Although the vote was not unanimous, the Milton City Council approved a motion to support the Pine Street location as the new site for a new county courthouse. Like last week’s executive committee meeting, the motion was met with one nay vote from Council Member Ashley Lay and one abstaining vote from fellow Council Member Jimmy Messick. With the exception of Marilyn Jones, who was not present at the meeting, the rest of the council voted in favor of Santa Rosa County Commissioner Rob Williamson’s proposed location for a new county judiciary center.
Messick abstained from voting or discussing the topic, due to his wife entering an agreement with the city on a piece of property needed for the proposed site.
City Manager Brian Watkins, who was among the several city officials to attend Monday’s Board of County Commissioner’s meeting, said Williamson’s proposal received support from fellow commissioners Jayer Williamson and Layne Lynchard. The location did not receive support from Commissioners Bob Cole and Don Salter.
Watkins said Jayer Williamson had some questions about the Pine Street location asking the county administrator to provide the board with the costs of building on the proposed location.
Lay said her stance from last week’s council meeting did not change. With her nay vote last week, the motion became a separate item from the meeting’s consent agenda.
“I still have the same concerns I did last week,” Lay said. “I think there is a lot of questions out there and I am not sure they are ready to commit to that specific location.”
Stemming from previous discussions, Council Member Lloyd Hinote believes Williamson’s proposal has potential.
“It was my understanding that downtown was dead until the Pine Street idea came up and with that we breathe new life into the project and have the possibility of success,” he said.
With this information expected to be presented at a future commissioner’s meeting, the board is expected to continue the discussion and possibly vote at a future meeting, according to Commissioner Don Salter.
"At this time, I suspect there will be a discussion with the possibility of a vote if Jayer receives the additional information he requested." Salter said.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Council votes to support Pine Street location