At his memorial service April 6, late Santa Rosa County Commissioner Jim Williamson was remembered as a quiet man of great strength who had the courage to stand by his convictions regardless of political pressures.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Congressman Jeff Miller are two of a group of 88 members of Congress who filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting Hobby Lobby in its efforts to gain exemption from some parts of the federal healthcare law that its owners say violate their religious beliefs. An amicus brief is a brief filed with a court by a person or persons not subject to the action.
Beth Walters and Dan Ramsey started out their two-year terms as Holley By the Sea Board members in July believing they were up to the challenge, but eight months later, both resigned within a week of each other for very different reasons.
There is never a dull moment in Navarre or Navarre Beach. Our paper is full of courthouse drama – which is different from courtroom drama. Included is information on your water rates as compared to our neighbors, the Blue Angels, incorporation information, the Highway 87 project delay, sentencing, fatal crash, military voters, fire department, traffic lights and a land purchase at Hidden Creek Golf Course. Not to mention all the news you can use on the ramifications of Santa Rosa County winning the lawsuit versus the Navarre Beach Leaseholders on whether or not the land and improvements is taxable. We have an entire editorial on that subject.
The Florida Supreme Court voted unanimously last week to uphold a lower court’s ruling that Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser Greg Brown was within his powers to levy taxes against leased property and improvements on Navarre Beach, something Brown had been doing since 2001.
The Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Council (TDC) met March 19 and received the county’s latest bed tax collection numbers, which show revenues down 18 percent from January 2013 to 2014. However, year-to-date totals show a 19 percent overall spike in revenues. The council also received updated marketing information.
The Florida Supreme Court voted unanimously March 20 that Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser Greg Brown was correct in assessing property taxes on leased land and structures on Navarre Beach. Brown began assessing property taxes on Navarre Beach leaseholders shortly after taking office in 2001 – a move he says has generated $81 million in revenue. Roughly $3.65 million more is now expected for interest fees on a portion of that revenue which remained unpaid.
Some insurance companies are steering customers toward national chain pharmacies and retailers, offering reduced co-payments. Paul McMellon, a local pharmacist and owner of Rx Express Pharmacy, is petitioning against the effort, which he says hurts local pharmacies.
The Santa Rosa County Commissioners at their meeting March 13 approved a resolution recognizing March as American Red Cross Month. America Red Cross of Northwest Florida executive Jerry Kindle attended the meeting.
Currently the only regular meetings held during evening hours by the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners are monthly zoning board meetings. Local Tea Party leader Sam Mullins hopes to change that, and board Chairman Jim Melvin is agreeable to give it a try.
