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Board of County Commissioners · Tuesday, September 9, 2025 · 1:00 PM · DeFuniak Springs BCC Boardroom, 571 US Highway 90 East, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433

County Commission

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Summary

The Walton County Board of Commissioners met on September 9, 2025, and approved a that included grant awards for law enforcement equipment, fiber optic cable installation at the State Attorney's Office, machinery donations, opioid settlement agreements, road improvements, and contract approvals for tourism and parks services. Outside of the consent agenda, the Board adopted a recognizing Forensic Science Week, awarded a parking management contract, discussed Section 8 housing challenges, approved a Building Permit Fee abatement resolution, considered the Freeport Library relocation and teen center proposal, discussed the former Choctaw Beach Fire Station, and deferred decisions on Highway 98 code enforcement standards and the Echelon condominium project (which will be heard by a rather than the Board). The Board also approved the continuation of the Evaluation and Appraisal Report to its September 23 meeting and approved a for Juan's Auto Repair.

Why it matters

The county approved over $4 million in routine expenditures and granted federal funds for law enforcement equipment. Key infrastructure investments include traffic signal improvements on Bay Loop and construction cost increases for a new fire station. The Board also made important decisions about library services by approving plans to relocate the Freeport Library and create a teen center, and deferred Highway 98 code enforcement changes pending further planning, all of which affect county services and development standards.

What happened

Development & zoning4 items

  • Continuation of Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) Adoption

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved to continue the adoption of the EAR to the September 23, 2025, BCC meeting. The EAR provides amendments to Elements and recommends new development concepts.

  • Text Amendments - Beach Vending Operations

    Tabled 4–0 · unanimous

    . of proposed regarding Certificate of Land Use Compliance exemption status of beach vending operations.

  • Juan's Auto Repair with

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved by . with application to change from Rural Residential to Commercial and from Rural Village to General Commercial zoning.

    Where: 27-1S-19-23000-049-0000

  • Echelon Condominium Project - Direction on Hearing Forum

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Motion to transmit proceedings to the passed. The Board decided the 246-unit condominium project in the Seascape DRI will be heard by a Special Magistrate rather than the Board.

    Where: 29-2S-21-42500-000-0050

Budget & taxes10 items

  • Expenditure Approval List (EAL)

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the . Total expenditures of $4,010,354.31 across multiple funds including General Fund, Public Works, Building Department, utilities, housing, tourism, and capital projects.

    • $1,356,847.99 · General Fund
    • $203,280.99 · Public Works
    • $918.72 · Building Department
    • $50,199.95 · N.W. Mosquito Control
    • $2,078.05 · Fine & Forfeiture
    • $233,645.22 · Section 8 Housing
    • $923,085.12 · Tourist Dev. Council
    • $13,054.30 · Solid Waste Enterprise
    • $84,463.65 · Recreation Plat Fee
    • $5,586.29 · Sidewalk Fund
    • $1,137,194.03 · Capital Projects Fund
    • $4,010,354.31 · Total EAL

  • Surplus Machinery and Equipment from Various Departments

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the for auction on September 13, 2025.

  • Donation of Polaris Ranger UTV to Paxton School's Athletic Department

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the . BCC# 10408 donated to Paxton School's Athletic Department.

  • 2026 Opioid Settlement Implementation Plan

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the .

  • Tarey Franxman as Benefits Administrator for Florida Blue

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the to designate and give signature authority to Tarey Franxman.

  • Agreement with Meeting Assistance, Inc. (DMI) for Lead Generation Services

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the for Tourism Department. Effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026.

    • $12,000 · Agreement with Meeting Assistance, Inc. d/b/a DMI for lead generation services October 1, 2025 - September 30, 2026

  • Contract with Turner Public Relations, Inc. for Public Relations Services

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the for Tourism Department. Effective October 26, 2025, through October 25, 2026.

  • Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 25-10 for Paid Parking

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved to award to the highest ranked firm PCI Municipal Services and request approval to begin contract negotiations.

  • Building Permit Fee Abatement

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the , removed for separate discussion. adopted to approve a Building Permit Fee abatement.

  • for Hospital Indigent Care Levy Renewal

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved to schedule and advertise a to consider renewal of an providing a levy against the hospital within Walton County for indigent care services.

Roads & infrastructure3 items

  • State Road 20 and County Road 83A West (West Bay Loop) Intersection Signalization Improvements

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the . Invitation to Bid (ITB) 25-22 awarded to Griffin Traffic Signals for materials only.

    • $198,500.00 · ITB 25-22 Materials for State Road 20 and County Road 83A West Intersection Signalization Improvements to Griffin Traffic Signals

  • No. 2 to Glendale Fire Station Construction Contract

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the . Increase to contract amount with Gage Golden Construction, LLC d/b/a BGN Contractors and extension of completion date.

    • $396,598.44 · Change Order No. 2 increase to Glendale Fire Station construction contract to be paid by Walton County Sheriff's Office

  • Road Closure for 25th Annual Seaside School Half Marathon and 5K

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the . Temporary road closure of a portion of County Road 30A on February 15, 2026.

Utilities1 item

  • Green Light Package with Uniti Fiber, LLC

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the . Installation, operation, and maintenance of fiber optic cable and other equipment at the State Attorney's Office at Uniti Fiber's sole expense.

Public safety2 items

  • Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) 2024 JAG-C Grant Award Agreement

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the for procurement of speed measuring devices for law enforcement officers, as requested by the Walton County Sheriff's Office.

    • $13,773.00 · JAG-C Grant Award for speed measuring devices

  • Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) 2024 JAG-D Grant Award Agreement

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the for procurement of speed measuring devices for law enforcement officers, as requested by the Walton County Sheriff's Office.

    • $6,819.00 · JAG-D Grant Award for speed measuring devices

Parks1 item

  • Merchant Agreement and Amendments with ForeUP for Credit Card Processing

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the . Parks & Recreation merchant agreement and amendments with ForeUP.

Other8 items

  • County Administrator as Staff Liaison on Small County Coalition

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the .

  • Memorandum of Agreement for Statewide Opioid Abatement Program

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the between Walton County and the Walton County Health Department for administrative services.

  • Memorandums of Agreement for 2026 Opioid Settlement Implementation Plan

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the between Walton County and Lakeview Center, Inc., Freedom Life Compass, Inc., and the Walton County Health Department for services.

  • Satisfaction of Judgment for Probation Fees

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the .

  • Resignation of Jennifer Stoffel from Design Review Board

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the . Accepted resignation from Realtor Seat and approved advertising the vacancy.

  • Joint Tourist Development Council and BCC Strategic Planning

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the to schedule for October 7, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. in the South Walton Courthouse .

  • Recognizing Forensic Science Week

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Adopted by motion. recognizing September 14-20, 2025, as Forensic Science Week.

  • Waiver of 90-Day Notice for Escambia County Termination

    Passed 4–0 · unanimous

    Approved to waive the 90-day notice requirement and approve termination effective September 30, 2025, for the Among Escambia County and Walton County Boards of County Commissioners relating to consolidation of technology funds.

Coming up

  • to consider renewal of providing a levy against the hospital within Walton County for indigent care services
  • Adoption of the EAR continues · September 23, 2025
  • Joint Tourist Development Council and Board of County Commissioners Strategic Planning · October 7, 2025
  • Revised draft for Highway 98 Scenic Corridor standards to be presented with proposed adoption hearing · October 14, 2025 and October 28, 2025
  • Echelon project hearing before

Summaries are AI-generated; each meeting links its original documents · Independent, not an official Walton County site · Source · Updated Sep 20, 2026 · Privacy · Terms