Walton County – 04/17/26 – The Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC), minus Commissioner Tony Anderson who was absent, began their recent regular meeting by authorizing Board Chairman Brad Drake to sign a resolution designating May 2026 as Art Month in Walton County, at the behest of Cultural Arts Alliance President Kaela Hargis. Resident Lynne Edwards requested the BCC create and present to the public an annual water quality report. The Commissioners approved Ms. Edwards’ request and appointed Environmental Services Director Billy McKee as the county coordinator for the program. County Administrator Brian Kellenberger sought approval to distribute Florida Power & Light (FPL) settlement funds in the amount of $50,000 to Liberty Volunteer Fire District and this was approved. Engineering Director Chance Powell requested Chairman Drake sign change order No. 2 to Construction Contract No.: 24-42 with Murdock Investments, LLC d/b/a Griffin Traffic Signals for the Construction of the U.S. 98/Moll Drive Signalization Project, increasing the contract amount by $2,880. This was approved. Director Powell received approval to award their request for proposal (RFP) 26-12 for insurance brokerage services for property and casualty insurance services to the top ranked firm, Arthur J Gallagher Risk Management Services, and authorize staff to begin negotiations. Director Powell also received approval to purchase a new skid steer in the amount of $102,148.52. Planning Director Stephen Schoen presented the Planning Department’s quarterly update to the Board, which was approved. Public Works Director Buddy Wright sought direction regarding the statement of probable cost to the County for assisting the City of Paxton with water and fire safety improvements along County Road 147. The Commissioners approved having Public Works create a drainage ditch for the contractor and the Legal Department will draft an Interlocal Agreement with the city. Tourism Beach Operations Director Josh Ervin requested Chairman Drake sign Change Order No. 1 to Task Order No.: TDC 21-007 with Dewberry Engineers, Inc., in the amount of $6,250 for additional engineering services at the Grayton Beach Community Center. He also the chairman to sign a second change order (Contract No.: 24-35) with JM Phelps Construction, LLC. in the amount of $45,616.81 for additional construction services at the Grayton Beach Community Center. Both were approved. Chief Financial Officer Melissa Thomas introduced Lisa Norman, MGT Impact Solutions, LLC of Tampa, Florida, who presented the results of their performance audit of the Walton County Planning Department. Ms. Norman discussed several areas where the procedures should be improved. The report was accepted by the Commissioners. CFO Thomason updated the BCC and requested direction regarding administration of the 15% fund share proceeds related to the Opioid Settlement. Commissioners voted to process the 15% fund share in the same method as the statewide settlement funds. County Attorney Clay Adkinson requested approval to schedule and advertise a public hearing regarding the E-Bike Ordinance. Commissioners agreed to schedule the meeting for May 12, due to advertising requirements District 1 Commissioner Dan Curry sought direction for having all county-owned vehicles to display the Walton County logo and BCC number displayed on both sides of the vehicle. There was discussion, but no action was taken. Commissioners Curry suggested staff begin the process of drafting an ordinance prohibiting Class 1 Landfills in Walton County and bring it back to the Board for consideration. Commissioner Curry requested staff identify options for additional lighting around Bay Loop Road. It was decided that Administration, Public Works and Engineering officials would meet with him to discuss options. Commissioner Curry suggested staff begin the process of drafting an ordinance requiring all construction equipment and material be maintained on the subject property. Following discussion, directions were given for Administration and Legal Department to bring back a draft adopting a residential standard and remove the exemption from existing code for residential construction. Commissioner Curry presented an update on the Pitts Bay Shore dock project for informational purposes. No formal action was taken. The First Quarter update on Eagle Springs Golf and Recreation Center and Eagle Springs Restaurant was presented with no formal action taken. Commissioners complimented the operations and cost-saving measures. There was considerable discussion regarding the suggestion to allocate $600,000 in Managed Beach Vendor funds to match the North Walton TDC contribution for the proposed Agriculture Center, but no action was taken. Commissioner Curry requested approval to allocate $4,500 in District One Discretionary Funds for a structure to be built at the Walton County Fairgrounds. Commissioner Glidewell, a Walton County Fair Board member, pointed out that no request from them had been made to the County. There was additional discussion. A motion to allocate the money to the Fair Board failed to pass, 2-2. District 4 Commissioner Donna Johns led discussion regarding a possible requirement for all county vehicles to have GPS installed. The item was continued until the next meeting at the South Walton Annex. Discussion regarding a parking garage project at the Mead property was also continued to the next meeting at the Annex. LEGISLATIVE ITEMS Key SSA with Rezoning - Request to approve by ordinance. Project number FLU25-000028 is being reviewed by Ayanna Reed. This is a future land use with rezoning application submitted by Dunlap and Shipman, PA, on behalf of Peggy Key requesting to change the future land use from Conservation Residential to Public Facilities and Institutional, or a lesser category, and to change the zoning district from Conservation Residential 2:1 to Institutional, or a lesser district, on 10 +/- acres. The property is in District 5, North of US Highway 98 East, East of Blakely Drew Boulevard, and South of Crimsyn Ryan Court and is identified by parcel number(s) 35-2S-19-24000-023-0000. This was approved. CONSENT AGENDA The following items were approved as one item by general consent of the Board. Clerk's Items - 1. Request to approve the Expenditure Approval List (EAL) 2. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the minutes of February 26, 2026, Regular Meeting and March 10, 2026, Regular Meeting Administration - 3. Request to approve the Walton County Advisory Boards and Committees Appointment Policy and Procedures Removed for discussion. Staff will bring back to the next meeting to include the discussed changes (12-year term limits and BCC approval of board members) 4. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign Amendment No. 1 to the State of Florida Department of Management Services Grant Agreement No. S25- 24-01-26, a no-cost time extension for the current grant period, as requested by the Walton County Sheriff's Office Chief Financial Officer - 5. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2026 Section 8 Housing Fund budget in the amount of $78,329 for unanticipated grant revenue from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Family Self Sufficiency Program 6. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the application for tax deeds for the tax certificates listed in Exhibit "A" and request approval for the County to pay the necessary funds to apply for those tax deeds 7. Request approval to schedule and advertise Budget Workshops and Hearings on the following dates and times: * July 7, 2026, at 10 am at the DeFuniak Springs Courthouse July 14, 2026, at 5 pm at the Freeport Boardroom * July 21, 2026, at 10 am at the South Walton Courthouse Annex * July 28, 2026, at 5 pm at Paxton Agricultural Center * Tentative Budget Hearing on September 14, 2026, at 5:01 pm at the South Walton Courthouse Annex * Final Budget Hearing on September 28, 2026, at 5:01 pm at the DeFuniak Springs Courthouse 8. Request approval to surplus machinery and equipment from various departments for the Walton County Annual Auction County Attorney - 9. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Mossy Head Community Center - Second version of MOU to come back to BCC (County use rights, shared use agreement). Ratify the payment of invoice for $14,201.71. Approved Emergency Management - 10. Request approval to apply for the 2026 – 2027 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Grant from Volunteer Florida through the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the amount of $10,000 11. Request approval to apply for the 2026 – 2027 Citizen Corps (CC) Grant from Volunteer Florida through the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the amount of $10,000 for each grant application Engineering - 12. Request approval to reduce the speed limit on County Road 147 between US 331 North and Adams Street from 40-mph to 35-mph at the request of Walton County School District 13. Request approval to award Request for Qualifications (RFQ) 26-10 for Professional Services to the top ranked firm Mott MacDonald Florida, LLC for the design of Westbay Parkway and to begin negotiations 14. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign Task Order No.: 26-04 with Chipola Engineering Group for Professional Services for the design of the South Walton Community Senior Center in an amount not to exceed $312,860. Environmental Services - 15. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign Task Order No. 26-03 with Hanson Professional Services, Inc. for the design, permitting and modification assistance for an addition to the current pesticide storage building in the amount of $59,966.88 16. Request approval to apply for the Hazardous Waste Collection Center Grant for the design of a Household Hazardous Waste Facility at the Walton County Central Landfill in the amount of $100,000 and allow Thomas LeBlanc, Solid Waste Operations Manager, the authority to apply for and administer the grant 17. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the amendment to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Contract No. 32947 State Financial Assistance Recipient Agreement for Mosquito Control Services Funding increasing the amount by $7,731.94 for a total of $69,587.50 Human Resources - 18. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the Statement of Work Quote No. Q-116577-1 with CivicPlus for County website ADA compliance in the amount of $24,551.51 and an annual recurring amount of $16,810.32 19. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the 2026 Administrative Services Agreement with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Florida, Inc (BCBSF) for processing claims and benefits Planning & Development - 20. BayVita - Acceptance of the ALJ recommended order and approval of a final order. Project number MAJ24-000030 is being reviewed by Rosanna Edwards. This is a major development application submitted by Jenkins Engineering, Inc. on behalf of DJFO, LLC, Agora Development Group, LLC, and Bay Vita, LLC, requesting to develop a 7,200 SF Convenience store with 12 pumps, 9,960 SF urgent care clinic, 16,240 SF daycare, 4, 000 SF drive through restaurant, 9,240 SF standard fast-food restaurant, 1,650 SF sit down restaurant, 119, 700 SF storage facility, 24-unit workforce housing, and 2 hotels on 39.03 +/- acres. The project site has a future land use of Commercial and Rural Residential and zoning categories of General Commercial and Rural Village. The property is in District 1, located traveling south on US Hwy 331 to CR 3280, parcel is located on the north side of the Hwy before Fluffy Landing Road and is identified by parcel number(s) 34-1S-19-23000- 007-0000, 34-1S-19-23000-007-0020, 34-1S- 19-23000-007-0040, 34-1S-19-23000-007-0050, and 34-1S-19-23000-008-0010. 21. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the Walton County Roadway Activities Application Road Closure Request Form to allow a temporary road closure of County Road 280 and County Road 280A for the 6th Annual Sprint Triathlon Public Works - 22. Request approval to advertise a solicitation for landscaping services for maintenance of the right-of-way along U.S. Highway 98, from the west end of County Road 30A to Mack Bayou Road Tourism Department Beach Operations - 23. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the Application for Service and Customer Agreement with Regional Utilities for the Grayton Beach restroom facility shower and approve the service fee in the amount of $583. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign Change Order No.: 1 to Contract No. 24-09 with GLC Contracting, Inc., reducing the contract amount by $216,931.83 to account for unused Owner's Contingency for the Seagrove Regional Beach Access Project Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (Ref. FPID: 447899-1-52-01) with the Florida Department of Transportation for enhanced median maintenance of US 98 from the Okaloosa County Line to east of Tang-O-Mar Drive
