WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – For the last six years Walton County public beaches have operated under a Managed Beach Vendor Program.
Three years ago, the county took ownership of the program from the Tourist Development Council. In that time, it’s generated a total of just over $1.1 million in revenue for the county.
On Tuesday, county commissioners awarded a two-year contract to Coastal Parasail for just over $1.5 million a year.
Beginning March 1st, Coastal Parasail will rent beach chairs, umbrellas, and footstools on all Walton County public beaches.
The deal effectively puts many small companies out of business.
“It’s sad. My husband has done beach services locally for 20 years. And to see the evolution of it change so much and go from what it used to be, a very local yokel. Everyone here is working together, each guy knows each owner, everyone just really busting their butts from March 1st to the end of October. All for the same goal to kind of be kicked,” Owner of Big Fish Bike and Beach Rentals Ashley Curtin said.
For the last five years, many of these businesses operated as the South Walton Beach Service Association. However, the county’s bid process prevented the association from placing a bid as a group.
“The reason we did not put a bid in is due to the rules and language around the subcontract or the subcontracting, whereas we are a corporation, we have multiple members who are subcontractors. That is where we got it prohibited,” South Walton Beach Service Association President Joel Kaufman said.
The small local businesses could not afford the bid alone. The association has since formally dissolved.
The county also accepted proposals to multiple vendors over four different beach zones. But awarding the contract to a single-vendor made the county an extra $425,000.
“I do still support small business, but however, I believe I was elected and took a responsibility and a fiduciary duty to do the best I can for the taxpayers. Walton County and I in good conscience, I can’t leave $400,000 on the table because I think that how to the taxpayers want county to get the best deal for them and that is the best deal. And I hate it, but that’s the way it is,” Walton County Commissioner Danny Glidewell said.
Commissioners voted 4-to-1 to award the bid to Coastal Parasailing. Commissioner Tony Anderson cast the only dissenting vote.
This is Coastal Parasailing’s first time participating in the Walton County’s Beach Vendor Program.
“I find it to be an insult to the local vendors that have put in the sweat, the time, the money, obeying all the rules that have been set forth on us since we’ve been in business. I’ve been on these beaches since the early eighties and to award it to a company that’s not owned locally; they don’t operate locally it’s an insult to us local vendors that put in the time to do this,” La Dolce Vita, LLC’s Dave Meadows said.
The second-ranked bid came from 30A Blaze. The company offered $1 million up-front with the county also getting an estimated $700,000 for rental proceeds each year. But commissioners took Coastal’s guaranteed annual payment of $1.53 million.
Walton commissioners are expected to approve the contract on January 28th. Coastal Parasail will not conduct parasailing rentals and plans to hire local employees.
Beach access locations that will be impacted:
Scenic Gulf Drive Regional Beach Access
Dune Allen Regional Beach Access
Fort Panic Regional Beach Access/West Allen Loop Neighborhood Beach Access
Ed Walline Regional Beach Access
Shell Seeker’s Cove and Spooky Lane Neighborhood Beach Access
Gulfview Heights Regional Beach Access
Blue Mountain Beach Regional Beach Access
Grayton Dunes Neighborhood Beach Access
Dogwood / Thyme Neighborhood Beach Access
Hickory / Live Oak / Nightcap / 395 Neighborhood Beach Access
Holly / Camellia / Azalea / Gardenia Neighborhood Beach Access
Headland / Greenwood / Andalusia / Dothan Neighborhood Beach Access
Santa Clara Regional Beach Access
Seagrove Regional Beach Access (coming 2025)
One Seagrove Neighborhood Beach Access
Walton Dunes Neighborhood Beach Access
Wall Street Neighborhood Beach Access
Inlet Beach Regional Beach Access
S Walton Lakeshore Dr. Neighborhood Beach Access
Future additional accesses as acquired
Three years ago, the county took ownership of the program from the Tourist Development Council. In that time, it’s generated a total of just over $1.1 million in revenue for the county.
On Tuesday, county commissioners awarded a two-year contract to Coastal Parasail for just over $1.5 million a year.
Beginning March 1st, Coastal Parasail will rent beach chairs, umbrellas, and footstools on all Walton County public beaches.
The deal effectively puts many small companies out of business.
“It’s sad. My husband has done beach services locally for 20 years. And to see the evolution of it change so much and go from what it used to be, a very local yokel. Everyone here is working together, each guy knows each owner, everyone just really busting their butts from March 1st to the end of October. All for the same goal to kind of be kicked,” Owner of Big Fish Bike and Beach Rentals Ashley Curtin said.
For the last five years, many of these businesses operated as the South Walton Beach Service Association. However, the county’s bid process prevented the association from placing a bid as a group.
“The reason we did not put a bid in is due to the rules and language around the subcontract or the subcontracting, whereas we are a corporation, we have multiple members who are subcontractors. That is where we got it prohibited,” South Walton Beach Service Association President Joel Kaufman said.
The small local businesses could not afford the bid alone. The association has since formally dissolved.
The county also accepted proposals to multiple vendors over four different beach zones. But awarding the contract to a single-vendor made the county an extra $425,000.
“I do still support small business, but however, I believe I was elected and took a responsibility and a fiduciary duty to do the best I can for the taxpayers. Walton County and I in good conscience, I can’t leave $400,000 on the table because I think that how to the taxpayers want county to get the best deal for them and that is the best deal. And I hate it, but that’s the way it is,” Walton County Commissioner Danny Glidewell said.
Commissioners voted 4-to-1 to award the bid to Coastal Parasailing. Commissioner Tony Anderson cast the only dissenting vote.
This is Coastal Parasailing’s first time participating in the Walton County’s Beach Vendor Program.
“I find it to be an insult to the local vendors that have put in the sweat, the time, the money, obeying all the rules that have been set forth on us since we’ve been in business. I’ve been on these beaches since the early eighties and to award it to a company that’s not owned locally; they don’t operate locally it’s an insult to us local vendors that put in the time to do this,” La Dolce Vita, LLC’s Dave Meadows said.
The second-ranked bid came from 30A Blaze. The company offered $1 million up-front with the county also getting an estimated $700,000 for rental proceeds each year. But commissioners took Coastal’s guaranteed annual payment of $1.53 million.
Walton commissioners are expected to approve the contract on January 28th. Coastal Parasail will not conduct parasailing rentals and plans to hire local employees.
Beach access locations that will be impacted:
Scenic Gulf Drive Regional Beach Access
Dune Allen Regional Beach Access
Fort Panic Regional Beach Access/West Allen Loop Neighborhood Beach Access
Ed Walline Regional Beach Access
Shell Seeker’s Cove and Spooky Lane Neighborhood Beach Access
Gulfview Heights Regional Beach Access
Blue Mountain Beach Regional Beach Access
Grayton Dunes Neighborhood Beach Access
Dogwood / Thyme Neighborhood Beach Access
Hickory / Live Oak / Nightcap / 395 Neighborhood Beach Access
Holly / Camellia / Azalea / Gardenia Neighborhood Beach Access
Headland / Greenwood / Andalusia / Dothan Neighborhood Beach Access
Santa Clara Regional Beach Access
Seagrove Regional Beach Access (coming 2025)
One Seagrove Neighborhood Beach Access
Walton Dunes Neighborhood Beach Access
Wall Street Neighborhood Beach Access
Inlet Beach Regional Beach Access
S Walton Lakeshore Dr. Neighborhood Beach Access
Future additional accesses as acquired
