Okaloosa County BOCC — January 19, 2016 — Nov 17, 2015 regular meeting minutes

November 17, 2015 Regular Meeting The regular Tuesday meeting of the Okaloosa County Bocard of County Commissicners was called to order at 8:30 a.m. at the County Administration Building in Shalimar. Members present were Nathan D. Boyles, Chairman; Charles K. Windes, Jr., Vice Chairman; Wayne Harris; Carolyn Ketchel; and Trey Goodwin. Also present were J. D. Peacock II, Clerk of Circuit Court; Gary J. Stanford, Finance Officer, Clerk’s Office; John Hofstad, County Administrator; and Greg Stewart, County Attorney. Mr. Boyles announced the Board met in Executive Session at 8 o’clock this morning and Mr. Stewart will provide an update later in the meeting. EMPLOYEE SERVICE AWARDS Mr. Hcfstad presented service awards to the following employees: Dana Long-----—-==—-=—==—--- Ten Years Harold Godwin---------—-—- Twenty-five Years Rosemarie Yohannan------ Retirement 9-1-1 COMMUNICATIONS ACCREDITATION Mr. Paul Lawson, Interim Public Safety Director, asked a group of 9-1-1 Emergency Dispatch employees to join him at the front of the room. Mr. Lawson announced the Okalocsa County Department of Public Safety 9-1-1 Communications Division has been approved as an Emergency Medical Dispatch Center of Excellence. This award is the highest distinction in 9-1-1 emergency communications and is awarded by the Board of Accreditation of the 1International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. He stated Okalcosa County is the 204" center in the world to receive this distinguished honor. PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER’S UPDATE Mrs. Kathy Newby, Public Information Officer, introduced the Centennial guest speaker—Mrs. Cathy Marler Blue. Mrs. Blue is on the Board of Directors for the Destin Fishing Museum. Mrs. Blue stated Okaloosa County has several museums and encouraged everyone to visit them, saying they love to tell stories about the county to visitors and locals alike. She said the history of Destin begins in the 1830s. She said Leonard November 17, 2015 -1- Minute Book 74, Page 21 Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Destin and his fishing family from Connecticut salvaged wrecks when they were not fishing. Much of the salvage work was done in the Florida Keys. Mrs. Blue told the story of how Leonard Destin, his father and brother were hit by a storm, probably a hurricane, off what is now Cape Canaveral. Two of their three schooners sunk and Leonard’s father and brother drowned. Leonard eventually made his way to our area and, seeing its potential, set up a fish camp. She said there were hamlets around the bay but nothing in "“Destin.” Mrs. Blue stated other families began to come into the area and reported there were 16 last name families there in the first one hundred years. Mrs. Blue stated the first road in the area was built in 1936, electricity came in 1938 and telephones in 1952. The City of Destin was incorporated in 1984. She said the Marlers came into the area after the Civil War, originally settling in “Boggie.” Mrs. Blue stated her grandfather began fishing with Leonard Destin. She said Uncle Billy had a house which fronted the water with a long dock and became the location for supplies to be unloaded for the area. He felt it was important to have mail service and filled out the paperwork to establish a post office which required the community to be named. Mrs. Blue stated he named it “Destin” in honor of Leonard Destin who was the first to settle here. She pointed out the Marlers were the postmasters from 1896 until 1972. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR’S UPDATE Mr. Hofstad announced that he will be ocut of town attending the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) Conference for the remainder of the week. He encouraged anyone needing assistance in his absence to call on Deputy County Administrator Kay Godwin. COUNTY ATTORNEY'S UPDATE Mr. Stewart presented a proposed settlement of two separate litigation matters involving Birkshire Johnstone v Okaloosa County (Case Nos. 2015-CA-000099 and 2015-CA-000115). One case concerns the