Please watch the 10pm edition of the Channel 7 News tonight. They will be airing a story regarding a serious issue brought before the BCC at this afternoon's meeting.
Alan
Alan
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At the April 14 Walton County Board of County Commission meeting Allan Osborne, a resident of South Walton and former candidate for county commissioner in last year's election, made allegations of ethics violations byDist. 1 Commissioner Scott Brannon.
Osborne presented documentation to the board showing Brannon is a partner in a corporation with C. Wayne Jones. Jones is the sole prioprietor of CWJ Holdings, which owns 70 lots in Driftwood, which were puchased from Rick Olsen dba Northtip Development, the original developer of Driftwood Estates.
Jones is one of the managing members of Freeport Group LLC along with Scott and Ronnie Brannon and Angus "Gus" Andrews.
"I have a problem with this," said Osborne. "The state statute specifies that no officer may participate in any vote in which they may have special gain or loss. On at least two occasions (Brannon) voted on issues pertaining to Driftwood and he is violation of the sunshine laws."
Commission Chair Sara Comander made an attempt to stop Osborne as he presented his case to the commissioners to which Osborne replied, "I am not finished speaking Madam Comander."
County Attorney Mike Burke interrupted Osborne at that point.
"Mr. Osborne you are making allegations here and have overstepped your bounds," Burke said. "You need to take this to the appropriate governing body. This is not the body to address these issues to."
"I didn't spend 20 years fighting for my rights to have them taken away from me," Osborne said. "When the ethics committee contacts you can't say I did not make you aware of what has happened. When you sit on this board you have to follow the laws of the state," Osborne retorted. His comments brought applause from some audience members.
Osborne said he has requested and was granted permission from the Driftwood Home Owners' Association to pursue the charges with the state Ethics Commission. Osborne said he has also spoke to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI.
"I wanted the other board members to be made aware of this," said Osborne.
"This is a miscarriage of justice," Osborne said. "This issue has been tainted for nearly five years now and it's time for the governor to step in."
Osborne has been representing a group of homeowners at the Driftwood subdivision for almost five years. They contend the developer did not follow the approved development plan and the original Development of Regional Impact approved under the Sandestin DRI. This failure has caused the subdivision to be inundated with water during times of heavy rain because of the inadequate storm water management system currently in place.
Osborne has repeatedly asked the BCC to hold the development is not in compliance citing various inconsistencies throughout Driftwood's developmental history. He said because Brannon voted to not uphold the noncompliance, Brannon essentially enriched his business partner, Jones. Had the development been held in non compliance it would have greatly reduced the value of Jones' holdings in Driftwood, which Osborne estimated to have a current tax value of approximately $4.5 million.
Once Osborne concluded his presentation, Comander immediately adjourned the meeting and the commissioners left the room. None of the commissioners could be located for comment after the meeting.
So they just shut down the meeting and left? That seems rather unusual.
Please watch the 10pm edition of the Channel 7 News tonight. They will be airing a story regarding a serious issue brought before the BCC at this afternoon's meeting.
Alan