The Walton Commissioners continued the discussion on the proposed new TDC Visitor’s Center. The Florida Forest Service submitted a letter of response. The Tourist Development Council Board made a recommendation to build a new Visitor’s Center that would also be a Discovery Center on Forest land south of the 331 and 98 intersection. This proposal has met with a lot of resistance from the public with many wanting to not take away from the Forest.
The letter from the Florida Forestry Service says their goal is to protect and enhance the Point Washington State Forest. They say they will take any proposals from the county and consider it and forward it to the Florida Division of State Lands. The letter states the FFS wants the project to have the support of the local community.
Commissioner Cecilia Jones made a motion to deny the TDC Council recommendation to proceed with swapping land with the Forest. She said the TDC Council did their job, did what was asked of them. The motion passed.
Jones then made a motion to seek architectural design services so the process would start. Commissioners agreed they need to decide what kind of building they need and what land they need. Commissioner Larry Jones said they should allow the TDC Council to ponder what was discussed and either find a desirable piece of property and design a building to fit or decide what building is needed and find land to work with it.
TDC Director Dawn Moliterno said there was a recommendation made based on information from an outside firm that identified the building and staff needs. The motion passed, but commissioners reconsidered it to clarify involving the public in the needs assessment process. Commissioner Brannon voted no, because he feels involving the TDC Council would allow the public to be more involved.
Commissioners also agreed to bring in temporary buildings to make sure the current TDC building has some safety issues taken care of.