More money is coming to Santa Rosa County, and the county commissioners tentatively decided where the money should be spent.

During the Sept. 28 commission meeting, Grants and Special Programs Director Lani Birchett presented the commissioners with potential expenditure categories for American Rescue Plan Act funding that Santa Rosa will receive after May 19, 2022.

The Board of County Commissioners tasked Matrix Design Group to enhance and complete a strategic plan for Santa Rosa County.

However, when Matrix presented the Santa Rosa Strategic Plan 2035 during Tuesday’s commission meeting, the commissioners were not unified in their feelings toward the final product.

In case you missed District 4 Commissioner Dave Piech’s monthly Zoom meeting on Monday, here are the top discussion points:

• Santa Rosa County asked Triumph Gulf Coast Inc., a nonprofit corporation that allocates funds for economic damages from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, for $15 million to buy nearly 200 acres of land near the Northwest Florida Industrial Park at I-10 to spur economic development. County staff have completed the first of three phases for approval.

The Board of County Commissioners voted to support Gov. Ron DeSantis’ stance that COVID-19 vaccinations for government employees should be optional.

District 2 Commissioner Bob Cole told the commissioners that he felt Santa Rosa County should not support mandatory vaccinations for county employees, labeling it as a freedom to choose.