Emergency BCC Meeting - 8/1/05

[ktmeadows]

My understanding is that it MHW is the mean high tide line. I have not heard of it being refered to as the Seaweed Line. I am unfamiliar with that term.

Before H. Dennis, an owner at or near Sunrise Beach, I cannot recall which one, had his beach roped off with signs and sand fencing saying no tresspassing, keep out, etc.

I guess this means that technically, a beachgoer might not be able to get from one section of the beach to another because someone "owns" the section in between?

The owner is probably related to some of the folks who fought the beach restoration in Destin so they could keep their "private" beach! I don't want to see anyone lose their home, but this guy may just be the exception. Maybe someday he'll be wishing he had any beach left for his home to sit on!

 

[southof30A]

The beach is for everyone - once we get past that, the world gets a whole lot easier. Just don't leave trash or junk on "our" beach in front of my property. We just have to learn to respect one another.

Kum bay ya m' Lord, Kum bay ya....

 

[Smiling JOe]

I guess this means that technically, a beachgoer might not be able to get from one section of the beach to another because someone "owns" the section in between?

Perhaps at high tide, if the water is above the mean high water line. I think one solution presented in Destin was that people could walk on the "privately owned beach" up to 10 feet above the water line, but they could not stop on the property. Keep it moving.

 

[ktmeadows]

Perhaps at high tide, if the water is above the mean high water line. I think one solution presented in Destin was that people could walk on the "privately owned beach" up to 10 feet above the water line, but they could not stop on the property. Keep it moving.

Gosh....imagine if there were a dozen or so homes side by side with these "private" beaches and you had to keep moving or else, one might begin to feel like one of those ducks in a carnival shooting gallery! :laughing1

 

[Old Blue]

QUOTE=Smiling JOe]Watch out, you are in Walton County and Cindy Meadows has only one vote.[/QUOTE]

Thank goodness that there is only one of her!! Her statement of "beachfront homeowners can afford to buy these homes for 3 million, so let them pay for the white sand" ... along w/ the comment about "we have tried to help 'you people', but you have taken advantage of our help"!!!!! was enough to undo any good she did. Where was this heroine on her shining white SUV at the beginning of the week when her office was innundated by these reports? Why did it take her until 7:15PM on Friday practically after threat of revolt, to show up at CR 83 access & be so "appalled" at this atrocity that had been sitting there for 4 days+??? At the meeting, she was not even going to listen to anything that had to be said about the sand from either the county employees who had been advised by TDC on the method of testing nor from either side of her constituents before just jumping in and making a motion to change the scale. I am sorry, but her praises need to be reevaluated. This time next week 3 people might have told her something that will have her changing something else that might affect folks North of 30A that she will think can afford to pay 1 million plus for their homes so who cares if it might affect their pocketbook. Larry Jones is the one who was able to get an unemotional motion passed. I thank him for at least allowing the citizens to be heard after saying he did not have enough information to vote when she threw a motion out after her "displeasure" at not being informed in advance of the video. After some of her personal and undeserving attacks on beachfront home owners, I hope she never expects their support.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Thank goodness that there is only one of her!! Her statement of "beachfront homeowners can afford to buy these homes for 3 million, so let them pay for the white sand" ... along w/ the comment about "we have tried to help 'you people', but you have taken advantage of our help"!!!!! was enough to undo any good she did. Where was this heroine on her shining white SUV at the beginning of the week when her office was innundated by these reports? Why did it take her until 7:15PM on Friday practically after threat of revolt, to show up at CR 83 access & be so "appalled" at this atrocity that had been sitting there for 4 days+??? At the meeting, she was not even going to listen to anything that had to be said about the sand from either the county employees who had been advised by TDC on the method of testing nor from either side of her constituents before just jumping in and making a motion to change the scale. I am sorry, but her praises need to be reevaluated. This time next week 3 people might have told her something that will have her changing something else that might affect folks North of 30A that she will think can afford to pay 1 million plus for their homes so who cares if it might affect their pocketbook. Larry Jones is the one who was able to get an unemotional motion passed. I thank him for at least allowing the citizens to be heard after saying he did not have enough information to vote when she threw a motion out after her "displeasure" at not being informed in advance of the video. After some of her personal and undeserving attacks on beachfront home owners, I hope she never expects their support.

Chill out Old Blue. Commissioner Cindy Meadows is not the one who jumped in wanting to change the acceptable sand from a 6.2 on the Munsell scale. She presented a motion to simply remove the dirt that did not meet the 6.2 requirement. She did not get a second for her motion, if my memory serves me correctly. It was Commissioner Larry Jones' motion, passing 3:1, which increased the acceptable rating of the sand.

along w/ the comment about "we have tried to help 'you people', but you have taken advantage of our help"!!!!! was enough to undo any good she did.

I believe she was responding to the angry owners objecting to having to redo their efforts due to the illegal dumping of sand not meeting the requirements of the Board. Sure, it was approved, but incorrectly so. I think she believes that since the dirt which was dumped, illegally because of its color, was so much different than a 6.2 or greater, that someone in the County, along with some homeowners were willing to overlook the rules, and say that the Munsell is subjective in order to save money and act quickly without regard to the Board's original decision.

 

[Old Blue]

Chill out Old Blue. Commissioner Cindy Meadows is not the one who jumped in wanting to change the acceptable sand from a 6.2 on the Munsell scale. She presented a motion to simply remove the dirt that did not meet the 6.2 requirement. She did not get a second for her motion, if my memory serves me correctly. It was Commissioner Larry Jones' motion, passing 3:1, which increased the acceptable rating of the sand.

I did not have a problem w/it being increased, not w/ it being removed, as long as it was at the expense of the county for allowing and accepting it. I have not read the minutes yet of the meeting, but I think her first motion was a bit more detailed than that. I had a problem w/ her emotionalism and continued disprespect for her constituents.... she had ignored them for a week of complaints.


I believe she was responding to the angry owners objecting to having to redo their efforts due to the illegal dumping of sand not meeting the requirements of the Board. Sure, it was approved, but incorrectly so. I think she believes that since the dirt which was dumped, illegally because of its color, was so much different than a 6.2 or greater, that someone in the County, along with some homeowners were willing to overlook the rules, and say that the Munsell is subjective in order to save money and act quickly without regard to the Board's original decision.

NO, she was responding to the owners who did not feel it was fair to punish 26 miles of beach because the county erred in their allowance of that pile of sand at Blue Mountain. The brown sand at BMB was the same price as the other sand being hauled in as a 6.2. It was availability that caused the one homeowner to buy the sand.... certainly not cost.

 

[Smiling JOe]

NO, she was responding to the owners who did not feel it was fair to punish 26 miles of beach because the county erred in their allowance of that pile of sand at Blue Mountain. The brown sand at BMB was the same price as the other sand being hauled in as a 6.2. It was availability that caused the one homeowner to buy the sand.... certainly not cost.

Okay, so why is your beef with Cindy Meadows, rather than Commissioners Jones and Pridgen? As I stated, Cindy's motion was to leave the sand requirement at 6.2 but enforce it. She could not get a second. Larry Jones is the one who motioned to raise the current level, and received a second from Meadows only after clarification from Jones. You should be more upset with Jones, Pridgen, and Cutchens, and perhaps even Commissioner No Show Scott Brannon for not passing Meadows motion, which would have done nothing more than removing the illegal sand at Blue Mtn. I think your emotions are in the way of the facts.

 

[Kurt]

It is common, at the beginning of discussion of a particular topic, for a commissioner to make a motion clarifying the issue at the onset. This sets the stage for public comment and professional presentations. This allows for a somewhat different motion to be made at the end of the discussion, usually by a different commissioner.

All things considered the result was good for all in the community and handled in an effective and timely way, even though some may feel compromised. The white sand ordinance has been in place for some time now, and each and every homeowner where it applies is governed by it. There was a relaxation of that ordinance, increasing availability of materials and saving folks money, that is a bonus that should be welcomed, honored, and appreciated.

Most of the homeowners that spoke were in favor of keeping the standards up and not allowing the brown soil in question, which the DEP has stated is a 4 on the Munsell scale and would have been ordered to be removed had the county not done so. There were a few people sitting in the back that yelled insults at Commissioner Meadows. If it was anyone on this forum I'd like to hear from them.

 

[Smiling JOe]

...There were a few people sitting in the back that yelled insults at Commissioner Meadows. If it was anyone on this forum I'd like to hear from them.

Kurt, while I could not have picked you out of a two person line-up, I think I could spot Old Blue from a mile away.