All four candidates appeared at the event. The candidates are Ken Ingram, Don Linnell, Stephanie Lindsay and Edward Appler.
During the event, each of the candidates was given a chance to introduce themselves and answer each question. In all, there were 17 questions asked. Here are some of the topics covered during the forum.
Proxy voting
Questions over proxy forms and voting have reigned over the water system for over a decade. Recently the question, and a board decision on the matter, prompted a lawsuit.
Appler said he didn’t like the idea of proxies, which are forms which allow people to designate another person to vote on their behalf, but understands they are allowed by Florida statute.
Lindsay felt proxies weren’t necessarily bad but thought proper security measures should be in place for HNWS elections.
Linnell said HNWS had a right to dictate which proxy forms meet criteria to be counted. He said he doesn’t like proxies but said, due to statute, they have to be allowed in some form.
“We have to live with it,” Ingram said. “I’m in favor of another vote to try and remove proxies but we have to abide by the bylaws.”
Rates
When asked about their thoughts on the 12% rate increase, which happened last year and is proposed again for 2026, the candidates said they understood the need for an increase but differed on whether 12% was too high.
“The (2024 GovRates) rate study created the 12% increase suggestion,” Linnell said. “It prevents us from not being able to pay off debt. The increase is due to improper planning.”
Both Linnell and Lindsay say the funding garnered through the increase helps secure the system financially, whether in the case of an emergency disaster or in everyday operations.
Ingram said 12% all at one time was “jolting” and felt smaller increases may be better.
Appler felt the increase made sense based on a rate study presented to the board in 2024 but didn’t think it should be automatically approved.
“We don’t need to rubber stamp an increase despite (fiduciary) responsibility,” Appler said.
Septic to sewer conversions
Septic to sewer conversions have been a big topic of discussion for the water board, other municipal and county boards and individuals throughout the community in the past few years.
Converting can be an expensive task for homeowners, with the conversion process for just one home costing around $15,000.
The aspiring directors each said they support some form of relief for those residents converting but felt grants, long-term payment plans were the best options.
“We need a strategic plan with the objective to covert septic systems,” Linnell said. “Its expensive. The quick answer is grants and loans. It’s for the betterment of the community.”
Lindsay said in her time with the City of Gulf Breeze’s water utility, they used grants for conversion projects. Appler and Ingram felt grants were the best option to help keep financial burden off both homeowners and the system.
Number one Capital Improvement Project
Capital improvement projects are budgeted items which deal with major projects effecting HNWS operations. Some projects currently underway which fit the description include the Santa Rosa Regional Reuse Project (also known as the Eglin RIBs Project) and the booster pump station and water tower at Elevate Navarre.
With Navarre’s population continuing to grow, the need for updated infrastructure and effluent disposal sites is paramount. Each candidate felt the biggest needs when it came to C.I.P. were the maintenance or replacement of current infrastructure, some of which is decades old.
Here is what each of the candidates felt the biggest C.I.P. priority was:
– Appler: Regional Reuse Project and maintaining infrastructure
– Ingram: Aging infrastructure. “The board is faced with sudden (infrastructure) failures too often.”
– Lindsay: Fixing aging infrastructure and septic to sewer conversions.
– Linnell: Lot of old lines need to be replaced. $159 million to replace them.
Community involvement
Another topic was how to get more members involved in annual and regular meetings of the HNWS board. In the past, only a small fraction of the membership has shown up to the annual meeting and election. Even fewer show up each month to meetings.
Out of around 17,000 members throughout the HNWS franchise area, only 671 votes for water board were cast and counted during the 2025 annual meeting.
Linnell said he thinks the answer is to talk to your neighbors.
“Your water bill usually isn’t the biggest priority in your life,” Linnell said. “Most don’t get involved.”
Both Ingram and Lindsay felt the best way to address it would be to hire or promote someone within the system to a public relations position. The PR representative would respond to social media questions and help create newsletters with information on HNWS operations and board discussions.
Appler felt people were already paying attention and it was just a matter of the board better informing them.
As the night wound down, candidates were asked what their first actions would be going into their board term.
Lindsay said she’d thank those who voted for her. Appler said he planned to learn as much as he could about board business and how HNWS functions behind the scenes before doing anything.
“Learn first, action second,” Appler said.
Thinking more long term, Ingram and Linnell both said they’d push for the board’s adoption of a strategic plan. The plan would encompass the financial and operational aspects of HNWS.
Editors Note: Video from this event will be available in the near future on Navarre Press’s YouTube channel.