County Commission

After Commissioner Curry moved to reject the Special Magistrate's recommended final order for the Echelon project based on alleged errors, that motion failed 2-3. Vice-Chair Anderson then moved to approve and accept the ALJ's recommended final order and approval of the final development order for the project, which passed 3-2. The project involves a 246-unit condominium with associated amenities and infrastructure on 5.62 acres in the approved Seascape DRI.

Where: 100 Seascape Drive; 29-2S-21-42500-000-0050

The board adopted Ordinance 2026-04 amending Ordinances 2018-14 and 2018-24, amending the Walton County Land Development Code Chapter 4 (Resource Protection Standards), Section 4.02.03 to provide additional protections to the Eastern Lake Outfall and require a supermajority vote for further modifications of this section. The board also imposed a moratorium on developing county-owned Eastern Lake outfall parcels pending review of potential conservation easement partnerships.

The board continued the second and final reading to adopt by ordinance the Inlet Beach Neighborhood Plan (to correct a scrivener's error in Section 2.2.7) to the May 26, 2026 regular meeting.

The board adopted an ordinance approving the future land use and rezoning application (Project FLU25-000029) submitted by Regional Utilities on behalf of Florida Community Services Corporation of Walton County. The application changed the future land use from Residential to Public Facilities and Institutional, or a lesser category, and the zoning district from Neighborhood Infill to Public Facilities, or a lesser district, on 0.552 acres.

Where: North of Carson Lane, East of North Orange Street and South of Walton Palm Road, approximately 0.129 miles from US Highway 98 East; 36-3S-18-16100-000-1005

The board approved the Walton Board of County Commissioners' purchase of a medical modular clinic. The Florida Department of Health in Walton County and Walton Community Health Center will reimburse the county through grant funds from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The estimated cost is $490,000, though the Health Officer noted the estimate is several months old and may exceed that amount. The board was asked to consider funding potential connection fees and/or site work costs, which was noted as requiring future approval.

• $490,000 · Estimated cost of medical modular clinic, subject to change

The board committed to funding the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Department through the end of the fiscal year to address an administrative cost shortfall identified by the Housing Director.

• $30,000 · Funding to allow HUD Department to continue operating through end of fiscal year

The board approved Change Order No. 1 to Contract No. 26-04 with 3 Rivers Construction Co., LLC for the County Highway 83A (Bay Loop) Timber Bridges Renovation, increasing the contract amount.

• $3,360.00 · Contract increase for County Highway 83A Timber Bridges Renovation

The board awarded Invitation to Bid 26-06 to Construction Materials of Northwest Florida, Inc. for On-Site Concrete Crushing with Multi-Size Aggregate Output and Contaminant Removal and approved Contract No. 26-06.

• $5,612.00 · Base bid for On-Site Concrete Crushing with Multi-Size Aggregate Output and Contaminant Removal services

The board approved a request by Margot Palmer (Life Scout of Troops 30 and 331) to design and build an informational kiosk at Lakewood Park, Britton Hill, as her Eagle Scout project.

Multiple routine and substantive consent items were approved in a single motion, including approval of minutes, expenditure approval list totaling $21,271,383.25, advisory board appointment policy (continued for further discussion), county parking fees resolution, federal lobbying RFQ workshop scheduling, Safe Connections Family Visitation Center grant agreement, Glendale Fire Station construction change order, Mossy Head Industrial Park design services award, bookmobile license agreement, library vehicle purchase, Hub Presley Road bridge project agreement, Four Mile pedestrian bridge improvements, Tourist Development Council resignation acceptance and vacancy advertising, regional utilities water/sewer service agreement, and Legacy Condominium tree planting right of entry.

• $21,271,383.25 · Expenditure Approval List total across all county funds
• $22,169.00 · Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant from Florida Department of Law Enforcement for Safe Connections Family Visitation Center
• $31,981 · 2026 Bronco Sport vehicle purchase for Library System

The board approved and adopted Resolution 2026-18 approving modifications to voting precinct boundaries as recommended by the Walton County Supervisor of Elections, adopting revised precinct maps, and authorizing implementation. The changes address population imbalances in precincts, particularly the largest precincts (430 in Freeport area and 520 in Santa Rosa Beach area), to better balance precincts and ensure Election Day voting remains convenient, efficient, and accessible.

The board adopted Resolution 2026-17 proclaiming April 2026 as National Volunteer Month.

The board approved and adopted Resolution 2026-19 authorizing the Director of Building Construction and Maintenance to obtain applicable statutory exemptions for contractor license requirements for department employees and apply for building permits on behalf of Walton County for construction, remodeling, repair, and other improvement projects costing less than $100,000 on county-owned property.

The board adopted a policy allowing political signs sized 18 inches by 24 inches or smaller (not permanently set) within county rights-of-way along tourist corridors from candidate prequalification until 15 days after the election. This reverses the historical practice of not enforcing political sign restrictions.

The board approved a pilot voucher program with 30A Cats to spay and neuter cats and reduce the cat population. The program will offer 100 vouchers to Walton County residents at $75 per voucher.

• $7,500.00 · Total pilot program funding for 100 cat spay/neuter vouchers at $75 each

The board continued Item 4 (the Walton County Advisory Boards and Committees Appointment Policy and Procedures) and directed staff to advertise a public hearing to amend relevant ordinances to restructure volunteer boards as seven-member boards with five appointed by individual commissioners and two appointed at-large by application to four-year staggered terms.

The board approved scheduling and advertising two special meetings for executive sessions regarding litigation: Peace of Paradise, LLC v. Walton County (Circuit Court case 2021CA196) and Samuel A. Osborne v. Walton County (First District Court of Appeal case 1D2021-3898 and Circuit Court case 2025CA56).