The Panhandle Butterfly House to seek its own space

MILTON — As renovation plans for Navarre Park move forward, the 21-year-old Panhandle Butterfly House continues the search for a new location. In November, the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge  offered to house the nonprofit at its new Navarre site but Monday the Butterfly House rejected this offer in favor of more autonomy.

"This has been a long process," said Dan Schebler county administrator during the Dec. 10 commission meeting.

Initial conversations with Butterfly House began over a year ago. Schebler has been working with the Butterfly House since May of this year to produce a viable business plan and collaborating with the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge as a possible solution to Butterfly House's need for a new location.

However, that partnership is not likely to happen. The Butterfly House leaders do not want to move to the Refuge because they want to remain autonomous.

"We want a little more time to look at other options," said Butterfly House spokesperson Kevin Smith.

A contentious discussion ensued and deteriorated to the point that Commissioner Bob Cole admonished the [Butterfly House].

"It gives me pause in my comment to support the [Butterfly House] … in any location after their behavior today," Cole said.

"Get [the Refuge] out of the middle of a problem we did not create," Refuge president, Bill Anderson said, "but have been trying to help solve."

The commissioners decided they would give the Butterfly House the time to find a suitable location that can meet their needs. In addition, commissioners agreed to offer support to the organization once a site is determined.

Commissioner Piech moved to "press ahead with Navarre Park plans Phase 1, minus the vivarium and leave that space clear." Commissioner Piech said the commissioners were not closing the door on the Butterfly House, but they will need to show how they can be operational, maintainable and sustainable.

"I hope we can come to a resolution that can support the [Butterfly House]," said Commissioner Don Salter.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: The Panhandle Butterfly House to seek its own space