– The Walton County Commission officially opened
a brand new facility Wednesday that will be the home of the county’s Building
Department. Commissioners, county officials, staff and residents attended the
ribbon-cutting ceremony and then toured the building.
County Administrator Stan Sunday
opened the ceremony, welcomed
guests and introduced the Walton
County commissioners. Each spoke
about the significant impact the new
facility would provide for staff and
to residents seeking building
permits.
Building Department Director Billy Bearden,
who celebrated his 30-year work anniversary
with the county just last week, thanked the
commissioners and staff for their unwavering
support. He also thanked DAG Architectural
firm and construction contractors Lord & Sons
for their excellent work designing and building
the new facility.
Bearden explained that he and Building
Department Office Manager Joy Holland, a 31-
year veteran of the department, had originally sketched the basic design of what
they wanted on a sheet of notebook paper. “I still have that sheet of paper,” he said.
“I am going to frame it and put it on the wall.”
Over the years, the Building Department
has occupied at least two other locations.
The most recent was the western portion
of the Human Resources building on 6th
Street, across from the Courthouse in
DeFuniak Springs.
The new facility, located a block away at
117 East Sloss Avenue, cost
approximately $16 million and took 14
months to complete. Bearden explained
that the funds to build the facility came entirely from permits and licensing fees,
instead of ad valorem tax dollars.
“We’ve been saving up money for a long time and we could not be happier,” he
said.
According to Joy Holland, the Building
Department issues permits of all trades and
conducts inspections related to those permits,
along with issuing and maintaining contractor
license records. Ms. Holland noted that they
added a new check system with easier access to
Building Techs. “We offer the same services that
we have always had, but with a more efficient
process. Definitely a plus for records retention
with all records located in one building for easy
access,” she said.
As for Building Department staff, Ms. Holland said, “Everyone is extremely happy
about being in a brand new, dedicated office building!”
For more information, contact the Walton County Building Department at (850)
892-8160.
a brand new facility Wednesday that will be the home of the county’s Building
Department. Commissioners, county officials, staff and residents attended the
ribbon-cutting ceremony and then toured the building.
County Administrator Stan Sunday
opened the ceremony, welcomed
guests and introduced the Walton
County commissioners. Each spoke
about the significant impact the new
facility would provide for staff and
to residents seeking building
permits.
Building Department Director Billy Bearden,
who celebrated his 30-year work anniversary
with the county just last week, thanked the
commissioners and staff for their unwavering
support. He also thanked DAG Architectural
firm and construction contractors Lord & Sons
for their excellent work designing and building
the new facility.
Bearden explained that he and Building
Department Office Manager Joy Holland, a 31-
year veteran of the department, had originally sketched the basic design of what
they wanted on a sheet of notebook paper. “I still have that sheet of paper,” he said.
“I am going to frame it and put it on the wall.”
Over the years, the Building Department
has occupied at least two other locations.
The most recent was the western portion
of the Human Resources building on 6th
Street, across from the Courthouse in
DeFuniak Springs.
The new facility, located a block away at
117 East Sloss Avenue, cost
approximately $16 million and took 14
months to complete. Bearden explained
that the funds to build the facility came entirely from permits and licensing fees,
instead of ad valorem tax dollars.
“We’ve been saving up money for a long time and we could not be happier,” he
said.
According to Joy Holland, the Building
Department issues permits of all trades and
conducts inspections related to those permits,
along with issuing and maintaining contractor
license records. Ms. Holland noted that they
added a new check system with easier access to
Building Techs. “We offer the same services that
we have always had, but with a more efficient
process. Definitely a plus for records retention
with all records located in one building for easy
access,” she said.
As for Building Department staff, Ms. Holland said, “Everyone is extremely happy
about being in a brand new, dedicated office building!”
For more information, contact the Walton County Building Department at (850)
892-8160.