As reported on WZEP AM 1460:
TDC Director Dawn Moliterno started her time talking about event sponsorship grants and what they do when the money is not used. She said they redirect to specific marketing online. Moliterno said the TDC recommended blending several mobile apps into one. She explained this would help get the app into the Apple Store.
There is also a recommendation to pay for the app to work on Android. There is a digital highway sign program that works to promote the flag system and texting. Moliterno said the TDC Advisory Council also recommended seeking a request for qualifications for the beach nourishment consultant. The current contract with Beach Haven, the beach science consultant company with Brad Pickle, is about to expire. There will be a reduction of the co-op funding for media with Southwest Airlines. This comes from the half cent bed tax. The TDC was up 12% in November.
Moliterno then reviewed the time since her hiring, including the oil spill right after she started. She told the Commissioners she does not usually talk about her accomplishments, but felt it needed to be done this time.
She said the team at the TDC has exceeded expectations. She said she is honored and privileged to be part of the team that brought Southwest Airlines to the new airport. Moliterno said even more significant is 20 months of increased bed taxes. She said they have created operating procedures and compliances, met the audit, produced reports and strategic plans and cited much more. Moliterno then said they can improve in communications. She explained that sometimes what is old conversations to them might be new to others.
Molenterno then said much of what has happened is politically motivated. She said she believes in the freedom of speech and the right to criticize, but not in the hateful gossip from what she said is being done by nameless cowards on the internet. She noted her family was present at the meeting. She said problems have been brought up, but not the successes. Moliterno continued to stress the negative comments made on blogs, including comments that affect her family.
She continued talking about the difference between the successes and any problems some claim. Moleterno then offered her 90 day resignation. She said she will continue to live in Walton County.
Commissioner Cindy Meadows asked to conduct an exit interview with Molerinto and said she will explain why the TDC has been such a lightening rod under her. Meadows has recently questioned Moliterno, sometimes aggressively.
Replies
36
SoWal Insider
Very good thoughts. Most of the resentments seem to stem from a simple lack of communication and feedback from the community. We may have the tools in place to help that aspect of the TDC. "All Things TDC" could be a separate forum, right here on Sowal on which a recognized person from the TDC just chats about what we all want...I think what we all want is just a little more input in the decisions about how we are being presented and in what ways this entity, The TDC, has moved from promoting this area to developing this area into something most of us don't necessarily want.
Edited
SoWal Expert
The signs are up; the song and the TV show are paid for. Lets talk about how the TDC money should be used to benefit everyone. To those who say we do not need a TDC, you may be right, but be careful. The bed tax can be used to enhance tourism and the way of life in South Walton. If we scream too loudly that we do not need a TDC, those paying the bed tax will argue to eliminate it. At that point we give up external dollars that can build a better community for us all. Big mistake.
It's all about balance- first recognizing and agreeing that we need a good balance of quality of life for both tourists and residents, and actually making that balance a reality.
Beach Fanatic
Very good thoughts. Most of the resentments seem to stem from a simple lack of communication and feedback from the community. We may have the tools in place to help that aspect of the TDC. "All Things TDC" could be a separate forum, right here on Sowal on which a recognized person from the TDC just chats about what we all want...I think what we all want is just a little more input in the decisions about how we are being presented and in what ways this entity, The TDC, has moved from promoting this area to developing this area into something most of us don't necessarily want.So if there is more input into the decision making and the decision doesn't suit your view does that make the decision wrong. Personally I don't necessarily think that the views represented on these boards represent a majority opinion. I do think it gives us the opportunity to participate by throwing out ideas with solutions that maybe those that get to make the decisions can look at and consider. In the end there are folks paid to make decisions and it is their responsibility to make it. To much input can bog the process and create barricades to making decisions. Just my opinion.
SoWal Insider
Trust me, I agree with "too much input can bog the process" ( I'm all for a "30-A Czar" who can simply drive down 30-A and fix all the ugliness and disarray ) but I'm not in agreement that a whole lot of input was requested in a lot of the projects the TDC has initiated. I have no idea that Sowal is an accurate indicator of the consensus views on these issues. I don't feel there are any adequate channels of feedback other than Sowal. We are unique in that we are rather removed from local television, we have very modest newspapers, and yet we have a robust interactive community because of this forum. Again, I don't think this animosity towards the TDC is any more than a criticism that the structure of it is not very democratic, and yet impacts residents in a far less favorable fashion than tourists. Are the "slings and arrows" that Ms. Moliterno has been subjected to, coming solely from Sowal? or from the community in general? or from DeFuniak?
SoWal Guide
My guess is that most business owners are not unhappy with TDC progress which has been substantial compared with years past. Especially since the oil spill disaster/recovery which was devastating but short lived due in large part to TDC work and response. There is a vocal group with great ideas and insights but many have been harsh. Not the majority of people by any means. But we hear from those who tend to speak out. I doubt you would find your typical business owner among them.
There have been mistakes, rumors of mistakes, unfortunate situations, hard times, bad PR, lack of communication, and more. We have a very vocal community which is a good thing in the end. It means people care even if their expression is sometimes loud and angry.
I have watched a rather ineffective county level govt in a rapidly growing town for many years and this is the root problem (not the TDC), imo, causing frustration for those who would like sowal to be a city with real services with professional management. Not gonna happen. Still a fabulous place to live and I'm good with it.
There have been mistakes, rumors of mistakes, unfortunate situations, hard times, bad PR, lack of communication, and more. We have a very vocal community which is a good thing in the end. It means people care even if their expression is sometimes loud and angry.
I have watched a rather ineffective county level govt in a rapidly growing town for many years and this is the root problem (not the TDC), imo, causing frustration for those who would like sowal to be a city with real services with professional management. Not gonna happen. Still a fabulous place to live and I'm good with it.
Edited
Beach Fanatic
I might not be a typical 30A business owner but much of my business takes me to 30A so here are my thoughts regarding Teresa's happy business owner statement. I do not think our happiness or non-happiness comes from anything that Dawn did for us. We can not blame her for the lack of infrastructure, oil spill, or local economy however to give her credit that she in "large part" helped us quickly recover from the oil spill goes a little too far for my comfort. In direct contrast with Teresa's opinion, Dawn had a tremendous opportunity to improve our infrastructure (not just the building she would be working in) but failed to have vision in these opportunities. The BP money could have been spent differently. The TDC director is not a glamorous only job and requires a person to understand the dirty below the surface parts of our community supporting tourism as well as the advertising and marketing sparkly things. We did not recover from the oil spill more quickly because of that advertising and marketing and IMO we recovered because very little oil washed up on our beaches. No amount of advertising would bring tourist to the beaches if it was covered in oil. We have a paradise because of nothing that any of us are doing except to protect what nature has given us. I think she missed that point and the large salary might have given her visions of grandeur.
I do agree with Teresa that we all make mistakes and I do not dislike DM because of the mistakes she made however it seems that she might not fully understand what she did wrong. I also agree with Teresa in that the TDC is not the cause of our infrastructure problems and that we are being let down by politics. I am hopeful because of the people in our community and many in this forum who do understand how this community works from bottom to top and is willing to help whether that be from constructive criticism or active participation.
I do agree with Teresa that we all make mistakes and I do not dislike DM because of the mistakes she made however it seems that she might not fully understand what she did wrong. I also agree with Teresa in that the TDC is not the cause of our infrastructure problems and that we are being let down by politics. I am hopeful because of the people in our community and many in this forum who do understand how this community works from bottom to top and is willing to help whether that be from constructive criticism or active participation.
SoWal Guide
In other words... it's complicated.
Beach Fanatic
I might not be a typical 30A business owner but much of my business takes me to 30A so here are my thoughts regarding Teresa's happy business owner statement. I do not think our happiness or non-happiness comes from anything that Dawn did for us. We can not blame her for the lack of infrastructure, oil spill, or local economy however to give her credit that she in "large part" helped us quickly recover from the oil spill goes a little too far for my comfort. In direct contrast with Teresa's opinion, Dawn had a tremendous opportunity to improve our infrastructure (not just the building she would be working in) but failed to have vision in these opportunities. The BP money could have been spent differently. The TDC director is not a glamorous only job and requires a person to understand the dirty below the surface parts of our community supporting tourism as well as the advertising and marketing sparkly things. We did not recover from the oil spill more quickly because of that advertising and marketing and IMO we recovered because very little oil washed up on our beaches. No amount of advertising would bring tourist to the beaches if it was covered in oil. We have a paradise because of nothing that any of us are doing except to protect what nature has given us. I think she missed that point and the large salary might have given her visions of grandeur.
I do agree with Teresa that we all make mistakes and I do not dislike DM because of the mistakes she made however it seems that she might not fully understand what she did wrong. I also agree with Teresa in that the TDC is not the cause of our infrastructure problems and that we are being let down by politics. I am hopeful because of the people in our community and many in this forum who do understand how this community works from bottom to top and is willing to help whether that be from constructive criticism or active participation.
To be fair, let me repeat for the ignorant, the BP dollars came with very clear and strict guidelines on when and how the money could be spent. Like immediate TV and radio spots, etc.
You could say the money was burning a hole in the county's pocket. It had to be spent quickly with guidelines (some silly) - which is why some people had money thrown at them (aging pop stars).
You make a valid and incredibly obvious point about the oil on the beach. But we had a ridiculous number of visitors last year and looks like this year too. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why. You spend money, you make money. It ain't just word of mouth. As amazingly successful as this site is at bringing visitors here (a photo is worth a thousand tourists) - we can give a little credit to the TDC spending BP dollars.
The attitude of TDC does nothing right and BP dollars are poison is getting tired.
Beach Lover
Thats your opinion and your entitled to it, but the facts remain that the TDC has done some pretty stupid, financially wasteful things. As far as the "ridiculous number of visitors" goes, it's destroying what the vast majority of people come here for, and what a lot of people moved here for.
Beach Fanatic
Speaking on behalf of all ignorant people in South Walton however I do admit that I may be the only one, I believe there were ways around the guidelines. Also, why would you allow BP require us to follow "strict" guidlelines when if they had followed any guidelines this would not have happened? We can debate whether or not BP would have denied our request to use the money for tourism infrastructure support all day but the bottom line is that decisions where made and money was spent. All that is behind us and hopefully the new director will fight for what this community needs to support greater numbers of tourist that will surely come whether or not we have expensive logos's or songs. I think our paradise will inspire people to be creative and give something back and so I am not sure we have to spend money on some of those sparkly things. I believe we should spend money on infrastructure first however ignorant I may be on the necessity of marketing and advertising and BP restrictions.
SoWal Expert
To be fair, let me repeat for the ignorant, the BP dollars came with very clear and strict guidelines on when and how the money could be spent. Like immediate TV and radio spots, etc.
You could say the money was burning a hole in the county's pocket. It had to be spent quickly with guidelines (some silly) - which is why some people had money thrown at them (aging pop stars).
You make a valid and incredibly obvious point about the oil on the beach. But we had a ridiculous number of visitors last year and looks like this year too. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why. You spend money, you make money. It ain't just word of mouth. As amazingly successful as this site is at bringing visitors here (a photo is worth a thousand tourists) - we can give a little credit to the TDC spending BP dollars.
The attitude of TDC does nothing right and BP dollars are poison is getting tired.
I still have yet to meet one visitor who came here because of marketing. I make it a point to ask every single one I meet. I talk to many people at work in a retail setting in Rosemary Beach, and also just out and about (I am a little chatty
. Maybe it is different in the Miramar area, but on 30A, the answers are always the following:I have been visiting here since I was a child, or similar (family tradition)
My family has a place here.
We came with friends.
Our friends told us about this place.
We live in (insert southern state) and everybody comes here.
Everyone at our kids' schools come here. (spring break specific)
We are staying in Destin or PCB and somebody told us we should drive over to 30A and take a look.
When and if somebody tells me they saw a TV ad, magazine spread, or Emeril and it persuaded them to come to South Walton, y'all will be the first to know! After I pick myself up off the floor and regain my composure, of course. If anybody has had a real live encounter with a real TDC marketed visitor- let's see some proof!
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