Okaloosa County BOCC — April 5, 2016 — Regular BCC Meeting 02.02.2016

February 2 , 2016 Regular Meeting The regular Tuesday meeting of the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners was called to order at 8 : 30 a . m. at the County Administration Building in Shalimar . Members present were Charles K. Windes , Jr ., Chairman ; Carolyn Ketchel , Vice Chairman ; Wayne Harris ; Nathan Boyles ; and Trey Goodwin . Also present were J . D. Peacock II , Clerk of Courts ; Gary J . Stanford , Finance Officer , Clerk ' s Office ; John Hofstad , County Administrator ; and Greg Stewart , County Attorney . PRESENTATION - EMPLOYEE SERVICE AWARD Mr . Hofstad recognized Patrick Hanratty for twenty-five years of service . PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER UPDATE Mrs . Kathy Newby , Public Information Officer , stated Allegiant Air Lines is the new carrier at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) and reported flights are already being added to this new service . She said the topic for the next Okaloosa Today program is hydroponic gardening . Mrs . Newby reported the Economic Expo will be held in conj unction with the 37th Annual Building Industry Association (BIA) Show . Lastly , she stated one of the murals at the entry of this building has been completed and work will begin on the second mural very soon . COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ' S UPDATE Mr . Hofstad stated yesterday a call was received from the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) wanting to know the Board ' s position on a proposal for a percentage (up to 10%) of bed tax dollars to be used for lifeguard services and law enforcement. He pointed out a number of the commissioners and staff will be leaving this afternoon for Tallahassee to attend Legislative Day and asked if there is any support for this proposal . Mrs . Ketchel stated she has prepared letters to the Legislative Delegation for the Chairman ' s signature to support this use of funds . She said we must find a way to fund the Sheriff ' s Office during the tourist season . February 2, 2016 -1- Minute Book 74 , Page 100 Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Mr . Boyles said he would like a second analysis of the funding and shared his concern that the limitation (up to 10 %) on use of the tourist tax revenues could displace any other contributions to the Sheriff ' s Office . He felt this measure could be detrimental . Mr. Windes commented that he understands it is 10 % of the first three pennies which would be approximately $900 , 000 . Upon inquiry by Mr . Windes , Tourist Development Department (TDD) Director Ed Schroeder stated currently $1 Million of tourist taxes go to lifeguard services . Mr . Harris stated he agrees with the context of Mrs . Ketchel ' s letters and noted 70 % to 80 % of the calls to Destin are tourist related . However , he felt the lobbyists for the restaurants and hotels are very strong and the proposal may not have a chance . Mrs . Ketchel responded that she believes there is a slight chance but feels it will not be 10 %, adding that even 1 % will be helpful . Mr . Goodwin observed there may not be full support of the Board and it could be looked at from an individual commissioner ' s perspective . He said a commissioner could write a letter of support from his/her own office . Mr . Windes pointed out it is still the prerogative of the Board to approve the funding level and asked Mr. Stewart to comment . Mr. Stewart replied the Board would have authority within the established cap . Mr . Harris stated he will support the initiative but he does not have a "warm fuzzy" for the letters . He said he can foresee it being problematic . Mr . Boyles said he feels this could be a Trojan Horse . He added they know where the Board is spending its funds and expressed his concern about the Board being confined to a box they (the State) have control over . Mr . Boyles stated it may no longer be interpretative and called the current languag