyard in Seagrove (surrounded by white sandy beaches) to drive to Vizcaya (2 days in a row) to sit on property already in dispute, to "test" taunt, provoke the homeowners there into calling the police and face possible arrest for trespassing? Wow, that's a special kind of stupid! Drawing lines in the sand? Really? Taking up time & valuable resources from the WCSO?

Sheriff Adkinson, you missed a prime opportunity! You put stupid people in jail all the time....you sir, missed your shot!

It's called a protest. Power to the people!

It`s called a waste of public resource time. Take it to the court room.

I am proud of these two local citizens who have brought attention to the farce executive order that does nothing for South Walton Beaches. It is going to take a lot of people standing up. Thank you Daniel and Justin! They have received a lot of press this week and that's what it's all about. Attention to this unjust law preventing people from customary use of our beaches.

It`s called a waste of public resource time. Take it to the court room.

Arrests and national stories will hasten the legal battle.

You are obviously another entitled beach front owner like Mr. Huckabbe that is trying to ruin our beach community

so the dry sand is vacant - left only for you..

pathetic

ROFLMAO...I don't own anything beach related and I think Mike Huckabee was/is an a$$ long before he bought property and built a monster house in SoWal. I've always thought he was a horrible, bible thumping, knee jerk politician (republican at that) who doesn't have the sense god gave a jacka$$ and his daughter followed in her daddies footsteps but that's just my opinion.

I actually support customary use and see absolutely no harm in people traversing the beach, coping a squat in the dry sand on a towel, with an unassuming small umbrella (especially if they have a small child to protect them from the sun) and quietly enjoying what nature has provided.

I draw the line at massive boom boxes, exceptionally large tents, gas grills, big screen TV's, sofa's, rows and rows of empty beach chairs, trampling the dunes, relieving themselves in said dunes, leaving your trash on the beach and preventing our native wildlife (sea turtles) from nesting, as well as storage sheds left on the beach to store said beach chairs.

With that said, I also think there is a right way and a wrong way to do things and ultimately this will be decided in the Courts, as it should be. I think its a HUGE waste of WCSO resources to intentionally set out to have yourself arrested by falling on the proverbial sword to show your "peeps" you're willing to be the hero and get yourself thrown in jail for the cause or to make a name for yourself. It's ridiculous!

Bottom line is, take only memories, leave only footprints.

This is just my personal observation of all the customary use hoopla. Ten years ago this was never an issue. Over the course of these 10 years the BCC and TDC have done extremely well in marketing and allowing over building in our area. With only 26 miles of beachfront property, you`d think that the powers in charge would slow the development down in our area. The more people you try to shove in this stretch of beach, the more issues are going to arise, thats where we are now = customary use. There are to many people now trying to access the beach. The population has exploded here and the beach has stayed the same. The private property owners probably had no idea this would be happening. they purchased gulf front property to have their slice of heaven, paid property taxes on it for all the years of ownership and now thanks to our wonderful BCC and TDC, want to take from them and give it to the public. Unbelievable
Thankfully, I live on waterfront property - in Freeport.

This is just my personal observation of all the customary use hoopla. Ten years ago this was never an issue. Over the course of these 10 years the BCC and TDC have done extremely well in marketing and allowing over building in our area. With only 26 miles of beachfront property, you`d think that the powers in charge would slow the development down in our area. The more people you try to shove in this stretch of beach, the more issues are going to arise, thats where we are now = customary use. There are to many people now trying to access the beach. The population has exploded here and the beach has stayed the same. The private property owners probably had no idea this would be happening. they purchased gulf front property to have their slice of heaven, paid property taxes on it for all the years of ownership and now thanks to our wonderful BCC and TDC, want to take from them and give it to the public. Unbelievable
Thankfully, I live on waterfront property - in Freeport.

I agree with most of what you said Gumby but...

I posted an Editorial here the other day which you can read here, Interesting Editorial in today's paper that raises questions for me about the actual taxes paid.

Of particular interest to me was this comment:

Whether your property line stops at the dunes or goes down to the Gulf, your taxes aren’t different. That’s because any land beyond those dunes can’t be developed. There’s nothing you can do with it, so those lands, owned or not, do not impact property values.
The land value that determines the fair market value of these homes, thereby deciding how much tax should be paid for that land, is based on the amount of land owned at the Coast Construction Control Line. If both you and your neighbor have 180 feet of Gulf-facing land, and all things are equal with that land except that you own to the high mean-water line and your neighbor’s deed stops at the dunes, your land will have the same accessed value.

Obviously, that doesn’t mean your taxes are the same. What you’ve put on that land will impact your value, as will dozens of other factors in the state of Florida, but owning a deed to the beach’s dry sand doesn’t increase the value at all. It’s worthless.

If its worthless, its senseless to fight over it.

When people “stand up” for what they believe in, shouldn’t they state what they are so passionate about rather than feigning ignorance for what they are doing? Daniel and Justin were insulting to the sheriffs department by pretending they didn’t know wet sand etc. And condescendingly dismissive to the tourist who’s children were afraid. Why didn’t they say they were there to protest private beaches? That’s what ‘stand up’ guys do.

Wow. Mean spirited much? If you don't know what standing up for our community looks like then no one can help you understand this basic but critical concept. The sheriff's office needs clarification of the governor's executive order as much as the people do. It takes all of our efforts to do our part for our beach town. Supporting each other and not tearing into one another. Protesting and working in many ways. These two men showed up for us. I am grateful.

I don't think Justin and Daniel were insulting at all. The wet sand argument is absurd, as you can clearly see. We can speculate about who is right and wrong here, but until a survey is produced, nothing can be proven. My feeling is that the person who called the authorities is insulting, since they have absolutely nothing to prove that Justin and Daniel are trespassing.

These two men showed up for us. I am grateful.

Who is US?

I assure you Teresa they were not there for me and similarly they obviously were not there for others posting here and I live in a beach community county! I agree with gailforce.

This isn't the first time Uhlfelder has imposed himself in a controversial "cause" and I'm sure it won't be the last. He seems to thrive on creating animosity and pitting neighbors against neighbors. If that's what "US" is all about, I'm happy not to be a part of it.

Who is US?

I assure you Teresa they were not there for me and similarly they obviously were not there for others posting here and I live in a beach community county! I agree with gailforce.

This isn't the first time Uhlfelder has imposed himself in a controversial "cause" and I'm sure it won't be the last. He seems to thrive on creating animosity and pitting neighbors against neighbors. If that's what "US" is all about, I'm happy not to be a part of it.

Oh I see. It's because he wanted the confederate flag removed from county government property? Please keep the racism out of customary use!

Oh I see. It's because he wanted the confederate flag removed from county government property? Please keep the racism out of customary use!

Ummm, I didn't mention the issue or other "cause" I just said it wasn't the first!!

Thanks to Daniel and Justin for doing this. They are definitively doing what I think is right and I have been doing the same, on a much quieter level. I am proud to know them both!

Good for Daniel and Justin. good for Daniel about the confederate flag issue too.

I did vote for Tump but i will never forgive Huckabees role in this matter of customary use - and i am not a bigot!!!!!!

Who is US?

I assure you Teresa they were not there for me and similarly they obviously were not there for others posting here and I live in a beach community county! I agree with gailforce.

This isn't the first time Uhlfelder has imposed himself in a controversial "cause" and I'm sure it won't be the last. He seems to thrive on creating animosity and pitting neighbors against neighbors. If that's what "US" is all about, I'm happy not to be a part of it.

US is our South Walton community. The people who love our beaches and don't want to see them taken. Who care about the future of our businesses and livelihoods. Who want our children to be able to grow up on the same beaches we did. The people who love our community enough to make a stand, get arrested and go to jail to bring the attention that is needed to this situation made even more confusing by the governor's order. The people who dare to stand on dry sand. All of the people who are residents visitors and beach lovers near and far who want to always be able to walk and play on the world's most beautiful beaches They are us.

Please take your personal grievances elsewhere. It doesn't pertain to the issue at all. It never did pertain to any other issue either. It is not productive and serves no purpose. And it doesn't look good on you

Arrests and national stories will hasten the legal battle.

Very true. And hopefully eventually embarrass the legistators who voted for this.

AND...reveal who was behind this state wide legislation that seemed to be aimed at Walton County. My hope is it shines a very bright light on Walton County.

well said Teresa...

very well said...

US is our South Walton community. The people who love our beaches and don't want to see them taken. Who care about the future of our businesses and livelihoods. Who want our children to be able to grow up on the same beaches we did. The people who love our community enough to make a stand, get arrested and go to jail to bring the attention that is needed to this situation made even more confusing by the governor's order. The people who dare to stand on dry sand. All of the people who are residents visitors and beach lovers near and far who want to always be able to walk and play on the world's most beautiful beaches They are us.

Please take your personal grievances elsewhere. It doesn't pertain to the issue at all. It never did pertain to any other issue either. It is not productive and serves no purpose. And it doesn't look good on you

Contraire Teresa, I don't have a personal grievance. We are one Community but its sounds like to me, you think its exclusive to just SoWal. We all want to prosper and be able to enjoy the beaches and businesses in Walton County. I have said repeatedly I am for customary use and can't make that any plainer.

I just think the "cause" issue was weak. In fact Dave R. has made a much larger impression than Uhlfelder and it didn't require the police.

Contraire Teresa, I don't have a personal grievance. We are one Community but its sounds like to me, you think its exclusive to just SoWal. We all want to prosper and be able to enjoy the beaches and businesses in Walton County. I have said repeatedly I am for customary use and can't make that any plainer.

I just think the "cause" issue was weak. In fact Dave R. has made a much larger impression than Uhlfelder and it didn't require the police.

To repeat... US includes anyone, locals, visitors and beach lovers near and far who care about keeping customary use of our beaches. Justin and Daniel care enough to go out and test the executive order which we now know has zero meaning or applicability. Their effort is just as important as anyone else's. We have a long way to go. Many challenges as a community. Let us work together.

You know, I had no opinion on Daniel Uhlfelder until today when I first saw the video and until after tonight’s customary use meeting.

There’s no question he’s unnecessarily creating chaos with the the Sheriff’s department, beach front owners and beach goers that might get a false sense of security from his antics.

Yeah, he’s a lawyer. The Sheriff is not going to arrest him and put him on a pedestal for obvious reasons.

I just feel sorry for the next “country Joe” who thinks they can try and get away with same thing but then finds themselves in jail because they don’t have the same influence as Daniel Uhlfelder. In my book he’s just pushing his name. Sad, but many people can be convinced to drink the same Kool-Aid.

You know, I had no opinion on Daniel Uhlfelder until today when I first saw the video and until after tonight’s customary use meeting.

There’s no question he’s unnecessarily creating chaos with the the Sheriff’s department, beach front owners and beach goers that might get a false sense of security from his antics.

Yeah, he’s a lawyer. The Sheriff is not going to arrest him and put him on a pedestal for obvious reasons.

I just feel sorry for the next “country Joe” who thinks they can try and get away with same thing but then finds themselves in jail because they don’t have the same influence as Daniel Uhlfelder. In my book he’s just pushing his name. Sad, but many people can be convinced to drink the same Kool-Aid.

Thank you BMBV. I witnessed him speak tonight as well. One of his comments was that he was scared to death they would actually arrest him and put him in jail yet, he called the media, he posted the video of himself drawing lines in the sand and was arguing or being confrontational with the WCSO deputies on scene and did it 2 days running knowing what the possible consequences were before he ever went.

By his own admission (tonight) he knows how the game is played in Tallahassee because of his father's connections and he knows (but would not name) who lined who's pockets in Tallahassee to get the bill passed.

I respect his right to protest the issue but I'm not a fan of the way he chose to do it. By his own admission he called the media and invited them to watch his antics and I also know that when a newspaper reporter wrote the first article about his antics and how he went about it, Uhlfelder was on the phone almost immediately after it hit social media because he did not like that the reporter accurately called him out on his BS.

Ultimately, this will be decided in the courts at taxpayer expense. I know you and I don't agree about the customary use issue for obvious reasons but at the end of the day I still agree to disagree with you on the issue and there are so many other issues we do actually agree on. There is no happy medium here and right now allota people are hyped up and super passionate/heated/mad/angry (what ever) about customary use.

I started to speak tonight but because it was a last minute, spur of the moment decision to go to Sowal, I didn't. Many of my own thoughts were mirror images of those who did speak and anything I may have added seemed redundant.

I didn't come away knowing anymore than I did before I went except that there were/are some consummate politicians who spoke tonight, including 2 at the table on stage who are pandering to public opinion to get themselves re-elected. Larry Jones would also like to keep his job. We are in this mess because of what the County has done and ultimately what Drake didn't do in Tallahassee.

The voters need to remember that.

Here is the truth folks:

There was a deal made between our local blue mountain beach front owner Huckabee with the Speaker of the House Richard Corcoran.

Even the person that confided that information to me called it "dirty politics"

So we are the only ones in Florida stuck with this law and a have to prove customary use - in the meantime we have to stay on the wet sand on non-public beaches.

Huckabbe - you are a trader to your faith - to the people of Walton County - to the visitors that spend a lot of money to come to the beach - and the business owners who will suffer when this law impacts tourism and sales.

Ultimately, this will be decided in the courts at taxpayer expense.

Is there anyway to excuse myself from paying taxes in Walton County? I`m not a fan of my tax dollars being use for this issue. Can I please opt out?