Friday, July 10, 2015
WZEP AM 1460
WZEP AM 1460 First News,
Friday, July 10, 2015
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News Segment 1
WC BCC Budget Workshop Part 1
Due to the government’s mandated Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, Walton’s budget proposal adds more employees, more cost to the taxpayers. At the recent Walton Commissioner Budget workshop, Finance Manager Melissa Thomason started the workshop with what she said is good news. She told the commissioners the overall tax base for Walton is up 11.9% over last year. Thomason said the draft focuses on maintaining core services and addressing needs set aside in recent years. She also said the millage rate is not increased.
The total budget is $123 million and that is a slight decrease. Some is from the sunsetting of the sales tax for the bridge. Public Works has a decreased due to less equipment purchase than last year. The TDC has an increase, some for emerging markets. The Sheriff’s Office has an increase to help with where they are behind in vehicle updates. The County is also working on a Cost Of Living increase.
Thomason said both the county and employee contributions for insurance is going up. She said there are a few plans grandfathered in over Obamacare and Walton can keep them if they do not change. The absorption of Freeport’s Fire Department is another change in the budget. Walton is looking at replacing two ambulances and a 1995 fire engine that is difficult to maintain. Thomason also addressed changes in planning to cover the additional work. The Sheriff’s Office has requested 6 deputies and converting some part time to full time. It was noted that just recently the Sheriff’s Office has lost several vehicles due to the heat and how hard it is when a deputy is out in the heat in a dark green uniform.
Fire-Rescue added 7 FTEs and they are requesting 8 more. Thomason said this is mandated by Obamacare. She explained how bringing on relief firefighters would help since they have to pay the benefits under the government healthcare mandate.
Thomason told the commissioners the staff is looking at ways to save now and for expected costs in the future. She talked about equipment like vehicles and how to transfer them around for best usage. She noted changes in licensing with Microsoft and a potential half a million purchase of new election equipment mandated by the state next year. The potential $500,000 cost is mandated by the state and that means paying for the requirement from Tallahassee will have to come from the local taxpayers. She said this is a cost, but leasing could help to keep from having to replace if the new equipment changes again. She also said they have to look at climate controlled storage for the equipment.
News Segment 2
WC BCC Budget Workshop Part 2
Commissioner Cindy Meadows said the budget looks good for a basic budget and she is glad about stormwater maintenance crews, but asked about paving more than a mile, stormwater fixes, additional multi-use paths, bridge repair, overlay of 30A, and a central file location. She said the budget is the same model they have had every year and it does not address some of the infrastructure needs in both south and north Walton. She said they can’t keep kicking the can down the road. Meadows talked about the Planning Department and a need for an environmental planner stationed on the south end. She also asked for any RESTORE money to be placed into a separate account so the commissioners can see how it is being spent. She talked about other accounts, such as sidewalk funds, that are not shown. Meadows told Thomason she has done a good job.
Commissioner Bill Chapman asked about the TIFF Account for 30A. He asked how, if all the money is applied to the TIFF, how would it affect the budget. Thomason explained how backing out the money requirements and how you reach a certain amount when cuts would have to be made.
Chapman told Meadows he agrees there is a stormwater need, but noted the need is all over the county. He asked whether they want to borrow money, break it up over years or how to take care of the estimated $40 million cost. Meadows said the thought process is pay as you go, using in-house where you can. She said some are minor fixes and they would phase in for some things that can not be done in a year. She said they would work on a yearly fix based on the engineer’s recommendation and not borrow money to address the most egregious issues. Later, Meadows clarified, saying an engineer has put the stormwater cost at $31 million current market prices with two projects north of the bay and the rest south.
Chapman also asked about a succession plan to address when Fire-Rescue supervisors retire. He said many are within five years of retirement and people need to be trained to take over. He also questioned the increase for the TDC. TDC Director Jim Bagby said they reviewed staffing levels over the last five years and their workload has grown 87% with only a 30% growth in employees. Bagby explained the needs and how they were bringing some of the positions back in house. Commissioner Sara Comander said people are getting angry and not coming back and suggested they need to fix problems and clean house before inviting more to come. She said this appears to some that Bagby is trying to create a kingdom. She said they can not continue to ask people to come when the infrastructure needs fixing. She said, “Just because the TDC has money does not mean they need to spend it.” She also suggested they should look at decreasing the bedtax. Comander said they need money, they have to fix things like the landfill. Later, Bagby explained they have doubled visitors in the shoulder seasons. He said they are trying to grow tourism in the seasons other than summer.
The workshop had a number of other discussions. Commissioners talked about the merit raise and suggested putting into the COLA instead. They also discussed employees being poached by other organizations and the private sector. Chapman expressed concerns about out of pocket expenses for employees on the lower end of the pay scale.
The next budget meeting will be July 14, at 2pm in the South Walton Courthouse Annex.
Walton video: http://walton.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=197
News Segment 3
Freeport Man Arrested for Sexual Battery on Two Juvenile Victims
Walton County Sheriff’s Office arrested 42-year-old Freeport resident David Rountree on two counts of sexual battery on a juvenile over the age of 12. He is accused of performing sexual acts on two victims for more than two years. Further, Rountree also threatened to "rape" the victims should they disclose this activity.
Evidence was collected through a forensic interview held at the Children's Advocacy Center of the Emerald Coast and personal interview with Rountree. Rountree was subsequently arrested.
He was transported and booked into the Walton County Jail.
News Segment 4
Fatality
A Thursday morning accident ends the life of a woman riding a bicycle. The FHP says a 2015 Dodge Ram 1500 was eastbound on US 98 in the inside lane and had just passed the Pier Road intersection. The other party was a bicyclist 52-year-old Daisy Leonor Brewley, of Ft. Walton Beach, also eastbound on US 98 just east of Pier Road.
The bicyclist was traveling east on the south shoulder of the roadway, against the traffic. The bicyclist veered to the right crossing the eastbound outside lane traveling northeast. The bicyclist then entered the inside in front of the approaching Dodge truck. This caused the front left of the Dodge to collide with the bicyclist. As a result of that collision the cyclist was thrown off her bike. She came to final rest near the center median. The bicyclist was taken to Ft. Walton Beach Medical Center where she was pronounced deceased by ER doctor. The crash is still being investigated by Florida Highway Patrol. Charges are pending. Alcohol tests are pending on the the bicyclist.
Obituaries - Listen in the morning, just after noon and the 4pm hour
James Royce Langley, known as Royce to family and friends, went to be with the lord on July 6, at the age of 68. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, July 11, in the chapel at Davis-Watkins Funeral Home, 1474 Hwy 83 North, DeFuniak Springs, FL, 32433 beginning at 1:00 p.m. A time of visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to veterans' groups such as the Wounded Warrior Project or a charity of your choice. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.daviswatkins.com. Arrangements and services are under the direction of Davis-Watkins Funeral Home and Crematory.
Mrs. Lucille Howell Lawyer, age 84, passed away on Wednesday, July 8, in DeFuniak Springs. Visitation services will be held from 10:00AM-12:00PM, Saturday, July 11, at Clary-Glenn Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 PM, Saturday, July 11, at Clary-Glenn Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Scott Keppel officiating. Burial will follow in the Euchee Valley Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Indian Creek Baptist Church Building Fund, 3964 County Highway 280A, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435. You may go online to view obituaries, offer condolences and sign guest book at www.clary-glenn.com. Clary-Glenn Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.
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