More Job Cuts by Walton County

[TechPyle]

Walton County loses three supervisors | three, county, walton - News - Northwest Florida Daily News

I never had to deal directly with the planning department except for simple family lot split and never had any dealings directly with Ms. Blackshear. I do know that she has been a large part of the planning portion of Walton county and the EAR process and the Comp Plan Process. The Future Land Use designations and other material that planning department works with. I know little other than what has been in the papper but do you think her retirement will be a positive or a negative for the county?

The loss of two people in emergency management was probably follow up from the merger with the Sheriff taking over the 911 functions but still the loss of two is concerning. I understand that this will mainly effect the North end of the county because South Walton has its on Fire District but I live in the north end and think if the County has removed these Higher Ups then who else has been layed because you never hear of the low level staff just the big wigs and how will the lower level layoffs effect the County?

 

[robertsondavies]

Walton County loses three supervisors | three, county, walton - News - Northwest Florida Daily News

I never had to deal directly with the planning department except for simple family lot split and never had any dealings directly with Ms. Blackshear. I do know that she has been a large part of the planning portion of Walton county and the EAR process and the Comp Plan Process. The Future Land Use designations and other material that planning department works with. I know little other than what has been in the papper but do you think her retirement will be a positive or a negative for the county?

The loss of two people in emergency management was probably follow up from the merger with the Sheriff taking over the 911 functions but still the loss of two is concerning. I understand that this will mainly effect the North end of the county because South Walton has its on Fire District but I live in the north end and think if the County has removed these Higher Ups then who else has been layed because you never hear of the low level staff just the big wigs and how will the lower level layoffs effect the County?

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are the government layoffs merit based? my guess is ABSOLUTELY not.

 

[TechPyle]

Who knows the criteria used to determine who gets layed off. It may or may not be merit based but it is definatly not based on senority.

 

[MommaMia]

Long-term planning needed more than ever

Anytime a planning director "messes" with property rights -- enemies and detractors follow. Whether you agree with Pat Blackshear's philosophy of long-term planning or not, she took the department from one that kept its files in plastic bags and boxes to one that utilizes computerized planning programs and gives the citizens excellent information about any piece of property in the county.

I hope long-term planning won't be shelved because Pat has retired. With the airport a reality, the need for long-term planning ("airport planning district") is obvious. With so much raw land around the airport, it's an opportunity to "do it right."

 

[wrobert]

Anytime a planning director "messes" with property rights -- enemies and detractors follow. Whether you agree with Pat Blackshear's philosophy of long-term planning or not, she took the department from one that kept its files in plastic bags and boxes to one that utilizes computerized planning programs and gives the citizens excellent information about any piece of property in the county.

I hope long-term planning won't be shelved because Pat has retired. With the airport a reality, the need for long-term planning ("airport planning district") is obvious. With so much raw land around the airport, it's an opportunity to "do it right."

The airport is in Bay County. How would we affect those plans?

 

[Kurt]

Walton County Government Reorganization Underway​

Officials working towards increased efficiency during difficult economic times​

DeFuniak Springs, FL - The reorganization process of Walton County’s government is underway, according to Interim County Administrator, Lyle Seigler. Budget constraints, caused by a downturn in the national and state economy, have caused county government leaders to find ways to provide services under the Board of County Commissioners within a shrinking budget.

Seigler addressed the reorganization process at the October 13 Board of County Commission meeting where he advised commissioners that he and the county’s Human Resource Department will continue to evaluate all positions and department functions. The Administration’s and Human Resources’ review of the county’s organizational structure reveals areas within each division that can be improved by the elimination of positions or reassignments. “We’ve made some tough decisions in an effort to provide county citizens with a high quality of service,” says the Interim County Administrator. “All of the changes we are making are designed to help the county through this unprecedented economic time and to prepare our county and citizens for a better future.”

While the reorganization process has streamlined services in various departments making local government services more efficient, the process has involved recent realignment of positions impacting those employed as Director of the Emergency Response Division, the Fire/Rescue Chief and the Director of Planning. “Each of these employees served our county and citizens throughout the years with a high level of professionalism and dedication,” says Seigler.

County officials say they look forward to a future economic upswing. However, officials say that until there are more demands on the county government’s services in the area of development and regional growth, they are committed to finding ways to work within a smaller budget, just as every family in the Walton County community is having to do.

Contact:​

Christopher Mitchell, Public Information Officer​

850-892-8155​

​

 

[NorthCounty]

They are being nice to Blackshear. The choice was given to retire or be fired. Either way she was not coming back to work on Monday. Spin it however you wish.

 

[MommaMia]

We need a multi-county planning district

The airport is in Bay County. How would we affect those plans?

Yes, it is in Bay County, but Walton County has representatives on the airport board and has been involved in the airport development process. We could be involved in a planning district for the thousands of acres that surround the airport. Some of the roads to the airport will be in Walton County, and development along those roads will happen sooner or later -- because of the airport.

Thinking "long-term" - hence the term "long-term planning."

 

[kkddbb]

im wondering why people are surprised by this. growth in this county has come to a hault due to pure greed and irresponsibility. it wasnt a matter of if, but a matter of when....

 

[Andy A]

The loss of Pat Blackshear is a definite detriment to our county's long term planning capability. IMHO, she is the only person in the planning department with any conception of how long range planning should be conducted and how it should be implemented. It is also my feeling that you can kiss such innovative planning concepts as transect planning goodbye for Walton County. Oh, well, back to the good ole boy planning concepts which usually means no planning at all.