[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6064967,"mediaKeyId","3212063-811cd13642934608721dddf90036836f","parentId",3212063,"title","Board approves sealed-bid sale of 1.67 acres in Mossyhead Industrial Park","audioSeconds",155,"startMs",1246000,"endMs",1401000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3212063-811cd13642934608721dddf90036836f&start=1246&end=1401","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3212063-811cd13642934608721dddf90036836f/thumbnail_1246000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6064967/Walton-County/Florida/Board-approves-sealed-bid-sale-of-167-acres-in-Mossyhead-Industrial-Park","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6064967-9d5c0b673337fc43b6cb62532bef311b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203123&Signature=c3Kk926rq~4p5cfDt9YeNUtGLCNShHm83XYyXH3mbE1gTg4VcSyEm44VMbh26UkxDKDmICAx26QWn8qo3kD699eNCfhMQAwH3803MULAudLSPjnfCU1TivPig0uqBElT1Zronpk2h2M~iL-GvR8tpOIBm39iZBkmkLQ2ysM~mSB6rjv5W3pKIWNWiQQKWXQpWlpK8eUssAUstFaZQcIljehTSdNqoO3wechR2E4uadv-HAnooYqvUKTlI~uTRQ9UToEIY1me38MbJphrlIMN7ljeBo~OyAFPvnyMSBm-bKRPmNcwIkq-mki4rTvnqYvIYADeuY6bH04sG9OHBVeRXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Walton County, FL","date","2025-04-09T00:00:00Z","article","The Walton County Board of County Commissioners approved placing approximately 1.67 acres of county-owned land at the east end of Mossyhead Industrial Park up for sale via sealed bid for economic development.

County staff said a potential buyer has expressed interest in the parcel and recommended using a sealed-bid process so that projects can submit offers without revealing proprietary project details. Economic-development staff noted the county parcel overlays two parcel IDs; county engineering and legal will confirm the legal description prior to soliciting bids.

Commissioners approved placing the parcel for sealed bid by voice vote.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of County Commissioners - Apr 08 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Walton County authorized staff to place 1.67 acres at the eastern end of Mossyhead Industrial Park up for sealed bids after county staff reported interest from a potential buyer.","taxTitle","Walton County, Florida","taxId",28197,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6064973,"County ratifies two escrow agreements to secure code-enforcement liens",499,723000,1222000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3212063-811cd13642934608721dddf90036836f&start=723&end=1222","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3212063-811cd13642934608721dddf90036836f/thumbnail_723000.jpg","/articles/6064973/Walton-County/Florida/County-ratifies-two-escrow-agreements-to-secure-code-enforcement-liens","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6064973-8ba38cb243024c3bcf7233746084c8e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203124&Signature=FWEfUNnxQE1LTZbn7JxNTbBU~tKnubyxBE8b1FQoDeDiIzUElf9KMDIYfSehMtw2OwObpFUacCEvbVN-voaE1tYpqvq7RoXvLFpmOz5T7deAKQx0TxdevxlIbNYAMSsQa-4f-h4GzPBRcoLhf94wL2lgikSJFEA9KOWuRPND8exVbUWLMRwGk7SMSMapTmMnA9UGyfkjxteAT2xWUyZlhSnzhbcGk6jrykdL3KEIr0egT4ifYO9jBiTvToKA9USqW-gtZZyyv04eLbkQa0DaTnJV3zrdWHfpElyqSfPBfVhq~X8qqpcSZVWj4GgL98nN~WASflVZ9T2-BeTg~Wz5PA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Walton County commissioners ratified two agreements that secure the county’s outstanding code-enforcement liens while allowing property transactions to proceed.

County legal staff explained that Florida law permits a code lien placed on a violation parcel to attach to other parcels held in the same name. In the two cases before the board, property owners were selling or transferring secondary parcels that were not in violation but had the county lien attached. For one sale (item 7) the purchaser agreed to deposit the exact dollar amount of outstanding code fines into an escrow account with the title company as escrow agent. The county retained the lien on the violation parcel and an escrow arrangement secured the lien amount for collection if compliance is not achieved at the violation site.

In the second case (item 8) staff said a lien release on a secondary parcel would occur only after the lien was re-recorded on a replacement property, preserving the county’s lien priority and security.

The board voted to ratify the county administrator’s signature on each escrow or transfer agreement. Commissioners said they prefer county ratification for these case-by-case security-transfer arrangements to ensure the county retains full security while avoiding costly foreclosures.

","The board ratified two agreements that convert code-enforcement liens into secured escrowed funds or transfer lien priority to protect Walton County’s financial interests while properties work toward compliance.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6064977,"Commissioner Anderson offers $500,000 and asks staff to study South Annex senior center",229,467000,696000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3212063-811cd13642934608721dddf90036836f&start=467&end=696","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3212063-811cd13642934608721dddf90036836f/thumbnail_467000.jpg","/articles/6064977/Walton-County/Florida/Commissioner-Anderson-offers-500000-and-asks-staff-to-study-South-Annex-senior-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6064977-4a2568fb1eb0b424bb620d4bc36762e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203124&Signature=BYAk48ivfOKujkU3ly2w44pMUvldYOHHFTqdENv0xa7nfn20cAoMT8LcW65MKP8oM3jpcrTdWhAd-9lG4SLo1bRKf0AxwwmIM4ZUm9p5twe~5axuY7DfpM7wd2qzqVZrgYcatQ~lmlEwPsf-MdiC5NcGeOkGLSF58hROfKCRjk2xbZ2FKKDTWdR0F5ZrwGYh8BG-38WOSyyYRJq-tsfYqVjv9KwZCOIFBm2xZwwNZqYkAtOE8nxZhG0IdQqou~rEC7sgXlzhk5VH4PCcfE5IZ9TPGRlzylivIa-AsDm~AV1VbDEKMlMbf0ovZ1j9j7~85YL8MAvl0AhLPyaX245D8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioner Anderson asked staff to prepare preliminary designs and cost estimates for a proposed senior community center at the county’s South Annex site and announced he would contribute $500,000 from his recreation-fee account toward the project.

Anderson told the board he would like staff to evaluate two possible South-End sites and return with engineering recommendations at a future South-End meeting. He said County staff and engineers should prepare both site options for the board to review and recommended bringing a presentation to a South meeting to solicit local input.

Commissioner Anderson moved to allocate $500,000 from his recreation fees to the project; the motion was seconded and the board approved the allocation with an affirmative vote.

County staff confirmed they will prepare preliminary designs and cost estimates for both sites, consult the county engineer and return to the board with a recommendation.

","Commissioner Anderson moved to direct staff to produce preliminary design and cost estimates for a proposed senior community center at the South Annex and pledged $500,000 from his recreation fees account toward the project; the board voted to accept the donation and direct staff to bring back site recommendations.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6064982,"Commissioners pause prior hiring practice, direct legal to draft confirmation process",5484,5694000,11178000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3212063-811cd13642934608721dddf90036836f&start=5694&end=11178","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3212063-811cd13642934608721dddf90036836f/thumbnail_5694000.jpg","/articles/6064982/Walton-County/Florida/Commissioners-pause-prior-hiring-practice-direct-legal-to-draft-confirmation-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6064982-0f3ccc77cdc8fc5ee58f6751d2d28fca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203124&Signature=M3Dh0HPEBX2dCqG2DQNxyZFrZS3qROhlFjRxPsoWdsyxR9wC5m7rhHw~p94jyNvnyc6f5m2rtv-bbvhOX6LmizG3nmXladL3xSxHrJgop8Cv2l0MRxpFqG6KzlaB3dNyTvmMjYj923g2NlhlcaW8UrEcbEau3SaQW3Y59V45hd8BlQD7jbWK18SfE~P7tF~qIFNdHZgT44J5tAsw4P-nLUiNhIOkNcCDz-n392ycWAbxrxvmoyLoSsmquPL4q0CcvyPHLVnkowscknsRSXJLdo3MmaC03scauqvy-8I05buTzyPdIkUA7eq6tjvo491HuBzMBkFw1x7vLRc1FTL7gA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Walton County commissioners moved to end the informal hiring-confirmation practice the board had followed and asked county legal staff to draft a written confirmation process for future department-head appointments.

The item began with a contentious discussion about Florida Statute 125.74, which addresses county-administrator powers and the confirmation of department heads. County counsel advised the board that the statute applies to a county only if the county expressly adopts that part of the Florida County Administration Act by ordinance; Walton County had not adopted it. Counsel said the practice of following the statute’s confirmation provisions nonetheless created an informal precedent the board had adhered to for years.

Commissioner R. Drake moved to “abandon the 2017 process and cease confirmation of department heads,” a motion the board carried. Commissioners then debated the legal and practical consequences of that action and whether the county should adopt a written policy or ordinance to clarify the county’s hiring/confirmation duties. Commissioner Dan Curry then moved — and the board approved — a directive asking the county attorney to draft a confirmation process and return it at a public workshop scheduled immediately before the next regular meeting so commissioners, staff and the public could review, amend and adopt a formal rule.

County counsel told the commission the options are (1) adopt the County Administration Act (part of Chapter 125) by ordinance and include a confirmation procedure, (2) adopt a separate county resolution or personnel-policy language to require confirmation, or (3) declare the board will not follow confirmation practice going forward. Counsel recommended against leaving the status quo ambiguous.

The board’s final directive asks legal staff to consult commissioners, return with a draft process and present it in a public workshop within two weeks to allow the county to clarify how department-head appointments will be handled going forward.

","After heated debate over Florida statute 125.74 and local practice, the Walton County commission voted to stop relying on the prior informal 2017 confirmation practice and directed county attorneys to draft a formal confirmation policy and hold a public workshop.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6064986,"Walton County delays TDC executive-director decision, requests more review of proposed PGA event",2318,2591000,4909000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3212063-811cd13642934608721dddf90036836f&start=2591&end=4909","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3212063-811cd13642934608721dddf90036836f/thumbnail_2591000.jpg","/articles/6064986/Walton-County/Florida/Walton-County-delays-TDC-executive-director-decision-requests-more-review-of-proposed-PGA-event","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6064986-e04785a6837bfa59ea961e0e70bfe846/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203124&Signature=gORPuSBU5O8U0plBYxkXfoDSDt13zXQs8SfFaH-UU2gxdL6xEeBEjBkb-P1hC1AviSZLPs-bwia5MwhAvdgbLRFH5c~UAvWR46Zi-bJNFBRZh5KAniAMFv7xkqms5Naz5YDzMH7khW5pUEhQLnLtgpU31wHVySh4jBP7ZViY6Va1hLN2cYn9lj0Ytg9hxr7xYDhzC4IwC0h0CnAymATklAGLHCwNUjzozYEVWR856PK835lq1PC5m6OaNCuR~JS35wZKbLC6o36bTdFLmjc~oOPvJ~ZQqiA-HxxBSlA4PlnFjFnZfYPbkbOjI-zslQAKbKOZfVmXq08XqyXk8dRv1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Walton County commissioners voted to continue consideration of reinstating an executive director position for the county's Tourist Development Council (TDC) and to seek more stakeholder input before making a final decision.

The board, responding to a 7–2 TDC recommendation and sustained public comment, agreed to pick up the matter at the May South End meeting and asked staff and the TDC to provide more detail on the job scope, hiring process and budget impacts. Commissioners also requested meetings with PGA representatives about a proposed professional golf event that the TDC discussed but did not finalize.

The discussion spanned several agenda items. Commissioner Dan Curry moved to reinstate the TDC executive-director position; that motion drew extensive comment from commissioners, TDC members and multiple bed-tax collectors. Several TDC members and bed-tax collectors told the board that the county’s tourism operation has grown enough to justify a dedicated executive director; others urged caution and recommended hiring analysts or building capacity before adding an executive-level position.

Tourism staff said PGA representatives had proposed an event that would require a substantial county funding commitment; tourism director Matt Algern told the commission that PGA representatives “plan to send representatives over here to meet with every commissioner…so we will all have a chance to ask all the questions we want to ask.” Commissioners said they wanted those one-on-one briefings to inform any funding decision.

Because the proposed event would use a large portion of bed-tax revenue and carry logistic and security costs, several commissioners and members of the public urged more time to vet financial and operational details and to consult local stakeholders. After debate the board accepted a substitute motion to continue the executive-director item and related TDC items—A, B and C on the agenda—to the May 27 South meeting so the TDC, bed-tax collectors and county staff can provide additional analysis and stakeholder input.

The board explicitly directed staff to arrange meetings with PGA representatives and to return with cost/benefit information for commissioners to review prior to any commitment.

The continued timeline gives commissioners more time to review the TDC recommendation, to consider alternatives suggested by bed-tax collectors (hiring analysts or targeted hires rather than a single executive), and to assess the PGA proposal’s budget impact and distribution of benefits across the county.

","Commissioners agreed to delay reinstating a Tourist Development Council executive director and to seek more information about a proposed PGA-linked tournament after months of discussion and consults with the TDC and tourism stakeholders.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves sealed-bid sale of 1.67 acres in Mossyhead Industrial Park

County ratifies two escrow agreements to secure code-enforcement liens

Commissioner Anderson offers $500,000 and asks staff to study South Annex senior center

Commissioners pause prior hiring practice, direct legal to draft confirmation process

Walton County delays TDC executive-director decision, requests more review of proposed PGA event