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Santa Rosa revenue cuts looming (February 19, 2008)
As
local taxing authorities like Santa Rosa County move into this year’s
budget season, lawmakers must decide how far to allow Florida’s
recent Tax Reform Amendment to impact incoming revenues.
What’s
the matter with East Milton?
(February 12, 2008)
“They
keep finding excuses why it shouldn’t be in East Milton.”
That’s Pam Williams’ take on the question of where to build a proposed new county Judicial Center.
Public
transit study probes Santa Rosa interest
(February
7, 2008)
Results from a Santa
Rosa public transit study, released this month, suggest residents may
be amenable to expanding service – both within the county and to
outside destinations.
State
puts brakes on Perdido Key development cap increase
(February
6, 2008)
Florida’s Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has declined to
sign off on a recent move to raise development ‘dwelling cap’
limits on Perdido Key.
Dragonfly
Gallery hosts pottery exhibit (January
14, 2008)
Milton’s
Dragonfly Gallery hosted potters from throughout the area, Friday, a week
before the artists retrieve work currently baking away in a 32-foot firing
oven, called a kiln.
‘Roll-forward’
millage hike could mitigate tax Amendment losses
(January 14, 2008)
If Florida voters pass a proposed
tax reform Amendment, local governments will still have the option of
offsetting its impact through what state officials are calling a ‘roll-forward”
tax millage rate increase. Most homeowners would still see a portion of
Amendment savings; but part of homeowners’ tax burden would likely
shift to business and non-homesteaded properties, according to County
Property Appraiser data.
Code
change would halt Pond Creek septic tanks
(January 8, 2008)
Santa Rosa Commissioners snubbed
a proposed code change to prevent septic tanks near waterways at Monday’s
commission hearing -- but the issue’s not dead yet, says Commissioner
John Broxson.
Broxson proposed the Land Development Code change to ban septic tanks within 1000 feet of pristine water bodies. He says he’ll continue to pursue the measure in coming months. County staff are currently refining the proposal for future consideration, according to Broxson.
Emerald
Coast blueprint envisions Panhandle ecology, community to 2030
(December 18, 2007)
Now’s the time to think about how Panhandle growth is affecting
future environment and community quality, says a group tasked with developing
a blueprint for the next 25 years.
BOCC
postpones Pond Creek septic tank decision
(December
18, 2007)
When Santa Rosa Commissioners
rezoned 44 acres near Pond Creek in 2005, neighbors were under the impression
that the new subdivision would be serviced by sewer, rather than septic
tanks. Now, the developer has filed for a change order to install septic
tanks.
Former
Governor Graham focuses on civics schooling
(November
30, 2007)
In 2005, former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham retired from
a 40-year career in public office. Now, Graham is focusing on preparing
future generations to be participating democratic citizens.
Volunteer
Fire Departments on call as funding increase approved (November 26,
2007)
With the ink barely
dry on a special fire tax increase, area volunteer fire departments have
fully resumed responding to all but lowest-priority calls, say officials.
In the meantime, plans to pool Department spending and purchasing under
county oversight are still being implemented.
Despite
progress, turtles still face extinction
(November
15, 2007)
Marine turtles have thrived for more than 100 million years. But only
the last few hundred years have given the huge, spectacular, prehistoric
amphibians serious trouble.
Honey
Bee decrease impacting local crops (November 12, 2007)
We take a lot of things
for granted these days. Things like clean water, a roof over our heads
and plenty of food fortunately represent things that most of us don’t
worry about on a daily basis.
Broxson
assumes Board Chair: (November
10, 2007)
Finding funds to pay for a new courthouse
before next November’s election and dealing with shrinking property
tax revenues are primary issues Santa Rosa’s Board of Commissioners
faces in the coming year, says District 5 Commissioner and newly appointed
Chair John Broxson. Broxson
(l) assumed the ‘gavel’ from outgoing Chair, District 1 Commissioner
Tom Stewart (r), November 8.
Bed...breakfast...back
to nature: local ecology shapes tourism's future
(November 4, 2007)
Area residents have long appreciated the wealth of natural resources that
meander from local beaches, northward, through woodlands, creeks and farm
country. Now, tourism officials are hoping visitors will also discover
the region’s ecological assets…and by spending money here,
help preserve them.
Want
to be a farmer?
(October
29, 2007)
Small-scale,
specialized ‘niche’ farming returns higher profits per acre;
and could potentially bolster Santa Rosa agriculture and help conserve
existing farmland.
Courthouse
funding hinges on voter approval
(October
23, 2007)
With 40 public-owned acres
next to Santa Rosa’s jail now on the auction block, the quest for
ways to fund a new courthouse, and the land to site it on, continues in
Santa Rosa County.
Lawmakers
divided on children’s health insurance (October
9, 2007)
As
efforts to renew Federal health insurance for low-income children continue,
Florida’s Congressional delegates are divided over how far to expand
the program’s scope and funding.
Environmental
officials eyeing Jubilee construction site
(October 2, 2007)
Jubilee
building site sediment may be running off into adjoining wetlands, in
violation of state statute, according to Florida’s Department of
Environmental Protection.
Whiting
hosts leadership program (September
28, 2007)
Community,
business, and civic members of Santa Rosa County, had an opportunity to
get up close and personal with military personnel and equipment during
a recent orientation on NAS Whiting Field's mission and capabilities.
County
says ‘no’ to jail, roadwork privatization (September 28,
2007)
Officials
scrutinized jail operations, road paving preparation and vehicle and equipment
maintenance costs, to see if private industry could perform the work more
cheaply.
Will
taxpayers ‘own’ future Eglin toll bypass? (September 21,
2007)
A
toll bypass that would run along Eglin AFB’s southern boundary,
between Hwy. 87 and U.S. 331 in Walton County, could clear a major hurdle
by the end of October. But officials say it's too early to say whether
taxpayers or private industry will reap eventual profits.
Correct
fertilizer key to Fall lawn preparation (September
15, 2007)
September
marks the beginning of the fall gardening season. Now is the time to start
preparing your lawn for the winter.
Dawn’s
ion engine: the Prius of space?
(September 13, 2007)
Some spacecraft achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust from
them
If you drive a car - and you know who you are - you have invariably come
upon the dreaded dilemma of refueling.
Coyote
neighbors fear new landfill on the horizon (August
28, 2007)
Residents living near
Holley’s Coyote landfill fear a proposed new excavation pit will
eventually expand dumping activities to within 100 feet of their backyards.
Volunteers,
business groups pitch in to help “Save the ZOO” (August
16, 2007)
Business
and community volunteers met Tuesday at Holley Navarre Fire Station to
strategize solutions to ZOO Northwest Florida’s financial woes.
Key
investor says Jubilee’s still on (August 12, 2007)
In
an exclusive interview, California-based financier Barney Ng updates the
status of Pace’s floundering Jubilee project, and talks about the
development’s future. Ng was in Santa Rosa this week to meet with
contractors who are still owed payments for Jubilee construction work.
UF
survey: Few Floridians think their house values will dip in five years
(August 8, 2007)
GAINESVILLE,
Fla. — Floridians are optimistic about housing prices despite the
gloom pervading much of the real estate industry, a new University of
Florida survey finds.
Jubilee
construction delayed, contractors file liens
(August 6,
2007)
Construction on Pace’s
proposed 2,700 acre Jubilee development will not meet initial timetable
projections, say project officials. Three contractors recently filed liens
against Jubilee land, owned by Atlanta-based developer The Eagle Group.
ACLU
Florida: Tax Reform Commission could threaten public schools
(August 6, 2007)
ACLU
would vigorously oppose any proposed constitutional amendment that would
authorize the payment of state tax dollars to religious or private institutions
that otherwise would benefit public education.
Tougher
landfill code approved: distance concerns linger (July
3, 2007)
New regulations, approved
Friday, establish more stringent standards for Santa Rosa construction
debris landfills, but questions linger over allowable buffer distances
between disposal sites and residential housing areas.
Coyote
neighborhood a ‘public health hazard’ (July
3, 2007)
It’s official:
the atmosphere near Navarre’s Coyote Landfill poses a threat to
public health, according to a state study cited by Santa Rosa’s
Health Department.
FCATs
shape student futures…but parents can’t double check scores
(June 28, 2007)
Florida’s FCAT
affects grade promotion, graduation, college prep course placement, and
school funding levels. But despite those high-stakes implications for
families, parents are not allowed to review test booklet records, to check
scoring results, answer-by-answer.
Tax
reform bill shaves 7 percent off Santa Rosa property tax revenues
(June 15, 2007)
State tax reform, passed Thursday
evening, requires Santa Rosa County to reduce tax revenues by seven percent
next year, but Property Appraiser Greg Brown says it’s too soon
to tell how the changes might impact homeowners’ pocketbooks.
Commissioner
McCarty orders insurer to refund $43.2 million to customers (June
15, 2007)
Florida
Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty issued a Consent Order requiring
United Property & Casualty Insurance Company to refund millions of
dollars in unapproved homeowners’ insurance rate increases, the
Office of Insurance Regulation has announced.
Better
Business Bureau seeks 2007 Ethics Award Nominees (June
14, 2007)
The
Better Business Bureau of Northwest Florida is seeking nominations of
businesses and charities for the 2007 Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics.
Area
couple hunt treasure…in plain sight (June 13,
2007)
Geocaching (pronounced geo-cash-ing)
is a treasure hunting game that uses a GPS (global positioning system)
to find bits of treasure, called caches, hidden in plain sight all over
the world. Clues and coordinates are posted on a Web site.
In
Memorium: John Brancato (June 8, 2007)
Because
we see ourselves as a democratic nation, most of us would answer, "the
people," if asked who elects the U.S. president. And that answer
would be wrong.
Florida
can't afford new coal plant (June 5, 2007)
The
Florida Public Services Commission (PSC) voted June 5 to reject a proposal
for one of the largest new coal-fired power plants in the United States.
Florida
Hometown Democracy: put public in charge of growth
(June 3, 2007)
“It’s the merging of an elite group that makes its money off
development, with elected officials who do their bidding… Honey,
it’s just a bunch of good old boys in the back room, cutting deals.”
Proposed
landfill buffer zones questioned (June 2, 2007)
Proposed new ordinances to regulate dirt borrow pits, solid waste collection
and construction and demolition (C&D) landfills drew criticism at
a recent hearing, for allowing future facilities too close to housing
areas.
Capt.
McClure takes reins of Fleet Hospital Pensacola
(May 24, 2007)
Captain Paula McClure, a Navy
Medical Service Corps officer, is no stranger to operational missions
and deploying units; or the command-wide structure of Naval Hospital Pensacola.
IP
pipeline denial is the right decision (May 23, 2007)
The
League of Women Voters of the Pensacola Bay Area supports the decision
of Judge Canter recommending denial of International Paper’s request
to construct a ten mile pipeline to wetlands which drain into Perdido
Bay.
Navy
Medicine East Goes South (May 22, 2007)
The Commander
of Navy Medicine East flew South for the week visiting Naval Hospital
Pensacola and Navy Medicine assets at the Naval Construction Battalion
Center Gulfport, Miss., one of the Pensacola hospital’s 11 branch
health clinics; and homeport of the Atlantic Fleet’s Seabees.
Horsefly
Buzzings: Road money pie needs another look (March
21, 2007)
My
belief is that all government’s efforts, using our tax dollars,
should be aimed at the majority rather than the minority.
Local
tolls, foreign profits? (March 11, 2007)
Northwest
Florida’s possible future highways, byways and evacuation routes.
‘Public-private’ suggestions include a Pace ‘Beltway,’
six lanes through Gulf Breeze and for-profit tollways; but foreign companies
could end up pocketing the $$$...and build on eminent domain-obtained
property.
Hwy.
98 tollway plans need a second look (March
11, 2007)
The
Clean Water Network of Florida, Inc. offers the following comments regarding
the Northwest Florida Transportation Corridor Authority’s proposed
transportation corridors and the final master plan.
Take
a musical walk ‘Among Them’ (March 11, 2007)
With a debut CD out
and shows lined up; this band's still happiest mixing it up with the crowd
Volunteer
fire department reforms move forward (March 11, 2007)
Volunteer fire
department reform proposals, introduced last month, would increase tax
dollars going towards the agencies, introduce a new element of public
oversight…
North
end/south end...are road repair $$$ split fairly? (March 11, 2007)
Paving
money allocations vs. tax contributions sparks Commission spat
4-H
helps restore almost-extinct southern apple (March
11, 2007)
Shell
Apple reappearing in area yards and orchards
Who
owns government? (March 11, 2007)
March
11-17 marked National Sunshine Week – a yearly event that spotlights
the key role open government and freedom of information play in a system
“by, of and for the people.”
Viewpoint:
MSBU fire department reform: it’s about time (March 11, 2007)
Thanks
to coordination by Brad Baker (the new Santa Rosa County Emergency Services
Coordinator); and many meetings of representatives from the MSBU fire
departments and other fire departments (who may have to respond to "incidents"
in the MSBU Fire Districts); we finally have a fire services plan that
is generally endorsed by the BOCC.
Growth…a
Wonderful Thing?
How ignorant could I possibly
be, for not having seen the truth before now.