Help Preserve Eastern Lake Inlet
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Are they still building there?
The TDC is trying to build bathrooms, parking lots, boardwalks, etc. etc. up the ying-yang. I wish they would pay heed to that wizened old philosopher, Paul McCartney, and just let it be.
Highly contested by residents of Eastern Lake, and many raised specific concerns about pending County development near and on the coastal dune, which shares a natural ecosystem with the Gulf. Residents of Eastern Lake voiced concerns and opposition to a proposed regional beach access that could affect the lake. To the delight of many residents in attendance, the BCC came ready to support the protection and conservation of Eastern Lake.
The Chairman of the BCC, Brad Drake (District 3), made a motion that he believed would be readily acceptable to everyone in attendance saying, “The Chair would entertain a motion to lay the item on the table and leave [it] pending indefinitely – meaning there would be no action [or pursuit to move forward with the regional beach access] meaning there would be no action [but] if another board [BCC} would like to pursue this [a change] in the future, they could.” Drake then asked, “Is there a motion?” The motion was made by Commissioner Danny Glidewell (District 2) and seconded by Commissioner Donna Johns (District 4).
With an expeditious posture, the Chairman invited public comment, then asked whether anyone opposed the project, and asked those in opposition to raise their hands. Almost everyone’s hand in the audience was raised. Drake then indicated that there were “no persons here [in the BCC Conference Room] to speak in favor of it.” He added, “Everyone is in agreement. The motion on the floor is to abandon the project or to be pending.”
The Chairman of the BCC, Brad Drake (District 3), made a motion that he believed would be readily acceptable to everyone in attendance saying, “The Chair would entertain a motion to lay the item on the table and leave [it] pending indefinitely – meaning there would be no action [or pursuit to move forward with the regional beach access] meaning there would be no action [but] if another board [BCC} would like to pursue this [a change] in the future, they could.” Drake then asked, “Is there a motion?” The motion was made by Commissioner Danny Glidewell (District 2) and seconded by Commissioner Donna Johns (District 4).
With an expeditious posture, the Chairman invited public comment, then asked whether anyone opposed the project, and asked those in opposition to raise their hands. Almost everyone’s hand in the audience was raised. Drake then indicated that there were “no persons here [in the BCC Conference Room] to speak in favor of it.” He added, “Everyone is in agreement. The motion on the floor is to abandon the project or to be pending.”
While it seems as if the commissioners were recognizing overwhelming public opposition to this proposed project, Chairman Drake repeatedly dodged efforts by Dan Curry to simply take a vote to defeat the project. What was voted on was simply to table it. It has now been tabled three times in two months and could re-appear at the next BCC meeting. It's almost like it has become a zombie proposal and it is our goal to drive a stake through the heart of this project.
That's a shame I wish we could protect our environment better.
S
Stevenson
SoWal Guest
Even though Walton County’s economic outlook revolves around tourism – local tourism leaders on the Tourism Development Council (TDC) accuse the Walton Board of County Commissioners (BCC) of ignoring their input – they say, to their peril.
The issue, tourism leaders say, came to a head over the BCC’s decision to purchase a parcel of land near the Eastern Lake Coastal Dunes for almost $10 million – only to decide against improving it for tourism purposes. The decision to leave the parcel as-is followed a contentious meeting in which the property’s neighbors came out in force to oppose planned improvements, including a parking lot and other amenities, to make the land more accessible to locals and tourists.
The Walton Tourism Development Council is made up of members who are typically experts in tourism and are appointed by various elected officials, including the Board of County Commissioners, for terms concurrent with their appointers.
TDC acting chair Amy Wise-Coble expressed her displeasure with the commission’s decision to use tourism development funds to purchase the land, and then bow to pressure to leave the parcel alone. She added in an interview after the meeting that she believes the county’s decision to skip the part of the decision-making process that involves the TDC meant the BCC has put themselves at risk for more SNAFUs where they decide to buy property with tourism development funds and then don’t use it for tourism.
Wise-Coble added that “I could not [begin to] tell you guys [the BCC] the level of frustration [existing] among your bed tax collectors right now, not just the ones on the TDC, but of course, [with] the short-term rental ordinance…the frustration level just continues to grow. And it might not be whether you have to ask the TDC something, but sometimes maybe you should put on ‘your hat’ that says, ‘Should we ask the TDC something?'”
Walton County reported in 2022 that visitors brought more than $7 Billion in economic activity to the area and generated about $62 million in taxes for purchases such as the Eastern Lake Parcel.
Protecting the Dunes – or beaches from tourists?
Save Eastern Lake, an advocacy group that wants to stop any sort of development on Eastern Lake, won when the BCC decided not to move forward with the improvement project.
However, Tourism Development Council member Tim Taylor said he believes residents with beachfront houses cynically used the guise of environmentalism to restrict access to ‘their’ beach near their homes.
“Spending that kind of money from the TDC [Bed Tax revenues]…neighbors [residents] are always going to resist when they’ve had a big open parcel that they can claim as their own,” Taylor explained,
“And so, that $9 million [spent on the Eastern Lake parcels means that] the public needs to go there. We need to get them down [to the Eastern Lake beach] on the tram system or [we need to] sell it, and let those adjoining neighbors see.” Taylor continued, “Let them [the Eastern Lake residents] put up their money, but just sell it for what we paid for it. And then let the neighbors work it out…We can’t spend $9 million and not make sure that the visitors don’t have a chance to get down there…”
The issue, tourism leaders say, came to a head over the BCC’s decision to purchase a parcel of land near the Eastern Lake Coastal Dunes for almost $10 million – only to decide against improving it for tourism purposes. The decision to leave the parcel as-is followed a contentious meeting in which the property’s neighbors came out in force to oppose planned improvements, including a parking lot and other amenities, to make the land more accessible to locals and tourists.
The Walton Tourism Development Council is made up of members who are typically experts in tourism and are appointed by various elected officials, including the Board of County Commissioners, for terms concurrent with their appointers.
TDC acting chair Amy Wise-Coble expressed her displeasure with the commission’s decision to use tourism development funds to purchase the land, and then bow to pressure to leave the parcel alone. She added in an interview after the meeting that she believes the county’s decision to skip the part of the decision-making process that involves the TDC meant the BCC has put themselves at risk for more SNAFUs where they decide to buy property with tourism development funds and then don’t use it for tourism.
Wise-Coble added that “I could not [begin to] tell you guys [the BCC] the level of frustration [existing] among your bed tax collectors right now, not just the ones on the TDC, but of course, [with] the short-term rental ordinance…the frustration level just continues to grow. And it might not be whether you have to ask the TDC something, but sometimes maybe you should put on ‘your hat’ that says, ‘Should we ask the TDC something?'”
Walton County reported in 2022 that visitors brought more than $7 Billion in economic activity to the area and generated about $62 million in taxes for purchases such as the Eastern Lake Parcel.
Protecting the Dunes – or beaches from tourists?
Save Eastern Lake, an advocacy group that wants to stop any sort of development on Eastern Lake, won when the BCC decided not to move forward with the improvement project.
However, Tourism Development Council member Tim Taylor said he believes residents with beachfront houses cynically used the guise of environmentalism to restrict access to ‘their’ beach near their homes.
“Spending that kind of money from the TDC [Bed Tax revenues]…neighbors [residents] are always going to resist when they’ve had a big open parcel that they can claim as their own,” Taylor explained,
“And so, that $9 million [spent on the Eastern Lake parcels means that] the public needs to go there. We need to get them down [to the Eastern Lake beach] on the tram system or [we need to] sell it, and let those adjoining neighbors see.” Taylor continued, “Let them [the Eastern Lake residents] put up their money, but just sell it for what we paid for it. And then let the neighbors work it out…We can’t spend $9 million and not make sure that the visitors don’t have a chance to get down there…”
S
Stevenson
SoWal Guest
At the heart of the issue, Wise-Coble believes, is the lack of communication – and attendance from Walton County Commissioners at the TDC.
She says her committee is there to provide experts in the field of tourism to help commissioners make informed decisions about the county’s most important industry. Wise-Coble said that the Eastern Lake project didn’t come before the TDC; it went straight to the commission for a vote, and now they’ve spent money they can’t get back.
“[Walton County] needs to have a chain of command that strictly adheres and does things, and sets goals, and puts everything forward for that entity,” Curry said, “There’s no Executive Director, and this is what comes to [and brings focus on] communication…You had the TDC members, including the Chair [Commissioner Drake], say, ‘yes, we need an executive director.’ How many months ago was that?”
The Commission has broached the idea of hiring a new executive director to lead the Tourism Development Department (TDD) of Walton County, but has yet to pull the trigger on a new hire. Director Matt Algarin currently leads the Department.
She says her committee is there to provide experts in the field of tourism to help commissioners make informed decisions about the county’s most important industry. Wise-Coble said that the Eastern Lake project didn’t come before the TDC; it went straight to the commission for a vote, and now they’ve spent money they can’t get back.
“[Walton County] needs to have a chain of command that strictly adheres and does things, and sets goals, and puts everything forward for that entity,” Curry said, “There’s no Executive Director, and this is what comes to [and brings focus on] communication…You had the TDC members, including the Chair [Commissioner Drake], say, ‘yes, we need an executive director.’ How many months ago was that?”
The Commission has broached the idea of hiring a new executive director to lead the Tourism Development Department (TDD) of Walton County, but has yet to pull the trigger on a new hire. Director Matt Algarin currently leads the Department.
The TDC accomplished its goal to promote tourism when it acquired the property. It removed 2.7 acres of beach from private property and made it public property. There has always been been the same amount of access to this property for over 50 years. The TDC’s purchase increased the access from 30’ to over 330’. Building pavement and bathrooms adjacent to a Coastal Dune Lake outflow will only degrade this environment and not enhance anything. The TDC should be proud that it helped preserve this natural treasure and work together with the BCc to keep it protected.