We have a lot of details to be clarified on this emergency order to close public beaches. It may not be perfect but it's the right call for right now.
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Walton County COVID19 Updates
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We have a lot of details to be clarified on this emergency order to close public beaches. It may not be perfect but it's the right call for right now.
Wow, so you want to tell someone what they can and can't do on their property? Especially something as trivial as going out into their backyard?
Even though the county says they can't close private beaches, they certainly can close the water (think double red flags). This would be a further deterrent to short term renters.
This morning the Walton County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to pass an ordinance that will temporarily close all 26 miles of beach in Walton County to the public in order to slow or stop the spread of COVID-19. Board members struggled with this decision and acknowledged the devastating effects this will have for our local economy and jobs, but voted to pass the measure in hopes of saving lives of locals and visitors.
The action goes into effect immediately, and although owners of private beach still have legal access to their own property, board members are urging them to abide by the spirit of safety and caution they are putting forth county-wide.
The Walton County TDC will begin spreading this message immediately, and physically closing all beach accesses early tomorrow morning. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office has stated that they will be pushing for voluntary compliance, and pursuing an education-first response strategy.
These are unprecedented actions, and unprecedented times. We must stand together, and prepare to once again welcome visitors and the lifeblood that tourism brings to our economy as soon as conditions allow us to do so.
We are all in this together, and we are committed to help partner in any way that we can.
Best Regards,
Jay Tusa, CDME, CTIS, TMP
Executive Director
Walton County TDC
(850) 267-1216
Jay@VisitSouthWalton.com
The action goes into effect immediately, and although owners of private beach still have legal access to their own property, board members are urging them to abide by the spirit of safety and caution they are putting forth county-wide.
The Walton County TDC will begin spreading this message immediately, and physically closing all beach accesses early tomorrow morning. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office has stated that they will be pushing for voluntary compliance, and pursuing an education-first response strategy.
These are unprecedented actions, and unprecedented times. We must stand together, and prepare to once again welcome visitors and the lifeblood that tourism brings to our economy as soon as conditions allow us to do so.
We are all in this together, and we are committed to help partner in any way that we can.
Best Regards,
Jay Tusa, CDME, CTIS, TMP
Executive Director
Walton County TDC
(850) 267-1216
Jay@VisitSouthWalton.com
Yes, and hope they have the conscience to help our community, which in a health crisis like this, extends to the entire globe.
I love how they said they were going to practice "social distancing"; yet, they all passed around a single hand held microphone. Boneheads!
BREAKING: Okaloosa County Commissioners vote to close county beaches to the public. This comes after Walton County Commissioners voted to close their public beaches earlier this morning.
Are they allowing beachfront owners access to their beaches like we are?
SEASIDE
Social media post March 19
This curfew is prelude to our commercial closure. We love our visitors but please go home and come back when it’s safe. #socialdistance
