Okaloosa County BOCC — July 2, 2013 — Exhibit 3 (2) — reading text

Okaloosa to consider restrictions on helicopter tours - Local Business News - Northwest F... Gay of 6 Privacy Policy nwidailynews.com news B information forthe emerald coast Get $50 back: Stay two consecutive weekend nights and get $50 back” when you pay with your MasterCard® card. ‘SUBSCRIBE NOW | MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT | ONLINE EDITION | LEGAL NOTICES | CONTACT US Home | Local | Business | Opinion | Sports | Entertainment | Military | Obituaries Home Business RROMMENTS [Baare AIL BRT eerrints ENLARGE TEXT eed Tweet 1 http://www.nwfdailynews.com/business/local-business-news/okaloosa-to-consider-restricti. Local Business News Okaloosa to consider restrictions on helicopter tours DESTIN — New helicopter tour operations may be restricted to taking off and landing at Destin Airport if Okaloosa County commissioners approve a change to the Land Development Code. “If they are able to pass that and move forward, IT be happy with that,” said Destin City Councilman Jim Wood, who has been closely following the helicopter tours debate. “As long as Timberview continues to move around ... the game continues and T want to address that.’ Mayor Sam Seevers sent a letter to county commissioners in June ur ging them to align their development code with the city’s, which requires air traffic to take off and land at Destin Airport. During a recent City Council meeting, Wood said he wanted to make sure the county “didn't forget about us" when it came to the mayor's letter, since a formal response hadn't been received yet. ‘Wood's message was heard. Just days later, County Commission Chairman Don Amunds said he sent a letter to Seevers with the county's response. masterCora Learn More IsIt Classified Real Estate | Autos | Jobs al Faves THINGS TO DO Let's a0 beating! SERVICES . Jordan Air Enterprises AUTOS Local Car Sales REAL ESTATE New Homes for Sale BEAUTY & WELLNESS 2013 RAM 1500 BIG HORN CREW CAB 4X46'4" BOX mma, ‘uss CONSUMER Cast ct Bow ‘TRADE-IN A PACKAGE Discount **** = $3,200 tesa Bd cgs Stay Connected BUILD PRICE VIEW INCENTIVES Most Real Truck stop coming to Mossy Head A different scene in Crestview L-3 Crestview Aerospace continues to grow Construction nears for Destin Commons expansion 12 locals recognized in business magazine's '40 under 40° list Most Recent Truck stop coming to Mossy Head A different scene in Crestview 7/24/2013 Okaloosa to consider restrictions on helicopter tours - Local Business News - Northwest F... Page 2 of 6 In the letter dated Oct. 16, Amunds said the county Planning Local unemployment rates inch up Z (DOCUMENT) Commission already had heard the proposed changes and that the Fairfield Inn on tap for Okaloosa Island commissioners were slated to take up the matter in November. Okaloosa bed tax numbers down again (DOCUMENT) Amunds said the ordinance was rewritten based on “safety concem: Destin has one active tourism helicopter business, Timberview Helicopters. Another operator, Beach Helicopter, is building a 6,000- square-foot helipad on land between Longhorn Steakhouse and HELI BankTrust. Since Beach Helicopter already has a development order, The Best RC Quadcopters under $50 it is grandfathered in and would not be affected by changes in the regulations Timberview, which was spotted taking off and landing from a barge in Destin Harbor during the Seafood Festi ival and from Crab Island before that, has been using Destin Airport after originally calling the Destin Commons parking lot home. “Timberview Helicopters is always following all FAA rules and all other agency requirements in its flights and takeoff locations, Mr. / Wood's continued attack on our business is not what we would BECOME A | expect from an elected official,” Timberview owner Justin Johnson | said in an emailed statement. “We would hope all city and county SPECIALIZED | governments would support all business that operate within all MARINE | TECHNICIAN regulations in the area ... being that this is their civie duty not to pick on a business that they do not like.” Wood said he is anxiously awaiting the outcome when county commissioners addre the matter. He said it was nothing personal against the helicopter companies, but all about safety. “In the city of Destin, our rules require us to fly out of the airport, and that’s how it should be,” he said. Contact Destin Log Staff Writer Matt Algarin at 850-654-8446 or malgarin@thedestinlog.com, Follow him on Twitter @DestinLogMatt. Matt RECLAME DSTTTTE 24 comments Adda comment Jeff Bailey "He said it was nothing personal against the helicopter companies, but all about safety.” All about safety? Really? ‘In Dec 2005 the NWFDN published a story that stated: “In 28 months, more than 7,600 accidents have occurred on @ 7L-mile stretch of U.S. 98 along the Emerald Coast, 2 Northwest Florida Dally News analysis found. Those accidents killed 33 people and injured 795 others...When local motonsts think about U.S. 98, i's not intersections ‘such as the one at Santa Rose Boulevard on Okaloosa Island that they fear the most. That intersection earned itself the dubious distinction of being host to 334 accidents during the time period stucied, That's nearly 100 more than at any other intersection.” redOrbit (netp:/is./46)25) http://www.nwfdailynews.com/business/local-business-news/okaloosa-to-consider-restricti.... 7/24/2013 Floating helipad returns to Destin - News - The Destin Log Page | of 5 | Prwacy Policy | theDESTINog ‘SUBSCRIBE NOW | MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT | ONLINE EDITION | LEGAL NOTICES j j Home | sreaktne NEWS | News | sports Opinion | Entertainment | Community Jobs | Autos | RealEstate Classified Home News i | RROMMENTS Floating helipad returns to Destin Local Faves (GBrare THINGS TO DO emale = Let's go boating! RINT = SERVICES (REPRINTS: Jordan Air Enterprises ENLARGE TEXT AUTOS Local Car Sales REAL ESTATE New Homes for Sale RELATED LINKS BEAUTY & WELLNESS Okaloosa to consider restrictions on helicopter tours NTSB issues report on helicopter cash Helicopter flights limited to airport after unanimous vote ‘helicopter approaches a floating platform in Destin’s East Pass on Wednesday morning, Coup mejrenna rk Kulaw | Northwest Florida Daily Nevis copter businesses: Owner says Timberview By Tom McLaughlin | Northwest Florida Dail is following all FAA M2 icLaughlin | Northwest Florida Daily News. fay 22, 2013 at 2 rules GRANTING A. . . . sHurdest Working Real MONOPOLY: ‘Timberview Helicopters has anchored a floating helipad in East Pass RE/MAX Southern Real Timberview sttorrey just south of the Marler Bridge. says possible changes would hurt helicopter company Owner Justin Johnson says he’s got his required permits and he’s Timberview makes case eager to start giving folks a glimpse of the Emerald Coast from the 0 county officials http://www.thedestinlog.com/news/floating-helipad-returns-to-destin- 1.147476 air — without Destin and Okaloosa County meddling in his busines “We really just want to be allowed to operate legally, like we are, and left alone by the city and county, who seem to want to come after us all the time,” Johnson said. He should get his wish, as city and county officials seem resigned that their hands are tied when it comes to regulating an offshore helicopter business. “We're not getting much done in that department,” County Commissioner Kelly Windes said. But Johnson may yet have to deal with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and a handful of federal agencies, including U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Most Read POLICE BLOTTER: Knock-down, drag-out fight in parking fot leads to both parties being arrested ‘The difference between life and death’: Beach safety lifeguards patrol East Pass, save lives Wedged in: Car nearly hits building in McGuire's plaza (PHOTOS) JoJo a-go-go: Derelict boat removed from Choctawhatchee Bay The old lady in the Old Pier Motel: Owner Kathi McGowan celebrates three decades in Destin Most Recent 7/24/2013 Floating helipad returns to Destin - News - The Destin Log Page 2 of 5 imberview Helicopter’s long battle with the county and Destin POLICE BLOTTER: Knock-down, drag-out fight in parking lot leads to both parties being began after the sightseeing business began offer rides last year from arrested Destin Commons. Jolo a-go-go: Derelict boat removed from Choctawhatchee Bay Okaloosa County eventually shut down the operation and forced "The difference between life and death’: Beach ‘Timberview to move to Destin Airport. safety lifeguards patrol East Pass, save lives Marlins on the run - Student athletes still So last August, Johnson's company began sending up helicopters Pounding pavement during summer break from a barge anchored near Crab Island, Lock up that rod and reel: Fishing gear becomes the perfect angle for boat burglars ‘The helipad presented a conundrum for opponents because it was out of county and city jurisdiction and met the uninspected vessel requirements of the Coast Guard and lighting specifications of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission qn is year, Johnson said he's had his offshore helipad inspected by the Coast Guard and the Federal Aviation Administration, Master Chief Glenn Bucklin at the Coast Guard's Destin s ion CHEVROLET es YO confirmed that the Timberview’s barge once again is up to snuff. 2014 CHEVY SILVERADO “As far as the Coast Guard is concerned we're happy,” Bucklin said “He's met all our requirement SAVE HERE Bucklin did say that the Army Corps of Engineers and DEP also would have to issue permits for Timberview to operate from East Pass. Johnson said the DEP had informed him it had no jurisdiction and that he was “doing something” in terms of working with the Corps of Engineers that he didn’t want to discuss Wedne: “We've spent a lot of time and money on all this,” Johnson said. of your “We know there are a lot of people trying to hurt us and shoot us Structured Semon down.” Settlement Cliff Wilson, the istant director of DEP in Northwest Florida, said Timberview has not filed a permit application and no permit has been granted. Officials at the Army Corps of Engineers office in Pensacola did not provide requ information Wednesday about its role in permitting the business. Johnson said his company will get around an FAA notice requirement by moving the helicopter landing barge around every so often. CLICK HERE! FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen id her ageney requires a flight operation to file notice “only if it plans to conduct more than 10 flights daily for more than 30 days at a location” or if “the operator peachtree 's using the landing zone intermittently for fewer than 10 flights daily and no more than three days a week. For years, the beach immediately west of where Johnson has docked ‘S. ish and Wildlife agent Patty Kelly expressed concern Wednesday his barge has been considered a shorebird nesting sanctuary. Fi about the helicopter taking off and landing so close to a protected area. http://www.thedestinlog.com/news/floating-helipad-returns-to-destin- 1.147476 7/24/2013 Floating helipad returns to Destin - News - The Destin Log Page 3 of 5 She said not only do helicopters tend to drive birds permanently from nesting sites, but birds flying into helicopters is a known hazard. Kel she planned to contact Air Force officials, who monitor the environment on the Eglin Air Force Base property where the bird sanctuary is located to discuss any issues presented by Johnson's barge. Johnson said the Corps of Engineers has assured him his business presented no danger to tish or wildlife. “We don't fly over the bird habitats,” he said, http://www.thedestinlog.com/news/floating-helipad-returns-to-destin- 1.147476 7/24/2013