Walton County Commission Dec. 9 Meeting Summary

Walton County – 12/19/25 – The Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) met in regular session on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the Walton County Courthouse. Following an eight-hour meeting in November, the first meeting in December, under the direction of Commission Chair Brad Drake, took only three hours.

Among the issues taken up, Walton County Health Department Director Holly Holt and Chief Tracey Vause, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, requested the BCC to approve their Overdose Prevention Task Force launching a pilot program placing publicly accessible, self-standing naloxone (Narcan) rescue boxes in high-traffic county locations to help prevent opioid overdose deaths. Following the presentation, the Commissioners approved the pilot program locations and asked Ms. Holt to bring back a program report in six months.

Walton County resident Mark Douglass spoke to Commissioners regarding concerns about a Code issue in his neighborhood and offered suggestions regarding possible changes to the Code Compliance, Planning, and Fines procedures. No formal action was taken.

Freeport City Manager Mark Martin asked the Commissioners to expand the scope of services in an existing interlocal agreement with Walton County for the Freeport Wastewater Utility Improvements. He explained that original project had been successfully concluded and had come in under budget. Martin said Freeport would like to use the remaining funds to prepare for planned additional water projects in the city. The Commissioners agreed and voted to de-obligate the excess funds and amend the interlocal agreement.

County Engineer Chance Powell discussed a request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a Supplemental Agreement with the State of Florida Department of Transportation, regarding the Transportation Regional Incentive Program (TRIP)

Agreement for the Westbay Parkway Project and a resolution authorizing the execution of the state-funded Supplemental Agreement. Powell said that this would create a 45-mph speed limit on this roadway, although initial design will only be for two lanes, but stormwater ponds and right-of-way would be the same as for a four-lane road. “We want to make sure this is not just a ‘neighborhood road’ but is a road that actually provides a major benefit to the traveling public in the south end of the county,” he said. The request was approved.

Emergency Management Director Jeff Goldberg requested the Commissioners approve the donation of a 2004, E-ONE heavy rescue/command truck from Morgan Marine and authorize Emergency Management to obtain an appraisal for the truck at a cost not to exceed $1,000. This was approved.

Planning and Development Director Stephen Schoen made a presentation regarding an internal Planning Department report on their recently updated

processes and procedures. Director Schoen praised the SwiftGov AI system that was recently adopted and noted that it has vastly improved the project review process down to an average completion time of under an hour with an almost 99-percent accuracy rating. “Pretty incredible,” he said and noted that the system is only one step away from being fully implemented. Schoen said he wants to expand the scope of SwiftGov’s involvement in the future throughout the department to cover a multitude of Planning services.

Schoen related that the department has filled several important positions and is working on becoming fully staffed. County Administrator Brian Kellenberger explained that the report illustrated the important actions taken to correct past issues and create a faster, more efficient department for the public. No other formal action was taken.

Commissioner Dan Curry also praised SwiftGov and its co-founder and managing partner, Sabrina Dugan, who was in the audience. Ms. Dugan explained that SwiftGov produces automated systems for government, including artificial intelligence, with a goal of standardizing operating procedures and efficiencies throughout local government. Her company has greatly assisted Hernando County government following severe hurricane damage and this was showcased at a Florida Association of Counties conference.

Ms. Dugan provided an update on the services SwiftGov has provided Walton County saying, “We moved from anecdotal observation to a data-driven, decision-making model, getting rid of ambiguity within the code, flagging reoccurring items

and maybe those should be addressed first within code re-writes…once that’s adjusted and corrected, we see the results getting even better and faster.”

A second public hearing was opened to consider a First Reading of a possible

ordinance establishing the Walton Forever Land Acquisition Program; amending provisions of the Code of Ordinances to define the Program and amend sections of the Code related to real property acquisitions for conformity with the Program; tasking an advisory board to aide in the acquisition of natural and other important resource based passive lands; and passive recreational lands; and agricultural lands; tasking appropriate departments to act as support staff; providing the duties of both the advisory board and the assigned department; providing dedicated funding and identifying funding source(s) for acquisition projects; providing criteria for selecting properties for acquisition; mandating the creation of a five-year acquisition plan; requiring increased priority for the acquisition of certain lands; adopting the procedure for land selection; requiring the use of a management plan for any new acquisition; requiring that any future changes to this ordinance be by a supermajority vote and repeal requiring unanimous vote; and providing for codification in the Walton county code.

County Attorney Clay Adkinson called it more of a pilot program for Walton County rather than a full Forever program that one might see in Alachua, Volusia or Seminole counties. He stressed that there will be no new taxes or obligated ad valorem funds. Walton County will not be acquiring land or creating the full committee to oversee the county-managed lands. Instead, it will begin by identifying agricultural lands to be placed into conservation and accepting proposals from local or state non-profit entities to oversee the program.

“There is nothing in this ordinance, by design, that addresses any obligation of money beyond saying the board shall allocate an appropriate annual funding and those will be set aside when the board does and not comingled with other funds,” said Adkinson. “The program would come forward and say ‘we have these properties that we are attempting to acquire for conservation easements’ over their agriculture lands and then the Board would allocate the funding to those programs on an as-needed basis, rather than be just a blanket gift of money to a not-for-profit.”

Adkinson stressed that this is merely a first step and if the program is approved at their first meeting in January, then the process would begin in earnest.

Commissioner Danny Glidewell stated, “Just to be clear, what we’re talking about is buying development rights in perpetuity – not buying land.” Adkinson agreed, noting that it would allow that property to stay in agricultural use. He stressed that the normal allowable density units of the property could not be transferred to

another property and would simply disappear. “This is not a density bank. That’s not what we’re doing.”

Commissioner Curry praised the program but was wary of committing to future funding obligations, given SB 180 restrictions, and the Legislature’s plan to eliminate property taxes, a main driver of local government funding.

Adkinson replied, “If the Board says they’re not going to fund it, that’s ultimately the Board’s call.”

Commission Vice Chair Tony Anderson also expressed reservations about the program. “We may be in some hard budget times and…I don’t think we need to do anything unless we know we can fund this…Until we know what’s going to happen with the ad valorem, because we’re going to have to make that up. We’re still going to have to fund the Constitutionals (officers)…I just think this needs to be postponed until we know we can fund it.”

Commissioner Glidewell called the program “just another arrow in our quiver” to protect Walton County farmland from over-development.

Commissioner Donna Johns said, “I think we need to protect our agricultural land.

It would be remiss of us not to try to protect it. The farmers have enough issues right now all across the nation and I think it’s our duty to protect that.” She added that Walton County is not spending or obligating any money at present but it would give the county the opportunity to do so later, if appropriate. “I think it’s the right thing to do.”

Commission Chair Brad Drake expressed reservations, too, but noted that many conservation groups are funded by the Legislature that might be willing to help. “We recognize that preservation of agricultural lands is important – we’re almost at an emergency stage – but for the county’s perpetual investment into funding this program, that gets a little dicey…That’s going to take some creative thinking.”

Following public comments, the Commission voted to approve the First Reading. Another public hearing will follow.

Commissioner Curry discussed ways of keeping up with the Board’s directions to various staff members and department directors on a variety of topics and tracking the progress. Administrator Kellenberger said that Administration “has a mechanism we use to track the action items from these meetings and we do it internally…What I’m going to ask department directors to do is to create a monthly report on the items that are brought before this Commission that receive a vote and/or a direction.” Kellenberger said it would reach the commissioners each month and feature the basic bullet points of what the project is and what progress has been made. Some projects, such as are often handled by Beach Operations, can last up to two years and include different phases, while smaller items might get done quickly and only appear once, depending on the project.

Commissioner Johns praised Kellenberger’s handling of county operations and his efforts to keep Commissioners informed.

Commissioner Curry took up the issue of a vacant Planning Commission appointment. He nominated Alyssa D. Lovelace to be his District 1 Planning Commission designee, which was approved by the Board.

Commissioner Johns asked Administrator Kellenberger to elaborate on the Board’s options regarding the Economic Development Alliance (EDA), which maintains county-owned industrial development property but currently operates without a director. Kellenberger asked Commissioner Glidewell to respond, since he is the chair of that organization.

Commissioner Glidewell their top candidate withdrew his application due to previous comments by various Commissioners and the EDA board has since turned to a national hiring firm to assist them in their search.

Meanwhile, Glidewell said the EDA is working with the city of DeFuniak Springs on a project that should come to fruition soon. The EDA also received a lease agreement with a distribution company for 72,000 square feet of one of the buildings in the Mossy Head industrial complex. Glidewell said the EDA is also developing a plan for the Woodlawn property to bring back to the BCC for approval.

“We’ve got a very strong board that includes the Mayor (Russ Barley) of Freeport, (DeFuniak Springs City) Councilman (Todd) Bierbaum, Councilman (Douglas) Constantine of Paxton, School Superintendent Russell Hughes. We’ve got people from CHELCO, and various banks and healthcare companies,” and people from the private sector, he said. “That board is working very diligently to bring economic development to Walton County.”

Vice Chair Tony Anderson brought forth a request to allocate District 5 Recreation Plat fees in the amount of $375,000 for the upgrade and expansion of the splash pad at Padgett Park. Commissioner Anderson also noted that the South Walton Dog Park is open and thanked County staff, Public Works and Engineering. “They all worked hard and it’s a great improvement and a beautiful location. Go out and take a look at it. It’s really nice,” he said. Commissioner Anderson specifically thanked Engineering staff member Charlie Cotton for his work on the project. The allocation was approved by the BCC.

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The following items were approved as one item by general consent of the Board:

Clerk’s Items:

1. Request to approve the Records Disposition Request as submitted by

the Walton County Clerk of Circuit Court and County Comptroller

2. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the minutes of the October 28, 2025, Regular Meeting

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

Administration – Consent Items:

4. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign Ground Lease

agreements for the Miramar Beach and Children’s Home tower sites

between West Coast Holdings, LLC and Walton County, Florida for the public safety communications system

5. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign Contract No. 25- 28 Agreement for State Lobbying Services, with Heffley & Associates,

Inc. in the amount of $88,000 annually

Engineering – Consent Items:

6. Request approval to apply for the Transportation Alternative Grant for the construction of the Walton Road Multi Use Path from US Highway 331 to 20th Street project and approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a resolution of support and allow Anna Hudson, Long Range Infrastructure Program Engineer, the authority to apply for and administer the grant

7. Request approval to apply for the Transportation Alternative Grant for the design/permitting of the Lake Jackson Multi-Use Path project and authorize the Chairman to sign a resolution of support and allow Anna Hudson, Long Range Infrastructure Program Engineer, the authority to apply for and administer the grant

8. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign Supplemental

Agreement No.: 01 (SA01) to the State of Florida Department of Transportation, Transportation Regional Incentive Program (TRIP) Agreement No.: G3210 (FPN: 453941-1-34-01) for the Westbay Parkway Project and a resolution authorizing the execution of the state-funded Supplemental Agreement No.: 01 (Removed from Consent Agenda) – Approved

9. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign Supplemental

Agreement.: 02 (SA02) to the State of Florida Department of Transportation, Transportation Regional Incentive Program (TRIP) Agreement No.: G3210 (FPN: 453941-1-34-01) for the Westbay Parkway Project and a Resolution authorizing the execution of the State-Funded Supplemental Agreement No.: 02

Human Resources – Consent Items:

10. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the Second Option to Renew the Agreement for Employee Benefits Consultant Services with the Gehring Group in the amount of $120,000.

Planning & Development – Consent Items:

11. Request to accept the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee’s (AHAC)

Annual Report.

12. Sunliner Diner – Acceptance of the ALJ-recommended order and

approval of a final order. Project number MAJ25-000044 (FKA MIN25- 000094) is being reviewed by Bob Baronti. This is a major development order application submitted by Innerlight Engineering Corp. on behalf of Bluewater Landing 30A, LLC requesting to develop a 10,086 square feet restaurant on 1.77 +/- acres with a future land use of Mixed Use and a zoning district of Small Neighborhood. The property is located in District 5, located on the west side of County Highway 30A West, north of Jetty Road and can be identified by parcel number(s) 01-3S-20-34630-000- 00B0.

Tourism Department Administration – Consent Items:

13. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign Amendment No. 1 to the Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Visitor Center MOA – (Memorandum of Agreement).