Stories by Ken Garner

County considers expanding I-10 industrial park

October 2, 2023

Santa Rosa County Economic Development Director Shannon Ogletree has asked the Board of County Commissioners to buy 13 acres adjacent to the Northwest Florida Industrial Park @ I-10 to provide room for expansion.

Santa Rosa County wins $6.4 million grant for Whiting taxiway project

September 25, 2023

Santa Rosa County has received a $6.4 million grant to help build a taxiway and apron connecting NAS Whiting Field and Whiting Aviation Park.

Commission promises not to impose impact fees for at least 12 months

September 25, 2023

The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners voted 4-1 at its special budget meeting Tuesday, Sept. 19, not to act on impact fees until at least October 2024. Commissioner Sam Parker suggested the moratorium; he said construction costs already are too high and the economy “is becoming a wreck.”

Commissioners discuss 2025 recreation projects

September 25, 2023

Santa Rosa County commissioners hadn’t officially approved the Fiscal Year 2024 budget before they began discussing possible capital improvement projects for FY25.

County holds millage steady, approves $251.3 million budget

September 25, 2023

The Santa Rosa County Commission unanimously approved keeping the 2024 millage rate at 6.0953 at its special budget meeting Tuesday, Sept. 19, which will generate about $98.4 million in property tax revenue. Commissioners also unanimously adopted a total budget of $251,355,646 for the budget year beginning Oct. 1.

BoCC removes alternative subdivision provision from LDC; keeps clear-cutting

September 22, 2023

Alternative subdivisions and clear-cutting are two of the most unpopular practices allowed under Santa Rosa County’s existing Land Development Code; last week, the Board of County Commissioners decided to remove alternative subdivisions from the updated LDC but unanimously agreed to keep existing clear-cutting practices.

State buys Wolfe Creek Forest land for preservation

September 19, 2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved spending $141 million to buy more than 42,000 acres, including more than 1,500 acres in the Wolfe Creek Forest northeast of Milton in Santa Rosa County.

BoCC to hold final 2024 budget hearing tonight

September 19, 2023

The Santa Rosa County Commission will have its final Fiscal Year 2024 budget hearing at 6 p.m. tonight, Tuesday, Sept. 19, in the Commission Meeting Room, 6495 Caroline St., Milton. The Board of County Commissioners is expected to officially approve a total overall budget of $251,355,646.

Beach restoration timing depends on FEMA environmental assessment

September 15, 2023

FEMA is standing by its decision not to allow restoration of eastern Navarre Beach, according to Santa Rosa County Assistant Environmental Director Tanya Linzy.

“Currently, the draft SEA – Supplemental Environmental Assessment – indicates that ‘the (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) found the Navarre Beach Renourishment Project as inconsistent with the purposes of the CBRA,’” Linzy wrote in an email to Navarre Press. “With that understanding, FEMA will not allow renourishment in the CBRA zone.”

BoCC to consider LDC final draft

September 13, 2023

After months of workshops and debate, the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners will review the final draft of its updated Land Development Code at a special meeting beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, Sept. 18.