Tallahassee – Florida has ramped up debris-removal efforts and recalled emergency workers who provided aid in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, as residents of Florida’s West Coast face another potentially major storm barreling through the deep, warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

The Holley by the Sea Board of Directors encouraged two of its member-led organizations to continue planning for the future.

Despite persistent effort, a commissioner was unable to delay the Santa Rosa Board of County Commissioners from voting to give a municipality in his district $1 million toward construction of a park.

The Santa Rosa Board of County Commissioners designated District 3 Commissioner James Calkins as its liaison to water protection civic groups that formed, in part, to oppose a now shelved proposal to allow more or expanded borrow pit mining in the 27,000-acre East Milton Area Wellfield Protection Overlay District.

The encounter between a water supply protection activist and the Santa Rosa Commission was cordial, but there was posturing for events that might reemerge such as expanding borrow pit mining in the East Milton Area Wellfield Protection Overlay District.

District 3 Commissioner James Calkins continued his strident advocacy for constituents fined $123 for mulch pile maintenance and trash and debris violations more than 15 months ago, though the issue is moving toward resolution based on an earlier decision by the county board.

District 3 State Rep. Jayer Williamson (R-Pace) has introduced a Florida constitution amendment that would make recall of county commissioners and county officers such as the sheriff or tax collector a statewide right.

The owner of the “Turner House,” a large, Hurricane Ivan-battered and deteriorating beach house at 7315 Gulf Boulevard on Santa Rosa Island has agreed to make the property suitable for human habitation.

Santa Rosa County District 3 Commissioner James Calkins floated his “Protecting Water and Saving Jobs Initiative” as a supplement to the Comprehensive Plan borrow pit expansion amendment that the county now seems to be abandoning.

However, the initiative could become part of what the county does next, if commissioners vote Feb. 25 2021, to drop the borrow pit issue as it is currently.

Santa Rosa County growth pains include garbage and construction materials dumping along roads, land clearing erosion control, and poor maintenance of flood prevention ponds.

To mitigate, if not stop, pollution caused by some homeowners and businesses, one resident at a recent board of county commissioners working session admonished the commissioners to “use the only hammer the county has” – fines.