A Better South Walton Town Hall Meetings: Aug 23 & 25

[Teresa]

A Better South Walton (ABSW), a volunteer organization dedicated to seeking more effective governance and local representation for South Walton, is holding two town hall meetings to discuss the recently released charter summary and its impact on the proposed municipality of South Walton. These meetings will give the community the chance to get the information about the ABSW initiative, ask questions and voice their concerns.

The topics covered at the town hall meetings, free and open to the public, will include the charter summary and its framework for the proposed municipality, updates to the feasibility study and the results of a recent survey on naming conventions for the proposed municipality of South Walton. Each meeting will discuss the concerns for the future of South Walton and how the benefits of incorporation address those concerns. The process for incorporation will also be explained.

“The charter summary details how the municipal government will be structured and function,” states David Pleat, president of A Better South Walton. “With the community’s feedback, we will incorporate those ideas and suggestions into a final charter summary that will define South Walton. It has never been more important to have the community to join us for our town hall meetings, we want to hear what you have to say.”

The meetings will be held:

Tuesday, August 23rd
5:30 PM
Rosemary Beach Town Hall
S. Barrett Square
Rosemary Beach, FL

Thursday, August 25th
5:30 PM
560 Grand Boulevard, Suite 101
Miramar Beach, FL
(Across from Grand Park and Cantina Laredo)

The completed charter summary can now be found on the ABSW website.

For more information on ABSW and how you can get involved by signing the petition, volunteering, or making a donation, please visit A Better South Walton or email ABSW.

A Better South Walton
A Better South Walton (ABSW) is made up of a diverse group of citizen volunteers who share a concern about the future of South Walton. The mission of ABSW is to seek more effective governance and local representation for South Walton to preserve and enhance its unique character, property values and quality of life.

The focus of ABSW is thoughtful analysis and discussion regarding ideas for more effective local governance and therefore, the future of South Walton. ABSW will also work to encourage the citizens of South Walton to weigh in formally and have a say in determining how South Walton will be managed going forward.

 

[jodiFL]

I hope everyone keeps an eye on our neighbor Destin and brings up the times just this year they have been discussing tax increases for various projects. This will be our future also in we go forward with incorporation. You come in from a "city" and expect all those amenities those cities had,they have to be paid for some how. Dont think the county is going to fork over the $$ easily.

 

[Patriot Games]

I think I'd rather pay more to have a say so, than to pay most to 4 peoples desires who live north of the bridge and only bring 10 % to the table. I think I heard one time that some people left England because they didn't want to give this "Family" a bunch of tax money without any say so. So they left to their own island and let their own people who paid the taxes decide what to do with it. I heard it was a little painful but worked out OK. they even started to say Taxation with out Representation is mot fair and made a saturday morning cartoon about it. It's on You Tube its called "No More Kings" check it out. Were really an island south of the bay....

 

[Bob Wells]

I think I'd rather pay more to have a say so, than to pay most to 4 peoples desires who live north of the bridge and only bring 10 % to the table. I think I heard one time that some people left England because they didn't want to give this "Family" a bunch of tax money without any say so. So they left to their own island and let their own people who paid the taxes decide what to do with it. I heard it was a little painful but worked out OK. they even started to say Taxation with out Representation is mot fair and made a saturday morning cartoon about it. It's on You Tube its called "No More Kings" check it out. Were really an island south of the bay....

And yet you will continue to pay the same taxes to the county that you do now. Ask Destin if they are paying more for enhanced police protection even though they are paying taxes for that. Look what the City of Freeport is taxing their citizens and then look at the services provided. Currently I own property south of the bridge and if I had a vote, would vote no.

 

[Bob Wells]

Also the same folks that seem to be financing elections at the county level seem to be from south of the bay. Do you think they would also finance a few candidates there also?

 

[Bob Wells]

Those folks who are also financing Tony Anderson think having a business license will negatively effect businesses, what do you think an additional tax is going to do?

 

[Patriot Games]

I'm not saying I'm totally for a city especially after some of the latest statistics by the school board. Over 600 new students moved to the county last year. New students south of the bridge outnumber ones north of the bridge about 4 to 1. That means family's and voters, not just tourist. Pretty soon the commissioners will have to capitulate and change their attitudes or the south vote will pick all 5 since elections are county wide.(Assuming the south goes to vote) I see the south being forever the economic engine of Walton County for the next 80 years and with not much commerce to offer but a nice place to live and low property taxes, I see Freeport as our future suburbs. Defuniak's future will depend on the city, but I 'm sure that all citizens support 331 staying routed through there least it kill the city and that's not good for anyone in the county. Management of the south and purchasing as much public land on the beach and also in freeport for future quality of life area's is the key to vision right now. Our investment now has to be in real property and quality of life initiatives for the community. If we start sliding down a slippery slope we will end up at the bottom and we will start to look like thomas drive in panama city. When that happens the golden goose will lay a rotten egg.

 

[Bob Wells]

I'm not saying I'm totally for a city especially after some of the latest statistics by the school board. Over 600 new students moved to the county last year. New students south of the bridge outnumber ones north of the bridge about 4 to 1. That means family's and voters, not just tourist. Pretty soon the commissioners will have to capitulate and change their attitudes or the south vote will pick all 5 since elections are county wide.(Assuming the south goes to vote) I see the south being forever the economic engine of Walton County for the next 80 years and with not much commerce to offer but a nice place to live and low property taxes, I see Freeport as our future suburbs. Defuniak's future will depend on the city, but I 'm sure that all citizens support 331 staying routed through there least it kill the city and that's not good for anyone in the county. Management of the south and purchasing as much public land on the beach and also in freeport for future quality of life area's is the key to vision right now. Our investment now has to be in real property and quality of life initiatives for the community. If we start sliding down a slippery slope we will end up at the bottom and we will start to look like thomas drive in panama city. When that happens the golden goose will lay a rotten egg.

I think I'd rather pay more to have a say so, than to pay most to 4 peoples desires who live north of the bridge and only bring 10 % to the table. I think I heard one time that some people left England because they didn't want to give this "Family" a bunch of tax money without any say so. So they left to their own island and let their own people who paid the taxes decide what to do with it. I heard it was a little painful but worked out OK. they even started to say Taxation with out Representation is mot fair and made a saturday morning cartoon about it. It's on You Tube its called "No More Kings" check it out. Were really an island south of the bay....

There is a conflict with these 2 post. SoWal could, if they were so determined to, elect at least a majority of the County Commission and the Our Generation group could prove that in this election.

 

[Patriot Games]

Those folks who are also financing Tony Anderson think having a business license will negatively effect businesses, what do you think an additional tax is going to do?

Bob,
How do you even know who's in business if nobody has a license? It's not the tax it's about accountability. The license could be 25 bucks a year just to cover administrative costs. How do you ensure a business is legit and up to code for the public if you don't even know who is doing what. Wait till somebody gets hurt or food poisoning on the beach from an unlicensed vendor selling food or renting bikes and mopeds. The lawyers might have a field day with no way to account for who is legit doing business in public area's. People who have licenses tend to have insurance and meet requirements rather than undocumented people doing services for cash. Any business can afford 25 bucks. If they don't have a license they'll be doing business in a resedential neighborhood and bring in 25 cars in and out and claim, "Prove we are a business". thats already happening some in the south in neighborhoods without good covenants and no way to enforce it or track who's who.

 

[Patriot Games]

There is a conflict with these 2 post. SoWal could, if they were so determined to, elect at least a majority of the County Commission and the Our Generation group could prove that in this election.

No it's not, ones about the future and one is about now. I do change my opinion sometimes based on things I read or new information I learn.