Scenic Highway 30A signage update
- Thread starter tsutcli
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I wondered about this too as we rode the motorcycle down 30-A yesterday...Admittedly i don't get down 30A much so I had not actually seen the big blue signs until yesterday. They are ginormous!
I read somewhere that it was September 29
A quick summary status of signage along Scenic Highway 30A:
o In June, the Walton County Tourist Development Council voted to immediately remove the community the signs placed along Scenic Highway 30A and eventually remove the directional signs both on feeder roads and along 30A once a new community influenced design was agreed upon.
o The community signs were immediately removed.
o Two meetings were held organized by Scenic Pride to discuss future sign designs and to review the proposed design for signage along the Timpoochee Trail. Community input was given and safety signs for Timpoochee Trail are currently being developed. Safety signs are anticipated to be installed along the bike path this winter.
o Friends of Scenic 30A (formally the Corridor Advocacy Group) is holding regular meetings to begin the implementation of the Corridor Management Plan (CMP). Friends of Scenic 30A is working in partnership with the community, citizen organizations, State Parks, the BCC, the Walton Chamber, the TDC, the Coastal Dune Lake Advisory, the FDOT and government officials to oversee scenic highway beautification and complete the goals set forth in the CMP.
o Among the goals outlined in the CMP the “Transportation Planning & Safety” section includes the following objectives: to work with Walton County, community and TDC on wayfinding plan and to improve directional signs along Timpoochee Trail system and at Point Washington State Park and remove repetitive non-conforming signage.
o Friends of Scenic 30A is currently seeking a part-time coordinator to oversee the organization’s activities including applications for grants, public meetings and the implementation of the CMP.
o Public meetings are regularly held and the next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. at the Bayou Arts Center of Walton County off CR 393. For more information, contact office of Commissioner Cindy Meadows at meacindy@co.walton.fl.us or 850-622-3059.
o As part of the official scenic highway designation six Florida Department of Transportation Florida Scenic Highway signs will be placed at entrance points to Scenic Highway 30A.
o Citizens who have businesses or homes along the scenic corridor are encouraged to attend the Friends of Scenic 30A meetings to participate in the implementation of the Corridor Management Plan and visioning for the new wayfinding signage design.
o In June, the Walton County Tourist Development Council voted to immediately remove the community the signs placed along Scenic Highway 30A and eventually remove the directional signs both on feeder roads and along 30A once a new community influenced design was agreed upon.
o The community signs were immediately removed.
o Two meetings were held organized by Scenic Pride to discuss future sign designs and to review the proposed design for signage along the Timpoochee Trail. Community input was given and safety signs for Timpoochee Trail are currently being developed. Safety signs are anticipated to be installed along the bike path this winter.
o Friends of Scenic 30A (formally the Corridor Advocacy Group) is holding regular meetings to begin the implementation of the Corridor Management Plan (CMP). Friends of Scenic 30A is working in partnership with the community, citizen organizations, State Parks, the BCC, the Walton Chamber, the TDC, the Coastal Dune Lake Advisory, the FDOT and government officials to oversee scenic highway beautification and complete the goals set forth in the CMP.
o Among the goals outlined in the CMP the “Transportation Planning & Safety” section includes the following objectives: to work with Walton County, community and TDC on wayfinding plan and to improve directional signs along Timpoochee Trail system and at Point Washington State Park and remove repetitive non-conforming signage.
o Friends of Scenic 30A is currently seeking a part-time coordinator to oversee the organization’s activities including applications for grants, public meetings and the implementation of the CMP.
o Public meetings are regularly held and the next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. at the Bayou Arts Center of Walton County off CR 393. For more information, contact office of Commissioner Cindy Meadows at meacindy@co.walton.fl.us or 850-622-3059.
o As part of the official scenic highway designation six Florida Department of Transportation Florida Scenic Highway signs will be placed at entrance points to Scenic Highway 30A.
o Citizens who have businesses or homes along the scenic corridor are encouraged to attend the Friends of Scenic 30A meetings to participate in the implementation of the Corridor Management Plan and visioning for the new wayfinding signage design.
TDC Board Trying to test our resolve on the Removal of the Big Blue Signs
Below are all my recent communications with TDC Executive Director Sonny Mares regarding the time line of taking down the remaining Blue Signs. The TDC Board is dishonestly backing off their promise to take them down.
Good afternoon Sonny,
From: drmail61@gmail.com [mailto:drmail61@gmail.com] On Behalf Of David Rauschkolb
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2008 9:36 AM
To: Sonny Mares
Thanks for the heads up. I just wanted to ask you what the timetable for taking down the remaining tall blue signs is. The end of the season is upon us. Feel free to give me a call or email me. Hope you are enjoying your new position. I was certainly glad to see you get it. Thanks Sonny,
Dave Rauschkolb
Scenic Pride Initiative
Wed, Sep 3, 2008 at 7:24 PM
Hello, Dave;
The end of season is the closing of the lifeguard towers along the eight regional accesses, and that date is Sunday, September 28th. At our upcoming meeting, I am reminding our TDC board this was our commitment to the community. Again, I appreciate your support, and hope your season was tremendous.
Best,
Sonny
On Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 8:22 AM, Sonny Mares <smares@beachesofsouthwalton.com> wrote:
Dave,
I had told you I intended to remove the Way Finding signs the end of September, and proceeded to notify my board of that plan. I received board complaints that this action was not their vote. Upon reviewing the tape of the meeting, indeed the motion was:
"...remove the property signs, and adjust the directional signs (if possible) to their proper heights and leave them in place as a temporary measure until permanent agreed upon signs can be presented."
Therefore, I can not remove the signs until the above is satisfied. We have participated in several of the Friends of Scenic 30-A meetings, and within their slate of projects is to work with the TDC to find an acceptable alternative to our Way Finding signs. The Timpoochee project has been significantly delayed, and I do not know when these safety signs will be installed. As you will recall, you were hopeful that design would translate into a replacement for our design. We will have to wait and see.
Sonny
Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 9:01 AM
subject Re: Way Finding Signs
No Sonny, This is totally unacceptable. The whole community was at the meeting and your board agreed the tall blue signs would come down at the end of the season. We will not rest until they are ALL down. There was no misunderstanding whatsoever. Even you acknowledged your understanding that the decision by the board was they all would come down and you planned to remove them in your last two emails and you are the Executive Director.
This is a very dishonest move on the TDC board's part. It was clear to every person in that room the signs would be removed at the end of the season and we have all been patiently awaiting their removal.
No Sonny, this will not stand. Inform your board we will be attending the next board meeting; plan for a big crowd. Thank you.
Dave Rauschkolb
Scenic Pride Initiative.
Below are all my recent communications with TDC Executive Director Sonny Mares regarding the time line of taking down the remaining Blue Signs. The TDC Board is dishonestly backing off their promise to take them down.
Good afternoon Sonny,
From: drmail61@gmail.com [mailto:drmail61@gmail.com] On Behalf Of David Rauschkolb
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2008 9:36 AM
To: Sonny Mares
Thanks for the heads up. I just wanted to ask you what the timetable for taking down the remaining tall blue signs is. The end of the season is upon us. Feel free to give me a call or email me. Hope you are enjoying your new position. I was certainly glad to see you get it. Thanks Sonny,
Dave Rauschkolb
Scenic Pride Initiative
Wed, Sep 3, 2008 at 7:24 PM
Hello, Dave;
The end of season is the closing of the lifeguard towers along the eight regional accesses, and that date is Sunday, September 28th. At our upcoming meeting, I am reminding our TDC board this was our commitment to the community. Again, I appreciate your support, and hope your season was tremendous.
Best,
Sonny
On Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 8:22 AM, Sonny Mares <smares@beachesofsouthwalton.com> wrote:
Dave,
I had told you I intended to remove the Way Finding signs the end of September, and proceeded to notify my board of that plan. I received board complaints that this action was not their vote. Upon reviewing the tape of the meeting, indeed the motion was:
"...remove the property signs, and adjust the directional signs (if possible) to their proper heights and leave them in place as a temporary measure until permanent agreed upon signs can be presented."
Therefore, I can not remove the signs until the above is satisfied. We have participated in several of the Friends of Scenic 30-A meetings, and within their slate of projects is to work with the TDC to find an acceptable alternative to our Way Finding signs. The Timpoochee project has been significantly delayed, and I do not know when these safety signs will be installed. As you will recall, you were hopeful that design would translate into a replacement for our design. We will have to wait and see.
Sonny
Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 9:01 AM
subject Re: Way Finding Signs
No Sonny, This is totally unacceptable. The whole community was at the meeting and your board agreed the tall blue signs would come down at the end of the season. We will not rest until they are ALL down. There was no misunderstanding whatsoever. Even you acknowledged your understanding that the decision by the board was they all would come down and you planned to remove them in your last two emails and you are the Executive Director.
This is a very dishonest move on the TDC board's part. It was clear to every person in that room the signs would be removed at the end of the season and we have all been patiently awaiting their removal.
No Sonny, this will not stand. Inform your board we will be attending the next board meeting; plan for a big crowd. Thank you.
Dave Rauschkolb
Scenic Pride Initiative.
This was indeed similar to the way I remembered the final motion which passed, and that is why I thought it was crap. I don't remember that last phrase about signs being "presented," but I understood it to be that they old signs wouldn't come down until the replacement signs were ready to install. The problem I had with that is that it could be forever if the TDC decided to forget about it and not order replacement signs.
From what I remember, the first motion, which failed, was more along the lines of what you are describing, Dave.
Here we go again! 
I vote some ninja vigilantes take the pucking blue monsters down! 