[h=1][FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Andy,[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Prior informational sessions by the “Blue Ribbon Panel” stated clearly and unambiguously that the total funds involved were in the amount of $177 mil, 102 from FL, 75 from Walton. Please feel free to ask Bonnie McQuiston to verify that fact. She has done so earlier today. Either the Panel was provided wrong information, or the numbers given by Mr. Imfeld Th night were incorrect. If the latter, the remainder of his numbers were obligatorily wrong.[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Based on unambiguous information in hand, it may be fairly stated that Mr. Kisela was at best evasive in stating that he first came to know of this in the Dec BCC meeting. As Bob stated at the Th meeting, there is an email in his possession that is dated in Sept which clearly states that Mr. Kisela met with DOT officials and proposed himself that should Walton County come up with 20-25% of the funding for the bridge, would the state be willing to partner with the county in building the bridge.[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]There are those who would suggest that a half-truth is an untruth. The timeline belies the public statements of county officials, unequivocally so.[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]I think there are few who don’t want the bridge. There are however legitimate concerns being raised about the manner in which this particular campaign is being conducted.[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]The sense of urgency and the dissembling about the origins of this proposal in aid of creating this sense of urgency lead directly to the suspicion that we are being deceived, hardly a unique experience with our county government.[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]The evacuation benefits to be gained are as yet not demonstrated. What is known, however, is that Walton has never in recorded history suffered a Cat 4 or 5 hurricane, and that Walton County has never experienced a single death related to evacuation from a hurricane. Given the acknowledged continued existence of other choke points for traffic north of the Bay and the bridge, and further given the total lack of commitment by the DOT, not to mention Alabama, to widen the roads and freeway entrances, it is reasonable to assume that a bridge will do little toward public safety in evacuation scenarios and would only move the choke point negligibly north.[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Day to day public safety and convenience factors far outweigh the probable miniscule hurricane-related advantages of a 4-lane bridge, and economic benefits at the margin are also much larger considerations. However, the net economic benefits are likely to be both smaller and in the longer term (for major benefits, at least) for South Walton in particular. Given the price of real estate and given the relative paucity of private land south of the Bay, and further given the likelihood of a continued significantly depressed real estate market and depressed availability of funds for real estate developments on a large scale, I doubt that making access easier to an already choked Hwy 98 is going to do much for economic development and jobs in the near to intermediate term.[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]We are not operating in a vacuum here, and there are some monstrous threats to the world economy looming in the near term. How well they are addressed remains to be seen, but the record of most governments around the world and here at home gives me scant reason for optimism. How about you?[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]We have had the right to raise our own taxes in this fashion since 2010. It’s legitimate to ask if this is the right time and the right project. No one is debating desirability inhering in 4-laning the bridge. What is being contested is the legitimacy of the process and priorities for our tax dollars, not to mention the putative benefits. I suspect the question will be put to the voters, and I’m absolutely in favor of that.[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]What I am not in favor of is our leadership deceiving us, and it appears to me that there is a strong likelihood, if not in fact a certainty, that such is the case. I think what we are hearing is that Walton County government has lost the confidence of the people, and deservedly so. It has certainly lost mine.[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]The state has not heaped honor upon itself in this matter either. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been diverted from the Trust Fund (Wonder why they don’t call them Distrust Funds?) and given to other uses than the roads and bridges they were intended to fund. The State insists that Walton County guarantee $75 mil for this bridge to perhaps nowhere, the whole while promising Walton county nothing as respects 4-laning 331 north of the bridge beyond what is already underway. A 5 year aspiration of DOT? Try taking that one to get bonded or used as collateral for bank financing. Better yet, work up a full comedy routine around it.[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]The folks north of the Bay are potential beneficiaries of 4-laning 331 and building the bridge, but until such time as 331 is 4-lane to the bridge from DeFuniak or I-10, the bridge will be of little net benefit to them. To suggest a toll bridge without toll booths, relying on the mail and threats to tourists, is perhaps the most asinine proposal of modern times. A toll would also be incredibly destructive of the interests of residents north of the Bay, which in turn would be destructive of the interests of all in Walton County.[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]And let’s not leave out the bed tax collectors and the businesses dependent on the tourists they serve. Walton is already uncompetitive in its tax rates, most of all for bed tax collectors. We are already higher than our neighbors in Bay and Okaloosa Counties. In the age of the internet and VRBO and an economy in poor shape, we stand to lose business to our neighboring counties, not to mention other areas of FL and other states consequent to the comparative costs. In a perfect world, Walton County would kick some serious butt in a competition for tourist dollars. We have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world around which to build a tremendous tourist experience. It’s not, never has been, and never will be a perfect world. We must compete on cost, too.
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[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]I was reading an article earlier today which caught my eye. The new Porsche 911 S! Whoa! Could I evacuate more quickly with that? Would my purchasing the car, the gas, the insurance, the service have favorable impacts on the economy? Would that baby make the part of Walton County where it might be seen sitting or zooming about more attractive? Yes, yes, and yes! Would I love to have one? Hell, yes! Can I afford one? Sadly, no. Would my wife think it okay for me to borrow the money to satisfy those urges, justifying the action to her by saying I want it, it has the benefits noted above, and besides, FL DOT says it’s their goal to make 331 a 4-lane autobahn in 5 years, and these 911s are only going to get more expensive? What would your wife say?
Mine, too.[/FONT][/h]