Okaloosa County BOCC — 2013 meeting #1141 (date undetermined) — Letter from the Boardwark 070813 — reading text

OKALOOSA ISLAND July 8, 2013 Amy Allen Parks Coordinator Okaloosa County VIA EMAIL RE: Newman Brackin/Wayside Park Lease #L98-0121-BCC36-29 Dear Amy: Pursuant to the Emerald Coast Volley Ball Clubs’ request for a permit to conduct classes, we at the Boardwalk have numerous concerns. First, as lessee, Emerald Coast Beach Volley Ball Club should contact the lessee requesting use as we have many people to please. Second, no vendors have ever been allowed without our joint approval nor have the Board of County Commissioners allowed uses without joint approval. Third, with all the problems that come with running a public park, as you well know, comes ownership. I[t is easy to forget that the Boardwalk property, from Highway 98 to the Gulf of Mexico, is leased to the Boardwalk (check the public records for the recorded lease). We are tasked to keep the property clean and park visitors courteous from those two boundaries. As the saying goes, “You can’t be a little bit pregnant”. We fear this permit may open the doors for others to ask the County to become vendors on the beach. As a weekly event it could prove to be problematic. Also at issue, is whether the County should be taking money for permits or reimbursing the lessee. All in all, it is pretty late in the year to be addressing this issue. Please contact me, Nick Sarra, at (850) 830-7634 with your concerns. We want Emerald Coast Volley Ball to be able to conduct their classes but not if it opens the door to future problems. Sincerely, A LI 7 Nick Sarra Director of Operations Surfside Ventures, Inc. P.O. Box 5497 Destin, FL 32540 (850) 650-4725