1. DESIGNING THE COURTHOUSE
The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners recently reviewed and accepted a final report from HOK, the firm designing a new judiciary center to replace the aging courthouse.
The report details tentative “space programming, needs assessment, and opinion of probable cost,” Chairman Lane Lynchard said.
WHAT WE KNOW
Commissioners want to reduce the judicial center’s overall cost, if there is any hope the public will accept paying for it.
The report presents two building options: one with zero wetland impact at $46.86 million, and the other with .35 acre wetland impact at $47.4 million.
Commissioner Rob Williamson highlighted Option one’s zero-wetland impact, and said the new judicial center would house the four court functions of the clerk of court, state attorney, public defender and guardian ad litem, freeing up offices they currently occupy.
However, he suggested looking at reducing the proposed seven courtrooms and eight chambers to serve six judges to cut costs.
Commissioner Jayer Williamson wanted to cut further, saying he believes county residents will only pass a sales tax for a judicial center in the $30 million range, “even if it’s a building that’s not going to last for 50 years or 20 years, but at least it will get the people that are working down there in a slum … in a safe environment.”
WHAT’S NEXT
County Administrator Tony Gomillion said, “The board would need to determine a course forward, as it relates to final construction plans and other considerations ….”
Lynchard said he would support the “staff and commissioners individually (meeting) with the user groups out there. Make sure that the programming is still accurate in terms of what we need now and for the future … Then, when funding is approved for the construction of a judicial facility, then you move on into the next phase and you get your design and engineering plans and move forward construction.”
At Thursday’s meeting the BOCC accepted the report.
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LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX
Commissioners have discussed implementing a LOST as a funding mechanism for the judicial center.
However, with other capital needs — such as roads, bridges, public safety equipment, storm water mitigation and water quality improvement — the board has discussed adding items to such a LOST.
In 1992, 1993 and 1996, the county voted for a 1-cent sales tax to fund a U.S. Department of Defense Finance and Accounting Service Center and the jail.
The next three times the tax made it to the ballot — in 2002, 2006 and 2014 — it failed.
WHAT WE KNOW
The county must compile ballot language by the board’s May 26 meeting to provide it to the Supervisor of Elections no later than June 1. A public hearing is necessary, but not before the June 1 deadline.
Commissioners discussed two options presented by Rob Williamson:
●A 10-year tax with 29 percent going toward a judicial center at an estimated $45 million
●Two half-cent taxes for six years, where one tax goes toward the judicial center and the rest goes for capital improvements.
WHAT’S NEXT
The commission voted 3-2 on Thursday to accept ballot language for funding the courthouse and other capital needs. In two items, the language first asks if a one half cent sales tax will be levied to fund the construction of a new courthouse and judicial facilities to be levied for five years. The second item asks if a one cent sales tax will be levied to fund public safety and infrastructure improvements for five years. County Administrator Tony Gomillion said if the board accepts the ballot language, it will go on to the Supervisor of Elections for inclusion on the August primary ballot.
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BEAR ORDINANCE
During commissioners’ April 25 meeting, Kaitlin Goode, of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, discussed bears’ attraction to easily accessible residential garbage.
She noted roughly a third of calls the FWC receives on bears relates to garbage, and most of those calls in Santa Rosa County come from the south end, particularly Navarre and Midway.
Goode also said the state would provide help to counties that enact ordinances on bears.
WHAT WE KNOW
The commission reviewed Seminole County’s ordinance, but members said it was too intrusive.
Jayer Williamson said, “You have to clean off your grill each use. You can’t have odorous items on the back of your truck, such as coolers or trash. It’s government gone wild, so I certainly would not support it, either.”
While Commissioner Bob Cole rejected an ordinance resembling Seminole County’s, he said the bears are a state problem, and FWC should help.
“They (FWC) need to address that more than coming to county commission meetings and putting on a presentation and telling our citizens that it’s on you to lock up your trash can and keep your cooler off the back of your pickup truck,” he said.
WHAT’S NEXT
The board has informally suggested having further education come from the county’s public information department to residents.
Lynchard advised each board member to contact their local delegation to determine the county’s options.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: 3 issues county officials are discussing: the courthouse, sales tax vote, and bears