Freeport, FL

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54 meetings · Clear all

Sep 9, 2025Council
Regular Council Meeting
The Freeport City Council held a regular meeting on September 9, 2025, with four council members present (Councilwoman Hurst was absent). The council approved the consent agenda, which included routine bills and minutes from prior meetings. Key actions included approving approximately $1,350 in expenses for the Community Center's fire protection system (annual monitoring at $600 and a communication dialer at $750), authorizing the installation of rumble strips on North Street to address speeding concerns, establishing a notary services policy charging $10 per signing session while prohibiting wedding ceremonies, authorizing the mayor to execute a utility rate resolution subject to State Revolving Fund approval and council ratification, and approving two beautification grant resolutions for landscaping improvements along the 331N corridor extending 1.5 miles from the city entrance. Additionally, the council approved a $3,500 change order for replacing the rusted roof hatch on the North Bay Elevated Storage Tank. Frank Grant from the Sewer Department was recognized as Employee of the Month.
Sep 4, 2025Council
First Public Hearing for 2025/2026 Budget
The City of Freeport held its first public budget hearing on September 4, 2025. The council voted to approve a tentative millage rate of 4.7302 mills, which is 8.12% higher than the rollback rate of 4.3750 mills, and accepted a tentative 2025-2026 budget of $95,429,130. The council also scheduled the final budget hearing for September 15, 2025, at 5:01 PM. No public comments were received at the hearing.
Aug 28, 2025Council
Regular Council Meeting
The Freeport City Council met on August 28, 2025, to address infrastructure improvements, utility rate increases, and land-use decisions. The council approved major wastewater treatment expansions and related engineering work totaling millions of dollars, supported by new state and federal grants. They also approved water and sewer rate increases phased over four years to fund a new treatment facility, recommended Four Mile Road for county paving, and approved several development projects including the Timber Bridge residential community. The council paused plans to establish a city building permit department after learning it would require ten additional employees and generate no net revenue. A fee waiver was granted to the Gulf Coast Soccer Club, a nonprofit, and the council approved a formal non-profit fee waiver policy for annual processing.
Aug 12, 2025Council
Budget Workshop Immediately Following Regular Council Meeting
The City of Freeport held a budget workshop on August 12, 2025, to review and discuss updates to the fiscal year budget. Finance Director Bruce Simmons presented revisions that added several new projects: North Gateway Landscaping, Mosquito Control's fly balls and pallet stacker, and pool repairs. He reported that projected revenues are expected to exceed expenditures by $587,000 for the year, assuming the council approves a proposed rate increase for the fiscal year. Salary and benefits were updated to reflect a $4 per hour increase for all staff. The director noted that projects requiring additional time to develop are not yet included in the budget and will be added as they are approved and their costs determined.
Aug 12, 2025Council
Regular Council Meeting
The Freeport City Council met on August 12, 2025, and took action on several matters including infrastructure projects, recreational programs, and development approvals. The council approved an exchange of city-owned parcels for the lift station site, moved forward with a major sewer expansion project, and endorsed a wastewater facility funding strategy. They also waived Little League fees, approved a 2026 fireworks contract, advanced a swimming voucher program, approved housing density changes in one development, rezoned property for a daycare, and approved a water storage tank purchase. A motion to support the Wonderful Walton Economic Development Alliance with a letter failed on a divided vote. The meeting included discussions about wastewater facility costs, legislative appropriations, and community center policies.
Aug 4, 2025Council
Budget Workshop
The City Council held a budget workshop on August 4, 2025, to review proposed budget additions for the upcoming fiscal year. Finance Director Simmons presented several items that staff had been working on since the last workshop. The council discussed and agreed to fund a mosquito control flyball program with city logos, a sound system upgrade for city events, a pallet stacker upgrade, and an administration building design and permitting budget for what will be constructed on the former Lucky Star parcel. Staff also presented a proposal for employee compensation: a $4 per hour wage increase across the board and an additional $265 per month per employee added to their defined contribution benefit account. The council approved these measures and scheduled a follow-up budget workshop for August 12, 2025, to review finalized numbers and the balanced budget.
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Jul 31, 2025Council
Budget Workshop
The Freeport City Council held a budget workshop on July 31, 2025, to discuss the 2025-2026 fiscal year budget priorities. Finance Director Bowers presented highlights including proposals for additional staff in planning, utility billing, streets, parks, water, and wastewater departments. Key discussion points included whether to fund two extra sheriff's deputies at $220,000 per year (some council members raised concerns about already paying the county for coverage), funding for street lighting improvements, pay structure changes to address low-end wages, and insurance benefits increases. The council directed staff to work on a revised pay proposal that would raise the minimum wage to $20 per hour across all city departments, apply a 4% cost-of-living adjustment, and explore increasing the city's contribution to employee health insurance to help with recruitment and retention. A final budget was to be brought back Monday for approval.
Jul 24, 2025Council
Regular Council Meeting
The Freeport City Council held a regular meeting on July 24, 2025, swearing in newly elected officials and conducting routine business. The council approved purchases including a new server, AED devices, and a voltage regulator for sewer operations. They awarded a contract for the Bay Area Sewer Expansion project to the low bidder pending funding solutions, set the tentative property tax millage rate, and authorized the city manager to execute a utility service agreement with a developer that includes water capacity fee payments and cost-sharing for water line extensions. The council also adopted zoning amendments for the Sparkleberry project and received an update on the Ronnie Brannon Memorial Park phasing plan.
Jul 10, 2025Council
Post Election Audit
The Freeport City Council met as a Canvassing Board on July 10, 2025, at 5:00 PM to conduct a post-election audit. The board, composed of Mayor Russ Barley, Councilwoman Heather Hurst, and Councilman Eddie Farris, reviewed and confirmed the election results with Supervisor of Elections Ryan Messer and City Clerk Rebecca King. The audit confirmed that Heather Hurst received 226 total votes (156 on election day and 70 by mail), Terry "TJ" Kemp received 124 total votes (78 on election day and 46 by mail), with 1 over vote recorded. The audit was completed in 20 minutes at 5:20 PM.
Jul 9, 2025Council
Regular Council Meeting
The Freeport City Council met on July 9, 2025, and approved multiple infrastructure and operational initiatives. The council voted unanimously to fund additional mosquito control operations through October, purchase chemicals and equipment for mosquito control, approve an engineering proposal for lift station replacement, award a contract for water tank painting, establish an in-house building permit department, and grant a special event permit for a firefighter challenge. The mayor also received approval to attend conferences and recognized outstanding employees.
Jul 8, 2025Council
Special Meeting Following Poll Closing
The Freeport City Council met as a canvassing board on July 8, 2025, to certify the results of a city election held that day. The board counted 234 in-person votes cast on election day and 116 vote-by-mail ballots. One vote-by-mail envelope containing two ballots was rejected per Florida law. The final election results were Heather Hurst 226 votes, Terry "TJ" Kemp 124 votes, and 1 over-vote. The meeting lasted 30 minutes.
Jun 26, 2025Council
Regular Council Meeting
The Freeport City Council met on June 26, 2025, and approved several items including consent agenda matters, a utility rate study presentation for informational purposes, denial of Walton County's request to take over Freeport Marina Boulevard maintenance, emergency status for a water tower project on Wagon Wheel Road, permission to bid two wastewater facility expansion projects, budget workshop dates, removal of the city from the North Walton Mosquito Control taxing district, a sports complex sign, approval of land development code revisions, and a residential development plan. The council also heard public comment opposing a zoning change at Sparkleberry and 331, which would allow mixed-use development on a small parcel, but approved the rezoning for first reading. Additionally, the council approved a pool fill policy clarification and funding for a sidewalk extension at city hall to improve park access.
Jun 10, 2025Council
Regular Council Meeting
The Freeport City Council met on June 10, 2025, and approved several municipal purchases and budget amendments. The council moved the July regular meeting to July 9 at 9 a.m., approved a replacement air conditioning unit for City Hall, and authorized a new mosquito control program with initial startup funding and equipment purchases. The council also approved capital improvements for the community center and sewer system, as well as staff conference attendance. Planning Director Hughes-Neel provided a detailed explanation of the King's Crossing development, a Live Local Act project that spans city and county jurisdictions and includes affordable housing requirements; the city is still coordinating with the county and developers on technical reviews and infrastructure requirements.
May 22, 2025Council
Regular Council Meeting
The Freeport City Council met on May 22, 2025, and approved three major items: the consent agenda (bills, minutes, and financial reports), a financial audit showing the city in strong financial condition with no compliance issues, and authorization to close on the purchase of the Lucky Star Property. The council also approved the Carr Mixed Use Planned Development Project, a large 3,319.7-acre development with single-family and multifamily housing, commercial and industrial space. The project includes requests for variances including 4-story heights for residential buildings, 5-foot setbacks, and no minimum lot sizes; the council approved these with conditions requiring that higher buildings be clustered together in similar phases for consistency and privacy protection.
May 13, 2025Council
Regular Council Meeting
The Freeport City Council held a regular meeting on May 13, 2025, where they approved several consent agenda items including budget amendments and resolutions. Key decisions included supporting rural area of opportunity redesignation, discontinuing county mosquito control service and hiring an in-house director, approving a skate park conceptual plan study, accepting a resolution for wastewater revenue bonds, denying an annexation request for the Oaks at Black Creek, approving air conditioning repair at the sports complex, allowing the Rotary Club to install rescue tube stations at parks, establishing a city code enforcement framework, approving community center change orders, funding lift station communications equipment, and establishing a sewer-only customer policy. The council also approved sponsorship of the Walton County Fair and directed staff to explore signage options for the Regional Sports Complex.

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