Football is starting tonight – Thursday – with the Raiders playing in Milton for the Kick-off Classic. The JV teams play in the first quarter, the reserve players from the varsity teams play in the second quarter, and the first-string varsity players take the field for the entire second half. Milton has won the kick-off classic the past two years. Of course we hope the Raiders start their year off with a win, but regardless it doesn’t count – officially. The game begins at 7 p.m.
The Feasibility Study is in from the consultant – one of only three qualified to do a feasibility study in the state of Florida. It shows that the city of Navarre would be in the black from day one without an increase in taxes. And, if we chose for an additional 1 mil – which is $1 per $1000 of value on your home, then we would have nearly $20 million by the year 2020 to invest for a future beach re-nourishment (not the one we need right now), parks, recreation, or anything else the people would like to see happen for Navarre. We would also have room for a $10 million buffer to have in case there is a hurricane. FEMA reimbursed the county for most of what happened during Ivan and Dennis. That is how we got the new and improved pier. We also need to look at moving the sewage treatment plant off the island, and more. This is exciting news. By contrast, the City of Gulf Breeze has an additional 1.9723 mils, the City of Milton has an additional 3.2373 mils, and the City of Jay has an additional 2.0000 mils.
My family met near Vero Beach for vacation last week and had a lot of fun. The office never knew I was gone – really. In fact, they said they wished I’d hurry up and get back because they had less to do when I was here – and they got less tasks via email. When I’m on the road, I send email after email because I have time to think. I also think on Sundays, when I’m in church. It is like …Zen. I clear my mind – connect with a higher power and that higher power reminds me of everything I haven’t done that needs to get done – and I’m also reminded of everything everyone else is supposed to get done as well. So, if my staff had it their way – it would be no more vacations or church for me. Well, tough. I went to church on vacation and purposefully ran into relatives that we had never formerly met from my husband’s side of the family. As it turns out, the church we went to was started in a relative’s living room and when we visited the old courthouse, on our own, we found out that our relative had won the “Key to the City.” That started me thinking, of course. If you don’t have a city – you can’t give away keys. I even found myself watching city council meetings on TV. I also found out the Santa Rosa County Courthouse debate is not unique, just the zip code has changed.
This week’s issue includes our popular Back to School Guide. You’ll find profiles on each school as well as messages from the principals. We have also included a school supply list and information on Florida’s Tax-Free holiday (August 1-3) to help everyone save money on their back to school shopping.
Once again we have a great newspaper chock-full of great information and news that will help you make better every day decisions as an informed citizen. For instance, we have a story about a 480-acre parcel that is proposed to be developed for a neighborhood called “Balley’s Landing.” However, of the 480 acres, 220 acres are designated as wetlands. Regardless of this fact, our Santa Rosa County Zoning Board voted 6-2 to allow the development to have much smaller lot sizes after discussing the matter for less than18 minutes at the end of a 3.5 hour meeting. Really? We need smaller lot sizes for more homes with all of our flooding issues that still have not been addressed. On top of that, the environmental study for the project found Gopher Tortoise burrows, white-top pitcher plants and prime habitat for the reticulated flatwoods salamander. This is the same salamander that stopped an alternative 98 from happening 8 years ago. We sure could have used an alternative 98 Monday evening when it took our residents 2.5 hours to get home from Hurlburt Field – 20 miles away.
I had the opportunity to drive to Miami and back last week for a two-day Florida Press Association conference in Miami. I enjoy driving by myself – but I’m not sure my office does. I’m usually listening to an educational podcast which makes me think of everything I should be doing in the office. I call the office and ask them questions conduct brainstorming sessions over the phone. I’ve actually been told that they really have work to d0 – if I don’t mind. I was also listening to 100 things great bosses know – which made me wonder if employees ever listen to 100 things great employees know. I don’t think that there is such an animal. However, there must be – because my staff must have already read that book or listened to that podcast. Whew. Oh, I also learned that Miami is the pits to drive in. However, I did get to eat at a famous Cuban restaurant and stay at a “haunted” hotel. The Biltmore Hotel was built in the early 1900s and spent some time being a VA hospital during and after WWII. There is also a mobster that was killed there. I slept great the first night – however, after reading about the hauntings … didn’t sleep so well the second night.
First of all, my apologies to anyone who thinks that I am ignoring them; I am really not. I just left the office and magically received 27 new voicemails all at once. I called Sprint and learned that they are having some problems locally. They apologized too. So, if you left me a message, please be patient.
There will be fireworks in Navarre on July 4. The tourism development council is paying for the fireworks and the Navarre Beach Area Chamber Foundation is managing the execution of the fireworks. Anywhere on the island is a good spot to watch them – including Juana’s Pagoda’s or Lagerheads on the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier. Also, there will be crowds at Navarre Park but there will not be any planned entertainment July 4. Hopefully we will have good weather.
Wil Pergande from the Gulf Breeze Sertoma Club stopped by the office to tell us about the 24th Annual Family Fishing Rodeo that is being held Saturday and Sunday at Shoreline Park in Gulf Breeze. Proceeds from the tournament benefit a host of community organizations that help children and their families. There is a really impressive list of recipients on their website, familyfishingrodeo.com. To get the details of the event, look for their ad in this week’s issue on Page 8C.
Some might consider this a “slow news” week, but I’m OK with that. We have already had our share of unexpected news in the past few months. There is a chance that by the time you read this Jayer Williamson will be appointed by Governor Rick Scott to sit where his father once sat as a Santa Rosa County Commissioner. It will be great to have our fifth county commissioner back. Jayer has big shoes to fill but the good news is – he knows that. He will faithfully and dutifully serve his seat to the benefit of the citizens of Santa Rosa County. He will be there for us, not for his own personal agenda.
