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GoodWitch58

Beach Fanatic

Perhaps you, as a tourist, could direct your complaint to [url]www.beachesofsouthwalton.com[/url] specifically marked for Sonny Mares, Director.

They are the ones who can best get something done.  Thanks for coming to visit--we are trying very hard to get people to pick up their stuff!  Your writing to the TDC Director could help.

Perhaps you, as a tourist, could direct your complaint to <a href="http://www.beachesofsouthwalton.com" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">www.beachesofsouthwalton.com</a> specifically marked for Sonny Mares, Director. 
 
They are the ones who can best get something done. Thanks for coming to visit--we are trying very hard to get people to pick up their stuff! Your writing to the TDC Director could help.

BeachSiO2

[quote="goodwitch58, post: 446012"]Perhaps you, as a tourist, could direct your complaint to [URL="http://www.beachesofsouthwalton.com"]www.beachesofsouthwalton.com[/URL] specifically marked for Sonny Mares, Director.

They are the ones who can best get something done.  Thanks for coming to visit--we are trying very hard to get people to pick up their stuff!  Your writing to the TDC Director could help.[/quote]

As has been posted previously, the TDC DOES NOT have the authority to remove items UNLESS it is left at a public beach access, or is left adjacent to a trash receptacle.  On privately-owned properties, Code Enforcement and the Sheriff's department takes the lead since it requires an enforcement action and the TDC has no enforcement powers.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="goodwitch58">Perhaps you, as a tourist, could direct your complaint to <a href="http://www.beachesofsouthwalton.com" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">www.beachesofsouthwalton.com</a> specifically marked for Sonny Mares, Director. 
 
They are the ones who can best get something done. Thanks for coming to visit--we are trying very hard to get people to pick up their stuff! Your writing to the TDC Director could help.</blockquote> 
As has been posted previously, the TDC DOES NOT have the authority to remove items UNLESS it is left at a public beach access, or is left adjacent to a trash receptacle. On privately-owned properties, Code Enforcement and the Sheriff&#039;s department takes the lead since it requires an enforcement action and the TDC has no enforcement powers.

tsutcli

[quote="BeachSiO2, post: 446019"]As has been posted previously, the TDC DOES NOT have the authority to remove items UNLESS it is left at a public beach access, or is left adjacent to a trash receptacle.  On privately-owned properties, Code Enforcement and the Sheriff's department takes the lead since it requires an enforcement action and the TDC has no enforcement powers.[/QUOTE]
Hopefully Mr Mares will forward this to the proper authoities.  Thanks for your feedback on your visit and I hope we will be doing better the next time you are down.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="BeachSiO2">As has been posted previously, the TDC DOES NOT have the authority to remove items UNLESS it is left at a public beach access, or is left adjacent to a trash receptacle. On privately-owned properties, Code Enforcement and the Sheriff&#039;s department takes the lead since it requires an enforcement action and the TDC has no enforcement powers.</blockquote>Hopefully Mr Mares will forward this to the proper authoities. Thanks for your feedback on your visit and I hope we will be doing better the next time you are down.

NotDeadYet

[quote]As has been posted previously, the TDC DOES NOT have the authority to remove items UNLESS it is left at a public beach access, or is left adjacent to a trash receptacle.[/quote]Yes. Well. Since I live here and use the same accesses daily and frequently, I can say from personal experience that the beach crews are very timid about removing abandoned stuff even when it fits within these guidelines, and even when it is clearly trashed. I am sorry if this sounds critical of crews that work very hard out in the heat and the sun all day long. I do respect what they do and appreciate their efforts. But I am beginning to suspect that there is some kind of unspoken unstated policy to be overly cautious lest they find themselves in the position of angering tourists or private property owners. These sorts of attitudes are usually "top down" in that they tend to come from management. Frankly, I don't see a strong, obvious commitment on the part of the TDC management to cleaning up our beaches and protecting turtle nesting. And I know that some of that attitude also comes from the BCC. What I am getting around to trying to say here is that we have become an anything goes beach. It is because of the "hands off" attitude from the BCC and the TDC management that we are in the position of needing more and more enforcement. IMHO.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="">As has been posted previously, the TDC DOES NOT have the authority to remove items UNLESS it is left at a public beach access, or is left adjacent to a trash receptacle.</blockquote>Yes. Well. Since I live here and use the same accesses daily and frequently, I can say from personal experience that the beach crews are very timid about removing abandoned stuff even when it fits within these guidelines, and even when it is clearly trashed. I am sorry if this sounds critical of crews that work very hard out in the heat and the sun all day long. I do respect what they do and appreciate their efforts. But I am beginning to suspect that there is some kind of unspoken unstated policy to be overly cautious lest they find themselves in the position of angering tourists or private property owners. These sorts of attitudes are usually &quot;top down&quot; in that they tend to come from management. Frankly, I don&#039;t see a strong, obvious commitment on the part of the TDC management to cleaning up our beaches and protecting turtle nesting. And I know that some of that attitude also comes from the BCC. What I am getting around to trying to say here is that we have become an anything goes beach. It is because of the &quot;hands off&quot; attitude from the BCC and the TDC management that we are in the position of needing more and more enforcement. IMHO.

[quote="BeachSiO2, post: 446019"]As has been posted previously, the TDC DOES NOT have the authority to remove items UNLESS it is left at a public beach access, or is left adjacent to a trash receptacle.  On privately-owned properties, Code Enforcement and the Sheriff's department takes the lead since it requires an enforcement action and the TDC has no enforcement powers.[/QUOTE]

I did not say they did. 

But, the TDC is constantly saying they hear this and that from tourists...so, if tourists are asking the TDC to do more to clean up the beach, the perhaps we just might see some leadership from the TDC.  If they took a pro-active approach to making sure the beach was cleaned up; i. e., if they worked with the BCC and the SO and the SWFD to make sure that everything that could possibly be done was done, then I think we would see a different outcome.

Frankly, I am getting a bit tired of the attitude that the TDC has no authority...IMO opinion, they have as much authority as they are willing to assume...and that doesn't appear to be much when it comes to cleaning up the beach.  What we need is some leadership.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="BeachSiO2">As has been posted previously, the TDC DOES NOT have the authority to remove items UNLESS it is left at a public beach access, or is left adjacent to a trash receptacle. On privately-owned properties, Code Enforcement and the Sheriff&#039;s department takes the lead since it requires an enforcement action and the TDC has no enforcement powers.</blockquote> 
I did not say they did. 
 
But, the TDC is constantly saying they hear this and that from tourists...so, if tourists are asking the TDC to do more to clean up the beach, the perhaps we just might see some leadership from the TDC. If they took a pro-active approach to making sure the beach was cleaned up; i. e., if they worked with the BCC and the SO and the SWFD to make sure that everything that could possibly be done was done, then I think we would see a different outcome. 
 
Frankly, I am getting a bit tired of the attitude that the TDC has no authority...IMO opinion, they have as much authority as they are willing to assume...and that doesn&#039;t appear to be much when it comes to cleaning up the beach. What we need is some leadership.

Jdarg

SoWal Expert

[quote="goodwitch58, post: 446035"]I did not say they did. 

But, the TDC is constantly saying they hear this and that from tourists...so, if tourists are asking the TDC to do more to clean up the beach, the perhaps we just might see some leadership from the TDC.  If they took a pro-active approach to making sure the beach was cleaned up; i. e., if they worked with the BCC and the SO and the SWFD to make sure that everything that could possibly be done was done, then I think we would see a different outcome.

[B] Frankly, I am getting a bit tired of the attitude that the TDC has no authority...IMO opinion, they have as much authority as they are willing to assume...and that doesn't appear to be much when it comes to cleaning up the beach.  What we need is some leadership.[/B][/quote]

I agree - the TDC needs to step up here.  It is hard to believe that beautiful beaches are not their #1 priority.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="goodwitch58">I did not say they did. 
 
But, the TDC is constantly saying they hear this and that from tourists...so, if tourists are asking the TDC to do more to clean up the beach, the perhaps we just might see some leadership from the TDC. If they took a pro-active approach to making sure the beach was cleaned up; i. e., if they worked with the BCC and the SO and the SWFD to make sure that everything that could possibly be done was done, then I think we would see a different outcome. 
 
 Frankly, I am getting a bit tired of the attitude that the TDC has no authority...IMO opinion, they have as much authority as they are willing to assume...and that doesn&#039;t appear to be much when it comes to cleaning up the beach. What we need is some leadership.</blockquote> 
I agree - the TDC needs to step up here. It is hard to believe that beautiful beaches are not their #1 priority.

Since I am not the TDC nor do I work for them, I should and will take a step back here.  The point I was trying to make was a simple one.  The TDC has no authority in removing items from a privately owned piece of land as that requires a legal interpretation of a violation of ordinance or statute which can only be done by an enforcement agency like code enforcement or the Sheriff's office.  That was the point I was trying to make.  Sorry if anyone is offended by my phrasing, but please note that I am aware of at least two occasions where the TDC had to replace items left on the beach not at public beach accesses that they had removed because they were not told to remove them by the appropriate agencies.

Since I am not the TDC nor do I work for them, I should and will take a step back here.  The point I was trying to make was a simple one.  The TDC has no authority in removing items from a privately owned piece of land as that requires a legal interpretation of a violation of ordinance or statute which can only be done by an enforcement agency like code enforcement or the Sheriff&#039;s office.  That was the point I was trying to make.  Sorry if anyone is offended by my phrasing, but please note that I am aware of at least two occasions where the TDC had to replace items left on the beach not at public beach accesses that they had removed because they were not told to remove them by the appropriate agencies.

Landlocked

We visited Mrs. LL's parents down in Orange Beach a couple weeks back and I noticed something ironic about the beach crap there.  
The [B]public[/B] beaches were spotless in comparison to the areas in front of the private beach homes.

You would think it would be the other way around.

We visited Mrs. LL&#039;s parents down in Orange Beach a couple weeks back and I noticed something ironic about the beach crap there. 
The public beaches were spotless in comparison to the areas in front of the private beach homes. 
 
You would think it would be the other way around.

[QUOTE]The TDC has no authority in removing items from a privately owned piece of land as that requires a legal interpretation of a violation of ordinance or statute which can only be done by an enforcement agency like code enforcement or the Sheriff's office.[/QUOTE]

Then by what authority has the TDC placed trash receptacles on private property?

I ask because it seems to follow from this reasoning that anything that does not fit in a trash receptacle placed on private property cannot legally be removed by the TDC unless ordered to do so by CE or SO. What then is the difference between a bunch of empty cans and a broken chair? The TDC can legally remove one but not the other? :confused:

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="">The TDC has no authority in removing items from a privately owned piece of land as that requires a legal interpretation of a violation of ordinance or statute which can only be done by an enforcement agency like code enforcement or the Sheriff&#039;s office.</blockquote> 
Then by what authority has the TDC placed trash receptacles on private property? 
 
I ask because it seems to follow from this reasoning that anything that does not fit in a trash receptacle placed on private property cannot legally be removed by the TDC unless ordered to do so by CE or SO. What then is the difference between a bunch of empty cans and a broken chair? The TDC can legally remove one but not the other? :confused:

[quote="NotDeadYet, post: 446107"]Then by what authority has the TDC placed trash receptacles on private property?

I ask because it seems to follow from this reasoning that anything that does not fit in a trash receptacle placed on private property cannot legally be removed by the TDC unless ordered to do so by CE or SO. What then is the difference between a bunch of empty cans and a broken chair? The TDC can legally remove one but not the other? :confused:[/quote]

These questions will be better served by someone who works for the TDC.  Maybe you could call or email.  Dave Sell, Beach Maintenance Manager would be the perfect contact and he always appreciates people contacting him to find out about the TDC's beach management program.  His email is [email]dsell@beachesofsouthwalton.com[/email] and (850) 267-1216 and (800) 822-6877.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="NotDeadYet">Then by what authority has the TDC placed trash receptacles on private property? 
 
I ask because it seems to follow from this reasoning that anything that does not fit in a trash receptacle placed on private property cannot legally be removed by the TDC unless ordered to do so by CE or SO. What then is the difference between a bunch of empty cans and a broken chair? The TDC can legally remove one but not the other? :confused:</blockquote> 
These questions will be better served by someone who works for the TDC. Maybe you could call or email. Dave Sell, Beach Maintenance Manager would be the perfect contact and he always appreciates people contacting him to find out about the TDC&#039;s beach management program. His email is <a href="mailto:dsell@beachesofsouthwalton.com">dsell@beachesofsouthwalton.com</a> and (850) 267-1216 and (800) 822-6877.

greenroomsurfer

I won't be as polite as Mr. BeachSio  but the bottom line is there is no other place in the world you can leave your crap out and it will not be stolen.  As far as the tourist go, PICK YOUR CRAP UP WHEN YOU LEAVE!!!!!!!!!   We live here and we are tired of all the supposed entitled people doing whatever the hell they want and it is O.K. because you are on vacation.  I have traveled all over the world and the term UGLY AMERICAN comes up and no where is is more prominent than it is here.  :bang::bang::bang:

I won&#039;t be as polite as Mr. BeachSio  but the bottom line is there is no other place in the world you can leave your crap out and it will not be stolen.  As far as the tourist go, PICK YOUR CRAP UP WHEN YOU LEAVE!!!!!!!!!   We live here and we are tired of all the supposed entitled people doing whatever the hell they want and it is O.K. because you are on vacation.  I have traveled all over the world and the term UGLY AMERICAN comes up and no where is is more prominent than it is here.  :bang::bang::bang:

Miss Kitty

Meow

[quote="Landlocked, post: 446069"]We visited Mrs. LL's parents down in Orange Beach a couple weeks back and I noticed something ironic about the beach crap there. 
The [B]public[/B] beaches were spotless in comparison to the areas in front of the private beach homes.
 
You would think it would be the other way around.[/quote]
 
My sister and her family just returned to Texas from their first visit to Orange Beach.  She raved about it!  Told me they dug holes...I politely asked her what they did at the end of the day with the holes.  She said..."well, we filled them in, it would be so dangerous to leave a hole for someone to fall into."  :clap:

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Landlocked">We visited Mrs. LL&#039;s parents down in Orange Beach a couple weeks back and I noticed something ironic about the beach crap there. 
The public beaches were spotless in comparison to the areas in front of the private beach homes. 
 
You would think it would be the other way around.</blockquote> 
My sister and her family just returned to Texas from their first visit to Orange Beach. She raved about it! Told me they dug holes...I politely asked her what they did at the end of the day with the holes. She said...&quot;well, we filled them in, it would be so dangerous to leave a hole for someone to fall into.&quot; :clap:

[quote] but the bottom line is there is no other place in the world you can leave your crap out and it will not be stolen.[/quote]Quite right. Most places, you cannot even leave it alone during the day, let alone all night.
Can you imagine trying to explain this dilemma to someone from South Florida?
:floor:

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="">but the bottom line is there is no other place in the world you can leave your crap out and it will not be stolen.</blockquote>Quite right. Most places, you cannot even leave it alone during the day, let alone all night. 
Can you imagine trying to explain this dilemma to someone from South Florida? 
:floor:

[quote="Miss Kitty, post: 446132"]My sister and her family just returned to Texas from their first visit to Orange Beach.  She raved about it!  Told me they dug holes...I politely asked her what they did at the end of the day with the holes.  She said..."well, we filled them in, it would be so dangerous to leave a hole for someone to fall into."  :clap:[/QUOTE]

I enjoy Orange Beach, too, but lets face it - It is just not in the same league as sowal.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Miss Kitty">My sister and her family just returned to Texas from their first visit to Orange Beach. She raved about it! Told me they dug holes...I politely asked her what they did at the end of the day with the holes. She said...&quot;well, we filled them in, it would be so dangerous to leave a hole for someone to fall into.&quot; :clap:</blockquote> 
I enjoy Orange Beach, too, but lets face it - It is just not in the same league as sowal.

Zebraspots

[quote="tolynne, post: 446002"]We just returned from our quick beach fix in Blue Mtn Beach. We had a wonderful time. I must make one complaint, regarding others disregard for the beautiful beach. People left their tents and chairs out and never put them up for the day, therefore walking on the beach at night was like a land mine. We even found holes dug during the day, left by whoever, and anyone could have fallen and really hurt themselves. We even found an old tent that had collapsed and was just left staked to the beach. I thought there was some type of enforcement to keep this from happening. This really needs to be enforced! Including the many litterbugs out there. Otherwise, we enjoyed our stay and will be back.[/quote]

Please come and visit frequently and bring others like you!

I'm sorry that the slobs detracted from your stay! We don't like them (or their crap) much either. ;-)

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="tolynne">We just returned from our quick beach fix in Blue Mtn Beach. We had a wonderful time. I must make one complaint, regarding others disregard for the beautiful beach. People left their tents and chairs out and never put them up for the day, therefore walking on the beach at night was like a land mine. We even found holes dug during the day, left by whoever, and anyone could have fallen and really hurt themselves. We even found an old tent that had collapsed and was just left staked to the beach. I thought there was some type of enforcement to keep this from happening. This really needs to be enforced! Including the many litterbugs out there. Otherwise, we enjoyed our stay and will be back.</blockquote> 
Please come and visit frequently and bring others like you! 
 
I&#039;m sorry that the slobs detracted from your stay! We don&#039;t like them (or their crap) much either. ;-)

Wastin Away

Beach Lover

I have a long paragraph in my rental agreement that states and explains the enforcement code and I also have a place that my guests must initial so that I know they have read that paragraph.  My last guests that stayed said they brought their things up everynight but that a lot of the other guests did not and a lot of them came through a rental company.  I wonder if they make their guests aware of the code.

tolynne

Beach Comber

I also rented our condo from Rivard and it is in their agreement plus a page about leaving the beach as you found it everyday, which in our case, leave all your crap out on the beach like everyone else. I am not saying all the guests did this, but it was pretty obvious the majority of them did. I also agree, Orange Beach, is nice, but not in the same league as the beaches you have and if I lived there, I would be more than alittle pissed. Americans have become so spoiled and also think "they" don't have to follow the rules anymore. Why is that? I will email to the link listed above with the concerns. 
 
I visit at least twice a year and hope to move down one day, either to retire or find a SNF (nursing home) nearby and continue my career. We love sowal and found it back in 1998 on a leisurely car trip while staying at Sandestin for a convention. I have never stayed anywhere else since then. I own no property and have rented through real estate agencies there, from seagrove to santa rosa.  Would love to find a place that is not through an agency, so if any of ya'll can hook me up..please do. I am hopefully going to be back in October for a long weekend if I can pull my husband away from a Bama football game. Since we are improved (????) I only was able to obtain Kentucky tickets this year but he is still looking, I have never resorted to ebay for tickets but my husband will do anything to be in T-town for a game....me....send me to the beaches of South Walton.

I also rented our condo from Rivard and it is in their agreement plus a page about leaving the beach as you found it everyday, which in our case, leave all your crap out on the beach like everyone else. I am not saying all the guests did this, but it was pretty obvious the majority of them did. I also agree, Orange Beach, is nice, but not in the same league as the beaches you have and if I lived there, I would be more than alittle pissed. Americans have become so spoiled and also think &quot;they&quot; don&#039;t have to follow the rules anymore. Why is that? I will email to the link listed above with the concerns. 
 
I visit at least twice a year and hope to move down one day, either to retire or find a SNF (nursing home) nearby and continue my career. We love sowal and found it back in 1998 on a leisurely car trip while staying at Sandestin for a convention. I have never stayed anywhere else since then. I own no property and have rented through real estate agencies there, from seagrove to santa rosa. Would love to find a place that is not through an agency, so if any of ya&#039;ll can hook me up..please do. I am hopefully going to be back in October for a long weekend if I can pull my husband away from a Bama football game. Since we are improved (????) I only was able to obtain Kentucky tickets this year but he is still looking, I have never resorted to ebay for tickets but my husband will do anything to be in T-town for a game....me....send me to the beaches of South Walton.

[quote="Landlocked, post: 446176"]I enjoy Orange Beach, too, but lets face it - It is just not in the same league as sowal.[/quote]
 
I have never been.  This was her first visit to this part of the Gulf Coast...she lives near Houston.  I told her our place is next on her list!  ;-)

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Landlocked">I enjoy Orange Beach, too, but lets face it - It is just not in the same league as sowal.</blockquote> 
I have never been. This was her first visit to this part of the Gulf Coast...she lives near Houston. I told her our place is next on her list! ;-)

bamablue

HEY YALL...!       I agree that I  hate the junk left everyday by people on the beach.    We have been renting   beach front homes at Carillon Beach for about the past 9 or 10 years.   It is really aggreviating when someone who isn't even staying in a home  right on the beach  'plops'  a  tent right in front of our beach chairs  (that we rented with the house)....       Most of those portable tents don't even withstand the winds if they are left up overnight.    They usually end up  blown down the beach.....      Also,  it's just common  decency to pick up your water bottles, etc.  and throw them in the trash cans that are provided.      Carillon has a GREAT crew that works ther but I'm sure they get really  ill at people  for just being  careless!    
We LOVE it there and   treat the places we stay with care as we would our own home.....WISH I  WERE THERE NOW!!!!!

HEY YALL...! I agree that I hate the junk left everyday by people on the beach. We have been renting beach front homes at Carillon Beach for about the past 9 or 10 years. It is really aggreviating when someone who isn&#039;t even staying in a home right on the beach &#039;plops&#039; a tent right in front of our beach chairs (that we rented with the house).... Most of those portable tents don&#039;t even withstand the winds if they are left up overnight. They usually end up blown down the beach..... Also, it&#039;s just common decency to pick up your water bottles, etc. and throw them in the trash cans that are provided. Carillon has a GREAT crew that works ther but I&#039;m sure they get really ill at people for just being careless! 
We LOVE it there and treat the places we stay with care as we would our own home.....WISH I WERE THERE NOW!!!!!

We just returned from our quick beach fix in Blue Mtn Beach. We had a wonderful time. I must make one complaint, regarding others disregard for the beautiful beach. People left their tents and chairs out and never put them up for the day, therefore walking on the beach at night was like a land mine. We even found holes dug during the day, left by whoever, and anyone could have fallen and really hurt themselves. We even found an old tent that had collapsed and was just left staked to the beach. I thought there was some type of enforcement to keep this from happening. This really needs to be enforced! Including the many litterbugs out there. Otherwise, we enjoyed our stay and will be back.

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Cars of 30A At Alys Beach: Event Highlights & Photo Gallery

Sixth annual Run Watersound At Watersound Town Center October 24, 2026

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