It’s hard to imagine a small business owner getting bigger news than a $50,000 check in the mail. But the possibility of finalizing the purchase of the historical Imogene Theater in downtown Milton tops that.

A quartet of Gulf Breeze business owners say they are sitting down next week to hopefully finalize the purchase of the 8,000-square-foot theater that dates back more than 100 years.

County staff will be meeting individually with county commissioners for their input on increasing the civil penalties for violations of an environmental nature.

A request to have a food truck festival in a Navarre Beach public parking lot once a month sparked a discussion at the April 22 Santa Rosa Board of County Commissioners monthly work session.

That request was just one of the inquiries the county has received, County Administrator Dan Schebler told commissioners.  The central issue, commissioners said, is whether allowing vendors to use public property would negatively impact small businesses that already have signed agreements with the county.

County staff will be meeting individually with county commissioners for their input on increasing the civil penalties for violations of an environmental nature.

Currently, the stiffest penalty is $300 for a first-time violation, even those that have a major environmental impact.