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City Council · Monday, April 7, 2025 · 5:00 PM

Workshop - Interlocal Agreements

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Summary

The Freeport City Council held a on April 7, 2025, to discuss with Walton County. Planning Director Latilda Hughes-Neel explained that the city has two types of agreements with the county: coordination agreements (which formalize participation in regional processes or grant opportunities) and service agreements (which define specific services and responsibilities). The council focused on three contentious areas: code enforcement, road maintenance, and mosquito control. The county has asked the city to take over code enforcement, citing costs of about $110 per inspection. For road maintenance, the city contributes gas tax revenue (about $700–$800 monthly) while the county receives $3.8 million and maintains only roads accepted before 2011; roads accepted after 2011 are maintained by the city. On mosquito control, the city noted it has not received adequate information about program costs and effectiveness and indicated it may not consent to continued county operation of the tax. The council requested that staff bring back proposals on code enforcement (including a process) and the before the budget season.

Why it matters

These agreements define essential services—code enforcement, road maintenance, and mosquito control—that affect how the city operates and what taxpayers receive. Decisions about which services the city operates in-house versus contracts to the county will affect service quality, costs, and how city tax dollars are spent.

What happened

Roads & infrastructure1 item

  • Discussion—Road Maintenance

    The city pledges gas tax revenue to the county for road maintenance on roads accepted before 2011. Roads accepted after 2011 are maintained by city Public Works for pothole and wear repairs but not resurfacing. The county has declined to maintain all city roads, stating insufficient funding. Current agreement provides that county performs one road annually (currently Azalea Drive) with the city paying for materials. Council discussed options including contracting with local construction companies or doing maintenance in-house, but expressed concern about disrupting a long-standing arrangement. Planning Director Hughes-Neel will bring the to council in May.

    • $700 to $800 per month · City's monthly gas tax revenue distribution
    • $3,844,000 · Walton County's annual gas tax revenue

Other2 items

  • Discussion—Code Enforcement

    The county code enforcement department requested to cease service within city limits, citing costs of approximately $110 per inspection ($5,000 spent in 2023, $4,000 in 2024). The city received 23 first-time and 13 reinspections last year. City Attorney Adkinson noted that city code (not county code) applies within city limits. Planning Director Hughes-Neel will bring back a proposal for in-house code enforcement with a process.

    • $55 per hour · County code enforcement hourly rate
    • $110 per inspection · County estimated cost per inspection (2 hours travel/processing)
    • $5000 · County code enforcement spending in City of Freeport in 2023
    • $4000 · County code enforcement spending in City of Freeport in 2024

  • Discussion—Mosquito Control

    City Attorney Adkinson stated that the county must obtain city consent annually to continue mosquito control operations. He indicated he will bring back an for council to formally require the county to provide information on: (1) revenues collected, (2) spending in the city, and (3) service effectiveness compared to other cities. Councilwoman Haffner stated she opposes continued county operation. The city is considering a non-ad valorem assessment either by the county or administered by the city.

Coming up

  • Planning Director Hughes-Neel will bring back a proposal on in-house code enforcement with a process to a regular council meeting.
  • Planning Director Hughes-Neel will present the to council. · May 2025
  • City Attorney Adkinson will bring back a draft requiring the county to provide annual consent and information on mosquito control revenues, spending, and service effectiveness.
Why is this summary flagged?
  • model reported unreadable parts: A portion of the minutes relating to Councilwoman Hurst's question about road maintenance monitoring and record-keeping contains illegible text due to image quality.

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