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Board of County Commissioners · Tuesday, September 23, 2025 · 1:00 PM · South Walton Annex BCC Boardroom, 31 Coastal Centre Blvd. Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

County Commission

Summary

The Walton County Board of County Commissioners met on September 23, 2025, to address various administrative, budget, and development matters. The board approved routine items including expenditure payments totaling $8.5 million, several grants and service agreements, and multiple requests for on building and fire code amendments. Key substantive actions included approving a $93,750 solid waste grant, refunding approximately $1.5 million in mobility fees collected before Senate Bill 180, authorizing an office lease transfer for District 4's commissioner, approving a shade structure purchase for Ghenstvile Park at an estimated $105,771, and approving a development order application for a modular clinic on Frank Maska Drive. The board also adopted the Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) for the with revisions to the recreational element, and deferred a Building Department office proposal at the South Walton (approximately $8 million in building funds) pending updated cost estimates and reserve calculations. A department head confirmation motion failed, leading to a revised motion confirming several positions while excluding others, and the board defunded marketing allocations for two event grant organizations.

Why it matters

The board's decisions will affect county growth patterns through the updated , reduce administrative inefficiency by consolidating office spaces and confirming department leadership, and generate approximately $1.5 million in refunds to residents who paid mobility fees before Senate Bill 180. The decision to defer the $8 million Building Department office at South Walton indicates the board wants more detailed cost and reserve analysis before committing those funds.

What happened

Development & zoning4 items

  • Mossy Head Modular Clinic Development Order and Site Preparation

    Passed 5–0 · unanimous

    Approved for Engineering and Public Works to apply for Development Order and for Public Works to perform site preparation.

    Where: Frank Maska Drive (Parcel I.D. 22-3N-21-37000-012-0010)

  • - Building and Building Regulations Amendments

    Passed 5–0 · unanimous

    Approved to schedule and advertise for amending Chapter 6 codes adopted by reference and fee schedule.

  • Memorandum of Understanding with Division of Administrative Hearings

    Passed 5–0 · unanimous

    Approved and ratified MOU outlining procedures for hearings for county land-use and zoning matters, including amendment allowing representative groups not established as a party up to 10 minutes of public comment.

  • Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) for

    Passed 5–0 · unanimous

    Adopted 2025-66 to adopt the EAR with revision to the Recreational Element regarding recreational fees. Report provides amendments to majority of elements and recommendations for development incentives, place types, and policy updates. Legal review addressed conflicts with Senate Bill 180; EAR recommendations excluding two controversial items (height reduction and short-term rental reclassification) should pose limited conflict with SB 180.

Budget & taxes5 items

  • Expenditure Approval List (EAL)

    Passed 5–0 · unanimous

    Approved on . Total expenditures across all funds: $8,554,595.03

    • $3,600,283.05 · General Fund
    • $624,072.52 · Public Works
    • $2,625.00 · MSBU
    • $1,179.88 · Building Department
    • $1,314.64 · N.W. Mosquito Control
    • $379,876.56 · Fine & Forfeiture
    • $346.18 · Section 8 Housing/HUD
    • $2,047,564.35 · Tourist Dev. Council
    • $1,473,517.46 · Solid Waste Enterprise
    • $11,175.90 · Recreation Plat Fee
    • $40,529.99 · Sidewalk Fund
    • $372,109.50 · Capital Projects Fund
    • $8,554,595.03 · Total expenditures
  • Small County Consolidated Solid Waste Management Grant Agreement

    Passed 5–0 · unanimous

    Approved on . Agreement No. CW031 with authorization for Chair to sign, Billy McKee as Grant Manager, and Melissa Thomason as Fiscal Agent.

    • $93,750 · Grant amount for solid waste management
  • - Fine and Forfeiture Fund

    Passed 5–0 · unanimous

    Approved on via 2025-63 to amend 2025 budget for unanticipated revenues.

    • $213,132 · Unanticipated revenues in Fine and Forfeiture Fund
  • Refund of Mobility Fees Collected Prior to Senate Bill 180

    Passed 5–0 · unanimous

    Approved to refund all mobility fees collected prior to adoption of Senate Bill 180.

    • $1,500,000 · Estimated refund amount for mobility fees collected prior to SB 180
  • Hospital Indigent Care Funding Levy

    item. providing a levy against the hospital within Walton County to increase funding for indigent care services. CFO noted IGT (intergovernmental transfer) funds have already been levied; letter of agreement to be presented at future meeting.

Roads & infrastructure3 items

  • CR 395 and US 98 Intersection Improvements - Continuing Engineering Services

    Passed 5–0 · unanimous

    Approved on for design services.

  • CR 183 South Cross Drain Replacement - No. 01

    Passed 5–0 · unanimous

    Approved on with RBM Contracting Services, LLC. Contract time increased by ten calendar days.

  • State Road 20 and County Road 83A West Intersection Signalization - Task Order

    Passed 5–0 · unanimous

    Approved on . Task Order No. ENG 25-10 with DRMP, Inc. for Professional CEI Services.

    • $115,269.50 · Not to exceed amount for professional CEI services

Public safety1 item

  • - Fire Prevention and Protection Code Amendments

    Passed 5–0 · unanimous

    Approved to schedule and advertise for amending Chapter 10 fire codes and cost recovery fees.

Parks1 item

  • Shade Structure for Ghenstvile Park Playground

    Passed 5–0 · unanimous

    Approved purchase of shade structure for playground equipment.

    • $105,771 · Estimated cost for shade structure at Ghenstvile Park

Other6 items

  • Code Compliance Software Agreement - TransUnion TRADS

    Passed 5–0 · unanimous

    Approved on . Pricing Supplement Agreement to continue software access for vehicle tag information.

    • $6,300 · Annual cost for vehicle tag information software
  • District 4 Commissioner's Office Lease Transfer

    Passed 4–1 · split

    Approved to transfer current lease to a different unit within the same complex to expand office space. District 2 authorized to investigate alternative office locations.

  • National Estuary Week

    Passed 5–0 · unanimous

    Approved 2025-65 dedicating the week of September 20-27, 2025 as National Estuary Week.

  • Clear Agriculture Center Project Site

    Passed 5–0 · unanimous

    Approved with amended motion directing administration to issue task order for continuing engineering services including property assessment, conceptual design, and engineer's opinion of probable cost. Property will not be cleared until design permit phase is completed.

  • FY 2026 Event Grant Program Applications

    Passed 5–0 · unanimous

    Approved with amendment. Board voted to reconsider item, then approved defunding both Sinfonia Gulf Coast and Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation TDC marketing allocation requests, with funding returned to reserves. Destin Charity Wine Auction event approval remains.

  • Department Head Confirmation - Amended Motion

    Voted

    Initial motion to confirm multiple department heads failed 2-3. Revised motion by Vice-Chair Curry confirmed: Director of Governmental Coordination, Deputy County Administrator, Director of Human Resources, Director of Public Works, Director of Administrative Services, and Director of Emergency Management. County Engineer, Director of Planning & Development, Beach Operations Director, Building Official, and Tourism Director roles to be discussed at next meeting. Excluded from confirmation: Purchasing Director, Budget Director, Extension Director, Assistant County Administrator, and Housing Director.

Coming up

  • Future regular meeting to discuss updated calculations and recommendations for Building Department office at South Walton , including estimates for allowable reserve levels and facility costs
  • Next regular meeting to address insurance-related items (auto, liability, property insurance rates) and investment rates
  • Next regular meeting to finalize department head confirmation process and discuss TDC Executive Director reporting structure
  • on proposed amending building and building regulations (Chapter 6) regarding technical codes and fee schedules
  • on proposed amending fire prevention and protection code (Chapter 10) regarding fire safety standards and cost recovery fees
  • Special Executive Session meeting regarding Theresa L. Tolbert, et al. v. Walton County, Florida, Case No. 2022-CA-423

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