Commissioners approved plans for the building in August of last year, but since then two new commissioners have come on board. William "Boots" McCormick, a Freeport native and former Walton County sheriff's deputy, won the Republican primary election and was unchallenged in the Nov. 3 general election to replace District 1 Commissioner Bill Chapman, who opted not to seek re-election.
Barker, another former sheriff's deputy who became the county's first emergency management director, also won his seat in last year's Republican primary and faced no opposition in the Nov. 3 general election to replace District 3 Commissioner Melanie Nipper, who did not seek re-election.
McCormick was absent from Tuesday's meeting, at which Barker aggressively questioned a representative of Dewberry Engineers on the size and cost of the building.
The new facility, covering more than 21,000 square feet and projected to cost between $9 million and $11 million — all funded with tourist-paid bed tax revenue — will be located on two combined tracts at 24604 U.S. Highway 331 South near U.S. Highway 98 just north of Elmore's Landing and South Walton High School. The tracts were purchased at a total cost of $1.7 million, also with bed tax revenue. The new visitor center is slated to replace the aging TDC facility nearby at the intersection of U.S. 98 and U.S. 331.
"That's a lot of money to spend for a building," Barker suggested to the engineer, "and I have some grief with that." Barker was particularly critical of plans to house TDC offices and staff in the building, suggesting that they could be accommodated in less-expensive offices in another location, allowing for the visitor center to be scaled down.
Barker also questioned the need for the interactive exhibits and the koi and turtle pond planned for the new center, suggesting that tourists coming into the county wouldn't necessarily be focused on those niceties.
“They’re going to the beach,” Barker said.
In the end, commissioners opted to postpone a decision on renewing the county's agreement with Dewberry engineers until their May 11 meeting. In the meantime, at commissioners' direction, the Dewberry Engineers representative will meet individually with each of them in advance of the May 11 meeting. The county's current agreement with Dewberry is scheduled to expire on May 24.
Barker, another former sheriff's deputy who became the county's first emergency management director, also won his seat in last year's Republican primary and faced no opposition in the Nov. 3 general election to replace District 3 Commissioner Melanie Nipper, who did not seek re-election.
McCormick was absent from Tuesday's meeting, at which Barker aggressively questioned a representative of Dewberry Engineers on the size and cost of the building.
The new facility, covering more than 21,000 square feet and projected to cost between $9 million and $11 million — all funded with tourist-paid bed tax revenue — will be located on two combined tracts at 24604 U.S. Highway 331 South near U.S. Highway 98 just north of Elmore's Landing and South Walton High School. The tracts were purchased at a total cost of $1.7 million, also with bed tax revenue. The new visitor center is slated to replace the aging TDC facility nearby at the intersection of U.S. 98 and U.S. 331.
"That's a lot of money to spend for a building," Barker suggested to the engineer, "and I have some grief with that." Barker was particularly critical of plans to house TDC offices and staff in the building, suggesting that they could be accommodated in less-expensive offices in another location, allowing for the visitor center to be scaled down.
Barker also questioned the need for the interactive exhibits and the koi and turtle pond planned for the new center, suggesting that tourists coming into the county wouldn't necessarily be focused on those niceties.
“They’re going to the beach,” Barker said.
In the end, commissioners opted to postpone a decision on renewing the county's agreement with Dewberry engineers until their May 11 meeting. In the meantime, at commissioners' direction, the Dewberry Engineers representative will meet individually with each of them in advance of the May 11 meeting. The county's current agreement with Dewberry is scheduled to expire on May 24.
Walton commissioners OK beach safety working group
Following multiple drownings early in the season, the Walton County Board of County Commissioners is creating a beach safety advisory group.
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