Walton Commissioners Discuss Audits, Parks and Signs

Walton Commissioners Discuss Audits, Parks and Signs

 

Walton County, FL, 09/18/26 – The Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) launched their first business meeting of September by recognizing three groups for excellence. These included DeFuniak Springs Little League 8-10 All-Star Softball Team for finishing as a Florida State Finalist in the 2026 Florida State Little League Tournament, graduates of Walton County’s local government education program, Walton Academy, and their own Purchasing Department, which earned the top award from the National Procurement Institute for the state of Florida. Commissioners congratulated each group and posed for photos with all those present.

The Commissioners were presented with the Florida Forest Service Commissioner's report by Tyger Adams and Ariel Sewell, of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The report was accepted and approved.

Bryce Hines, Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research requested Commissioners approve and authorize Commission Chairman Brad Drake sign a resolution recognizing the month of September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in Walton County. The request was approved. 

Barbara Morano, South Walton Community Council, requested the Board give direction to staff to eliminate the use of the phrase "or a lesser category" when advertising a future land use with rezoning and zoning category change, due to the confusion this can cause for respondents and the public. Her request was approved.

Walton County Deputy Administrator Mike Thornton requested the Commission approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Walton County Fair Association regarding utilization and maintenance of Fair Association property and facilities. Following discussion regarding a possible cap on the maintenance costs, the request was approved and Deputy Administrator Thornton will track expenses and usage associated with the MOU. 

Deputy Administrator Thornton then requested approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Walton County Fair Association regarding the utilization of Fair Association property and facilities during emergencies and disasters. This was approved.

County Engineer Chance Powell requested approval to obtain an initial property assessment and approval to utilize a continuing engineering service firm for a conceptual design on a portion of the North Walton Sports Complex property. The request was approved.

Engineer Powell requested approval of Change Order No. 01 to Contract No. 25-19 with Emerald Coast Constructors, Inc. for the construction of the Eagle Springs Golf Course (ESGC) Phase 1 Maintenance Building, increasing the contract amount by $9,273. This was also approved.

Cody Minor, Risk and Safety Manager, Human Resources introduced Nick Terlecki with Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services regarding the 2026- 2027 property, casualty, and liability insurance renewals. Minor requested direction regarding the required signature by Chief Financial Officer Melissa Thomason on the binding documents. Nick Terlecki discussed details of their efforts regarding the insurance renewals and said they were able to improve terms with the county’s current insurance carriers, FACT and FMIT, amounting to a 43-percent premium decrease, which equals $1.6 million dollars in savings. The request was approved.

Facilities Maintenance Director Brad Alford requested approval to issue a Purchase Order in the amount of $250,537.50, utilizing Omnia Contract No. 2017001134, for Phase II Playground Improvements at Wee Care Park and to authorize the Agent Affidavit allowing Brad Alford to act as Walton County BCC’s agent in the process of executing the necessary documents to complete the project. Director Alford explained that they are replacing a 23-year-old piece of playground equipment and the ground cover underneath it. The request was approved.

Planning and Development Director Stephen Schoen brought back a report regarding 19 county-owned lots in Oakwood Lake Estates Unit 7, being considered for donation to Habitat For Humanity. Director Schoen explained that creating lots of record and the required improvements would be a costly and time-consuming process. Doing so would also change the nature of the original plat, he said. The lots currently serve as a greenway. 

County Administrator Brian Kellenberger noted that the biggest hurdle is to get the lots to a point where structures could be built on them. “It would require a re-plat of that entire subdivision, which includes about 900 pieces of property,” he said. 

The board voted to reject developing and donating these lots. Parks and Recreation will maintain the properties. 

Public Works Director Buddy Wright requested the Board award a bid (ITB) 26-21 for the landscaping maintenance of U.S. Highway 98 from Mack Bayou Road to W. County Highway 30A to Russell Landscape Florida, LLC, in the amount of the base bid of $40,800, and approve Contract No. 26-21. The request was approved. 

Beach Operations Director Josh Ervin brought information back to the Board regarding Walton County gateway signage for six requested highway locations and sought direction on how to proceed. After discussing the various options, the Commissioners approved advertising an invitation to bid for six signs with site-specific size modifications. The locations would be US 98 - east and west, State Road 20 – east and west, US 331 North and SR 83 North. The Commissioners voted to have Ervin create a bid document for the signs. Solar lighting costs would be included as a possible option. 

In response to a request by CFO Thomason, the Commissioners opened a Public Hearing regarding authorization of a resolution to amend the Fiscal Year 2026 budget in the amount of $3,668,000 in the Self-Insurance Fund and General Fund. This would account for a transfer of the reserve allocation for Self-Funded Health Insurance. She also sought approval of a budget amendment of $15,209,174 in the Tourist Development Fund to account for a previous property acquisition. The resolution was approved. 

District One Commissioner Dan Curry opened discussion regarding Operational and Forensic Audits. Commissioner Curry suggested having operational audits with a forensic component, rather than two separate audits of each department. He asked if the County could seek a price estimate for this kind of hybrid audit. 

CFO Thomason said she would review the scope of work outlined in the request for proposals, which she is currently working on. Thomason said operational audits will look more at procedures, best practices and improvements to practices, whereas a forensic audit would look for criminal wrongdoing.

County Attorney Clay Adkinson recommended the reviews go back five to six years, based on the law. He also suggested letting whatever firm is selected tell the county if they think the scope of work should extend back farther for additional review. 

Commissioner Curry recommended earmarking newly unencumbered funds to help cover the cost of the audits. CFO Thomason said that they would have plenty of time to begin that process before the funds are needed.

Commissioner Curry also suggested the County look at creating an Annual Walton County Women of Achievement award program and requested staff to look into how to create such a program. County Attorney Clay Adkinson noted that Okaloosa County has a similar program and they would look at that program as a possible model and bring their findings back for Board consideration. 

District Two Commissioner Danny Glidewell recommended allocating $130,000 to build one multi-use field and one pickleball court at Ghentsville Park in Paxton, utilizing the remainder of this year’s discretionary fund balance for his district and $123,000 in Commissioner's Capital Funding. This was approved. 

Commissioner Glidewell discussed a request of $35,000 for the Emerald Coast Council on Aging that had been omitted from the non-profit discretionary fund list. CFO Thomason said employee turnover within the Council on Aging had caused them to miss the deadline date to submit their annual funding request. Commissioner Glidewell motioned to fund the request from BCC Discretionary Funding. 

Emerald Coast Council On Aging Executive Director Alicia Brackins discussed her department’s mistake, noting that last year’s BCC funding helped pay for over 5,000 meals to Walton County seniors, among other things. She thanked the Commission for its support over the years. The request was approved.

District Four Commissioner Donna Johns requested authorization to sign a funding agreement with 30A Cats for $10,000 to be paid out of District 4 Commissioner’s discretionary funds. The organization runs a neuter/spay program in Walton County. This was approved. 

Commissioner Johns also requested approval to purchase 24 triple swivel casters in an amount not to exceed $5,218.80 to be paid out of District Four Commissioner’s Discretionary Funds and donate them to the Emerald Coast Theater. The request was approved. 

Request to authorize Commissioner Johns to hire a musician for the Paradise Park Grand Opening in an amount not to exceed $200 to be paid out of District 4 Commissioner’s discretionary funds. Commission Chair Brad Drake offered to donate the $200 request instead.

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS 

San Roy Abandonment - Request to approve by resolution. Project PA26-000003 is being reviewed by Ayanna Reed. This is an Abandonment application submitted by Marc Douglass, requesting to abandon 33 feet of right of way along the north side of San Roy Road. This property has a future land use of Residential and a zoning of Neighborhood Infill, located in District 5, at 108 San Roy Road and is 

identified by parcel number(s) 19-3S-18-16080-000-0101, 19-3S-18-16080-000-0102, 19-3S-18-16080-000-0100, 19-3S-18-16240-000-0070, 19-3S-18-16240-000-0060, 19-3S-18-16241-000-0050, 19-3S-18-16242- 000-0020. Following discussion, the request was denied. 

_____________________________

CONSENT AGENDA – The following items were approved as one item by general consent of the Board.

Clerk's Items: 

Administration - Consent Items: 

termination letter for the lease of commercial property located at 12671 Emerald Coast Parkway in Miramar Beach 

Chief Financial Officer - Consent Items: 

           9. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a resolution 

amending the Fiscal Year 2026 budget in the Fine and Forfeiture Fund for unanticipated revenues in the amount of $171,546.70 

10. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a resolution 

amending the budget in the Self-Insurance Fund to account for transfers into the fund for health insurance premiums, retiree premium payments, and COBRA payments during Fiscal Year 2026 

11. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a resolution 

amending the Fiscal Year 2026 budget in the amount of $636,850.00 for unanticipated grant revenue for the SHIP Grant from the State of Florida 

Code Compliance - Consent Items: 

12. Request approval to schedule and advertise a Staff Public Workshop to

discuss changes and receive public input on Walton County Waterways and Beach Activities Ordinance 

Engineering - Consent Items: 

13. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign Change Order 

No. 07 to Contract No. 24-29 with Gage Golden Construction, LLC, d/b/a BGN Contractors for the construction of the Glendale Fire Station; increasing the contract completion date by 14 calendar days 

14. Request to ratify Charles Cotton’s signature on Walton County’s 

Application for Building Permit and Regional Utilities’ Application for 

Service and Customer Agreement for the South Walton Dog Park, and to authorize Charles Cotton to sign the Notice of Commencement for the same 

Library - Consent Items:

15. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the Annual Plan of Service 2026-2027 and the Certification of Hours, Free Library Service and Access to Materials; and authorize Library Director Caitie Cerise to submit the State Aid to Libraries grant application to the Florida Department of State Division of Library Information Services for Fiscal Year 2027 

16. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the License 

Agreement with KnowledgeCity, Inc. for the KnowledgeCity database subscription effective September 15, 2026, through September 14, 2027, in the amount of $5,494.

Planning & Development - Consent Items: 

17. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the Walton 

County Roadway Activities Application Road Closure Request Form to allow a temporary road closure of a portion of County Road 30A for the 25th Annual Seaside School Half Marathon and 5K on February 14, 2027 

18. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the revised 2025 

– 2028 Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP), Exhibit D - Certification 

to Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) and Exhibit E – LHAP Resolution 

Tourism Department Administration - Consent Items: 

19. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the Exercise of

First Option to Renew the lease agreement for the Bayou Arts Center 

20. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign an agreement with Meeting Assistance, Inc., d/b/a DMI, for lead generation services 

effective October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027, in the amount of $12,000

Tourism Department Beach Operations- Consent Items: 

21. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the Property 

Owner's Notice Authorizing Private Provider Inspector with Florida 

Department of Environmental for Onsite and Disposal System and sign the Agent Authorization with the Croft Environmental Service LLC for construction permitting 

22. Request approval to advertise an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for lumber and associated construction materials for the Scenic Gulf Drive boardwalk maintenance project 

23. Request to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a Software 

Subscription Agreement with TransLoc Inc., for customer and provider- facing transit logistic systems software applications to support the 

Tourism Department Beach Park and Ride program 

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