Walton County Commissioners address groundwater, lobbyists and Code fines at recent meeting

Walton County – 11/21/25 – Although the Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) enjoyed a somewhat lighter agenda at their last regular meeting, there were still plenty of important issues to be addressed.

DeFuniak Springs City Manager Kobe Townsend requested the Commission consider a change in the process of remitting sales tax funds to the County from the Small County Surtax which is utilized for solid waste collection and disposal. Chief Financial Officer Melissa Thomason explained that the change would simply allow the city to have use of the funds earlier in the year. The Commissioners approved the request, and CFO Thomason will bring back an amendment to the current interlocal agreement at a future meeting.

Alabama State Representative Matthew Hammett, whose district includes Covington County, adjacent to Walton County, asked the Commissioners for their support in opposing a planned Class 6 CO2 carbon recovery and storage well in southern Covington County. Rep. Hammett said it is estimated that they plan to put 500 million cubic tons of CO2 waste in the ground per year, which is a potential hazard to groundwater. “It’s not just a Covington County problem. One of the sites is within two miles from the Paxton city limits. The same groundwater that’s in Florala and Lockhart is the same groundwater that every city in the Florida Panhandle get their water out of,” he said. Rep. Hammett asked the BCC to send letters opposing the project to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and other officials, and to rally Florida state and federal lawmakers to join in the effort. The Commissioners agreed.

County Administrator Brian Kellenberger requested the BCC approve and sign the Walton County Housing Confirmation of Entity letter. This is the formal

mechanism the Commissioners uses to establish the County’s Housing Department. The request was approved.

Administrator Kellenberger requested the Board authorize Commission Chair Donna Johns to sign the Exercise of First Option to Renew Contract No.: 23-21 with Ballard Partners, Inc for federal lobbying services. Commissioner Dan Curry asked that Ballard representatives appear and give the BCC an update on their activities on Walton County’s behalf. Commissioners were in agreement that the firm is very influential in Washington D.C., but they also agreed that Walton County is being treated as “small fish in a big pond.”

In the meantime, the BCC voted to continue with Ballad Partners. Director of Governmental Coordination Scott Brannon was tasked with setting up a meeting between Ballad and the BCC no later than January 1, 2026.

Code Compliance Director Tony Cornman requested the Commissioners approve a resolution establishing a policy and procedure for the disposition of Code

Compliance imposed fines and liens. Cornman noted that there is more than $10.3 million in fines that have not been collected and that amount is increasing by approximately $16,850 every day. Fines increase each day the properties remain out of compliance.

Commissioner Johns said something should be done to remedy the issue and said it is likely that many people do not realize the original fine amount is increasing daily. Administration and Code officials will bring back a plan for an Amnesty Program to address the current backlog. This was approved.

Deputy Public Works Director Scott Caraway requested approval to proceed with the asbestos removal, handling, and disposal services for the old Thrift-Way Supermarket building in an amount not to exceed $75,000. Because materials containing asbestos are present in the building, the County is required to hire a licensed asbestos contractor to handle the removal process. The request was approved.

Public Works Director Buddy Wright requested approval of the 2025 County

Maintained Road Index, which is presented annually. The Board approved.

Chief Financial Officer Melissa Thomason request the Board advertise and hold a public hearing on November 24, 2025, at 1 p.m. in the South Walton Courthouse Annex for the Fiscal Year 2026 to carry-forward of Recreation Plat Fees and Tourism Department Capital Projects funding. The request was approved.

County Attorney Clay Adkinson requested the Board approve an extension not to

exceed 30 days for the Bennett Property due to the discovery of an error in one of the legal descriptions required by law. This request was approved, and the Office of County Attorney will provide the extension.

Attorney Adkinson also requested the Board advertise a special meeting for an Executive Session regarding ROC Interests, LLC vs. Walton County, Case No. 2025CA411. This was approved.

Next, Adkinson requested the Board schedule a public hearing for adoption of an ordinance regarding the conservation easement program. This was approved.

Vice Chair Dan Curry discussed the need for repairs at public boat launches located within District One, to include repairs at Portland Boat Launch and Four Mile Creek Park. He asked for approval to allocate $50,000 in District 1 Recreational Plat fees for installation of a dock at Pitts Bayshore. Commissioner Curry also sought permission to remove the allocation of $100,000 from the Army Corps of Engineers land adjacent to the Freeport Marina and put those funds back into the District One recreation plat fees account.

Commissioner Curry asked for an update on Eagle Springs Golf and Recreation Center operations, particularly regarding daily golf round pricing and plans regarding the Bar & Grill. Director Shane Supple discussed the operations, noting that they are getting close to making the golf course sustainable. That is, without needed additional funds from the county. Supple also noted that the Bar & Grill part of the operation has also been able to reduce expenses. No formal action was taken by the Board.

Commissioner Curry offered a suggestion to start holding an annual Commissioner Classic Golf Tournament, benefiting the Walton County FFA Tractor Museum.

After several ideas were offered and rejected on how to best fund the event, Commissioners decided to let Director Supple and District 5 Commissioner Tony Anderson work out financial details for the tournament, with proceeds going to the FFA Tractor Museum.

Commissioner Curry also led discussion regarding water quality in Alaqua

and Crawford Creeks. Environmental Manager Melinda Gates briefed the Commissioners on their efforts to ensure good water quality, which could include additional surface water testing on public wells and test sites. The Commissioners

approved a plan in the amount of $10,000 for surface water testing on Alaqua

and Crawford Creeks. Environmental will also bring back estimates of what it will

cost to test Bruce Creek and Seven Runs Creek in Red Bay.

District 4 Commissioner Danny Glidewell noted that during their recent joint meeting with the Tourist Development Council, the Board had promised to hold additional meetings once per quarter. He asked the Board to schedule the next meeting for December 9, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. at the South Walton Courthouse Annex, and for staff to begin regularly scheduling quarterly joint meetings. The Board agreed.

Commissioner Glidewell asked the Board to approve his plan to relocate from his current office, a small portable building near the Walton County Animal Shelter, into a portion of the Glendale Community Center, which is owned by the county. Some construction would be needed to get the space ready, estimated at around $50,000. The plan was approved.

There was discussion regarding Commission Chair Donna Johns’ request for Commissioners to write letters in opposition to possible oil drilling in the Gulf of America. County Attorney Clay Adkinson said he will provide each commissioner with a letter they can put on their own letterhead to send and will also provide a resolution at the next meeting for Board approval.

Commissioner Johns also asked the Board to consider increasing the pay of BCC bailiffs up to $50 per hour with a three-hour minimum. The bailiffs are present at every Commission meeting for the entire duration. Her request was approved.

Commissioner Johns asked about progress made on a possible ‘ride share’ request for proposals. County Administrator Brian Kellenberger said the preliminary work had been completed and they are ready to proceed. No action was taken, but staff will place the question of issuing the RFP on the next agenda.

____________

The following items were approved as a single item by general consent of the Board.

Administration:

1) Request to approve the purchase of a F-250 4×4 for Beach Operations in

amount not to exceed $64,400.00 $69,400.00 Removed from consent

for discussion under Tourism Dept Beach Ops. Brian Kellenberger will

bring back comparisons F150 vs F250 and lease versus purchase,

overall pricing, and gas mileage to the November 24, 2026 meeting and

place the agenda item request on the regular agenda.

2) Request approval to schedule and advertise a public hearing on

December 9, 2025 to consider a resolution electing to use the Uniform

Method of Collecting Non-Ad Valorem Assessments

Clerk’s Items:

3) Request to approve the Expenditure Approval List (EAL)

4) Request to approve and authorize the Chair to sign the minutes of the

September 22, 2025 Budget Hearing and the October 7, 2025 Joint

TDC/BCC Public Workshop

5) Request to approve the Investment Report for Quarter ended September

30, 2025 as requested by the Clerk’s Office

Chief Financial Officer:

6) 25-1421 – Pdf Request approval to allocate $100,000 in District Four

Recreational Plat Fees for Helen McCall Park improvements

County Attorney:

7) Request to approve and authorize the Chair to sign a resolution outlinining

confirmation of specified directors

8) Request to approve and authorize the Chair to sign the Thomson

Reuters subscription order form

Engineering:

9) Request to approve and authorize the Chair to sign the Notice of

Commencement for Parcel 05-3S-18-16000-001-0022 for the

construction of bleacher shade structures at the South Walton Sports

Complex located at 240 MC Davis Blvd, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

10) Request to approve and authorize the Chair to sign Task Order No.:

ENG 25-14 with Panhandle Engineering & Construction, Inc. (PECS) for

Continuing Engineering Services for the design of CR 395 and US 98

Intersection Improvements; in an amount not to exceed $134,685.00

Parks & Recreation:

11) Request to approve and authorize the Chair to sign the Facilities Rental

Agreement with the Boys and Girls Club of the Emerald Coast to allow

for utilization of the gym facilities located at 427 Greenway Trail SRB, FL

for 2026 recreation basketball practices and games

Public Works:

13) Request approval to advertise solicitations for the separation and

crushing of concrete debris located at the landfill

Tourism Department Administration:

14) Request to approve and authorize the Chair to sign the third party

agreement with Key Data Dashboard, Inc. and Datafy for integrated data

sharing and visualization

Tourism Department Beach Operations:

15) Request to approve and authorize the Chair to sign Task Order No. 26-

01 with Halff and Associates, Inc. for design and permitting services for

Eastern Lake Regional Beach Access project at the Eastern Lake

parcels(s) 19-3S-18-16080-000-0120, 19-3S-18-16080-000-0130, and

24-3S-19-25120-000-0254 in the amount of $451,165.15

16) Request to approve and authorize the Chair to sign quotation #Q-

567765-1 for a three-year User Interface Subscription and Warranty for

the Electric Vehicle Charging Stations at the Grayton Beach Municipal

Parking Facility