County Commission

Approved on consent agenda; acceptance of Administrative Law Judge recommended order for special exception permit for salvage yard operation on 5.18 acres with Rural Residential future land use and Rural Village zoning.

Where: 542 County Highway 1087; 23-3N-21-37000-001-0110

Approved staff initiation of county-sponsored Future Land Use Map Amendment with Rezoning application for two Walton County parcels for potential development.

Where: 11-3N-19-19000-003-0000; 11-3N-19-19000-003-0020

Adopted Ordinance 2026-02 approving Future Land Use change from Rural Residential to General Commercial and zoning district change from Rural Village to General Commercial for 58 acres on State Highway 20 East (project FLU25-000027).

Where: 2909 State Highway 20 East; 19-1S-18-14000-011-0000

Approved on consent agenda; total expenditures of $7,922,733.01 across multiple funds.

• $7,922,733.01 · total expenditure approval list

Approved on consent agenda; contract with C.W. Roberts Contracting, Inc. for Mack Bayou Road Pedestrian Improvements decreased by $38,476.19 with 17-day time extension.

• $38,476.19 · decrease to South Walton Multi-Use Trail project contract

Approved motion to have County Engineer Chance Powell and Director of Public Works Buddy Wright perform traffic and roadway needs assessment for Walton Road as requested by City of DeFuniak Springs.

Approved assignment of payment document for Construction Contract No. 25-27 with RBM Contracting Services, LLC and authorized construction payments via ACH to joint disbursement account.

Approved and signed right-of-way map and legal description into county records as evidence of county limits in accordance with Florida Statute 95.361.

Approved on consent agenda to record restrictive covenants for 11 parcels associated with stormwater management system.

Where: 26-2S-20-33200-000-0010; 26-2S-20-33200-000-0020; 26-2S-20-33200-000-0030; 26-2S-20-33200-000-0040; 26-2S-20-33200-000-0050; 26-2S-20-33200-000-0220; 26-2S-20-33200-000-0230; 26-2S-20-33200-000-0240; 26-2S-20-33200-000-0320; 26-3S-20-33200-000-0350; 26-2S-20-33200-000-0380

Approved on consent agenda to fund EMS services at the initial amount of $947,284.

• $947,284 · initial EMS funding to South Walton Fire District

Adopted Resolution 2026-06 recognizing the honorable service of Deputy Will May and showing support for naming portion of U.S. Highway 90 as Deputy William May Memorial Highway.

Board negotiated with DeFuniak Springs City Manager regarding fire department funding request of $125,000 to $900,000 annually. Chair Drake proposed trading city property abandonments for one-time county funding of $125,000, but board directed attorney and administrator to continue negotiations before finalizing agreement.

• $125,000 · one-time county funding proposed for DeFuniak Springs city property abandonments

Commissioner Curry requested legal staff to prepare conservation and preservation easement for county property at Eastern Lake, including 2 adjacent county-owned parcels and permanent prohibition of vending. Document to be brought back at next regular meeting.

Approved use of Vessel Registration Funds for repairs to Portland Boat ramp facility at lowest bid of $36,000. Fund balance noted as $311,801.

• $36,000 · repairs to Portland Boat ramp facility

Instructed staff to advertise request for proposals for designing and permitting an Olympic-size swimming pool facility at Eagle Springs Sports Complex.

Approved on consent agenda to offer preference for currently assisted WCHA Emergency Housing Voucher holders.

Approved on consent agenda to re-designate Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers, Inc. as the non-profit organization authorized to receive Crime Stoppers grant funding for Walton County.

Approved on consent agenda; amendment for installation of artificial reefs offshore funded by Natural Resource Damage Assessment funds.

Approved on consent agenda; addendum No. 1 for three additional artificial intelligence components to SwiftGov over three-year term.

• $970,000 · three additional AI components for SwiftGov over three-year term

Request for easement for aircraft hangar construction with project cost of $10,980,000 and estimated completion Fall 2027 was not approved; board requested additional information and agreed to discuss at next regular meeting.

• $10,980,000 · project cost for 3 aircraft hangars at DeFuniak Springs Airport

Approved provision of in-kind assistance to NWFWMD by performing side mowing at Tilley Landing.

Approved use of Beach Vending Funds to assist annual Fourth of July parade in Grayton Beach. Direction given to staff to work with Sheriff's Office to offset or remove governmental costs and fees for Board-approved Fourth of July parades or events.

Approved motion directing staff to prepare draft resolution and support letter for Coalition Against Bigger Trucks to prevent larger and heavier trucks on roadways for safety and road maintenance reasons.

Approved multiple appointments and reappointments to volunteer advisory boards and committees including Coastal Dune Lakes Advisory Board, Contractor's Competency Board, Library Board, Design Review Board, Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Planning Commission, and Zoning Board of Adjustments.